At the bottom of this article is a new video talking about the correct and incorrect side of rearmount.
But first a little background…
Nowadays most grapplers are realising that their default grip in the rearmount should be the over-under grip (also known as the ‘seatbelt’ or the ‘harness’).
This arm position offers a ton of control over your opponent but also many different attacking options.
If you’re unfamiliar with the over-under grip, or would like some additional tips on how to apply it correctly, then watch this vintage video here before you go on to the rest of the article:
So that covers the grip. But when you get that grip on an opponent and get your hooks in (i.e. full rearmount) then 9 times out of 10 you’ll end up on either your left or your right side.
And a lot of people, even blue and purple belts, completely screw up their rearmount simply by going to the wrong side.
Against a good grappler a huge part of the battle is getting to the correct side and keeping him there. And someone who really wants to escape will usually focus most of his energy on getting to your incorrect side (that can often be 90% of the escape battle, actually).
So what are these sides?
The Correct Side of Rearmount: The side you want to be on is the side on which you have the overhook (i.e. where your arm comes over his shoulder). This overhook-side is generally the attacking hand: the hand that will applying the choke.
The Incorrect Side of Rearmount is the side on which you have your underhook (i.e. where your arm comes under his armpit). On this side it’s harder for you to choke out your opponent, and much easier for him to get his head to the ground and begin to escape the position.
I always think of getting my opponent’s head ‘on the pillow’, with the pillow being my biceps. If he gets off the pillow now I’ve got some serious work to do to maintain rearmount and tap him out.
Just by understanding this one single concept – keeping your opponent on the correct side – you’ll literally submit people twice as often, and make it twice as difficult for your opponents to escape.
The video below breaks down the strong and weak side concept very clearly.
It also illustrates how knowing even a single concept translates directly into more powerful jiu-jitsu. This isn’t airy-fairy handwaving: it’s hard cold science that’ll result in you tapping out a lot more people!
Check out this video here:
The above video on the strong and weak side of rearmount concept is an excerpt from the brand new instructional app that Rob Biernacki and I have put out.
This app is called The BJJ Back Attack Formula, and it’s available for Apple, Android and Kindle device.
Its a meticulously organised 3 hour and 20 minute instructional on taking, keeping, and attacking from the back position.
It also covers escapes, how to counter those escapes, drills, tricks, strategies and a ton more. It’s really comprehensive and very easy to implement.
Not surprisingly we’ve been fortunate enough to receive some really positive feedback on this app. Don’t take my word for it: check out the ratings and reviews in the app stores below.
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