This week was mount week in BJJ. I taught top position on Monday and escape and survival on Tuesday. I looked around the net to see if I could find some good information on holding mount top. I wanted some structural stuff about how to build the posture from top position. I didn’t really find anything. Not that there isn’t anything out there. Just that I didn’t find it. Most of what I found was the typical submissions and cool moves from top. Those are important for sure. What I find though is that most people have a really hard time holding mount. Myself included. As a top position it’s very hard to hold. Probably the most difficult of all the top positions. If you can’t hold it well then knowing all the submissions in the world isn’t going to do you much good.
Why Use It?
As a position mount top is better suited for MMA and self defense than it is for BJJ competition. I say that with some reservation. I know there are people like Roger Gracie who make a living off the mount top. It can be done. Largely though because it’s so hard to hold people opt for other top positions. For self defense and MMA however it’s a great position. The ability to punch the other guy in the face both interrupts and shortens the availability of escapes. Strikes make this position way stronger. In BJJ competition the bottom guy can take more time to escape and if he builds a proper posture he can remain safe.
There are quite a few different variations on how to hold mount top. I’ll outline a basic concept of holding that can be applied to different types of mount.
Posture
The posture is built largely with the lower body. Here’s what you have to keep in mind when mounted:
Squeeze knees together, touch toes, lift up, roll hip forward...
- Squeeze your knees together tightly. This is very important. It closes off space and makes it harder for the bottom guy to pry your knees open to shrimp out.
- Touch your toes together. This helps to keep you attached and prevents him from launching you with an upa. It also prevents him from building a proper posture if he turns to his side.
- Lift your rear up off him. Don’t sit on him. Once you lift yourself up off him you’ll create a tiny bit of space where it’s helpful to you and not to him. It gives you some cushion to soften the blow of his upa.
- Roll your hips forward. (naughty hips) This connects your upper and lower body and helps you to ride out the upa.
- If you place your hands on the mat for base make sure you keep them far enough away that the bottom guy can’t harvest them easily. Keep them wide.
Keep your hands wide and forward so they don't get captured. Squeeze the knees together and roll the hip forward. Touch the toes if you can.
March 17, 2010 at 4:40 pm
This is a great blog. Thanks for putting all this together!
March 19, 2010 at 10:30 am
I’m much smaller than most of my opponents so this viewpoint may only make sense for shorter grapplers.
I don’t think squeezing the knees is a good strategy when your hips are that low on your opponent’s body. It connects your body to your opponent’s and gives him control of your balance. If your opponent rolls, you roll also. If you prevent being rolled by loosening your knee pinch to base or to disconnect, you give away the elbow-knee escape. Your whole mount game becomes defensive as your focus is on preventing the escape (mainly by crossfacing).
If you widen your knees and lower your hips towards the mat, you have better base to deal with your opponent rolling. Your legs are more mobile to make small transitions if needed. A low chest helps keep your opponent flat, which helps to prevent the elbow-knee escape early. This give your arms more opportunity to attack or to help with upgrading your position.
Thanks for your blog. It’s one of the best BJJ resources on the ‘net.
March 19, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Thanks Dion. I appreciate you putting a bullshit meter on my stuff. If you find that something I show doesn’t work for you then I’m sure you are right. That’s the beautiful thing about the mat. It doesn’t lie. I’m really only feeling like a beginner at mount top game now as a brown belt. I imagine in another 10 years or so I’ll get the hang of it! Thanks for the comment.
March 23, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Just found this blog. Great stuff you’re putting out there.
Saulo Ribero did a piece in Gracie Magazine a couple of years ago that goes into some detail about this position. He breaks mount into 3 position,low mount, high mount and technical mount, and explains when each position is useful and how to attack from there. If you are interested, email me and I’ll send you the article.
March 23, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Thanks Anthony, I’d love to see the article. I’m a big fan of the way Saulo breaks down the game…
March 23, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Awesome material my friend!
Just a quick note about squeezing the knees. The word is not the thing. Just like anything else, anything we capture in words is a still picture (haha even when videoed
) and not the full reality.
Squeezing with the knees is a good place to start. It’s a good habit to develop. When you feel the upa coming, release the squeeze and widen your base as you meet them downwards. It adds to your upa defence and drains their energy and explosiveness. But of course, don’t take my word for the thing. Try it
March 25, 2010 at 3:15 am
Totally great stuff here. Can’t wait to try it.
May 23, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Squeezing your knees prevents your opp from hiding his elbows, and creating a stronger structure.
The times I have mounted people with my knees tight have produced many choking opportunities.
If my base widens I end up defending their escape attempts.
(btw, I am a BJJ Blackbelt)
September 30, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Hi Cane. Do you mind sharing that article that saulo did on Gracie Mag (if you got it from Anthony)?
Thanks very much.
Rob
icon115@gmail.com
September 30, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Never got it Rob….