Technical Mount

What it is

Technical mount is the version of mount you use when your opponent turns onto their side under you: you drop onto one hip, with one knee tight behind their back and the other foot posted in front of their hips. It keeps you on top while they turn, and it sits halfway between mount and back control, so it feeds both.

What you want from here

• On top: they turn onto their side in mount to escape, push or hide an arm.
• On top: you want to take the back, or attack the armbar on the arm that is now closest to the ceiling.
• On bottom: you have turned to your side under mount and need to get your back flat and elbows in again.

Key details

• The knee behind their back stops them turning away; the posted foot in front stops them turning back into you.
• Wrap the head and the top arm. Their top arm is the armbar, and their back is facing you for the seatbelt.
• Follow their turn. If they turn back flat, return to mount; if they turn further away, take the back.
• On bottom, keep the top elbow glued to your ribs and the hand near your neck.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: on top, staying square in mount as they turn. They get to their side and slip out under your knee.
• Mistake: on top, sitting upright with no grip on the head. They turn back into you and recover half guard.
• Mistake: on the bottom, pushing on their knee with the top arm. It is the arm they want for the armbar.

How it is escaped or passed

• They turn back flat to their back and work the elbow escape from normal mount.
• They push the posted foot away and roll toward it.