1 - Mount Retention - Grapevines
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Grapevine Mount·Secret Jiu Jitsu·Added by Admin
The Green Mask introduces basic concepts for controlling the mount position. This lecture focuses on grapevines - under…
Grapevine Mount
Genusグレープバインマウント(Gurēpubain Maunto)
TransliterationTranslation: grapevine mount
Overview
The 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]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
The grapevine mount is a traditional mount control method used in BJJ and MMA. [1]
Competition Record
Grapevine mount is commonly used in MMA for ground-and-pound control. [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
Variants
Low mount — hips heavy on the opponent's belly, grapevines in for stability
High mount — knees under the armpits, arms isolated for submissions
S-mount — one knee high under the armpit, other leg across for arm attacks
Technical mount — one leg hooked, one knee posted, modified for back-take transitions
Videos
1 video
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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
✓Grapevine mount hooks both feet inside the opponent's legs from mount — it is the highest-control mount configuration, making escapes extremely difficult (Saulo Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University, 2008)
✓The grapevine hooks: from mount, thread each foot inside the opponent's corresponding thigh, hooking their legs apart
✓Grapevine mount eliminates the upa escape: the opponent cannot bridge effectively because their legs are controlled by the hooks
✓The grapevine creates a full-body pin: the top player's chest controls the upper body while the hooks control the lower body
✓Grapevine mount is the most dominant ground control position in MMA: ground-and-pound from grapevine mount is almost impossible to defend
✓From grapevine mount, submissions are set up by removing one hook: release a hook to climb to high mount for armbar, or maintain hooks for cross choke
✓The grapevine is particularly effective against larger opponents: the hooks spread their legs, reducing their ability to generate bridge power
✓Drill: establish grapevine mount and hold against escaping partner — 2-minute rounds, focus on maintaining hooks and pressure
Common Mistakes
!Hooking the legs but not maintaining chest pressure — the grapevine and chest pressure must work together
!Crossing the feet under the opponent instead of hooking inside the thighs — the hooks go inside, not underneath
!Not spreading the opponent's legs with the hooks — the hooks should actively push the legs apart
!Using the grapevine exclusively without transitioning to attack — grapevine controls; eventually release a hook to attack
!Hooking too deep and losing hip position — the hooks should be medium depth for optimal control
!Not adjusting when the opponent manages a partial escape — re-hook immediately when a hook is cleared
!Staying flat in grapevine mount — maintain slight forward pressure for maximum control
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) [3] UWW Wrestling Rules
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] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [3] UWW Wrestling Rules
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
Frequently Asked Questions
When my opponent tries an elbow escape from mount, how do I stop it?
Transition to a high grapevine by moving your legs higher up on their body as soon as you feel them initiating the escape. The high grapevine makes elbow escapes very difficult to execute.
How should I position my feet when using the high grapevine?
Keep the soles of your feet together like a pyramid shape, but stay relaxed rather than rigid—allow your knees to flex while maintaining solid downward hip pressure. Staying too stiff will cause the position to open up.
Should I use a high grapevine or low grapevine on the ankles?
A low grapevine at the ankles is great for stopping the bridge bump escape but poor against elbow escapes, while the high grapevine excels at stopping elbow escapes but struggles against the bump—each has different strengths and weaknesses.
How does the Grapevine Mount work?
The 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. The grapevine eliminates the bottom fighter's primary escape tool — the bridge — by spreading the legs and taking away hip movement.
Where does the Grapevine Mount come from?
The grapevine mount has been used in wrestling and grappling throughout history as a method of immobilising an opponent. Its effectiveness in MMA for controlling and striking opponents on the ground has made it a standard mount control technique.
Is the Grapevine 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 Grapevine Mount?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
How do I set up the Grapevine Mount?
The standard setup chain: Pass the Guard → Settle Weight → Control Arms → Threaten Submissions.
How do I defend against the Grapevine 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 Grapevine 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 Grapevine Mount in competition?
Grapevine mount is commonly used in MMA for ground-and-pound control.
What are common mistakes when doing the Grapevine Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Hooking the legs but not maintaining chest pressure — the grapevine and chest pressure must work together / Crossing the feet under the opponent instead of hooking inside the thighs — the hooks go inside, not underneath / Not spreading the opponent's legs with the hooks — the hooks should actively push the legs apart / Using the grapevine exclusively without transitioning to attack — grapevine controls; eventually release a hook to at….
What are other names for the Grapevine Mount?
The Grapevine Mount is also known as Gurēpubain Maunto, Grapevine, Hooks-In Mount, Grapevine Pin.