Mount Submissions Guide
☰Contents
All BJJ submissions from mount: armbar, triangle, ezekiel choke, americana, mounted guillotine — mechanics and setups from high and low mount.
Mount is the highest-scoring regular position in BJJ and provides access to a wide variety of submissions — knowing all your options makes you unpredictable and extremely dangerous.
High Mount vs. Low Mount Attacks
Mount positions affect which submissions are available. Low mount (hips on hips): americana, kimura, and ezekiel choke are primary. High mount (hips near shoulders, technical mount): armbar, cross collar choke, and head-and-arm triangle are primary. Learn to transition between low and high mount to access different attacks.
Armbar from Mount
Step to technical mount (one knee slides toward their head, other remains on the ground beside their hip), raise the far knee over their arm and shoulder, sit back to collect the arm, and finish. The key entry challenge is that opponents will not give a straight arm — attack when they push you or try to frame.
Cross Collar Choke from Mount
Deep cross-collar choke from mount: reach the far hand deep into the collar (4 fingers in), then bring the near hand to the other collar, use both hands to apply a scissors-like pressure closing the neck. Requires good posture and upper body connection. Most effective from high mount.
Ezekiel Choke from Mount
The ezekiel choke (sode-guruma-jime) from mount: thread one forearm behind the neck, grip your own sleeve or bicep with the choking hand, and apply pressure by driving the forearm into the neck. Unique because it can be applied from low mount without changing position — excellent surprise attack.
Head-and-Arm Triangle from Mount
When the opponent frames with one arm on your hip or pushes you: trap that arm across their neck (push their elbow to the mat), drop your weight, and apply the arm triangle choke. The key is trapping the arm quickly before they can retract it. Often set up by threatening the armbar.
Frequently Asked Questions
The americana (key lock) is the most accessible mount submission for beginners because it requires minimal technical setup — you simply need the opponent to have their arm in an L-shape. Practice from low mount first.
When they lock their hands to defend the neck: attack the armbar (they cannot simultaneously protect both the neck and arm), or use the ezekiel choke which can work even through their defense because of the sleeve mechanics.
Two issues: (1) Too much weight forward — opponents buck most effectively when you are weight forward; stay over the hips, (2) Not maintaining balance through the submission attempt — practice finishing mechanics while maintaining mount base.