The 5 best mount submissions
0
Mount·Jedi Does Jiujitsu
Here are the 5 best mount submissions (bjj) ranked from most safe to most risky Always be sure that you can maintain you…
Mount
Groupマウント(Maunto)
Translation: Mount
Overview
The mount is the most dominant ground position in grappling, where one fighter sits astride the opponent's torso with knees planted on either side, applying gravitational pressure and controlling the fight from above. [1] It is universally recognised as the pinnacle of positional hierarchy — in BJJ competition it awards 4 points (the maximum for any position), and in self-defence scenarios the mounted fighter has near-total striking and submission access while the bottom fighter is extremely limited. [1],[2] The Gracie family built their entire self-defence system around the premise that achieving mount wins fights, famously demonstrating at UFC 1–4 that a skilled mount player can control and finish much larger opponents. [2],[3] Mount variations include low mount (grapevined legs for maximum control), high mount (chest-to-face with arms trapped), S-mount (modified for armbar entries), and technical mount (one knee up for back-take transitions). [3]
Mount PositionFull MountMounted PositionTate Shiho GatameJP
History & Origin
The mount has been recognised as a dominant position throughout combat history — ancient pankration, medieval wrestling manuals, and virtually every grappling tradition acknowledge the superiority of the top-straddling position. [1] In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the mount was elevated to the highest position in the positional hierarchy by Hélio Gracie, who built his self-defence system around the sequence: takedown → pass guard → achieve mount → submit. [1],[2] Royce Gracie's UFC performances (1993–1994) demonstrated mount's dominance to the world, and Roger Gracie's competition career (7x World Champion) showed that a masterful mount game alone could defeat the best grapplers in the world. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Mount is the most effective dominant position in grappling and self-defence contexts, providing the top player with overwhelming control and attack options. [1] In MMA, achieving mount is one of the strongest predictors of winning a fight — ground-and-pound from mount is responsible for a significant percentage of TKO/KO finishes. [2] Roger Gracie's competition record demonstrates mount's supremacy in pure grappling: he submitted multiple IBJJF World Championship opponents with the cross-collar choke from mount, proving that even at the highest levels, a perfected mount game is nearly unstoppable. [3]
Lineage
The mount position was formalised in judo as tate shiho gatame (vertical four-corner hold) and adopted into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through the Gracie lineage. [1] Hélio Gracie positioned mount as the ultimate goal of the positional hierarchy, and this philosophy was transmitted through his sons and students. [1],[2] Roger Gracie's competition career (2004–2017) demonstrated the mount's effectiveness at the highest level and inspired a generation of mount-focused competitors. [2]
Competition Record
Mount is scored as the highest-value position in BJJ (4 points IBJJF, 2 points ADCC) and is a recognised pin in judo (tate shiho gatame, scoring ippon after 20 seconds of hold-down). [1] Roger Gracie won 7 IBJJF World Championships and 2 ADCC titles largely through mount-based submissions, particularly the cross-collar choke from mount. [1],[2] In UFC/MMA history, ground-and-pound from mount has ended hundreds of fights by TKO, making it one of the most decisive positions in professional fighting. [2]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Applying gravitational body weight directly onto the opponent's torso from a straddling position, pinning them to the mat while maintaining balance and mobility above
Joints Involved — Hips (primary weight distribution and base adjustment — dropping hips heavy keeps the bottom player pinned), knees (framing against the opponent's sides for base, hooking for grapevine control), ankles (grapevine hooks lock around the opponent's legs to prevent bridging)
Force Vector — Directly downward — the mounted player's full bodyweight presses through their hips into the opponent's sternum and abdomen; lateral force from the knees prevents rolling
Control Mechanic — The mount creates a positional checkmate: the bottom player cannot generate hip movement (neutralised by grapevine or knee pressure), cannot frame effectively (arms are inside the mount player's knees), and cannot bridge without being ridden — the top player maintains a stable, heavy platform from which to strike or submit
Position & Entry
From side control — Slide the near-side knee across the opponent's belly while maintaining chest pressure, swing the far leg over into full mount — the most common mount entry in BJJ [1]
From knee-on-belly — Step the far leg over into mount when the opponent turns toward you to relieve knee pressure; use the reaction to establish a secure mounted position
From guard pass completion — After passing the guard, continue the momentum to advance directly to mount rather than settling in side control — especially effective with leg drag and over-under passes
From back control — When back mount hooks are being escaped, transition to mount by swinging over the top — maintaining a dominant position even when back control is lost
Videos
Concepts for Maintaining Mount
0
Mount·Roger Gracie TV
In order to attack, you need to have a solid foundation and be comfortable in a position. Here are some of the key point…
2 videos
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Very high for the bottom player — the mounted fighter faces unrestricted ground-and-pound in MMA, multiple submission threats (armbar, cross-collar choke, americana, ezekiel), and extreme difficulty generating escape leverage; for the top player, risk is minimal (potential reversal from careless position)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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
✓Position before submission — spend training time maintaining mount against a resisting partner before adding attacks; mount maintenance is the skill, submissions are the reward (Roger Gracie's approach) [1]
✓Low mount with grapevines is the highest-control variation — use it to exhaust the opponent's escape attempts before transitioning to high mount for submissions
✓Learn to ride the bridge — when the bottom player bridges, post your hands on the mat, absorb the bridge, and re-settle; do not fight the bridge with stiffness
✓High mount is where submissions happen — walk your knees into the armpits, isolate an arm, and attack; the transition from low to high mount is a critical skill
✓Cross-collar choke from mount is the highest-percentage gi submission from this position — Roger Gracie finished multiple world finals with this single technique [2]
✓In MMA, posture up to create striking distance — being too flat on the chest limits ground-and-pound power; sit up, create angle, and deliver downward strikes
✓Drill mount escapes with the same intensity as mount attacks — understanding how people escape mount makes your mount harder to escape
✓The americanas and armbars from mount flow together — if the opponent defends one, the other opens; drill the armbar-americana-cross-collar triangle as a chain
Common Mistakes
!Sitting too high without base — high mount is powerful but requires careful weight distribution; leaning too far forward invites the upa (bridge and roll) escape
!Crossing ankles under the opponent — in both BJJ and MMA, crossed ankles from mount expose a foot lock; keep ankles uncrossed or grapevined
!Going for submissions too early — rushing an armbar from mount before consolidating control often results in losing the position entirely
!Staying flat on the opponent's chest — while heavy pressure is good for control, it limits striking and submission options; learn to transition between heavy and upright mount
!Ignoring the opponent's arm positioning — the key to mount attacks is arm isolation; if both arms are free, submissions are difficult; systematically isolate one arm at a time
!Not adjusting base when the opponent turns to their side — a common mount escape involves turning to one hip; failure to adjust base (posting the arm on the turning side) leads to being reversed
!Riding mount passively — in competition, stalling from mount may result in a stand-up; maintain active attacking to justify the position
Related Techniques
Side Control — the most common position from which mount is achieved; side control to mount transition is a fundamental skillGuard Pass — the pathway to mount; successful guard passes lead to side control and then mountEscape and Reversal (Mount Escape) — the defensive counter to mount; trap-and-roll (upa) and elbow-knee (shrimp) escapesBack Control — mount often transitions to back control when the opponent turns to escape; the mount-to-back transition is criticalKnee-on-Belly — an alternative dominant position that can transition to mount
Counter Techniques
Trap and Roll (Upa) — trap the opponent's arm and same-side foot, bridge explosively to reverse to guard topElbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp) — frame against the hips, hip escape to create space, recover half guard or full guardFoot Drag — trap one of the mounted player's feet with your own, bridge to the trapped side, and recover half guardGoing to Turtle — when escape to guard fails, turn to turtle as an intermediate position before standing upHeel Drag Escape — drag one heel to hook the mounted player's foot, then hip escape to half guard
Setup Chain
1Establish Mount — achieve full mount from side control, knee-on-belly, or back control transition
2Consolidate Control — establish low mount with grapevines, settle weight, and neutralise initial escape attempts
3Advance to High Mount — walk knees up toward armpits as the opponent's escape energy diminishes
4Isolate an Arm — use head positioning, crossface, or hand fighting to isolate one arm
5Attack — launch armbar, americana, or cross-collar choke on the isolated arm
6Chain Submissions — if the initial attack is defended, transition to the complementary attack (armbar ↔ americana ↔ cross-collar ↔ mounted triangle)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) on mount as apex of positional hierarchy [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) on Gracie positional theory [3] Roger Gracie competition analysis
2BookMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
History sources — [1] Ancient combat and wrestling traditions [2] The Gracie Way (Kid Peligro, 2003) [3] Roger Gracie IBJJF competition record
3BookThe Mount (Roger Gracie, BJJ instructional series)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] UFC fight statistics (ufcstats.com) [3] Roger Gracie's 7x World Championship record
4BookKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
6CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) on mount as apex of positional hierarchy [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) on Gracie positional theory [3] Roger Gracie competition analysis
7CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
History sources — [1] Ancient combat and wrestling traditions [2] The Gracie Way (Kid Peligro, 2003) [3] Roger Gracie IBJJF competition record
8CitationThe Mount (Roger Gracie, BJJ instructional series)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] UFC fight statistics (ufcstats.com) [3] Roger Gracie's 7x World Championship record
9CitationKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Community
Athletics
Requires
balance and base (staying mounted while the opponent bridges and bucks), hip dexterity (adjusting position dynamically), upper body control (isolating arms for submissions)
Favours
heavy bodyweight (more difficult to escape), long legs (easier to grapevine), strong core (riding bridges), good cardio (maintaining active mount is physically demanding)
Key muscles
adductors (squeezing the opponent), core (balance and riding), glutes (driving weight down), forearms (grip fighting and arm isolation)
Sub-techniques
Notes
The mount is the most dominant position in ground fighting. In early UFC events, Royce Gracie consistently achieved mount and finished opponents from there. In IBJJF, mount scores 4 points — the highest positional score. (IBJJF Rules v6.0; Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University)
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I go for submissions immediately when I get mount, or focus on something else first?
Roger Gracie emphasizes that you must secure the mount position first before attempting submissions. Once you're comfortable and can spend time in the position, then you can work on submissions without constantly repositioning yourself.
What are the main escape attempts I need to defend against from mount?
According to Roger Gracie, the two most common mount escapes are the bridge (upa) where they hold one arm and bridge over to reverse you, and pushing your leg to put you back in guard.
How should I position my body to make mount harder to escape?
Jedi Does Jiujitsu recommends being as close to your partner's head as possible, driving weight on their chest, arching your back, and keeping your feet glued to their body—any gap between your foot and their body creates space for escape.
What's the best way to stabilize my position when my hips are low in mount?
Jedi Does Jiujitsu suggests grabbing the cross face, crossing your ankles underneath their legs, and arching your back to make yourself heavier while posting out with your hands to stabilize the high mount.
How does the Mount work?
The mount is the most dominant ground position in grappling, where one fighter sits astride the opponent's torso with knees planted on either side, applying gravitational pressure and controlling the fight from above. It is universally recognised as the pinnacle of positional hierarchy — in BJJ competition it awards 4 points (the maximum for any position), and in self-defence scenarios the mounted fighter has near-total striking and submission access while the bottom fighter is extremely limited.
Where does the Mount come from?
The mount has been recognised as a dominant position throughout combat history — ancient pankration, medieval wrestling manuals, and virtually every grappling tradition acknowledge the superiority of the top-straddling position. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the mount was elevated to the highest position in the positional hierarchy by Hélio Gracie, who built his self-defence system around the sequence: takedown → pass guard → achieve mount → submit.
Is the 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 Mount?
Danger rating 8/10. Very high for the bottom player — the mounted fighter faces unrestricted ground-and-pound in MMA, multiple submission threats (armbar, cross-collar choke, americana, ezekiel), and extreme difficulty generating escape leverage; for the top player, risk is minimal (potential reversal from careless position)
How do I set up the Mount?
The standard setup chain: Establish Mount → Consolidate Control → Advance to High Mount → Isolate an Arm → Attack → Chain Submissions.
How do I defend against the Mount?
Standard counters include: Trap and Roll (Upa) — trap the opponent's arm and same-side foot, bridge explosively to reverse to guard top / Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp) — frame against the hips, hip escape to create space, recover half guard or full guard / Foot Drag — trap one of the mounted player's feet with your own, bridge to the trapped side, and recover half guard / Going to Turtle — when escape to guard fails, turn to turtle as an intermediate position before standing up.
What are the variants of the Mount?
Common variants: Low mount (hips heavy, grapevine hooks locking the opponent's legs; …); High mount (hips walked up to the opponent's chest/face, knees pinnin…); S-mount (one leg posted forward beside the head with the shin acro…); Technical mount (one knee up with the foot on the ground (like a lunge), t…); Rear mount (mount achieved from behind with hooks in; combines mount …); Mounted crucifix (arms trapped under the mount player's legs; devastating c…).
How effective is the Mount in competition?
Mount is scored as the highest-value position in BJJ (4 points IBJJF, 2 points ADCC) and is a recognised pin in judo (tate shiho gatame, scoring ippon after 20 seconds of hold-down). Roger Gracie won 7 IBJJF World Championships and 2 ADCC titles largely through mount-based submissions, particularly the cross-collar choke from mount.
What are common mistakes when doing the Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting too high without base — high mount is powerful but requires careful weight distribution; leaning too far forw… / Crossing ankles under the opponent — in both BJJ and MMA, crossed ankles from mount expose a foot lock; keep ankles u… / Going for submissions too early — rushing an armbar from mount before consolidating control often results in losing t… / Staying flat on the opponent's chest — while heavy pressure is good for control, it limits striking and submission op….
What are other names for the Mount?
The Mount is also known as Maunto, Mount Position, Full Mount, Mounted Position, Tate Shiho Gatame.