Trap and Roll against Full Mount

Although introduced here in a specific context, the principles of “trap and roll” can be applied to a variety of situations. The basic concept is that a mounted attacker must “base out” with both arms and legs. If you trap the arm and leg on one side, the person can be rolled.

Starting Position: On the ground, face up, with an attacker straddling you.

Buck your hips to make the attacker base out.

With one arm, reach out to trap one of his arms. You can reach either over (trapping from the inside out) or under (trapping from the outside in). Generally, reaching over the arm makes for a better hold but may take longer to execute. Be sure that you trap the arm above the elbow. Using your leg, trap the attacker’s leg on the same side as the arm—as much as possible at the same time as your arm trap.

Buck your hips upward toward your head. At the end of this motion, roll your hips over toward the trapped side. Drive over with your feet to end up on top, striking as you go. Your goal should be to deliver an elbow to the face, but if the attacker’s resistance makes that impossible, deliver groin strikes. (See later techniques for escaping from this position.)

Tips: Proficient groundfighters will make it difficult to trap an arm. If you cannot get the arm in a single try, continue bucking your hips, forcing them to base out. Remember that, at the very least, as long as they are basing out, they are not punching you. Also, any method you can create to trap the arm is fine: grab his clothing, grab his wrist with two hands.

Safety Comment!

When practicing with a partner, be sure the attacker turns his palm up as soon as his arm is caught. This prevents wrist injuries when he is rolled over.

Choke with Attacker in Mount

Starting Position: On the ground, face up, with an attacker straddling and choking you.

Address the danger immediately by making the same plucking motion as Choke from the Front (page 60). Be aware that because of interference from the ground, you won’t have the same range of motion. Just as with the choke defense from a standing position, pin the hands to your shoulders as you finish the pluck. At the same time, bring one foot up to trap the attacker’s leg.

Pluck, and punch your hips up to throw the attacker up and toward one shoulder (the shoulder on the same side as the leg trap). Because you have trapped his hands, this should inhibit his ability to “base out.”

Roll the attacker over and immediately counterattack. Your goal should be to deliver an elbow to the face. If your movement is inhibited by the attacker’s resistance or your technique, groin strikes are possible.

Get up as soon as possible (see later techniques for escaping from this position).

Tips: The plucking and hip thrust are not made in interrupted stages. The movements are explosive and come almost simultaneously.

Note that a more experienced grappler may apply a more dangerous version of this attack designed not to choke you in a headlock, but to put pressure on your neck, or to crush your face with his chest.