Back mount
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Back mount or rear mount is a dominant ground grappling position where one combatant is behind the other in such a way that he or she is controlling the combatant in front. Typically, the combatant in the inferior position is lying face-down, while the other combatant is sitting or lying on top. This is a very dominant, if not the most dominant position, since the top combatant can attack with strikes without the bottom combatant being able to see or defend.
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[edit] Attacking from the back mount
To prevent the opponent from escaping the back mount, it needs to be stabilized. This usually done by hooking the legs on the inside of the opponent's legs, and grabbing hold around the opponent's neck or arms. Such a position is very difficult to escape from, the opponent can try to roll, but the leg-hooks prevent them from getting loose. The combatant that has the back mount is in a very advantageous position. He can strike with punches, elbows and headbutts, or alternatively attempt a rear naked choke or various collar-chokes.
[edit] Escaping the back mount
It is nearly impossible to attack an opponent who is mounted directly behind one's back. If the opponent does not have the legs hooked, it is possible to roll into the mount; although this does not improve the positioning much, it is at least possible to see and block the opponent's strikes from the mounted position. If the opponent has the legs hooked in, those hooks need to be removed, for instance by pulling them out using the arms. Once they have been removed, there is an increase in mobility, making it possible to wriggle into the mount, or try to turn and entangle a leg into a half guard. Using the arms to pull out the hooks, however, leaves one's neck open to the rear naked choke. There are effective positional methods of escaping the back mount. [1]
Short, quick, elbows are often the easiest way to attack a back mounted opponent. If the mounted opponent is much larger/stronger than the mounting fighter, he may actually be able to stand up and slam his opponent into a nearby wall or fall backwards onto his back (and opponent). Doing this with enough force may knock the wind out of the dominant opponent, or at least enable one to break free.
If the mounting opponent has their ankles crossed while holding the rear mount (similar to the positioning in closed guard), the opponent being mounted can use a "Figure 4" leglock to apply a submission against the dominant fighter. This can result in a tapout or possible injury, depending on the circumstances (see back mount escape in Okuri-Eri-Jime or [2]). Generally, opponents skilled in groundfighting will not cross their ankles or cross them long enough to allow this to happen.
Tactics that are illegal in sport/competition, such as biting or pinching the dominant opponent, are considered by some to be of almost no benefit when in such a disadvantaged position.[citation needed] The inherent difficulty in safely training these type of "illegal" techniques suggests that training in escape fundamentals and minimizing reliance on desperation tactics is more effective even in life or death situations. Furthermore, in that position, any of the illegal techniques could be applied against you more effectively.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Gracie; Renzo, Gracie, Royler; Peligro, Kid; Danaher, John (2001). Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and technique. Invisible Cities Press. ISBN 1-931229-08-2.
- Løvstad, Jakob. The Mixed Martial Arts Primer. www.idi.ntnu.no. URL last accessed March 6, 2006. (DOC format)
- Page, Nicky. Groundfighting 101. homepage.ntlworld.com. URL last accessed March 4, 2006.
