I was working with my guys tonight on escapes from the mount.

Now usually when I top mount, I sit kind of low, usually on the stomach. But tonight I had my guys sit high, right on the diaphragm.

I found this position much harder to deal with. It takes some of the kick out of an upa, and when the hands post, they are much farther away, so it's hard to grab one. Also if you run your knees up really tight to the shoulders, it makes elbow escapes harder.

Now maybe I've just had bad mounting technique all these years. But it seems like I remember everyone I've grappled with sitting lower. So are there some dangers to this "high mount" position. Or is it just the better position for mount, and I'm just now getting it?

lol!

Yes, you are now just getting it. You shouldn't have left you nut!

I always use the highmount or "S" mount. The high mount practice is more for MMA, for I can rain punches all day and he can't do a thing, but squirm. In the highmount, I can also take an arm bar without falling back. With his shoulders sandwiched by my thighs, I just extend his arm up and push my hips forward.

I can also just figure 4 his lower arm/wrist and take a wristlock.

Usually, I go to "S" mount from there and take the armbar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5EyOplaA3Y

Damn!

There are four basic top mount positions:

The high mount, with your knees under the opponent's shoulders, good for attacking the arms, gi chokes and striking the head.

The low mount, chest to chest with your hips close to the opponent's hips, good for pinning, smothering and with head control for short strikes to the head and chokes without the gi.

The S mount, with one leg extended forward under the opponent's armpit, good for attacking the arms and striking the head.

The kneeling mount, the opponent on his side with one of your knees behind his neck and the other foot on the mat, with the heel pressed back into the opponent's belly, good for attacking the top arm, gi chokes, taking the back and striking the head.

Seems I only knew about the low mount until recently. I really should come do some more ground work!