High Mount Top is an advanced variation of the mount position where the top player walks their knees up towards the opponent’s armpits or shoulders, positioning their hips and weight high on the opponent’s chest. This elevated position severely limits the bottom player’s escape options while dramatically increasing submission opportunities.
The high mount represents the pinnacle of mount control, offering the highest submission rate of any mount variation while being extremely difficult to escape. The position is characterized by exceptional dominance and is often the preferred finishing position for elite grapplers. By eliminating the opponent’s ability to generate bridging power and restricting arm movement, high mount creates an environment where submissions become inevitable rather than opportunistic.
Strategically, high mount serves as the final checkpoint before submission or advancement to S-Mount or Technical Mount. The position rewards patience and systematic pressure, as rushing submissions often allows escapes. Elite practitioners use high mount to break their opponent’s will through relentless control before attacking finishing sequences. The elevated knee positioning trades some base stability for maximum submission proximity, representing a calculated risk that favors skilled practitioners.
From a biomechanical perspective, High Mount achieves dominance by positioning the top player’s center of mass directly over the opponent’s upper chest and sternum, compressing the torso and restricting breathing. This weight distribution, combined with high knee placement near the armpits, eliminates the angle required for effective bridging while maintaining mobility for transitions. The position exemplifies the principle of maximum efficiency with minimum effort, using body positioning rather than muscular strength to achieve control.
Position Definition
- Knees positioned high near opponent’s armpits or shoulders, creating a wedge that eliminates space and prevents bridge leverage. The knee placement should be tight enough to feel pressure on the opponent’s upper ribs while restricting arm movement and creating constant compression on the torso.
- Hips elevated and positioned on opponent’s upper chest or sternum, with weight distributed forward through the pelvis. The elevated hip position removes the opponent’s ability to generate upward force through bridging while maintaining mobility for transitions to S-Mount or Technical Mount.
- Weight centered over opponent’s torso with forward lean towards their head, creating constant downward pressure. The top player’s chest should be positioned over the opponent’s chest with hands controlling the head, neck, or arms to prevent defensive framing and maintain forward pressure distribution.
- Feet positioned strategically either crossed behind opponent’s back for submission attacks or on the mat for base maintenance, depending on the opponent’s escape attempts and the specific submission being pursued. Foot positioning adjusts dynamically based on opponent movement patterns.
- Opponent flat on their back with shoulders pinned to mat, facing upward with severely restricted mobility. The bottom player’s arms are controlled or isolated, and their ability to create frames or generate explosive movement is eliminated by the elevated position and constant forward pressure.
Prerequisites
- Solid mount control fundamentals including weight distribution and base maintenance principles
- Understanding of armbar mechanics and arm isolation principles for submission finishing
- Awareness of mount escape prevention strategies and counter-positioning techniques
- Hip mobility for elevated positioning and smooth transitions between mount variations
- Experience maintaining standard mount against progressive resistance levels
- Ability to recognize and counter common mount escapes including bridge, elbow escape, and shrimp
Key Offensive Principles
- Walk knees progressively higher towards armpits to eliminate bridge leverage and restrict opponent’s arm movement
- Maintain forward weight distribution for maximum control, leaning chest over opponent’s chest rather than sitting upright
- Control opponent’s arms through isolation, pinning, or constant threat to limit defensive frames and escape attempts
- Stay mobile and ready to transition with escape attempts, flowing to S-Mount or Technical Mount as needed
- Threaten multiple submissions simultaneously to create decision paralysis and force defensive mistakes
- Use high position to create psychological pressure and break opponent’s will through sustained dominance
- Prioritize position retention over rushing submissions, allowing control to create submission opportunities naturally
Available Attacks
Armbar from Mount → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Ezekiel from Mount → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Cross Collar Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Americana from Mount → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Triangle from Mount → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Mount → S Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 85%
Transition to Mount → Technical Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Kimura from Mount → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Arm Triangle → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Gift Wrap Transition → Gift Wrap
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Loop Choke from Mount → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Monoplata from Mount → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent keeps arms extended for frames or defensive postures with straight arms:
- Execute Armbar from Mount → Armbar Control (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Kimura from Mount → Kimura Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent tucks elbows tight to body and protects neck defensively with bent arms:
- Execute Ezekiel from Mount → Won by Submission (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Americana from Mount → Won by Submission (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts to bridge or turn to side for escape with explosive movement:
- Execute Transition to Mount → S Mount (Probability: 80%)
- Execute Transition to Mount → Technical Mount (Probability: 75%)
If opponent creates frames and attempts to push on hips with both hands:
- Execute Armbar from Mount → Armbar Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Triangle from Mount → Triangle Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent exposes neck while defending arms or attempting to protect upper body:
- Execute Cross Collar Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Ezekiel from Mount → Won by Submission (Probability: 65%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Shortest Path - Direct Armbar
High Mount Top → Isolate Extended Arm → Armbar Control → Won by Submission (3 steps, highest percentage finish)
High Percentage Path - S-Mount to Armbar
High Mount Top → S Mount → Armbar Control → Won by Submission (systematic progression with superior control)
Choke Path - Collar Attack
High Mount Top → Establish Collar Grips → Cross Collar Choke → Won by Submission (effective when opponent defends arms)
Alternative Path - Technical Mount
High Mount Top → Technical Mount → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission (when opponent turns to escape)
Arm Triangle Path
High Mount Top → Isolate Arm Across Body → Arm Triangle → Side Control → Won by Submission (powerful finishing sequence)
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 30% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 50% | 35% |
| Advanced | 80% | 70% | 55% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before submission or advancement
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
High mount represents the optimal position for the mount attack sequence because it eliminates the bottom player’s most powerful escape mechanism - the bridge. When you walk your knees high towards the armpits, you remove the opponent’s ability to generate upward force through hip extension. This is biomechanically critical because the bridge depends on creating an angle between the hips and shoulders that allows explosive elevation. By positioning your weight on their upper chest and sternum, you compress this angle to near zero degrees, making the bridge mechanically impossible. The systematic progression must be: establish high mount control, isolate one arm through constant threat and pressure, execute armbar or transition to S-mount based on their defensive response. The key principle is patience combined with constant pressure - never rush the submission, allow the position to create the submission opportunity through sustained dominance.
Gordon Ryan
High mount is the final checkpoint before submission in my competition game. Once I establish high mount, I view it as a guaranteed finish within 60-90 seconds if I maintain proper positioning. The psychological pressure of being so completely dominated often causes opponents to make critical defensive mistakes or adopt passive defense that only delays the inevitable. In competition, I prefer to transition immediately to S-mount when high mount is established because it offers even greater control with similar submission options and eliminates the small risk of bridge escapes. The mental warfare aspect is crucial - when an opponent feels your weight high on their chest, restricting breathing and eliminating all escape options, their will to resist diminishes rapidly. I use high mount to force opponent mistakes rather than forcing submissions, making the finish a natural conclusion of sustained positional dominance.
Eddie Bravo
While the 10th Planet system emphasizes back control and leg attacks over traditional mount positions, I recognize high mount as extremely effective for submission hunting, especially in gi competition where collar attacks become devastating. The key innovation is using high mount as an entry point to gift wrap position and technical mount variations rather than staying static. I teach students to stay active and mobile from high mount - opponent movements create submission openings, so constant motion and threat generation is more valuable than rigid control. When the opponent defends the armbar by pulling their elbow in tight, that’s your opportunity to transition to gift wrap or swim for the back take. High mount should feel dynamic and flowing rather than heavy and static - you’re surfing on top of their defensive movements, using their escape attempts to advance position or catch submissions. The psychological element is powerful too - making opponent feel hopeless through sustained dominance often creates the mental surrender that precedes physical submission.