The “Seated Mount”
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Seated Rear Mount·Robert Silas (Aiki_and_Jiu)
The “Seated Mount”. In this video I show a modified version of mount for BJJ when you are faced with a larger opponent. …
Seated Rear Mount
SubFamily座位後ろ騎乗位(Zai Ushiro Kijōi)
TraditionalTranslation: seated rear mount
Overview
The Seated Rear Mount subfamily covers the rear mount position where the controlling fighter is sitting upright behind the opponent, with the opponent in front and typically flattened or leaning forward. [1] The seated rear mount provides the controlling fighter with excellent posture and gravity-assisted control, making it particularly effective for ground-and-pound in MMA and for choke attacks in grappling. [1],[2] The seated position gives the controller the ability to use body weight and gravity to maintain the position. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The seated rear mount positions the attacker behind the seated opponent with hooks or body triangle, commonly reached after a guard pull or sweep. [1]
Lineage
The seated rear mount is a variant developed in competitive BJJ. [1]
Competition Record
The seated rear mount is scored as back control in IBJJF competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Gravity-assisted top control — body weight pins the opponent's torso to the ground
Joints Involved — Attacker's hips (heavy base), knees (clamped for ride control), opponent's spine (pinned)
Force Vector — Downward — gravity plus active hip pressure maximises control and submission opportunities
Positional Mechanic — High mount raises the centre of gravity above the opponent's shoulder line, isolating their arms for attacks
Position & Entry
From guard pass completion — After passing the guard, establish mount by placing knees on either side of the opponent's torso
From sweep — Complete a sweep from guard and land directly in mount position on top
From side control (knee slide) — From side control, slide the knee across the opponent's belly and settle into mount
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Back control is dominant position; enables rear chokes (Danaher 2021)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring po...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, mount scores 2 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal dominant position
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— UWW — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match ...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal, pin scores points
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The seated rear mount has the attacker sitting upright behind the opponent — the same as the chair sit position, with hooks and seatbelt established (Danaher, Back Attacks, 2018)
✓The seated variant occurs naturally when taking the back from turtle or standing — you end up sitting behind the opponent
✓The seated rear mount provides a high vantage point and strong downward hook pressure
✓From seated rear mount, the natural transition is to fall to one side (toward the strong seatbelt side) for the supine position
✓The seated rear mount is less stable than supine but offers more immediate attack options due to the height
✓In MMA, the seated rear mount allows powerful downward strikes to the side of the head
✓The seated variant is the starting point — most attackers transition to supine or body triangle for more secure control
✓Maintain the seated rear mount by keeping the hips close and the hooks active
Common Mistakes
!Staying in the seated position too long without attacking or transitioning — the position is transitional
!Not maintaining close hip connection — any gap allows the opponent to escape downward
!Losing hooks when the opponent stands up — follow them to standing or transition your control
!Not using the height advantage for attacks — the seated position offers good submission angles
!Falling backward instead of to the side — fall to the strong seatbelt side for optimal transition
!Not keeping the seatbelt tight — the seatbelt compensates for the instability of the seated position
!Only training from the supine position without the seated variant — the seated rear mount is common
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Pass the Guard — clear the opponent's legs to advance to this dominant position
2Settle Weight — distribute body weight to maintain heavy pressure
3Control Arms — manage the opponent's arms to prevent frames and escapes
4Threaten Submissions — attack to force defensive reactions and maintain dominance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
6CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
base stability, heavy hips, ride ability
Favours
heavier build with strong hips for pressure
Key muscles
hip adductors, core, glutes, quadriceps
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use seated mount instead of traditional mount?
Robert Silas recommends seated mount particularly against larger opponents, as it allows you to maintain balance and control without losing posture when they escape or turn. Unlike traditional mount where struggling can cause you to lose balance, seated mount lets you stay mobile and follow their movements.
How do I control my opponent in seated mount if they try to bridge?
Use your knees to control them while sitting upright on your toes, positioning your toes almost directly under your hips. Robert Silas describes this as similar to riding a bull—your opponent can bridge as hard as they want, but your knee control keeps you in position, and if they try to turn, you can easily step over and switch positions.
How does seated mount create submission opportunities?
Robert Silas emphasizes an 'anti-connection' approach: keep yourself free to move while allowing your opponent freedom to move, and their own escape attempts will generate submission opportunities. You can use your knees to control their arms and body without relying solely on hand control.
How does the Seated Rear Mount work?
The Seated Rear Mount subfamily covers the rear mount position where the controlling fighter is sitting upright behind the opponent, with the opponent in front and typically flattened or leaning forward. The seated rear mount provides the controlling fighter with excellent posture and gravity-assisted control, making it particularly effective for ground-and-pound in MMA and for choke attacks in grappling.
Where does the Seated Rear Mount come from?
The seated rear mount is one of the two primary rear mount configurations in BJJ and MMA, favoured when the controlling fighter has an upright positional advantage. It is commonly achieved through back takes from turtle or standing positions.
Is the Seated Rear Mount legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, mount scores 4 points — highest-scoring position; IJF: legal — Legal, osaekomi (pin) — 10-19 seconds scores waza-ari, 20 seconds scores ippon; ADCC: legal — Legal, mount scores 2 points; Unified MMA: legal — Legal dominant position; UWW: legal — Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match by fall; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal, pin scores points
How dangerous is the Seated Rear Mount?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — back control is dominant position; enables rear chokes (Danaher 2021)
How do I set up the Seated Rear Mount?
The standard setup chain: Pass the Guard → Settle Weight → Control Arms → Threaten Submissions.
How do I defend against the Seated Rear Mount?
Standard counters include: Bridge (Upa) — explosive hip elevation to off-balance the top player / Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp) — create space by driving elbow to knee and hip-escaping / Frame — establish forearm frames to prevent the top player from settling weight.
What are the variants of the Seated Rear Mount?
Common variants: Low mount (hips heavy on the opponent's belly, grapevines in for sta…); High mount (knees under the armpits, arms isolated for submissions); S-mount (one knee high under the armpit, other leg across for arm …); Technical mount (one leg hooked, one knee posted, modified for back-take t…).
How effective is the Seated Rear Mount in competition?
The seated rear mount is scored as back control in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Seated Rear Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Staying in the seated position too long without attacking or transitioning — the position is transitional / Not maintaining close hip connection — any gap allows the opponent to escape downward / Losing hooks when the opponent stands up — follow them to standing or transition your control / Not using the height advantage for attacks — the seated position offers good submission angles.
What are other names for the Seated Rear Mount?
The Seated Rear Mount is also known as Zai Ushiro Kijōi, Seated Back Mount, Upright Rear Mount.