BJJ Mount: A Dominant Position with Powerful Attacks

The BJJ full mount, often known as the mounted position, is a powerful position in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It is commonly referred to as the ‘King of all Jiu-Jitsu Positions’ and necessitates a thorough understanding of the fundamentals and the management of various variables.

The mount position in gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu can provide many attacks to defeat your opponent and conclude the fight. It offers chokes, arm locks, shoulder locks, and other incredible strikes.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

This guide will teach you all you need to know about correctly using the BJJ mount position. It will show you some beautiful attacks and transitions if you play from the top and some fantastic escape strategies from the bottom. Keep an eye out!

Jiu Jitsu Mount Position Explained

bjj mount

The mount is considered one of the top dominating positions in jiu-jitsu grappling. It refers to the position where the player on the top mounts a bottom player.

In other words, the top player is sitting on the bottom player’s chest with their eyes focused on their opponent’s head.

Andre Galvao breaks out the Brazilian jiu-jitsu mount position in the video below. Have a great time!

Source: Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ

For various reasons, the mount position tremendously benefits the player to be in on the top.

First, he owns many submissions, including chokes, allowing him to manage and dominate his opponents.

Second, he may switch between several dominating positions, causing his opponent to tire and giving him easy submits.

On the other hand, the bottom player, who is mounted, has very few alternatives available to him unless he can somehow free himself from his disadvantaged position.

Because of this, he needs to devise a plan to sweep the top player or regain a guard like the half-guard.

BJJ Mount Variations

Brazilian jiu-jitsu masters know how to use the mount position in various ways. There are several variations of the mount position, such as the full mount, S-mount, high mount, etc.

Source: Roger Gracie TV

Full Mount 

A starting learner will learn the essential mount position, the full mount.

Instead of executing more moves, the player in this traditional mount variant will continue to lean on his opponent while providing substantial pressure.

On the other hand, the full mount position is becoming increasingly rare as practitioners master more BJJ basics.

As a result, an advanced practitioner will try to employ various mounting alternatives such as high mount (S-mount, etc.) and low mount.

BJJ High and Low Mount

Source: Danny Fung

The low mount is a great place to acquire an arm triangle where your hips are closer to your opponent’s hip.

As a result, the opponent may employ the bridge move to break free from this position.

On the other hand, a high mount indicates you’ll be fighting from a position closer to your opponent’s head and shoulders.

Furthermore, it would be best if you sat more upright when you came here to practice different sorts of joint locks or cross chokes.

S-Mount

The S-mount is one of the most common high-mount variations, allowing the contender to gain armbars, chokeholds, and other sorts of submission holds.

Source: JeanJacquesMachado

Jiu Jitsu Mount Entrance

Entering the BJJ mount can be done in many ways, including from standing, the guard, side control, knee on belly, etc.

Side Control to the Mount

Side control is one of the best positions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This position can help you do great things, including entering the mount position.

The following video demonstrates how to enter the mount position from side control. Have fun!

Source: Stephan Kesting

Mount Position from Standing

Entering the jiu-jitsu mount from standing is another possible transition, but it may be rare at advanced competitive tournaments.

In the following video, Lucas Leite gives you the footprint to enter the mount directly from standing. Have fun!

Source: BJJ Fanatics

Knee on Belly to the Mount Position

Entering the jiu-jitsu mount from knee-on-belly is another possible transition. Watch the following video to learn how to enter the mount from the knee-on-stomach position.

Source: MMA Leech

BJJ Mount Submissions

The mount is a powerful position that allows you to impose an immediate and severe hold on your opponent. As a result, you can reach some fantastic submission techniques that may be used to win the BJJ fight.

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

You should be familiar with the several BJJ mount submissions to build a savage game. Therefore, you should look at the following list of mount attack techniques.

However, before trying for any attack, be sure that you have maintained your position by employing the appropriate grips and that your weight is distributed evenly.

Mounted Triangle

The triangle choke is one of the most effective attacks from the mount position that you should be familiar with. The following video demonstrates how to set up the mounted triangle correctly.

Source: Absolute MMA St Kilda

Cross Choke

The cross-choke is one of the most fundamental choking submissions in gi jiu-jitsu. This effective attack is often performed from the mount position.

In the following video, Roger Gracie demonstrates how to perform the cross choke from the mount. 

Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics

Armbar from Mount

The armbar stands among the top effective submissions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This move hyperextends the opponent’s elbow joints. Otherwise, it can be performed from many BJJ positions, including the mount.

Source: Gracie Barra HQ

Ezekiel Choke from Mount

The Ezekiel choke from mount is among the most sneaky attacks in BJJ grappling. It is practical and almost unpredictable.

Source: The Grappling Academy

BJJ Mount Defense and Survival

Using your hips properly is crucial if you wish to defend and get out of the mount position. Otherwise, when escaping the mount, you need to:

  • Use defensive bumping.
  • Posture on your side.
  • Block the opponent’s hips preventing him from getting the high mount.
  • Flatten the bottom leg to slide it and recover the guard  

As you get better at using these elements, you will see and feel that it leads to predictable outcomes that discomfort your opponent. 

Source: The Grappling Academy

Bottom Mount Mistakes

Playing well from the bottom mount requires avoiding the following mistakes:

Staying Flat on Your Back

With a flat back on the mat, you tend to use your hands in a defensive position and bend your knees for the coming movement. It is a comfortable position but will lead you to get smashed since it will not help you escape from the bottom.

Most likely, defending the bottom mount starts by getting on your side. Then, as quickly as you get there, you need to move explosively to prevent the back take.

To posture to the side, you must bridge off the mat to elevate your hips and lighten your left leg. Then, process a shrimping move while keeping your hands in a defensive position.

Source: Chewjitsu

Slow and Hazardous Movements

There is a minimal window of opportunity to transition into the defensive posture safely. Therefore, you have a limited time to escape the bottom mount before you feel the pressure of your opponent locking himself into his superior position.

So take the right moves at the right time between the transition of your opponent. For example, you can react explosively before the opponent gets the full mount by pushing him and moving to a seated position or recovering the guard.

Otherwise, you process a successful mount escape when your top player tries to reach the high mount or S-mount.

Overall, it would be best if you reacted to escape this unwanted bottom position. But make sure to do the proper movement at the right time. 

Straight Arm Push

For the newer jiu-jitsu practitioners, the mount is a dangerous position that scares them. So, they instinctively push their opponent, thinking this will alleviate the pressure. But instead of making your life easier, it is more difficult in four ways. 

Double Underhook Hug

Many new white belts hug their opponent to limit the top player attack opportunities. They think hugging their BJJ partner hides their neck from choke attempts. However, this is a wrong defensive approach!

This is because the arms are exposed to attack attempts, and the top player can reach the high mount effortlessly. Besides, the top fighter can apply more pressure on the bottom player’s solar plexus by driving his hips into the diaphragm.

Overall, the double underhook hug is a dangerous and exhausting position that any wise BJJ practitioner should avoid.

Pushing the Knees

A misinformed jiu-jitsu opponent will attempt to escape the BJJ mount by pushing his opponent’s knees. Therefore, he will use both hands to push off like this is easy to defend against a submission.

First, it is easy for the top player to get rid of the bottom player’s hands and stop him from using them. Otherwise, the bottom player will expose his neck for choke attempts which is a fatal mistake.

Remember, you will sleep soon if your hands are away from your neck and your posture angle cannot block the choke entry. 

Conclusion

In gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, the mount position offers several attack opportunities. So, it can help you finish your opponent and win the match. This is because this jiu-jitsu position provides chokes, arm locks, shoulder locks, and many other effective submission techniques.

Thus, learning the mount basics and how to play from this dominant position will undoubtedly take your game to an entirely new level.

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