Side Control vs Mount

[Smokey_D]

I have been doing MA for a number of years, and only recently in the last 3 months have I been formally training in BJJ. It's never really bothered me that BJJ wants to ultimately mount an opponent until recently because of my instructor insists that I do it.

My side control is much better because I decided years ago that it would be the best position for me. I'm not going to argue with my instructor out of respect, but I still don't see why the mount is better.

Can anyone convince this stubborn skeptic that the mount is better? Here is why I think the side control is better:

-Easier to control a larger opponent. An opponent with a barrel chest is extremly difficult to maintain your base. Better base with the side control.

-If you f*ck it up, usually the worst is that you end up in a half guard. With the mount, you can more easier find yourself on the bottom if the opponent bumps and rolls.

-Better for strikes and submissions.. From the mount you can only strike with your hands and head, but from the side you can use your knees as well. For submissions, you can do all the submissions that you can do from the mount, plus there are opportunities with leg locks.

-It's much easier to disengage your opponent, especially if it's a real fight.

Thoughts?

[duchman]

some fighters prefer side control over mount.
Some fighters dont like mount at all

Did you ever see free fight event 1?
It has a match chris dolman( former world sambo champ) vs akira meade, chris get full mount, goes to scarf hold and gets a armlock

[Smokey_D]

I never saw the Free Fight 1, but that move sounds like a difficult one to pull off. Once you are mounted, you usually stay there, i.e. you don't go to the side.

Sounds like an interesting fight though.

[Ryu (non-working password]

I wouldn't force someone to fight from mount if it was obvious that he had a better knack for fighting from side control. You obviously need to practice the mount, because you have total control. Mount is an important position in BJJ, and one that needs a lot of time studying.
But some people fight better from cross-body. I prefer cross-body as well. There are a lot of MMA who dominate from cross-body, and most of the wrestlers enjoy this position as well as judoka, and other grapplers.
Side contol if done properly is like nailing an opponent to the floor no matter his size.
So maybe your instructor is just trying to get you to spend time working with the mount. Which is good. But don't change what works for you. Whatever works is what the game is about.

Ryu

[Chop Wisby]

yeah; i like side-control, scarf, & kos better than mount, but then i am small & aging.

[Karlinhos]

can't convince ya that mount is "better" than cross. i prefer cross in a sport situation and mount in a nhb type situation... for a lot of the reasons you stated.

for me:

side - a more mobile position. more SUBMISSION options (legs, etc)

mount - mount high and pound. or smother to buy yourself more time (rest) while at the same time making him very uncomfortable.

just my $.02

TRAIN ON!

karl

[macdawg]

I am probably better at the side too, however I am a big believer that if your gonna strike mount is much better than side mount. If I can tell someone is gonna get out of my side mount then I mount them, also subs from the mount occur more often even though there is less things you can do. If you can get the tap from the side, do it, if you take a long time and they are defending good or are giving an opening, mount them and work on it, it is an important part of grappling that you don't want missing in your game so I agree with your instructor.

[duchman]

Sh*t, i agree whit karelinhos.

[Quad]

Hey Smokey I feel the same way I love side mount.I usually roll everyone that mounts me and I spend a lot of energy trying to get out when I am side mounted.But for Self defense reasons the mount is the safest place to be. Think about it in side mount you are too close to your opponent you can get easily stabbed or bitten or balls crushed, while in high mount you have more control and you can pound the hell out of a reverse attempt.

[Smokey_D]

Quad and everyone:

Thanks for the advice. I know that I should work on my mount as a better overall MAer, which I have been doing for that reason. I'm glad to hear that other people feel the same way about the side control.

I see everyone's point about the mount and a NHB fight. Let me clarify some points and observations:

Mount is good for a REAL fight that could include eye gouging and biting, but for a NHB, I still think the side is better. If nothing else, if you f*ck it up you won't be on the bottom. I'm a firm believer that in NHB you don't want to be on the bottom-- stay on top, even if you are in someone's guard.

Smoke

[Karlinhos]

DOUCHE... lmfao!

[TKOU]

I am of a similar opinion on side being a little easier to control than mount. Consequently I am forcing myself to stay mounted both high and low on everyone I wrestle to come up with better options from my mount. Every detesable position I have encountered is the one I spend the most time training. I do this because I know that the one I hate is the only one that will work on the next guy I fight! This guy will escape everything, counter everything, and attack from everyplace until I put him in my least favorite position and finish him from there.

My $02

[Ryu (non-working password]

Don't count out side control for G&P either though.
It is true that mount gives you more of a "view" of the guy and surroundings so to speak. And it is quite easier to get bitten and or stabbed in side control (though that can happen in mount too...knives screw up grappling...period)
But you can throw knees, elbows, and headbutts from side control as well with a lot of damage. Also, if the fight you are in is not too serious, side control is a good way of smothering the fight out of him without hurting him too bad. Looks good in court.
But both are something to train the hell out of

Take care,
Ryu

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

Mark Coleman did alot of headbutts in his old UFC fights in the sidemount if I can recall correctly.

[Chop Wisby]

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