Back Mount BJJ: White Belt Biomechanical Guide

1. Secure the "seatbelt" grip: Place your left arm across the opponent's chest, gripping your right bicep. Your right arm goes under their left armpit, gripping your left bicep.
2. Hook the legs: Insert your left shin across the opponent's left hip crease and your right shin across their right hip crease, forming a "figure four" with your legs.
3. Lower your hips: Drive your hips down and slightly forward, ensuring your pelvis is below their pelvis, creating a stable base.
4. Maintain upper body control: Keep your chest tight to their back, preventing them from creating space.
5. Choke arm control: Ensure your choking arm (the one under their armpit) is free to attack, while the other arm secures their posture.
6. Weight distribution: Distribute your weight evenly through your hooks and your chest, preventing them from shrimping out.
7. Drive forward slightly: Apply a gentle forward pressure with your chest to maintain control and discourage turning.

• Attempting to "hug" the opponent's upper body with your arms instead of securing the seatbelt grip can lead to their arms escaping, allowing them to create space and potentially turn.
• Overextending your legs and losing the "figure four" hook can result in your shins being easily peeled off, leading to a loss of control and potential reversal.
• Trying to hold your hips high, mimicking a "chair" position, puts you on top of their center of gravity, making you unstable and susceptible to being tipped over or having your hooks bypassed.

1. Solo drilling of the seatbelt grip and leg hooks: 10 repetitions per side, 0% resistance.
2. Partner drilling of securing the seatbelt and hooks from a kneeling position: 10 repetitions per side, 0% resistance.
3. Partner drilling with a compliant opponent (no movement): Achieve Back Mount and hold for 10 seconds, 25% resistance.
4. Partner drilling with light pressure escape attempts: Achieve Back Mount, opponent attempts to peel hooks or turn, maintain position for 15 seconds, 50% resistance.
5. Partner drilling with active defense (no submissions): Achieve Back Mount, opponent actively tries to escape or turn, maintain position for 20 seconds, 75% resistance.
6. Live rolling: Focus on achieving and maintaining Back Mount, 100% resistance.

• WHEN TO ATTEMPT:
• Immediately after a successful takedown where you secure the back.
• During scrambles where you manage to get behind your opponent.
• When your opponent attempts to turn into you from a compromised position.
• PRIMARY COUNTERS:
• "Elbow Escape" (Shrimping): If the opponent is loose on your back, drive your hips away and shrimp your legs out, creating space to turn and face them.
• "Bridge and Roll": If they have tight hooks but are not yet controlling your upper body, bridge your hips and attempt to roll them to your side, then face them.
• "Arm Peel": If one of their hooks is loose, use your hand to peel their shin off your hip and immediately turn into them.

Watch step-by-step breakdowns from black belt instructors: