Defending Rear Back Mount Control

What is BJJ Back Mount Control?

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the back mount position is one of the most dominant positions that a practitioner can achieve over their opponent. When one practitioner successfully takes the back of their opponent, they are said to have achieved back mount.

In the back mount position, one practitioner is mounted on the back of their opponent, who is lying on their stomach. The practitioner on top has their legs wrapped around the waist of their opponent, while their arms are positioned either underneath the opponent's armpits or around their neck. This position allows the practitioner on top to control their opponent's upper body and restrict their movements.

Image Above: The offensive player (black gi) has the back of the defensive player (white gi). The offensive player has one hook in with his left leg and is trying to get a second hook with his right leg. The defensive player, is blocking the offensive player's choke with his right hand by placing it near his ear, like a telephone.

What is Meant by "Surviving the Back Mount"?

Surviving the back mount" in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) refers to the techniques and strategies used by a practitioner to defend themselves against an opponent who has taken their back. 

What Do You Need to Know to "Survive the Back Mount"?

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Keep your elbows in and your hands close to your collar. By keeping your elbows in and your hands close to your collar, you can create a barrier that makes it more difficult for your opponent to apply a choke. This defensive position also makes it easier for you to control your opponent's hands and prevent them from securing a grip on your neck.


To achieve this position, tuck your chin down towards your chest and bring your hands up towards your collarbone. Your elbows should be close to your torso and your hands should be positioned in front of your neck. This will make it more difficult for your opponent to apply a choke by creating a physical barrier between their arms and your neck.

2. How to Prevent the Collar Choke

When fighting a collar choke, grab your opponent's elbow and shoulder (as opposed to the wrist). This will give you the leverage to prevent the tightening of the choke. From this point, dig your heels into the ground, pull their arm over your head, and turn into your opponent.

When an opponent attempts a collar choke, one effective way to defend against it is to grab their elbow and shoulder, rather than their wrist. By grabbing their elbow and shoulder, you can create leverage and prevent your opponent from tightening the choke. This defensive position also allows you to control your opponent's arm, which can limit their ability to apply other submissions or strikes.

Once you have grabbed your opponent's elbow and shoulder, the next step is to dig your heels into the ground and pull their arm over your head. This will create space and further prevent your opponent from tightening the choke. As you pull their arm over your head, you should turn into your opponent, which will help you get into their guard (otherwise, they will go to mount).

3. How to Break the Bow and Arrow Choke at the Pants

The bow and arrow takes into consideration that you want to defend the collar choke by grabbing the elbow and the shoulder. Once your opponent spins, you can no longer defend that way. The first line of defense is to use your opposite foot to kick off their grip at the pants.

4. How to Break the Bow and Arrow Choke at the Collar

One defense against the bow and arrow choke is to kick off your opponent's grip on you pant legs. 

However, if this defense is unsuccessful or if the choke is applied too tightly, it may be necessary to resort to a last-ditch effort to break the grip.

As the choke gets tighter, one technique that can be used is to pull against it in an attempt to break the grip. This can be done by yanking on your own lapel. If don't properly it can break their grip

Up Next: Back Mount Position

Back Mount: A position in which the offensive player controls the defensive players back.