Mount Control by Gordon Ryan - Stupid Simple System that Changes EVERYTHING!
Unleashing the Power of Mount: A Game-Changing Approach from Gordon Ryan
The mount position is arguably the best position in BJJ.
Yet, many practitioners undervalue it, using it merely as a transition point or for scoring. The reality is, the average fighter's mount game is often reactive and not very effective in terms of finishing.
Before Gordon Ryan's rise, only a handful of fighters, like Roger and Marcelo, utilized the mount with high success rates. However, in recent years, the mount has regained popularity and is now a go-to position for many top competitors.
If you're still skeptical about the mount's effectiveness compared to, say, the back position, it might be because you haven't learned to play it offensively. Don't worry, I was in the same boat until not so long ago.
Here are some tips I've adopted from Gordon that have revolutionized my mount game, making me more aggressive and successful from this position.
Some Preliminary Thoughts:
Focus on a systematic approach rather than relying on opportunistic attacks.
Be proactive, and don’t wait for their escape attempts to initiate your offense.
The System:
Use Palm-Up Cross Grips
Instead of doing what most people do, which is to use Straight-Wrist Grips when trying to isolate their limbs:
If you use a Palm-Up Cross Grip instead, you’ll be able to push against their rotator cuff muscles, and isolating the arms will be much easier and more effective:
Aim to get to double-cross palm-up grips like so:
When you do this, you’ll put them in a dilemma because they’ll have to bridge to avoid the isolation, and that will make it very easy to isolate the other arm:
The main goal is to Pin one arm to the mat
Arm-Up or Gift-Wrap Dilemma
Once we get an arm pinned, we must create a dilemma for them.
If our partner doesn’t do anything, we get the underhook and elevate their arm over his head. If they try to strip the grip, they’ll have to expose the other arm and their back, and in this situation, we get a gift wrap:
Here’s a quick flowchart on how this little system works:
And that's it! It's as simple as that.
Give it a try and share your experience.
Remember, sometimes it's a small detail that makes a big difference.
For a deeper understanding, I recommend watching Gordon Ryan explain this system here:
Hope it helps! 👊