Armbar from mount
0
From Mount·Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne
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From Mount
SubFamilyマウントから(Maunto kara)
TransliterationTranslation: from mount
Overview
The belly smother from mount is applied by positioning the chest directly over the opponent's face from full mount, using body weight to seal the nose and mouth. [1] The attacker typically maintains a low base, controls the opponent's arms, and shifts weight forward to maximize the smothering effect. [2]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Mount submissions attack from the most dominant ground position, offering armbars, collar chokes, arm triangles, and ezekiel chokes. [1]
Lineage
Mount submissions were central to the Gracie BJJ system and are fundamental in both gi and no-gi grappling. [1]
Competition Record
Mount submissions (armbars, collar chokes) are high-percentage finishes in both BJJ competition and MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Isolation of a joint and application of force beyond its natural range of motion
Joints Involved — Target joint (hyperextension or rotation), adjacent joints (stabilised to prevent escape)
Force Vector — Two-point control — one anchor stabilises while the other drives the joint past its normal limit
Leverage Principle — Grip configuration and body positioning create a mechanical advantage that multiplies applied force
Position & Entry
From dominant position — Isolate the target limb, secure the controlling grip, and apply force beyond the joint's range of motion
From guard (bottom) — Control the limb from guard position, configure the submission grip, and apply the lock
From transition — During a scramble or positional change, catch the exposed limb and lock the submission
Variants
Standard variation — primary grip configuration and finishing angle
Gi variation — using the gi material for grip assistance and control
No-gi variation — adapted grips for submission grappling without the gi
Transition variation — applied during a positional change or scramble
Videos
Americana from Mount
0
From Mount·Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne
Full Course Playlist → https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDrQXekZsfYZfV1QZ4T5UkxLwFwQ12EbP Find the Introduction course…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Belly smother from mount restricts breathing through chest weight on the face
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Not a standard judo technique — may be considered n...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Not a recognized sambo technique
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — no specific prohibition against smotherin...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The smother from mount drives the chest and abdomen over the opponent's face while maintaining the mounted position — the mount provides the stability needed for an effective smother (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)
✓Technique: from high mount, walk the knees up beside the opponent's head and drive the hips forward — the chest drops over the face, blocking the airway
✓The mounted smother is enhanced by grapevining the opponent's legs — this prevents bridging and keeps the attacker's weight committed forward
✓Arm control is essential: underhook the opponent's arms or swim past their frames to prevent them from creating space between your chest and their face
✓The mounted smother creates submission opportunities: the opponent must expose their neck or arms to escape the suffocation — opening chokes and armbars
✓High mount smothering works with gi and no-gi: in gi, the lapel can be pulled across the face; in no-gi, body weight alone creates the smother
✓The smother accumulates: even brief periods of restricted breathing fatigue the opponent and reduce their defensive capacity for subsequent submission attempts
Common Mistakes
!Sitting in low mount and trying to smother — the smother requires high mount with the knees beside the head; low mount leaves too much space
!Not controlling the opponent's arms — arm frames create breathing space; control or swim past the arms before committing to the smother
!Losing the mount during the smother attempt — maintain hooks and balance; over-committing forward without base control causes the opponent to bridge and reverse
!Not transitioning when the opponent defends — the smother defence (turning the head, framing) creates openings for cross-chokes, arm triangles, and armbars
!Holding the position without advancing — the smother is a tool for creating reactions; if no reaction comes, advance to a submission
!Using the smother on opponents significantly larger than you — the smother requires enough body mass to cover the opponent's face effectively
!Driving straight down with all weight — the smother uses forward pressure, not downward crushing; straight-down weight is easier to bridge against
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Position — achieve the controlling position needed for this submission
2Create the Threat — begin the submission setup to force a defensive reaction
3Secure the Hold — lock the submission grip with proper body mechanics
4Finish — apply increasing pressure until the opponent taps or the joint/choke takes effect
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese BJJ — kijou (mounted) + hara-osae
1BookJapanese BJJ — kijou (mounted) + hara-osae
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ — kijou (mounted) + hara-osae
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3CitationJapanese BJJ — kijou (mounted) + hara-osae
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ — kijou (mounted) + hara-osae
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip strength, joint isolation ability, positional control
Favours
strong forearms and stable base
Key muscles
forearm flexors, core stabilisers, hip muscles for base
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it so important to get my hips behind the opponent's shoulder when setting up an armbar from mount?
Getting your hips behind the shoulder is critical because it prevents you from losing the elbow during the submission. If the opponent's elbow drops below the line of your hips, you won't be able to generate the pressure needed to finish the armbar.
What's the correct way to position my opponent's thumb when finishing an armbar from mount?
Point the thumb 180 degrees away from your body, which forces the elbow point toward you so that when you extend it, you hyperextend the elbow. If the thumb points downward instead, the pressure bends the elbow rather than hyperextending it, making escape easier.
How do I prevent my opponent from escaping by moving their shoulders away during the armbar setup?
Step your foot behind the opponent's shoulder—your heel will block them from scooting their shoulders away and freeing the elbow, which is a common escape attempt.
What grip should I use for the Americana to prevent my opponent from straightening their arm and escaping?
Use a hook grip by curling your fingers over the top rather than placing your thumb on the same side, since the gap between fingers and thumb is the weakest point of the grip. The hook grip makes it much harder for your opponent to straighten their arm and escape.
How does the From Mount work?
The belly smother from mount is applied by positioning the chest directly over the opponent's face from full mount, using body weight to seal the nose and mouth. The attacker typically maintains a low base, controls the opponent's arms, and shifts weight forward to maximize the smothering effect.
Where does the From Mount come from?
Mount-based smothering is implicit in Japanese judo's tate-shiho-gatame (mount hold) and related pinning techniques. In BJJ, deliberate smother attacks from mount have been refined as finishing techniques by practitioners who use size and pressure as primary weapons.
Is the From Mount legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — no specific prohibition against smothering techniques; IJF: restricted — Not a standard judo technique — may be considered non-combative if applied wi…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: restricted — Not a recognized sambo technique; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the From Mount?
Danger rating 4/10. Belly smother from mount restricts breathing through chest weight on the face
How do I set up the From Mount?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.
How do I defend against the From Mount?
Standard counters include: Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately / Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups / Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the From Mount?
Common variants: Standard variation (primary grip configuration and finishing angle); Gi variation (using the gi material for grip assistance and control); No-gi variation (adapted grips for submission grappling without the gi); Transition variation (applied during a positional change or scramble).
How effective is the From Mount in competition?
Mount submissions (armbars, collar chokes) are high-percentage finishes in both BJJ competition and MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the From Mount?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting in low mount and trying to smother — the smother requires high mount with the knees beside the head; low moun… / Not controlling the opponent's arms — arm frames create breathing space; control or swim past the arms before committ… / Losing the mount during the smother attempt — maintain hooks and balance; over-committing forward without base contro… / Not transitioning when the opponent defends — the smother defence (turning the head, framing) creates openings for cr….
What are other names for the From Mount?
The From Mount is also known as Maunto kara, Mount Position Smother, Mounted Smother.