Full mount SUBMISSIONS
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Full Mount·Energia Martial Arts
Full mount SUBMISSIONS There are many great submission options from the full mount positions; attacking the limbs, choki…
Full Mount
SubFamilyフルマウント(Furu Maunto)
TransliterationTranslation: full mount
Overview
The Full Mount subfamily covers the standard mount position where the top fighter sits with the hips on the opponent's torso, legs straddling the body, and full bodyweight applied. [1] Full mount provides a stable platform for ground-and-pound in MMA and submission attacks in grappling, with the bottom fighter's options limited to bridging, framing, and escape attempts. [1],[2] Full mount variants include the standard mount (neutral hip position), grapevine mount (legs hooking inside the opponent's legs), and gift wrap mount (controlling both arms with one arm). [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
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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
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
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
✓Full mount is the standard mount configuration: the top player sits on the opponent's torso with both knees on the mat beside their ribs, hips heavy, and hands controlling the head and arms (Saulo Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University, 2008)
✓Full mount is the most commonly achieved mount variation: it is the position that results from mounting from side control or passing directly to mount
✓Full mount control hierarchy: grapevine hooks (best for control), flat mount (knees tight to the ribs), and posted mount (feet on the mat, more mobile)
✓From full mount, the basic attack sequence: establish posture → threaten the cross choke → opponent defends hands → switch to armbar → opponent pulls arms in → return to choke
✓Full mount is the position where the 'position before submission' principle is most clearly demonstrated: secure the mount completely before attacking
✓The key to maintaining full mount: keep the hips low and heavy, maintain head control (crossface or collar grip), and use the grapevine hooks
✓Drill: hold full mount against escaping partner — 3-minute rounds, focusing on adjusting to their escape attempts
Common Mistakes
!Sitting up straight in full mount — lean forward with the hips low for maximum control
!Not using grapevine hooks — hooks are essential for maintaining mount against skilled opponents
!Attacking submissions before establishing control — secure the position first, then attack
!Posting both hands on the mat — this creates upa escape opportunities; maintain head-and-arm control
!Keeping the knees too far from the opponent's body — the knees should be tight against the ribs or armpits
!Not attacking when mounted — mount is an attacking position; constant threats are required
!Not training mount maintenance as a separate skill — holding mount is as important as attacking from it
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] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [3] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [3] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] 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
Gift Wrap Mount
GenusThe Gift Wrap Mount uses one arm to control both of the opponent's arms by threading one arm through and wrapping it around — 'gift wrapping' the arms together — creating a dominant control that frees one hand for attacks. [1] The gift wrap eliminates one of the mounted fighter's primary defensive tools (framing with the arms) and provides the top fighter with a free hand for strikes or choke set-ups. [1,2] The gift wrap is particularly effective in MMA for setting up ground-and-pound sequences. [2,3]
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Grapevine Mount
GenusThe Grapevine Mount uses the legs to hook inside the opponent's legs (like grapevines wrapping around a post), spreading the legs apart to flatten the opponent and prevent bridging. [1] The grapevine eliminates the bottom fighter's primary escape tool — the bridge — by spreading the legs and taking away hip movement. [1,2] The grapevine mount is particularly effective in MMA for ground-and-pound because it flattens the opponent and prevents them from generating the hip movement needed to escape. [2,3]
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Standard Mount
GenusThe Standard Mount positions the top fighter straddling the opponent's torso with the hips centred on the midsection, knees tight to the sides, and feet hooked under the opponent's thighs or extended for balance. [1] The standard mount is the neutral, default mount position from which the top fighter can transition to high mount, attack with submissions, or deliver ground-and-pound. [1,2] It is the first mount position taught in BJJ and the base from which all mount attacks begin. [2,3]
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from escaping the mount by bridging?
Attack asymmetrically by positioning your shoulder higher on the body rather than directly on the throat, and direct your opponent's face to one side. This limits their bridging options—if they bridge toward the side their face is turned, they lose positioning, according to Energia Martial Arts.
What's a good follow-up attack if my arm triangle setup gets defended?
Catch your opponent's armpit with your hand and base off from there, or transition to a straight armbar by pushing their face down with your elbow and bringing your leg over, as demonstrated by Energia Martial Arts.
How does the Full Mount work?
The Full Mount subfamily covers the standard mount position where the top fighter sits with the hips on the opponent's torso, legs straddling the body, and full bodyweight applied. Full mount provides a stable platform for ground-and-pound in MMA and submission attacks in grappling, with the bottom fighter's options limited to bridging, framing, and escape attempts.
Where does the Full Mount come from?
Full mount is one of the most ancient dominant positions in grappling, recognised across virtually all wrestling traditions as an advantageous position. BJJ and MMA elevated the mount to one of the two most dominant positions in their positional hierarchies.
Is the Full 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 Full Mount?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
How do I set up the Full Mount?
The standard setup chain: Pass the Guard → Settle Weight → Control Arms → Threaten Submissions.
How do I defend against the Full 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 Full 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 Full Mount in competition?
Mount scores 4 points in IBJJF competition and is a primary position for ground-and-pound in MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Full Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting up straight in full mount — lean forward with the hips low for maximum control / Not using grapevine hooks — hooks are essential for maintaining mount against skilled opponents / Attacking submissions before establishing control — secure the position first, then attack / Posting both hands on the mat — this creates upa escape opportunities; maintain head-and-arm control.
What are other names for the Full Mount?
The Full Mount is also known as Furu Maunto, Full Mount, Standard Mount, Tate Shiho Gatame (縦四方固め).