Simple High Mount Set Up & Attacks (No Gi BJJ)
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Standard High Mount·MMA Leech
It's not easy to get to the High Mount position and set up attacks when going against a skilled BJJ practitioner. He wi…
Standard High Mount
Genusスタンダードハイマウント(Sutandādo Hai Maunto)
TransliterationTranslation: standard high mount
Overview
The Standard High Mount slides the hips up to the opponent's upper chest or armpit level, with the knees close to the opponent's shoulders, creating a dominant position with direct access to armbars, cross-chokes, and Ezekiel chokes. [1] The high mounting position makes it very difficult for the bottom fighter to use frames because the top fighter's weight is on the upper body. [1],[2] The standard high mount is the primary attacking mount position for submission-oriented fighters. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The standard high mount positions the hips above the opponent's chest, trapping their arms and increasing submission access. [1]
Lineage
High mount was developed in BJJ as an advanced mount progression. [1]
Competition Record
Used in BJJ and MMA competition. [1]
Images
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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
Dominate the Mount with the Meathook System (BJJ Control Blueprint)
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Standard High Mount·Precision MMA
Want to make your mount unescapable and turn every reaction into a submission? In this video, I break down the Meathook…
The First 3 Mount Escapes You Need To Know in BJJ
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Standard High Mount·Brandon Mccaghren
When you first start Jiu Jitsu, you're gonna be getting stuck in the bottom of mount. A lot. Even by people who aren't v…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The standard high mount is a controlling position achieved from regular mount when the bottom player's elbows disconnect from their body, either through mistake or deliberate opening by the top player. MMA Leech emphasizes that high mount can arise opportunistically when an opponent pushes on the chest, or be forced through neck attacks, head blocking, or leg digging to separate the arms—though timing is critical to capitalize before the opponent regains elbow positioning. Precision MMA focuses on hand-trapping mechanics and underhook development as prerequisites for high mount attacks, using double cross-wrist pins and meathook grips to control the opponent's positioning and prevent frame defenses. Both instructors agree that high mount opens primary finishing options: the S-mount armbar (with cross-grip entry) works best when the opponent is flat, while the mounted triangle is more effective when the opponent is turned slightly onto their side, creating space between neck and mat for leg insertion. MMA Leech notes the distinction between true high mount (opponent flat) and technical/modified mount (opponent on side), as body angle affects submission geometry and difficulty. Precision MMA adds that the meathook system—pulling the opponent's shoulder inward and controlling head position—creates a base for transitioning to back takes via figure-four seatbelt and share-sit mechanics. Both instructors stress that forcing high mount against skilled defenders requires incremental position improvements and timing, as opponents can bridge, hip escape, or build their elbow base to defend against premature submission attempts.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- MMA Leech — Simple High Mount Set Up & Attacks (No Gi BJJ): Provides detailed breakdown of three methods to achieve high mount (exploiting mistakes, neck attacks forcing elbow disconnect, and head blocking with leg dig). Explains the S-mount armbar and mounted triangle as primary attacks, noting the geometric advantage of triangle when opponent is on their side versus flat.
- Precision MMA — Dominate the Mount with the Meathook System (BJJ Control Blueprint): Focuses on hand-trapping sequences (double cross-wrist, Americana setup) as prerequisites for high mount control. Emphasizes the meathook grip for shoulder control and head positioning, leading to back-take transitions. Details defensive considerations and counters (power prop to standing, bridge defense) when attacking from high mount.
- Brandon Mccaghren — The First 3 Mount Escapes You Need To Know in BJJ: Provides defense perspective on mount position (bridge and roll, knee-elbow escape, kipping escape), offering context for why top player must achieve high mount to neutralize these common bottom-position defenses.
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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
✓Standard high mount execution: from full mount, walk the knees up toward the opponent's armpits by alternating knee advances, controlling the arms as they become trapped, and establishing an attacking position near the shoulders (Danaher, Mount Attacks, 2020)
✓Step 1: from full mount with grapevine hooks, release the hooks
✓Step 2: walk the right knee up 2-3 inches toward the armpit, then the left knee
✓Step 3: repeat the alternating knee walk until both knees are near the armpits
✓Step 4: as the knees advance, the opponent's arms become trapped underneath — control them with head grips or collar grips
✓Step 5: from high mount, attack: armbar (swing the leg over the head), triangle (thread one leg behind the neck), or cross choke (collar grips are deep at this range)
✓The knee walk must be accompanied by forward pressure: lean into the opponent to prevent them from shrimping during the climb
✓Drill: from low mount, climb to high mount and attack the armbar — 5 reps per side
Common Mistakes
!Walking both knees up simultaneously — alternate one knee at a time for stability
!Not leaning forward during the climb — forward pressure is essential to prevent the opponent from creating space
!Climbing without controlling the arms — as the knees advance, the arms must be managed
!Walking the knees past the armpits — the armpits are the target; going further risks losing the mount
!Not immediately attacking upon reaching high mount — high mount is unstable; attack quickly
!Releasing upper body control to walk the knees — maintain grips throughout the climb
!Not practising the climb against resistance — the partner should be actively defending during drills
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] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] 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] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
5CitationBrazilian 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transition from regular mount to high mount?
According to MMA Leech, you can take advantage of your opponent's mistake—if they push on your chest in regular mount, transition to high mount. If your opponent is defending well, you'll need to force it by attacking their neck to open their elbows, or by blocking the top of their head so they can't scoop and then digging your leg underneath.
What's the key to controlling an opponent in mount position?
Precision MMA emphasizes getting behind your partner's elbow as the foundation for any mount attack. Work to establish an underhook or use hand pinning techniques to control their positioning before attempting submissions.
Why is keeping my opponent's head on the mat important in high mount?
Precision MMA explains that when your opponent's head is on the floor, their bridge is powerful and they can dynamically move and off-balance you. By controlling their head and keeping it elevated, you eliminate their ability to bridge effectively and maintain your dominant position.
What's a common beginner mistake when defending against mount attacks?
According to Precision MMA, a common mistake is shooting your arm across to clasp your hands together in defense—this is a 'dumb move' because it compromises your structure and allows your opponent to base out, hip escape, and regain control.
How does the Standard High Mount work?
The Standard High Mount slides the hips up to the opponent's upper chest or armpit level, with the knees close to the opponent's shoulders, creating a dominant position with direct access to armbars, cross-chokes, and Ezekiel chokes. The high mounting position makes it very difficult for the bottom fighter to use frames because the top fighter's weight is on the upper body.
Where does the Standard High Mount come from?
The standard high mount is a core position in BJJ's mount attacking system, representing the advanced mount position used for high-percentage submission finishes. It is taught as the primary offensive mount progression after establishing full mount.
Is the Standard High 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 Standard High Mount?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — top positions enable pressure and striking; rib compression risk under heavy pressure
How do I set up the Standard High Mount?
The standard setup chain: Pass the Guard → Settle Weight → Control Arms → Threaten Submissions.
How do I defend against the Standard High 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 Standard High 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 Standard High Mount in competition?
Used in BJJ and MMA competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard High Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Walking both knees up simultaneously — alternate one knee at a time for stability / Not leaning forward during the climb — forward pressure is essential to prevent the opponent from creating space / Climbing without controlling the arms — as the knees advance, the arms must be managed / Walking the knees past the armpits — the armpits are the target; going further risks losing the mount.
What are other names for the Standard High Mount?
The Standard High Mount is also known as Sutandādo Hai Maunto, Classic High Mount, Basic High Mount, Chest Mount.