Mount

What it is

Mount is the position where you sit astride your opponent's torso with your knees pinched to their ribs and your weight running through your hips. It is one of the strongest positions in BJJ because gravity works for you: your arms are free, theirs are pinned under your weight, and it scores 4 points in competition. On the bottom it is the position you most want to leave early, before the top player settles in.

What you want from here

• On top: stay heavy, climb your knees toward the armpits, and attack the arms and neck from there.
• On top: you have passed guard or swept and want a scoring position where the opponent can do very little back.
• On bottom: protect your elbows, keep your hands near your neck, and start the escape before they settle.
• On bottom: the goal is to get to half guard or full guard, not to push the person off you.

Key details

• Hips low and heavy. Your weight should sit on their belly and chest, not on your own knees.
• Knees pinched and feet active. Hook your feet under their thighs (grapevines) or keep your knees tight so they cannot slide a knee in.
• Hands on the mat. When they bridge, post a hand out past your head on that side so you do not get rolled.
• Climb when they push. Every time they push you away, walk your knees higher toward the armpits.
• On bottom, elbows glued to the ribs. Elbows wide let them climb to high mount and isolate an arm.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: sitting upright with your weight on your knees. They feel light, bridge, and your mount becomes their guard.
• Mistake: reaching for a choke with both hands at once. Your base disappears and the upa rolls you over.
• Mistake: on the bottom, pushing them away with straight arms. Straight arms get armbarred and give them the space to climb.
• Mistake: on the bottom, lying flat and waiting. The longer you wait, the heavier and higher they get.

How it is escaped or passed

• The upa (bridge and roll), especially when the top player posts both hands or leans over one side.
• The elbow escape (shrimp), turning on your side and sliding a knee in to recover half guard.
• Trapping one arm and one foot on the same side, then bridging over that side.