High Mount, specifically the S-Mount, is a dominant top control position where the attacker shifts their weight high onto the opponent’s chest and head, isolating an arm and creating strong submission threats. This position severely limits the defender’s escapes and opens high-percentage attacks like armbar and triangle. Mastery of S-Mount is critical for finishing from mount at higher levels.
Start
Mount
End
S-mount
Prerequisites: Cross-face control · Posting for base in mount · Hip mobility for mount transitions · Pinning an arm with a knee
Steps
1
Establish a Stable Low Mount
Start in regular mount with your knees pinched and feet hooked under their hips for base; use a cross-face grip with one arm and post your other hand wide for balance.
2
Isolate the Nearside Arm
Use your cross-face arm to walk their nearside arm above their head, pinning their triceps with your chest and using your knee to block their elbow from returning.
3
Slide Your Knee High
Shift your bodyweight forward, sliding your nearside knee up towards their head, aiming to place it next to their ear; keep your hips low and chest heavy to prevent bridging.
4
Thread Your Far Leg Under Their Armpit
Swing your far leg under their far armpit, curling your heel towards their lat and sitting on your hip, forming an 'S' shape with your legs; your shin should be parallel to their torso.
5
Pin Their Isolated Arm
Use your nearside knee and thigh to trap their nearside arm tightly against their head; pinch your knees for control and prevent their elbow from escaping.
6
Adjust Weight and Angle
Lean your upper body slightly forward and towards their head, keeping your posted hand light and ready to base if they bridge; your hips should be angled at roughly 45° to their torso.
7
Control Their Far Arm
Use your free hand to scoop or grip their far wrist, pinning it to the mat or threatening submissions; keep your chest heavy to maintain pressure.
8
Settle and Stabilize
Pause to check your balance—knees pinched, hips low, and head over their chest; adjust your posted hand or elbow as needed to counter any bridging or shrimping attempts.
Key details most people miss
The nearside knee must be tight to their head to prevent their elbow from slipping out—any gap allows an escape.
Your hips should be angled, not square, to maximize weight on their chest and minimize their bridging power.
The far leg’s shin placement is critical: too shallow and they can trap your foot, too deep and you lose leverage for attacks.
Keep your posted hand light and ready to base; overcommitting weight forward exposes you to being rolled.
Common mistakes
If you leave space between your nearside knee and their head, the opponent can recover their elbow and escape.
If your hips are too high and not angled, the opponent can bridge explosively and off-balance you.
If you fail to control their far arm, they can frame and create space to shrimp or roll.
If your far leg is too shallow, they can trap your foot and initiate a half guard recovery.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent bridges explosively to off-balance you
You do: Base with your posted hand and angle your hips more forward, keeping your weight distributed over their chest and head.
They try: Opponent frames against your hip to create space
You do: Swim your arm inside their frame, re-pin their arm, and re-tighten your knee to their head.
They try: Opponent recovers their nearside elbow under your knee
You do: Slide your knee higher and windshield-wiper your shin to re-trap the arm before they can shrimp.
They try: Opponent traps your far foot and starts to recover half guard
You do: Point your toes and lift your far knee higher, circling your foot free and reestablishing shin placement under their armpit.
Drill prescription
6 rounds × 2 min each; partner gives 50% resistance, focusing on bridging and shrimping; goal is to achieve S-Mount and maintain for 10 seconds before switching. Track number of successful holds per round.
How the masters teach it
Roger Gracie
Emphasizes chest pressure and precision in knee placement for maximum control and submission threat.
Roger Gracie TV
Bernardo Faria
Focuses on heavy hips and using the S-Mount to isolate the arm for high-percentage armbars.