Consolidate Mount is the critical transition between achieving mount position and establishing dominant control. Too many practitioners rush to attack immediately after achieving mount, only to have their opponent escape during the chaotic moments of position change. This technique emphasizes the fundamental principle that position must be secured before submission hunting begins. The consolidation process involves controlling hip movement, eliminating frames, and advancing to higher mount variations. By patiently consolidating first, you create a stable attacking platform while simultaneously draining your opponent’s defensive resources. This methodical approach transforms a fleeting positional achievement into a suffocating dominant position where submissions become inevitable rather than hopeful.
From Position: Mount (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
What are the key principles for executing Consolidate Mount?
- Establish heavy hip pressure immediately upon achieving mount to prevent bridging
- Control both hip and shoulder line before advancing position
- Eliminate all frames systematically before climbing to high mount
- Maintain chest-to-chest connection to feel opponent’s defensive movements
- Use grapevines or low hooks to neutralize hip escape attempts
- Advance position incrementally rather than jumping to submissions
Prerequisites
What do you need before attempting Consolidate Mount?
- Mount position achieved with both knees on the mat beside opponent’s hips
- Base hand on mat for stability during initial consolidation phase
- Weight distributed forward onto opponent’s chest and hips
- Opponent’s arms controlled or at least tracked to prevent frames
Execution Steps
How do you execute Consolidate Mount step by step?
- Drop weight: Immediately drop your hips and chest onto your opponent, creating heavy top pressure that pins their hips to the mat and restricts breathing
- Insert grapevines: Hook your feet inside your opponent’s thighs, creating grapevine hooks that prevent hip escapes and bridging movements by controlling their lower body
- Eliminate frames: Swim your arms inside any frames your opponent creates on your hips or chest, using elbow-to-elbow connection to pin their arms to the mat or their body
- Isolate an arm: Work to trap one arm by pinching it between your elbow and knee, or use cross-face pressure to force their arm across their body
- Walk knees up: Incrementally walk your knees toward your opponent’s armpits, keeping heavy hip pressure throughout the climb to prevent space creation
- Establish high mount: Position your knees in your opponent’s armpits with your weight forward on their upper chest, creating the optimal attacking platform for arm isolation submissions
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | High Mount | 50% |
| Failure | Mount | 30% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 20% |
Opponent Counters
How might your opponent counter Consolidate Mount?
- Bridge and roll attempt using elbows as pivot points (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Post hand wide on the side they bridge toward, sprawl hips, and ride out the bridge before re-establishing grapevines → Leads to Half Guard
- Elbow-knee escape (shrimping) to recover half guard (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Block their hip with your knee and maintain heavy chest pressure; if they create space, immediately re-close it before they can insert knee shield → Leads to Half Guard
- Framing on hips to create space and turn (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Swim inside the frames using elbow-elbow connection, then pin their arms with cross-face or by trapping wrist to mat → Leads to Mount
Safety Considerations
What are the safety concerns for Consolidate Mount?
Mount consolidation is generally low-risk when performed correctly. Avoid crushing pressure on the sternum for extended periods during training, as this can cause discomfort or breathing difficulty for your partner. When using grapevines, be careful not to hyperextend your partner’s knees by driving your hooks too aggressively. During drilling, establish clear tapping protocols so partners can indicate when pressure becomes excessive. Ensure your training partner can breathe adequately throughout the consolidation process.