Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu The Mount Part 2

Now that you have reach the mounted position on top, let us look at the do’s and don’ts on how to escape the mounted position if found on bottom. Escaping the mounted position is one of the most difficult things to do in a real fight because to be on the bottom means, most of the time, your opponent is better at grappling than you. I have always stressed that not letting a person reach the mounted position is the easiest and best defense. Further, I have observed many Jiu-Jitsu stylists become effective in not letting an opponent reach the mounted position after six months of taking lessons. This is because they were so knowledgeable in putting a person in the guard to defend the mount or just being able to come to their knees to stop any ill mounting techniques by less knowledgeable opponents.

If you are found on the bottom and the opponent is mounted on you, here a list of some don’ts:

• Never turn to your belly to escape.
• Never extend your arms up to the opponent because they can be trapped, grabbed, and this puts you in position to be submitted by choke, wristlock or armlock.
• Avoid keeping both feet flat on the ground with your knees up.

From here the top person can put the hooks in and trap any attempts to raise your hips. If you are found on the bottom and the opponent is mounted on you, here a list of some do’s to effectively escape:

• Stay relaxed and focused
• It is best to escape right when you are being mounted before the opponent gains his base.
• Trap an arm and the side leg & raise your hips up rolling over your shoulder to the trap side.
• If unable to trap an arm, work the elbow and knee escape movement with your hips to put the up person in the half-guard (trapping only one leg) or full guard.
• Use the Bridge and Roll technique in conjunction with the elbow escape movement when the person steps his foot out for base to stop the Bridge and Roll technique or visa versa if you are working the elbow escape and the opponent becomes tight with his knees and you are able to trap the same side leg and arm; transition back to the Bridge and Roll technique.
• Always have the opponent sitting and resting on top of your hips. When understanding how to defend from the mounted position, the rule of thumb to escape is: If the opponent wishes to be tight with his knees pushing up against your ribs, he can be rolled over. If the opponent wishes to be loose with his knees out away from your hips for base, he can be put into your own guard position using the elbow escape.
This idea is easy to understand in application. Also, if you are on your back in a ground fight, it is your best choice to put the opponent in your guard to defend. Here a list of the technique taught in the course to escape the mounted position:

1. Bridge and Roll- keep your elbows down and one leg up or both legs down. Trap an arm using a no thumb cross grip and hold the elbow with your opposite hand like your are shaking a person’s hand at the elbow, but remember to keep your elbow down so the opponent can’t get underneath your armpit. After the arm is trapped, trap the same side leg of the opponent with your foot. Bring both feet flat the ground to bridge your hips up and roll over your shoulder to your knees.

2. Arm under the head or headlock-bridge and roll-This is the same concept as trapping the same side leg and arm. Keep your head back and down on the ground to trap the arm under your neck, hold the opponent’s arm at the tricep keeping your elbow down to block the knees so the opponent’s knees do not move underneath your armpits. Trap the same side leg as the arm and bridge and roll using your free hand to push the far hip, or trap the opponent’s free striking hand around the bicep.

3. Elbow escape- Turn your body to the side and direction that you keep your leg flat, and have your free foot flat on the ground to use as a push leg to move your hips. Keep your elbow tight too the opponents knee and move your hips to the opposite direction as you connect your elbow to your knee trapping the leg with your foot. Continue to work the other side to put the opponent in the full guard. If your other foot gets caught when escaping the other side, move your hips out. It is important to make distance from you and the opponent.

4. Elbow escape in conjunction with Bridge and Roll escape-These two techniques work together with many types of variations in between.

5. Pushing the hips escape- Keep opponent resting on your hips, bring both hands to the hips with the fingers & thumbs to together point outward, bring both feet flat on the ground to bridge the your hips up. At the time, you will push the opponent to the side his head is on or leaning, and lastly you will move your hips in the opposite direction as you bring your knees.

Part 3 Coming Soon!

My best,

Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
BJJ Revolution Team
2nd Degree Black Belt

Elite Training Center
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 543-1600
www.elitetrainingcenter.net

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu From The Clinch
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu The Clinch
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Communication for Self-Defense
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu  The Mount – Part 1