Fighters Only

Issue 072

February 2011

There are two distinct types of mount: low and high. Low mount is preferable for immobilization, whereas high mount offers more opportunity for ground ‘n’ pound or submission. Being mounted in the middle makes the top man vulnerable to being bridged or hip-hoisted off, and also allows the bottom man to push back into his guard. Observing proper form in the low and high mount, plus correctly preparing the transition from low to high, limits any opportunities the bottom man might have to escape. With Pete Irving.

The grapevines

Hooking the legs helps the top man to pressure down his hips and stops the bottom man bringing his heels close to his butt. Both tactics serve to prevent a bridge, knee or elbow escape.

Basing out

With both arms held out wide, the top man can put pressure on either side to compensate when the bottom man attempts to bridge.

ARM TRIANGLE FROM LOW MOUNT

?1 Pete (black shirt) has a low mount on Jason, using the grapevines. Pete maintains a wide base to counter any attempt to bridge.

2 Pete starts to take Jason’s spine off line by pressing Jason’s head across with his forearm. Note that Pete doesn’t place his arm beneath Jason’s head. Pete collects Jason’s elbow, placing the crook of his arm behind Jason’s elbow joint.

3 Pete presses his hands close, simultaneously squeezing Jason’s head and arm together.

4 Now Pete does slide his arm under Jason’s neck, with his forearm flat on the mat and his bicep against Jason’s artery. Pete is careful to keep his hips down using the grapevines. Several grips can be employed in this situation: here Pete uses an S-grip variant.

5 Pete tripods up, putting all his weight on Jason’s neck and jumps over to a knee ride on the side he has the hold.

6 Here’s that position from the other side. Note that Pete is knee-riding on Jason’s hip, not on the center of Jason’s torso.

7 Pete sinks his hips while maintaining the knee ride and squeezes Jason’s head and arm tighter to get

the submission.

TRANSITION TO HIGH MOUNT FOR GROUND 'N' POUND USING ELBOWS

1 Pete has a low mount on Jason, using the grapevines and maintaining a wide base.

2 Pete keeps the grapevines pressuring outward and his hips down. He loads up a big hook by rotating his upper body. Jason lifts his elbows up to cover the shot.

3 When Jason lifts his elbows up to defend his head, Pete is free to slide up to a high mount. Pete squeezes his knees together in the same way he’d control his opponent’s shoulders in a high closed guard.