Mount-ober: Session four

My last training session didn’t actually bring with it any specific lessons. Mostly, I just found that I was still making the same mistakes, although slightly less. It’s progress, but I won’t be fully satisfied until I’m not making those mistakes at all.

If you’re wondering what I’m going on about read this, this, and this to see the lessons I’ve picked up so far in my training focus on the mount.

In today’s blog I would simply like to make an observation, or two.

My focus is attacking from the mount position during sparring. I’ll lay out my current game plan and make note of the things that I find interesting.

From Head to Head the Arm Drag is what I’m looking for from standing/kneeling starts. From standing I would likely look for a single leg as my second option. From kneeling I usually look to (1) Arm Drag, (2) Pull Guard, or (3) Collar/Neck Drag. This is where those usually lead to:
Arm Drag to Back/Turtle Top/Guard Top
Pull Guard to Guard/Half Guard
Collar/Neck Drag to Turtle Top/Back

From Guard Top I look to pass the guard (obviously).

From Turtle Top I look to pull over and attack the Back.

From the Back I look to scoot around to Mount.

From Closed Guard I look to sweep into Mount (Scissors Sweep, Hip Bump Sweep), or scoot around onto the Back.

From Open Guard I look to sweep (Hooks Sweep, X Guard Sweep). Usually I end up either in Side Control or Guard Top.

From Half Guard I have been looking to get deep and scoot out the back door to the Back.

From Side Control I either look to switch base and Mount or transition to North/South.

From North/South I look to take the Back, or go to the other side into Side Control.

Now, that all looks pretty simple and straight forward. Here’s what I’ve observed from this game plan.

I have developed a Guard to Mount game.

I would say that I’m in one or the other 80% of the time, if not more. I believe a lot of this has to do with the previous month I spent working in Guard. It didn’t make me some amazing guard player, but it did get me very comfortable there. It also made me confident in my ability to get back to top once I am in guard. The previous month was spent on escapes, so I’m still rather confident getting out of trouble once I’m there.

When I do get to Mount I am not worried about getting rolled back into Guard. So, if I get a deep collar grip and have to give up the upa in order to get the other grip in, I’m happy to do that, and finish it from Guard. I’m comfortable and confident there.

In fact, in my last four sessions I have only finished once in Mount. All my other taps have come from a setup in Mount and a finish in Guard. Triangles, Armbars, Guillotines, and Cross Collar Chokes. All are set up in the Mount position initially. In order to lock them in I have been allowing the opponent to roll over into Guard. If they’re turning me, they’re not protecting their necks or arms.

If I don’t get the finish I let go and look to sweep back to Mount, or climb around to the Back.

Back to Mount. Mount attack. Finish in Guard OR restart.

This was not expected, but it has become welcome. It’s part of learning to embrace my natural game.

Mount-ober: Session three

More lessons from a month of mount-ing attacks.

I’m into my second week of mount month. Again, this month’s game plan revolves around gaining the mount position, and finishing the opponent from there. Technical training focus is on submissions from the mount, and transitions to get there. I’m also working on balance, and quickness in transition. 

for lessons 1-2 click here

for lessons 3-4 click here

Lesson 5: Attack like you would if you were striking

The two main attacks I’m going after while in mount are the Cross Collar Choke and the Armbar from mount. One thing I’ve noticed is that I tend to get them only when I don’t force them. I have to think of it in the same way I think about striking.

When striking with an opponent you can’t just insist on the right cross, stand in front of the opponent without moving, and continuously throw it. By ‘continuously’ I mean, literally just throwing the right cross without pulling it back. It gets blocked so you just keep pushing it forward, from the same spot, towards the same spot. Why wouldn’t you do that? Well, because it would be really easy to defend.

So, why do I do that with my submissions?

Instead, I need to send in the first grip for the choke, then I need to treat the second as if I’m trying to find a home for the right cross.

Picture my right hand deep inside the right collar of the opponent.

I just try bringing the left hand over and in on the shoulder. The opponent blocks. I bring it back.

I use my right elbow to make room underneath my forearm to sneak through to the collar. He blocks that. I bring it back.

I push the arm he’s using to block up and bring my leg up towards his head. That creats a different angle, and isolates an arm a bit more. That makes him think about the Armbar. I attack the arm. He pulls it out. I go straight after the left collar.

You get the point. See, I’m changing angles. I’m attacking from up high. I’m attacking from down below. I’m throwing the jab (attacking the arm) to make room for the cross (left hand collar grip). I just keep switching it up until I can get through.

It’s the same with the armbar. Most opponents are very aware of the armbar when mounted. That makes it hard to get. I’m no where near strong enough to just force an armbar. Even when I get an underhook I still have to get my body into place in order to attack with the armbar. I have to change angles. I have to attack, and let go, and re-attack.

I have gotten the armbar most from people trying to escape. Usually people start thrashing when the cross collar choke is semi-deep. Pressue on the collar, they push, I trap and go into the armbar.

Other than that, it’s usually too predictable to pull off.

Submit like you’d strike.