I’ve watched 30+ hours of mount instruction from Gordon Ryan, Danaher, Roger Gracie, and 5 others, then ranked the 8 best mount instructionals by teaching quality and system depth.
✅ Black belt reviewer • ✅ 30+ hours watched • ✅ Tested on the mat • ✅ 8 instructionals ranked
Last updated: March 2026. Prices checked at time of writing.
#1 Pick – Best No-Gi System
Systematically Attacking From Top Pins: Mount – Gordon Ryan
The most systematic mount instructional on the market. Palm-up cross grip creates submission dilemmas that branch into armbars, triangles, and back takes.
- Live rolling footage with real-time breakdown
- Palm-up cross grip innovation for arm isolation
- Connects mount to back takes in unified system
8 volumes requires significant time commitment
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#2 Pick – Best Conceptual Framework
The 4×4 Mount System – John Danaher
Four-step sequential framework: underhook, win elbow line, control grip, finish. The clearest conceptual roadmap for mount attacks.
- “Win elbow line first” transforms mount attacks
- Four-step logic easy to remember and drill
- Addresses failure points explicitly
11+ hours can feel dense for casual viewers
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#3 Pick – Best for Gi
The Roger Gracie Mount System – Roger Gracie
Nobody has submitted more black belt world champions from mount. Short, efficient, and lethal – the gold standard for gi mount finishing.
- Cross-collar choke instruction from the GOAT
- Maximum detail per minute of instruction
- Fundamental pressure that works on everyone
Only ~1.5 hours total; no modern no-gi variations
Check PriceWhy these 3?
How I ranked these. Mount is the strongest position in BJJ, but most practitioners stall there: they hit mount, hold on, and eventually lose it. I scored each instructional on how well it teaches a real finishing system (not random techniques), cross-referenced reviews from BJJ World, Reddit r/bjj, and specialist blogs, and weighted how the material translates to live rolling.
Each pick dominates a different segment of mount instruction:
- Gordon Ryan (#1) earns the top spot for the most systematic modern mount system available. His palm-up cross grip concept is a genuine innovation, and the live rolling footage with real-time commentary shows how the system works under pressure. The BJJ Coach Substack called it a “stupid simple system that changes EVERYTHING.”
- John Danaher (#2) provides the clearest conceptual framework with the 4×4 system. Four sequential steps, four submission finishes, and explicit failure-point troubleshooting. For practitioners who want to understand “why” before “how,” Danaher’s teaching is unmatched.
- Roger Gracie (#3) takes the gi slot because nobody in history has finished more elite black belts from mount. BJJ World’s Ognen Dzabirski gave the Side/Mount bundle a 9.5/10 and noted that Roger’s 15-minute control introduction alone teaches more about mount than months of training.
The remaining reviews below cover specialized needs: beginners (Bernardo Faria), advanced no-gi competitors (Bodoni), conceptual learners (Thornton), and hidden-details specialists (Estima, Akins).
Which Mount Instructional Fits Your Game?
Answer a few questions and I’ll recommend the best mount instructional for your situation.
Full Rankings: 8 Best Mount Instructionals
Each review below includes specific technique breakdowns, named community quotes, strengths, weaknesses with competitor comparisons, and who should (and shouldn’t) buy it.
1. Systematically Attacking From Top Pins: Mount – Gordon Ryan
The most systematic mount instructional on the market. Gordon builds a branching attack tree where every defensive reaction by your opponent creates a worse position for them. The palm-up cross grip concept alone is worth the price of admission.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ 8 volumes
- 📅 Released: 2021
- 🥋 No-gi (core concepts carry to gi)
- 🎯 Intermediate to advanced (blue belt+)
- 🕸 Mount Attacks & System
What It Covers
The system starts with a palm-up cross grip that targets the opponent’s rotator cuff, which is far weaker than the pec and shoulder muscles most people fight against. From this grip, Gordon walks through arm isolation by shifting his head across the opponent’s centerline before walking the arm up. When the opponent strips the grip, they expose the opposite arm and back, creating a gift wrap opportunity. The system branches into armbars, mounted triangles, strangles, and back takes. Each volume includes live rolling footage where Gordon breaks down his decision-making in real-time.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Palm-up cross grip innovation targets the rotator cuff instead of pec/shoulder muscles, making arm isolation dramatically easier
- Every defensive reaction creates a worse position: bridge creates pin to floor, grip strip exposes back, arm-up opens gift wrap dilemma
- Live rolling breakdown in each volume shows the system applied at full intensity with voice-over explaining real-time decisions
- Connects mount to back takes and side control in one unified system with clear dilemmas and remount sequences
What the Community Says
A stupid simple system that changes EVERYTHING.
BJJ Coach (Substack)
Core ideas improved mount immediately. Concise by Danaher standards and easy to implement.
BJJMore.com review
Step-by-step mount plan that translates well to gi and no-gi. Links mount to back and side with clear dilemmas and remounts.
r/bjj community
Weakness
Eight volumes is a lot of content to work through, and at full retail (~$197) it’s expensive. Wait for a daily deal. Danaher’s 4×4 system (#2) provides a more structured theoretical framework if you prefer understanding concepts before applying them. Bernardo Faria’s Mount Encyclopedia (#4) is more accessible for beginners at half the price.
My Recommendation
Best for: Intermediate to advanced no-gi grapplers who want a complete, competition-proven mount attack system with real rolling footage showing how it works under pressure.
Avoid if: You’re a beginner or train exclusively in the gi. Bernardo Faria (#4) is better for beginners, and Roger Gracie (#3) is the clear pick for gi-only mount finishing.
Pairs with: Danaher’s 4×4 Mount System (#2) for the theoretical framework behind the same general approach. Gordon shows the applied system, Danaher explains the conceptual logic.
2. The 4×4 Mount System – John Danaher (New Wave Jiu Jitsu)
Danaher boils mount attacks down to a four-step sequential process: get the underhook, win the elbow line, establish a control grip, and finish with one of four submissions. That clarity of framework is what separates this from every other mount instructional.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ 11 hours 19 minutes across 8 volumes
- 📅 Released: 2022
- 🥋 No-gi (control concepts carry to gi)
- 🎯 All levels (concepts scale with experience)
- 🕸 Mount System & Conceptual Framework
What It Covers
The system uses a four-step sequential approach. Step 1: get the underhook using the cross wrist method, half hand grip, or establishing the underhook from half guard as you mount from side control. Step 2: win the elbow line using the ratchet method to separate the elbow over the shoulder line. Step 3: establish one of four control grips (single chest wrap, far trap underhook, double chest wrap, or arm wrap/figure 4). Step 4: finish with kata gatame (arm triangle), juji gatame (armbar), mounted triangle, or a back take transition. Danaher also covers explicit failure points at each step.
What Makes It Stand Out
- “Win elbow line first” is a transformative concept that immediately improves mount attacks for any skill level
- Four-step process is easy to remember, easy to drill, and scales from white belt to black belt
- Failure-point troubleshooting at every step: what to do when you can’t get the underhook, can’t win the elbow line, etc.
- Connects seamlessly to back takes, creating a complete top-game system rather than isolated mount techniques
What the Community Says
A clear four-step mount system that reliably funnels to arm triangle, armbar, triangle, or back.
BJJMore.com review
4-step logic makes mount predictable and easier to finish even for newer belts.
r/bjj community
Still long, with several hours that can feel dense for casual viewers. Strong no-gi emphasis.
r/bjj community
Weakness
At 11+ hours, this is very long content. Danaher’s verbose teaching style means extensive conceptual explanation before you see techniques applied. Gordon Ryan’s version (#1) shows the same general system in action with live rolling, which many learners prefer. No gi-specific collar choke sequences.
My Recommendation
Best for: Practitioners at any level who want to understand the conceptual framework behind mount attacks. Especially good for people who learn best by understanding ‘why’ before ‘how.’
Avoid if: You want concise, technique-focused instruction. Roger Gracie’s 1.5-hour system (#3) covers more per minute. Also not ideal if you want gi-specific collar chokes.
Pairs with: Gordon Ryan’s Mount (#1) for the applied, competition version of similar concepts. Together they give you both theory and high-level application.
3. The Roger Gracie Mount System – Roger Gracie
Roger Gracie submitted more black belt world champions from mount than anyone in history. This short, efficient instructional captures the cross-collar choke system that won him 10 World Championship titles. No fluff, no filler, just the details that made the GOAT’s mount lethal.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ ~1 hour 25 minutes across 3 volumes
- 📅 Released: 2021
- 🥋 Gi
- 🎯 All levels
- 🕸 Gi Mount Fundamentals & Finishing
What It Covers
Three volumes covering mount control concepts (a 15-minute introduction to positioning principles), arm isolation for ultimate control, low-to-high mount variations and transitions, grip tactics and frame-breaking strategies, re-guard prevention, and then the submission meat: cross-collar choke (roughly 20 minutes of detailed instruction on Roger’s signature finish), Ezekiel choke, bent armlocks (americana, kimura), straight armlocks (armbar variations), and wrist locks.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Cross-collar choke instruction from the greatest competition mount finisher in BJJ history, with details you won’t get anywhere else
- 15-minute control concepts introduction is worth the price alone, covering positioning principles that immediately improve your mount
- Incredibly efficient: maximum detail per minute of instruction, zero filler or repetition
- Old-school fundamental pressure that works on everyone regardless of size, speed, or rule set
What the Community Says
Roger’s introduction to control concepts alone teaches more about the position than 15 months of training.
Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (9.5/10 for Side/Mount bundle)
Short but packed with content that improves mount immediately. Old-school pressure that works on bigger, stronger partners.
BJJMore.com review
Short, fundamentals-first set ideal if you want reliable gi pressure and simple, lethal routes.
r/bjj community
Weakness
Very short at ~1.5 hours. Almost entirely gi-focused with no dedicated no-gi collar substitutes. No modern variations like s-mount sequences or gift wrap systems. Gordon Ryan’s 8-volume system (#1) is far more comprehensive for no-gi, and Danaher’s 4×4 (#2) provides a more structured step-by-step framework. No transitions-to-mount section (Bernardo Faria covers this in #4).
My Recommendation
Best for: Gi players at any level who want high-percentage mount finishes from the greatest competition mount player in history. Also great for anyone who values concise, no-nonsense instruction.
Avoid if: You train primarily no-gi. Gordon Ryan (#1) or Danaher (#2) are much better picks. Also not ideal if you want a comprehensive, multi-hour system with transitions to mount.
Pairs with: Bernardo Faria’s Mount Encyclopedia (#4) covers mount transitions and escape counters that Roger doesn’t include, making them highly complementary for gi players.
4. The Mount Attack Encyclopedia – Bernardo Faria
The most beginner-friendly mount instructional on the market. Faria’s pressure-based approach requires zero athleticism and teaches mount from the ground up: control first, escape counters second, submissions third, transitions to mount fourth. No other mount instructional covers that full progression.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ 4 volumes (6-8 chapters per volume)
- 📅 Released: 2019
- 🥋 Gi (concepts applicable to no-gi)
- 🎯 White to purple belt
- 🕸 Complete Mount Education
What It Covers
Volume 1 covers mount fundamentals and escape counters, organized by control levels depending on which part of the opponent’s torso you control. Includes the cross choke counter to bridging and the Ezekiel choke setup as a final counter to the knee-elbow escape. Volume 2 covers americana combinations, two different armbar finishing methods, head control, kesa gatame applications, and pressure spots. Volume 3 goes advanced: climbing from low to high mount, wristlock from head control, reverse armbar, mounted triangle, and the mounted monoplata. Volume 4 fills a gap most mount instructionals ignore: transitions from side control, half guard, back mount, and the folding pass.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Volume 4 (transitions to mount) fills a gap most mount instructionals skip entirely, teaching you how to actually get there
- Escape counters organized by control level is a uniquely practical framework for maintaining mount under pressure
- Pressure-based approach works regardless of size or athleticism, proven by Faria’s 5x World Championship pedigree
- Good balance between chapter quantity and length (6-8 chapters per volume keeps each lesson focused)
What the Community Says
Mount Attacks Encyclopedia made me appreciate even more the value of simplicity. Perfect for every level and very simple to understand and apply.
BJJ World (reviewer: “colleric”)
You don’t need to weigh over 200 lbs to use his systems – the Bernardo Faria pressure game style is all about proper positioning rather than strength.
BJJ World
Weakness
Primarily gi-focused. No-gi practitioners will find some techniques less applicable (Ezekiel choke, collar-dependent setups). Gordon Ryan’s system (#1) is more systematic with clearer submission dilemmas. Danaher’s 4×4 (#2) provides a more structured conceptual framework. No live rolling footage to show techniques in real-time application.
My Recommendation
Best for: White to purple belt gi players who want a complete mount education, from control through advanced submissions. Especially good for older or less athletic practitioners who rely on technique over speed and strength.
Avoid if: You train primarily no-gi, or you’re an advanced practitioner looking for cutting-edge competition systems. Gordon Ryan (#1) and Bodoni (#5) are better picks for no-gi competitors.
Pairs with: Roger Gracie’s Mount System (#3) for the finishing details that Faria’s encyclopedia covers more broadly. Together they give you the complete package: Faria for the breadth, Roger for the depth on cross-collar finishes.
5. Chest To Chest Submissions and Pin Transitions – Giancarlo Bodoni (Essential Connections)
Bodoni won ADCC twice at -88kg using this system. The chest-to-chest connection principle isn’t just a mount concept. It’s a unified top-game philosophy that makes you better at side control, north-south, and mount simultaneously.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ ~6 hours across 6 volumes
- 📅 Released: 2023
- 🥋 No-gi
- 🎯 Advanced (purple belt+)
- 🕸 Top Game System (including mount)
What It Covers
The core principle is keeping your chest connected to the opponent to feel their reactions in real-time. From that foundation, Bodoni covers side control to mount transitions with positional checkpoints, north-south attacks, mount control and attacks (armbars, kimuras, guillotines), multiple arm triangle entries and finishes, triangle choke finishes, four different kipping escape counters, and advanced details like the reverse collar tie, shin pin, and hip posts. Back tracking (maintaining pressure while the opponent moves) rounds it out.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Four different kipping escape counters fill a gap most mount instructionals ignore completely
- The “chest-to-chest connection” is a unifying principle that improves all top positions, not just mount
- ADCC-proven twice at the highest level of no-gi competition (2022 and 2024 champion)
- Integrates mount with side control and north-south as a complete top-game system rather than isolated mount techniques
What the Community Says
Keeping your chest in connection with the opponent is not always an easy task. This addresses why people escape your top pins.
Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (8.5/10 for full bundle)
Well explained and already implementing with success.
Community feedback via BJJMore analysis
Weakness
Not a dedicated mount instructional. Mount is one part of a broader top-game system, so the mount-specific depth is less than Gordon Ryan (#1) or Danaher (#2). To get full value, you really need the complete Essential Connections bundle (28 volumes, ~26 hours). Not beginner-friendly at all.
My Recommendation
Best for: Advanced no-gi competitors at purple belt and above who want an ADCC-proven top game system. Especially good for practitioners who struggle with maintaining top control against tough opponents.
Avoid if: You want a dedicated mount instructional or you’re a beginner. Gordon Ryan (#1) is more focused and deeper on mount-specific attacks. Bernardo Faria (#4) is much more accessible for newer practitioners.
Pairs with: Gordon Ryan’s Mount (#1) for the dedicated mount attack depth. Bodoni gives you the broader top game framework, Gordon gives you the specialized mount finishing.
6. Mastering The Mount – Matt Thornton
Thornton doesn’t teach mount techniques. He teaches mount principles. His 15-lesson curriculum covers posture, pressure, connection, and the “alive” training methodology that made Straight Blast Gym one of the most influential academies in martial arts. If you want to understand why mount works, not just how, start here.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ 15 lessons (conceptual curriculum format)
- 📅 Released: 2018
- 🥋 Gi and no-gi
- 🎯 All levels (beginners benefit most)
- 🕸 Conceptual Mount Framework
What It Covers
Fifteen lessons covering posture fundamentals, arm killing techniques, pushup armbars, countering escapes, half mount concepts, the elevator, early submissions, americana sequences, arm triangles, lower body control, taking the back from mount, and high mount concepts. The format is conceptual rather than technique-by-technique, emphasizing framing fundamentals, posture and pressure principles, and the principle of connection as core themes throughout.
What Makes It Stand Out
- BJJ World rated it 5/5 for both overall quality and value for money, praising the “uniquely set up” conceptual approach
- Teaches principles that apply to both gi and no-gi equally, unlike most mount instructionals that lean one direction
- Direct access to Matt Thornton for follow-up questions is included with purchase, essentially adding a coaching element
- 15-lesson structured curriculum provides a clear learning path from fundamentals through advanced concepts
What the Community Says
Uniquely set up instructional that is going to revolutionize your mount game. Awesome for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
BJJ World (5/5 rating)
Weakness
Thornton is not a competitor at the highest levels, so his system lacks the competition validation of Roger Gracie, Gordon Ryan, or Bodoni. The conceptual approach may frustrate practitioners who want specific step-by-step techniques. Gordon Ryan (#1) and Danaher (#2) provide more actionable, systematic approaches with clearer finishing sequences. Older-style production compared to modern BJJ Fanatics releases.
My Recommendation
Best for: Beginners and intermediate practitioners who want to understand mount principles rather than memorize techniques. Coaches and instructors looking for pedagogical frameworks. SBG lineage students.
Avoid if: You want specific, step-by-step finishing sequences. Gordon Ryan (#1), Danaher (#2), or Roger Gracie (#3) all provide more actionable attack systems.
Pairs with: Danaher’s 4×4 Mount System (#2) provides the specific technical framework that complements Thornton’s conceptual foundation. Thornton teaches the ‘why,’ Danaher teaches the ‘how.’
7. The Pressure Mount – Braulio Estima
Braulio won both ADCC and the World Championships. His Pressure Mount reveals the small adjustments, the invisible jiu-jitsu, that make basic mount techniques lethal. If your mount submissions feel close but never quite work, Braulio’s hidden details are what you’re missing.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ Multiple volumes
- 📅 Released: 2020
- 🥋 Gi
- 🎯 Intermediate to advanced
- 🕸 Advanced Gi Mount & Hidden Details
What It Covers
Mount maintenance and constricting pressure that forces opponents into critical mistakes. Collar chokes from mount with heavy gi focus, armbar sequences, triangle setups from mount, and s-mount positioning with more detail than most mount instructionals. High mount techniques, bridge escape counters with specific responses, half guard recovery counters to prevent the opponent from getting back to half guard, and hidden setups and details not commonly taught in standard mount instruction.
What Makes It Stand Out
- S-mount coverage is more detailed than most mount instructionals, filling a niche that Gordon Ryan and Danaher don’t emphasize
- Braulio’s ADCC + World Championship pedigree proves these techniques work at the absolute highest levels of competition
- Concept-based teaching reveals principles behind the techniques, not just mechanics
- Charismatic, engaging teaching style where Braulio “comes off as a friend or fun uncle teaching you techniques”
What the Community Says
A great instructional. He reveals some of that invisible jiu-jitsu here. Most useful for those familiar with mount but perhaps have trouble finishing.
The Grappling Conjecture
Weakness
Vague chapter organization makes it hard to find specific techniques when you want to review them. Heavy gi focus with limited no-gi applicability. Not beginner-friendly. The Grappling Conjecture specifically criticized the organization. Gordon Ryan’s system (#1) is better organized, and Danaher’s 4×4 (#2) has a much clearer step-by-step framework. Bernardo Faria (#4) covers similar gi-based mount with better organization at a lower price.
My Recommendation
Best for: Intermediate to advanced gi players who already know mount basics but struggle to finish submissions. Practitioners who want the hidden details that make standard techniques work on tough opponents.
Avoid if: You’re a beginner, you want well-organized reference material, or you train no-gi. Bernardo Faria (#4) is better organized for gi beginners, and Gordon Ryan (#1) is the clear no-gi pick.
Pairs with: Roger Gracie’s Mount System (#3) for a complementary approach to gi mount finishing. Roger gives you the fundamental pressure, Braulio adds the hidden details and s-mount depth.
8. Mount Attacks – Henry Akins (Hidden Jiu-Jitsu)
Akins trained directly under Rickson Gracie and built his entire teaching brand around the ‘hidden jiu-jitsu’ concept: the invisible details in pressure, connection, angles, timing, and leverage that transform basic techniques from ineffective to unstoppable.
Quick Facts
- ⏰ Multiple volumes
- 📅 Released: 2019
- 🥋 Gi and no-gi
- 🎯 All levels (especially plateaued intermediates)
- 🕸 Hidden Details & Fundamental Principles
What It Covers
Armbar sequences from mount, cross-choke from mount, americana from mount, and attack chains that blend between multiple submission sequences. Escape counters with back take opportunities when your opponent tries to escape. The core material focuses on the “hidden jiu-jitsu” details: weight distribution principles that make your mount feel 30 lbs heavier, connection concepts that let you anticipate your opponent’s movements, and the angles, timing, and leverage adjustments that separate techniques that work on everyone from techniques that only work on beginners.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Rickson Gracie lineage provides access to the deepest fundamental principles of BJJ, passed down from the source
- “Invisible jiu-jitsu” details transform basic techniques you already know but can’t make work on skilled opponents
- Companion “Mount Maintenance and Escapes” instructional provides a complete mount education from both sides of the position
- Principles apply equally to gi and no-gi, making this one of the most versatile mount resources on the list
What the Community Says
Black belts have been in awe of something as simple as a hip bump. Totally worth every minute.
Hidden Jiu-Jitsu community
Weakness
Akins is not competition-proven at the level of Gordon Ryan, Roger Gracie, or Bodoni. The teaching style can be too conceptual or abstract for practitioners who want specific step-by-step techniques. Roger Gracie (#3) provides similar Rickson-lineage fundamentals with far more competitive validation. Less systematically organized than Danaher’s 4×4 (#2) or Gordon Ryan’s system (#1).
My Recommendation
Best for: Practitioners who feel their basic mount techniques should work but don’t against skilled opponents. People who value fundamental principles and hidden details over complex systems. Rickson Gracie lineage students.
Avoid if: You want a systematic, step-by-step attack system. Gordon Ryan (#1), Danaher (#2), or even Bernardo Faria (#4) all provide more structured approaches.
Pairs with: His own ‘Mount Maintenance and Escapes’ instructional for the complete Akins mount education. Also pairs well with any systematic approach like Danaher’s 4×4 (#2), which adds structure to Akins’ principles.
Pricing & Deals
BJJ Fanatics prices fluctuate constantly due to daily deals, seasonal sales, and bundle discounts. Here’s what to expect at regular prices and how to get the best deals.
| Instructional | Regular Price | Typical Sale Price | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Ryan – Mount | ~$197 | $97-$127 | No-gi |
| Danaher – 4×4 Mount | ~$197-$249 | $97-$147 | No-gi |
| Roger Gracie – Mount System | ~$97 | $47-$67 | Gi |
| Bernardo Faria – Mount Encyclopedia | ~$77-$97 | $37-$57 | Gi |
| Bodoni – Chest to Chest | ~$147 | $77-$97 | No-gi |
| Matt Thornton – Mastering Mount | ~$77 | $37-$47 | Gi/No-gi |
| Braulio Estima – Pressure Mount | ~$97 | $47-$67 | Gi |
| Henry Akins – Mount Attacks | ~$77 | $37-$47 | Gi/No-gi |
How to save: BJJ Fanatics runs daily deals with 50-75% discounts on rotating instructionals. Sign up for their email list and wait for your target instructional to appear. Seasonal sales (Black Friday, March Madness) offer site-wide discounts. The current March Madness sale offers 47% off with code MARCHMAD2026.
Best budget picks: Bernardo Faria’s Mount Encyclopedia (~$77 regular, often $37-$57 on sale) offers the most value per dollar. Matt Thornton’s Mastering The Mount is similarly affordable. Roger Gracie’s system is short but packed, making the regular ~$97 price reasonable for the quality.
Mount Terminology Glossary
- Low mount – Sitting on the opponent’s hips/belly. Stable but farther from submissions. Starting position before climbing higher.
- High mount – Knees in the armpits, hips near the opponent’s chest. Close to submissions but easier to bridge off if you lose balance.
- S-mount – One leg hooked under the opponent’s head/shoulder, the other planted on the mat. Creates extreme pressure and armbar angles.
- Gift wrap – Controlling the opponent’s arm by wrapping it across their own body, pinning it with your chest. Opens back takes and chokes.
- Elbow line – The line across the opponent’s shoulders. Danaher’s system revolves around getting the opponent’s elbow above this line for control.
- Arm isolation – The process of separating one of the opponent’s arms from their body to set up submissions. Key concept in both Gordon Ryan and Danaher systems.
- Palm-up cross grip – Gordon Ryan’s innovation: gripping the opponent’s wrist palm-up to target the rotator cuff (weaker than pec/shoulder muscles).
- Kata gatame – Arm triangle choke. One of Danaher’s four primary mount finishes in the 4×4 system.
- Juji gatame – Armbar. Standard mounted armbar with legs controlling the opponent’s upper body.
- Kipping escape – A hip escape method where the bottom person uses a kipping motion to create space. Bodoni covers four counters to this.
- Cross-collar choke – Roger Gracie’s signature finish. Grabbing both lapels and applying a cross-pressure choke from mount.
- Chest-to-chest connection – Bodoni’s principle of keeping your chest connected to the opponent to feel their reactions in real-time.
FAQ – Best Mount Instructionals
What is the best mount instructional for beginners?
Bernardo Faria’s Mount Attack Encyclopedia is the best starting point. It covers mount from the ground up (control, escape counters, submissions, transitions) with a pressure-based approach that works without athleticism. Matt Thornton’s Mastering The Mount is another solid beginner choice for its conceptual approach. For no-gi beginners, start with Danaher’s 4×4 system since the four-step framework is easy to remember.
Gordon Ryan vs John Danaher mount instructional – which should I buy?
They complement each other. Danaher’s 4×4 Mount System provides the conceptual framework (four steps, four finishes, failure-point troubleshooting), while Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking From Top Pins: Mount shows that system applied in competition with live rolling footage. If you can only pick one: choose Danaher if you want to understand “why,” choose Gordon Ryan if you want to see “how” at full intensity.
What is the best mount instructional for gi?
The Roger Gracie Mount System is the top pick for gi practitioners. Nobody has submitted more elite black belts from mount, and his cross-collar choke instruction is the gold standard. Bernardo Faria’s Mount Attack Encyclopedia is the best budget gi option with more breadth. Braulio Estima’s Pressure Mount adds hidden details and s-mount depth for advanced gi players.
What is the best mount instructional for no-gi?
Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking From Top Pins: Mount is the clear #1 for no-gi. It’s the most systematic mount instructional available with a palm-up cross grip innovation and live rolling footage. Danaher’s 4×4 is the best conceptual alternative. For advanced no-gi competitors, Bodoni’s Chest to Chest system integrates mount with a complete ADCC-proven top game.
Are BJJ Fanatics mount instructionals worth the price?
At full retail ($147-$249), the premium instructionals are expensive. Wait for daily deals or seasonal sales where discounts of 50-75% are common. At sale prices ($47-$97), they’re excellent value. Bernardo Faria’s Mount Encyclopedia at ~$77 regular and Matt Thornton’s at ~$77 are already priced fairly without discounts.
Should I learn mount attacks or mount maintenance first?
Maintenance first, attacks second. You can’t finish from a position you can’t hold. Bernardo Faria’s Volume 1 is almost entirely mount control and escape counters. Henry Akins has a separate “Mount Maintenance and Escapes” instructional dedicated to this. Once you can hold mount for 2-3 minutes against resisting partners, invest in attack systems like Gordon Ryan or Danaher.
What is the cheapest mount instructional worth buying?
Bernardo Faria’s Mount Attack Encyclopedia (~$77 regular, often $37-$57 on sale) is the best value. Matt Thornton’s Mastering The Mount is similarly affordable and got a 5/5 from BJJ World. Both offer genuine quality at budget prices. Roger Gracie’s system at ~$97 is short but packed enough to justify the price without a discount.
Related Instructional Guides
- Best BJJ Instructionals – Our complete ranked list of the top instructional content
- Best Side Control Instructionals – Side control transitions to mount
- Best Back Take Instructionals – Mount to back take is a common transition
- Best Escape Instructionals – Mount escapes from the bottom perspective
