The Dope Mount Guide | BJJ Fundamentals
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Standard MountΒ·Jordan Teaches JiujitsuΒ·Added by Admin
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Translation: standard mount
Range & classification
Category
Strike & defenceLocksClose rangeFighting multiple people
Distance
CloseMiddleLong
Overview
The 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]
History & Origin
Country of originΒ· shown in random order
- BrazilBJJ, MMA, Submission Grappling
- JapanBJJ, Judo, Submission Grappling
- USAMMA, Submission Grappling, Catch Wrestling
- EnglandCatch Wrestling
- RussiaSambo
Effectiveness
The standard mount is the fundamental full mount position with the attacker seated on the opponent's torso. [1]
Lineage
The standard mount is the baseline mount position in BJJ and judo. [1]
Competition Record
Standard mount scores 4 points in IBJJF and is a dominant position in all grappling competitions. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action β Gravity-assisted top control β body weight pins the opponent's torso to the ground
Joints Involved β Attacker's hips (heavy base), knees (clamped for ride control), opponent's spine (pinned)
Force Vector β Downward β gravity plus active hip pressure maximises control and submission opportunities
Positional Mechanic β High mount raises the centre of gravity above the opponent's shoulder line, isolating their arms for attacks
Position & Entry
From guard pass completion β After passing the guard, establish mount by placing knees on either side of the opponent's torso
From sweep β Complete a sweep from guard and land directly in mount position on top
From side control (knee slide) β From side control, slide the knee across the opponent's belly and settle into mount
Variants
Low mount β hips heavy on the opponent's belly, grapevines in for stability
High mount β knees under the armpits, arms isolated for submissions
S-mount β one knee high under the armpit, other leg across for arm attacks
Technical mount β 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
β IBJJF β Legal, mount scores 4 points β highest-scoring po...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDFβ ADCC β Legal, mount scores 2 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDFβ Unified MMA β Legal dominant position
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFβ UWW β Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match ...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFβ FIAS Sport Sambo β Legal, pin scores points
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
βStandard mount execution: from side control, swing the far leg over the opponent's body, settle the hips on their abdomen, place both knees tight against their ribs, and establish either grapevine hooks or flat-mount control (Saulo Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University, 2008)
βStep 1: from side control, swim the far arm under the opponent's head for crossface control
βStep 2: swing the far leg over the opponent's body β the knee clears their hip
βStep 3: settle the hips down on the opponent's abdomen β heavy and low
βStep 4: place both knees tight against the ribs β this prevents the opponent from using hip escapes
βStep 5: establish grapevine hooks by threading the feet inside the opponent's thighs
βStep 6: begin the attack sequence: cross choke, armbar, or Americana
βThe mount entry from side control is the most common path: side control β knee slide β leg swing β mount
βDrill: transition from side control to mount β 10 reps per side, focusing on a smooth leg swing and immediate settling
Common Mistakes
!Swinging the leg without head control β the crossface must be maintained during the mount entry
!Settling the hips too high on the chest β the hips should be on the abdomen for optimal control
!Not tightening the knees against the ribs β loose knees allow hip escapes
!Posting the hands on the mat after mounting β maintain head-and-arm control, not hand posts
!Not immediately establishing hooks β the hooks should be in place within seconds of mounting
!Rushing the mount entry and getting caught in half guard β control the far leg during the swing
!Not settling the weight after mounting β take a moment to sink the hips and establish control before attacking
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Pass the Guard β clear the opponent's legs to advance to this dominant position
2Settle Weight β distribute body weight to maintain heavy pressure
3Control Arms β manage the opponent's arms to prevent frames and escapes
4Threaten Submissions β 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 β [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources β [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (ε€ζ₯θͺ) β used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources β [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources β [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
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
How should I position my knee when I'm in mount to control my opponent's legs?
Direct your knee between your opponent's legs and point it back toward them to isolate their bottom leg and prevent it from moving freely. The more you use your knee to create distance from their body, the less they can move.
Why is dropping my hips low important in mount position?
Dropping your hips super low helps stretch your opponent's leg out as far as possible, increasing control and limiting their mobility.
What's the purpose of the cross face in mount?
The cross faceβwhether using your bicep or forearm on the faceβkeeps your opponent from turning onto their side by preventing head movement, since the body must follow where the head goes.
How does the Standard Mount work?
The 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. 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.
Where does the Standard Mount come from?
The standard mount is the most fundamental dominant ground position in grappling, recognised across all wrestling and grappling traditions. It is the foundational mount position in BJJ's curriculum.
Is the Standard Mount legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal β Legal, mount scores 4 points β highest-scoring position; IJF: legal β Legal, osaekomi (pin) β 10-19 seconds scores waza-ari, 20 seconds scores ippon; ADCC: legal β Legal, mount scores 2 points; Unified MMA: legal β Legal dominant position; UWW: legal β Legal, back exposure scores points, pin ends match by fall; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal β Legal, pin scores points
How dangerous is the Standard Mount?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate β top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
How do I set up the Standard Mount?
The standard setup chain: Pass the Guard β Settle Weight β Control Arms β Threaten Submissions.
How do I defend against the Standard Mount?
Standard counters include: Bridge (Upa) β explosive hip elevation to off-balance the top player / Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp) β create space by driving elbow to knee and hip-escaping / Frame β establish forearm frames to prevent the top player from settling weight.
What are the variants of the Standard Mount?
Common variants: Low mount (hips heavy on the opponent's belly, grapevines in for staβ¦); High mount (knees under the armpits, arms isolated for submissions); S-mount (one knee high under the armpit, other leg across for arm β¦); Technical mount (one leg hooked, one knee posted, modified for back-take tβ¦).
How effective is the Standard Mount in competition?
Standard mount scores 4 points in IBJJF and is a dominant position in all grappling competitions.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Swinging the leg without head control β the crossface must be maintained during the mount entry / Settling the hips too high on the chest β the hips should be on the abdomen for optimal control / Not tightening the knees against the ribs β loose knees allow hip escapes / Posting the hands on the mat after mounting β maintain head-and-arm control, not hand posts.
What are other names for the Standard Mount?
The Standard Mount is also known as SutandΔdo Maunto, Classic Mount, Basic Mount, Tate Shiho Gatame (ηΈ¦εζΉεΊγ).