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Reverse Mount Top is a transitional dominant position where the practitioner sits on the opponent’s chest or abdomen while facing away from their head, essentially mounted in the opposite direction from standard mount. This position scores 4 points (same as standard mount in IBJJF) but is inherently less stable and more difficult to maintain long-term. It typically occurs during scrambles, failed back take attempts, or when opponents turn away during standard mount control.
The defining characteristic of reverse mount is the backward orientation: the top practitioner’s back faces the opponent’s head while sitting on their torso. This creates unique challenges - no head control, inability to see opponent’s face for reaction cues, and different weight distribution requirements. However, it also creates opportunities for specific submissions (armbar, twister, collar chokes) and serves as an excellent transitional platform to standard mount or back control.
The position’s main strategic value is as a stepping stone rather than a destination. Experienced practitioners recognize reverse mount immediately and flow smoothly to standard mount (simply turning to face forward) or back control (inserting hooks from the reverse position). Attempting to hold reverse mount for extended periods typically results in increased escape success for the opponent. The position’s moderate risk level reflects its transitional nature - dominant enough to score points and create submissions, but vulnerable enough to require quick decision-making about which superior position to convert to.
Position Definition
What is Reverse Mount (Top)?
Top practitioner sits on opponent’s torso/chest with hips positioned on sternum or upper abdomen, weight distributed through buttocks and lower back onto opponent’s ribcage, facing away from opponent’s head toward their feet
Both knees on the mat on either side of opponent’s torso, with feet positioned near or past opponent’s shoulders, creating wide base for balance despite backward orientation
Opponent flat on their back with shoulders against mat, facing upward toward ceiling with top practitioner’s back blocking their view and limiting upper body movement
Top practitioner’s hands posted on mat or controlling opponent’s legs/hips, providing balance and preventing opponent from bridging or creating angles for escape
Prerequisites
What do you need before playing Reverse Mount (Top)?
Opponent must be on their back with shoulders to the mat
Top practitioner must have achieved mount orientation (sitting on torso) facing away from head
Sufficient base and balance to maintain backward-facing position without being rolled
Control of opponent’s lower body or legs to prevent immediate escape attempts
Recognition that position is transitional and requires quick decision-making
Key Offensive Principles
What are the key principles for attacking from Reverse Mount?
Transitional Recognition: Understanding this position is temporary and should convert quickly to standard mount or back control
Center of Gravity: Proper weight through buttocks onto chest prevents bridging escapes despite backward orientation
Balance Through Core: Core engagement maintains balance while facing away from opponent’s center of mass
Quick Transition Mindset: Mental preparedness to flow immediately to superior positions rather than forcing reverse mount control
Opportunistic Submissions: Recognizing brief submission windows without over-committing to attacks from unstable position
Knee Control: Wide knee positioning provides base and prevents opponent hip movement
Position Hierarchy Awareness: Recognizing that standard mount and back control are superior end goals
Decision Making from This Position
What should you do from Reverse Mount (Top)?
If opponent is relatively flat and not actively defending, assess back control opportunity:
What mistakes should you avoid when attacking from Reverse Mount?
1. Attempting to Maintain Reverse Mount Long-Term
❌ Consequence: Position becomes progressively less stable over time, opponent adapts to unusual control dynamic, escape probability increases significantly, energy expenditure increases without corresponding control improvement
✅ Correction: Recognize reverse mount as transitional immediately upon entry, make decision within 3-5 seconds (standard mount, back control, or quick submission), execute transition smoothly without hesitation. If you’ve been in reverse mount for more than 10-15 seconds without clear submission setup, you’re making this error.
2. Insufficient Weight on Chest
❌ Consequence: Opponent can bridge effectively and create angles for escape, makes position unstable and easy to reverse, reduces control effectiveness and increases opponent’s ability to turn into defensive positions
✅ Correction: Keep hips heavy and sink weight directly onto opponent’s sternum/upper abdomen through buttocks and lower back, maintain forward lean with core engagement, eliminate space between your lower body and their chest. Weight should feel oppressive to bottom player even without head control.
3. Narrow Knee Base
❌ Consequence: Unstable balance facing backward, easy for opponent to tip you off-balance with minimal hip movement, vulnerability to bridge-and-roll escapes increases dramatically, difficult to maintain position during opponent’s defensive movements
✅ Correction: Keep knees wide and positioned outside opponent’s ribcage, create broad base similar to standard mount but adjusted for backward orientation, engage adductors to maintain connection while allowing flexibility for balance adjustments, feet should be positioned near or past opponent’s shoulders.
4. Hands Not Posted for Balance
❌ Consequence: Loss of stability when opponent moves, difficulty maintaining position during escape attempts, vulnerability to being rolled backward or having weight shifted, reduced reaction time to opponent’s defensive actions
✅ Correction: Keep at least one hand posted on mat for balance support, use hands to sense opponent’s movement and adjust weight distribution, alternate hand posting with leg control as needed, maintain connection with mat for stability reference while facing away from opponent’s upper body.
5. Over-Committing to Submissions from Reverse Mount
❌ Consequence: Loss of position entirely, opponent escapes to better position during submission attempt, wasted energy on low-percentage attacks, failure to recognize better opportunities in standard mount or back control
✅ Correction: Only attempt submissions if setup is completely obvious and opponent has made critical defensive error, prioritize transitioning to standard mount or back control over forcing submissions, use reverse mount primarily as transition platform rather than submission platform, maintain position hierarchy awareness.
6. Ignoring Opponent’s Head Position
❌ Consequence: Missed opportunities for back control when opponent turns, failure to recognize turtle transition possibilities, reduced awareness of opponent’s escape attempts since you cannot see their face or upper body clearly
✅ Correction: Maintain awareness of opponent’s head position through feel and peripheral vision, recognize that head turning toward either side signals back take opportunity, use hands to monitor shoulder and head movement, stay cognizant that backward facing reduces visual information requiring heightened proprioceptive awareness.
Training Drills for Attacks
How do you train Reverse Mount attacks?
Reverse Mount to Standard Mount Flow Drill
Partner starts flat on back. Practitioner sits in reverse mount and practices smooth 180-degree rotation to standard mount, focusing on maintaining weight and connection throughout turn. Practice both directions (spinning over each shoulder). Emphasize keeping knees wide and weight heavy during transition.
Duration: 3 minutes per direction
Reverse Mount to Back Control Transition Drill
From reverse mount position, practice inserting hooks for back control while maintaining top position. Partner remains relatively passive but can attempt minor defensive movements. Focus on smooth hook insertion without losing mount positioning. Practice recognizing when opponent’s body position allows back control versus when standard mount is better option.
Duration: 5 minutes alternating partners
Reverse Mount Defense and Re-Counter Drill
Partner actively attempts to escape reverse mount using bridges, hip escapes, and rolls. Top practitioner practices maintaining position briefly (5-10 seconds maximum) then flowing to either standard mount or back control based on opponent’s escape direction. Builds recognition skills for reading opponent movement patterns from reverse position.
Duration: 3-minute rounds, switching roles
Scramble to Reverse Mount Drill
Start from various scramble positions (failed back take, turtle transitions, mount escape attempts). When reverse mount opportunity appears, recognize it immediately and establish position, then immediately transition to standard mount or back control. Builds pattern recognition for when reverse mount naturally occurs and develops habit of treating it as transitional.
Duration: 4-minute rounds with position reset after each transition
Success Rates and Statistics
Metric
Rate
Retention Rate
60%
Advancement Probability
78%
Submission Probability
42%
Average Time in Position: 10-30 seconds (transitional position)
Related Positions and Techniques
Mount - Primary progression - standard mount is superior position and natural transition from reverse mount
Back Control - Superior progression - reverse mount provides excellent back take opportunities via hook insertion
S Mount - Advanced variation - high mount position accessible from reverse mount for armbar setups
Technical Mount - Related controlling position - similar point value with different control mechanics
Truck - Transition target - reverse mount can flow to truck for twister attacks
North-South - Alternative transition - reverse mount can transition to north-south when opponent creates certain angles
Armbar Control - Submission option - reverse mount provides armbar opportunities when opponent extends arms
Crucifix - Related control position - similar backward orientation with arm control focus