Mastering the Mount Position in BJJ

If Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had royalty, the mount would sit on the throne. It’s often called the king of positions and for good reason. When you’re sitting on top of your opponent’s torso, chest heavy, hips grounded, and balance locked in, you control the fight.

The mount isn’t just about dominance; it’s about opportunity. From this position, you can score valuable points in competition, launch devastating submissions, or defend yourself in real-world scenarios. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything—how to get mount, keep it, attack from it, and escape it when you’re the one stuck on the bottom.

What Is the Mount Position in BJJ?

mount position jiu jitsu

So, what exactly is the mount? At its core, mount means you’re sitting on your opponent’s torso, chest to chest, with your knees and feet hugging their sides. Your weight presses down, limiting their ability to move while giving you freedom to attack.

People often ask me: “Is mount the same as full mount?” Pretty much, yes. The term “mount position BJJ” usually refers to the full mount—a position where both knees are tight against your opponent’s body, giving you complete control.

Why is mount such a big deal in Jiu-Jitsu? In the IBJJF ruleset, it’s worth 4 points, which is as high as any positional score. That tells you where it ranks in the hierarchy—just below back control, but ahead of side control or knee-on-belly.

When I compare mount to other top positions, I think of it like this:

Side control gives you control, but not as many attacks.
Guard passing gets you an advantage, but mount solidifies it.
Back control is even stronger, but mount is often the gateway to it.

Bottom line: the mount is one of the most dominant and versatile positions in BJJ.

Variations of the Mount

Not all mounts are created equal. Let me walk you through the five main types you need to know.

Low Mount sits closer to your opponent’s hips. This is your “heavy control” position. When someone stronger is trying to buck you off, low mount is your best friend. Your weight settles into their stomach area, making it harder for them to bridge effectively.

The downside? You’re further from their head, so chokes become trickier. But for pure control, especially against bigger opponents, low mount rocks.

High Mount moves you closer to their chest and head area. This opens up a world of choke options. Cross-collar chokes, Ezekiel chokes, even some arm attacks work better from here.

The trade-off is stability. When you sit high, your opponent can bridge and roll you more easily. It’s a risk-reward game. More attacks, less stability.

S-Mount looks weird at first, but it’s gold for armbar setups. You swing one leg over their head while keeping the other knee down by their hip. This creates an “S” shape with your legs – hence the name.

From S-mount, armbars become almost unavoidable. Your opponent’s arm is trapped, and you have multiple finishing angles. It’s one of those positions that makes people tap just from the pressure.

Technical Mount gives you one knee on their belly and one foot on their far hip. This position offers incredible mobility. You can switch to different attacks quickly, and it’s easier to maintain against squirmy opponents.

Think of technical mount as your “sports car” – fast, maneuverable, but requires more skill to drive.

Reverse/Floating Mount is advanced stuff. You’re facing their legs instead of their head, or you’re maintaining mount while moving dynamically. These variations show up more in modern competition BJJ.

Here’s when to use each variation:

Fighting someone bigger? Use low mount for control.
Want to finish with chokes? Go high mount.
Their arms are exposed? Switch to S-mount for armbars.
They keep escaping? Try technical mount for better mobility.
Competition at high level? Practice the advanced variations.

How to Achieve the Mount

Want to get to the mount? You don’t just jump on someone.

You earn it.

Most mounts come from:

Side control
Guard pass
Knee-on-belly
Scrambles

Let’s say you’re in side control. They’re flat. You’ve got their arm pinned.

Here’s what I do:

Trap their near arm across their body.
Step over with your far leg, knee on their chest.
Bring your other knee over.
Sink your hips down. Keep your base wide.

Done right, they can’t move.

From knee-on-belly? Slide your knee over their body, then bring the other leg around.

From open guard? Pass their legs, flatten them, then climb on top.

Timing matters.

Wait for them to bridge, shrimp, or reach—then strike.

Common mistakes?

Standing up too tall during the transition.
Letting them get a frame between your hips and theirs.
Rushing and losing balance.

I used to jump into the mount like I was diving into a pool. Got rolled every time.

Now I move slow, stay low, and lock it in before I think about attacking.

Maintaining and Controlling the Mount

Okay, you’ve made it to mount. Now the real work begins. Maintaining control is harder than getting there. Here’s what you need to focus on:

Weight distribution & hip pressure – Stay heavy through your hips, not just your chest.
Knee and foot positioning – Keep your knees tight and your feet hooked under their hips when possible.
Hand placement & head control – Hands can post out for balance or control the collar, head, or arms.
Adjustments – Anticipate escapes like the upa (bridge and roll) or elbow-knee shrimp. Keep your base wide and low.
Balance – Don’t lean too far forward or backward. Think of yourself as a stable table with four posts.

Mistakes I see all the time? Sitting too high, leaving too much space, or overcommitting to a submission and losing position.

Once you master the basics, you can play with advanced concepts: sometimes you need to crush with pressure, other times you stay light and mobile, ready to transition. The art is knowing when to switch gears.

Submissions from Mount Position BJJ.

Mount isn’t just about holding someone down—it’s the launchpad for some of the nastiest submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Arm attacks are usually the first weapons you’ll learn:

Americana – A shoulder lock that works well in low mount.
Armbar – A classic attack from S-mount, swinging your leg over the head.
Kimura – A versatile lock that punishes exposed arms.

Chokes are equally powerful from mount:

Cross-collar choke (in Gi) is a staple that uses lapels for leverage.
Ezekiel choke works even with one arm trapped.
Mounted triangle catches opponents trying to push your leg.
Arm-triangle choke punishes those who leave their arm across their neck.

Submissions often flow into one another. For example, you attack a cross-collar choke, your opponent defends by extending their arms, and boom—you switch to an armbar. Linking attacks into chains keeps your opponent guessing and prevents them from settling.

If a submission fails, don’t panic. Reset, stabilize your mount, and go again. The goal is to attack without losing the throne.

Escaping the Mount (Defensive Perspective)

Let’s be real—being mounted sucks.

You’re on your back. Someone’s sitting on your chest. You can’t breathe. You can’t move.

But don’t panic.

I’ve been there more times than I want to admit. And every time, I learned something.

The good news? There are solid ways out.

Upa (Bridge and Roll)
This is your go-to.

Arch your back hard (like you’re trying to touch the mat with your shoulders).
Turn into the attacker’s hip—not away from them.
Use your arms to push off their thigh or hip.
Roll through.

Key tip: explode once, then stay tight. Don’t keep bridging over and over—that burns energy.

Elbow-Knee Escape (Shrimp Escape)
If they’re too heavy to upa, shrimp instead.

Frame on their hip or chest.
Shrimp your hips out, elbow driving into their thigh.
Create space, then recover guard or half guard.

This works better in no-gi or against heavier opponents.

Advanced Options

If they’re leaning forward, roll them by framing and turning into their base.
If they go for a choke, trap their arm and shrimp to half guard.
If you can’t get out, tuck your chin and protect your neck. Move to turtle when you can.

Timing is everything.
Wait for them to reach for a submission. That’s when they’re off-balance.

Mistakes I used to make:

Panicking and flailing.
Bridging with a flat back (no power).
Forgetting to turn into the roll.

Now I stay calm, keep my elbows tight, and pick my moment.

And if one escape fails? I move to the next. No shame in surviving.

Drills to Improve Mount Skills

You don’t get good at mount by luck. You drill it.

Here’s what works:

For the Top Player

Isolation sparring: Start in mount. Partner resists. Focus on staying heavy and moving to submissions.
Transition chains: Mount → S-mount → back take. Do it slow, then fast.
Seatbelt grip drill: Practice slipping both arms under their legs and locking the grip.

I do this 10 times per side before live rolls.

For the Bottom Player

Escape cycles: Get mounted → upa → shrimp → recover guard → repeat.
Frame and survive: Let them mount you. Hold frames for 30 seconds without tapping. Build patience.
Bridge and roll with resistance: Partner sits lightly. You practice timing and direction.

Solo Drills

Bridging sets: 3 sets of 15 bridges. Builds power for upa.
Hip escapes: Lie on your back, shrimp your hips out from under an imaginary weight.
Positional shadow rolling: Move through mount entries and escapes in the air.

Sparring Variations

Mount-only rounds: Start every round in mount (top or bottom).
Timed holds: Can you stay in mount for 2 full minutes under pressure?
Submission-only from mount: No points. Just finish.

Drill this 2–3 times a week, and you’ll see fast progress.

Common Mistakes in Mount (Top & Bottom)

Let me save you years of frustration by showing you the mistakes everyone makes.

Top Player Errors

Poor weight distribution is the number one mistake. People either sit too light (easy to bridge off) or too heavy (easy to sweep forward).

The sweet spot is firm, steady pressure without crushing them. Think “assertive” not “aggressive.”

Overcommitting to submissions happens when you see an attack and abandon position to get it. I’ve seen people give up perfect mount positions for low-percentage submissions.

Rule: Position before submission, always.

Ignoring opponent’s escapes means you’re not paying attention to their movements. Every small movement they make tells you something about their next escape attempt.

Stay alert. Feel what they’re doing and adjust accordingly.

Bottom Player Errors

Panicking and burning energy is deadly. Mount is uncomfortable, but panic makes it worse. Calm people escape more often than strong people.

Take deep breaths. Work systematically. Save your energy for when you have a real escape opportunity.

Staying flat gives your opponent all the advantages. Get on your side when possible. It makes their balance harder and your escapes easier.

Telegraphing escapes means showing them what you’re about to do before you do it. Don’t wind up for big movements. Make them quick and sudden.

How to Correct Each Mistake

For weight distribution problems, practice positional sparring with focus on balance only. Don’t worry about submissions. Just stay balanced and heavy.

For overcommitting to submissions, set rules during drilling: “If the submission doesn’t work in 3 seconds, reset to control.”

For ignoring escapes, have your partner tell you what escape they’re going to attempt before they do it. This teaches you to recognize the setup.

For panic problems, practice breathing exercises while under mount. Have someone hold mount while you focus only on staying calm.

For staying flat problems, practice always getting to your side as soon as mount happens. Make it an automatic response.

Mental cues help too. I tell my students: “Heavy hips, light hands” for mount control. “Breathe, bridge, roll” for escapes.

Conclusion

The mount isn’t just another position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—it’s a cornerstone. From here, you can control, dominate, and finish opponents, whether in sport or real-world situations.

Remember the essentials: learn how to achieve mount smoothly, maintain it with balance and pressure, attack with submissions, and escape when you’re the one stuck underneath.

When I first started training, mount used to feel like quicksand—either I couldn’t hold it or I couldn’t get out of it. With time, drills, and plenty of sweaty rounds, it became one of my strongest positions. The same will happen for you.

So get on the mat, practice your mount regularly, and share your experiences with teammates. After all, the mount isn’t just a position—it’s a pathway to control, confidence, and submission success.