Securing the Position

Achieving the mount is often celebrated as a victory in itself—it’s a dominant position that signifies control and potential to finish the fight. But for many, the real struggle begins the moment they establish mount. Staying there, especially against a skilled opponent, is often even harder than getting there in the first place. Securing the position requires a blend of strategy, patience, and precise control that’s easy to underestimate.

When you mount an opponent, you’ve likely already spent a considerable amount of energy bypassing their legs, breaking through their guard, and dealing with any resistance. This effort leaves you in a great spot, but your opponent has likely expended a similar amount of energy trying to stop you. They’re likely primed to escape, making your priority not to move quickly toward submission but rather to solidify and maintain the ground you’ve gained. The mount is only as effective as your ability to keep it.

To hold the mount, the focus should shift to controlling the points at either end of your opponent’s spine: their head and hips. By flattening their hips and shoulders, you limit their range of motion, making it difficult for them to generate force or set up an escape. Securing these points creates a stable base and forces your opponent to work against your control, tiring them out while you settle into the position. At the same time, minimizing any gaps between your body and theirs is crucial. If they can find even a small space to insert a knee or elbow, they can start to disrupt your balance and eventually create an escape route.

Once you’re focused on controlling these key areas—hips, shoulders, and any potential gaps—your mount becomes far more resilient. This foundational control doesn’t just improve your stability; it also opens up avenues for submissions. By staying heavy and applying pressure, you can draw reactions from your opponent, forcing them to give up their arms or neck as they work to escape. This way, you’re not frantically hunting for a submission or scrambling to keep the position; instead, you’re calmly waiting for your opponent’s responses and capitalizing on the mistakes they make under pressure.

Mastering the mount, then, is more than just reaching a position of dominance; it’s learning how to neutralize your opponent’s ability to escape, exhaust their options, and turn their movements into opportunities for control or submission. This patience, combined with control of their spine and elimination of space, is what makes the mount one of the most powerful tools in BJJ—one that, with time, becomes as comfortable as it is powerful.