Reverse Mount

Position
Also known as:
Reverse Mount Top

Reverse mount is a top mount position where the controlling player faces the opponent's legs instead of their head, sitting on the opponent's torso with hips heavy. It is used to attack the lower body, set up back takes via truck entries, and transition to leg-based submissions while maintaining top pressure.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Keep your hips heavy and centered on the opponent's torso to maintain control despite facing away from their head.
  • · Hook your feet inside the opponent's thighs or control their legs to limit their hip escape and bridge attempts.
  • · Use your hands to control the opponent's legs and hips, denying them the frames needed to reguard.
  • · Anticipate the opponent bridging toward you by posting with your hands on their legs for base.
  • · Stay aware of the opponent reaching for your back since you cannot see their upper body; maintain posture to prevent being pulled backward.

Execution

  1. 1 From standard mount, pivot 180 degrees to face your opponent's legs, keeping your weight planted on their torso throughout the transition.
  2. 2 Settle your hips low and wide, squeezing your knees against their sides to establish a strong seat.
  3. 3 Hook your feet inside their thighs or tuck them under their legs to prevent hip escapes.
  4. 4 Control their legs or pants with your hands to set up attacks such as armbars on the far arm, truck entries, or transitions to other positions.
  5. 5 Monitor their movement through feel; if they bridge or shrimp, adjust your base by posting on their legs and re-centering your weight.

Common mistakes

  • × Sitting too high toward the opponent's chest leaves space for them to buck you forward over their legs and escape.
  • × Neglecting to hook or control the opponent's legs allows easy hip escapes and reguarding from bottom.
  • × Transitioning to reverse mount without securing base first, causing loss of position during the pivot when the opponent bridges mid-turn.

Attacks & transitions

Offense available from Reverse Mount.

Truck Entry transition
1 less common
Armbar From Mount submission

Escapes & defense

Getting out of Reverse Mount, or shutting it down.

Bridge And Roll escape Elbow Escape escape Hip Escape escape Re-guard escape Rolling To Guard escape