Grapevine Mount
Mounted control that hooks both of the opponent’s legs with your feet — a heavy pin that kills bridges and sets up high-percentage attacks.
Overview
Grapevine mount is a mount variation where your feet hook inside and around the opponent’s legs (grapevines), pinning their hips and reducing bridge power. It is distinct from technical mount and S-mount: the identity is bilateral leg entanglement from classic mount, used to stabilize before climbing higher or attacking the upper body.
Position Flow
How to Enter
- From standard mount, insert both feet between their legs and hook outward
- Settle grapevines after a sweep lands in mount
- Re-establish grapevines when they threaten a big bridge
How to Exit
- Release grapevines and climb to high / technical mount for submissions
- S-mount when one arm isolates
- Americana, armbar, or collar chokes once bridges die
- Knee-on-belly if you need to reset angles
Key Controls
- Feet hooked around their legs with toes pointing out
- Hips heavy and low to keep the grapevines glued
- Upper-body control via head-and-arm, collars, or posts
Vulnerabilities
- Getting your feet entangled if they lock your ankles
- Slow transition to upper-body attacks if you stall in grapevines
- Elbow escapes if your hips float while feet are busy
Ideal When
You need maximum mount stability against strong bridgers before climbing to finish.
OffenseOffense
Goals
- Kill bridge power with bilateral leg hooks
- Climb or attack once their hips are pinned
Key Techniques
- Americana and straight arm locks from stabilized mount
- Collar chokes in the gi once posture is broken
- Technical mount transitions when they turn to a hip
Pro Tips
- Grapevines are a control layer — do not forget the hands
- Release a grapevine intentionally when you need to climb
Common Mistakes
- Crossing feet in a way that invites ankle locks
- Staying in grapevines forever without advancing
DefenseDefense
Goals
- Clear the grapevines and create hip space
- Bridge and elbow-escape once feet are free
Key Techniques
- Unhook feet with knee drives and hip heists
- Bridge-and-roll when a post becomes available
- Elbow escape as soon as one grapevine dies
Pro Tips
- Address the feet before wild bridging into a tighter pin
- Keep elbows in while you fight the hooks
Common Mistakes
- Extending arms and giving americana/collar entries
- Turning early into technical mount without clearing hooks
Variations
Double grapevine mountSingle grapevine while posting the free footGrapevine to high mount / technical mount climbs
Key Concepts
- Grapevines pin hips; hands finish the fight
- Stability first, then climb for submissions
- Distinct from S-mount and technical mount — different control problem
Recommended Drills
- Mount to grapevine inserts against progressive bridging
- Grapevine retention rounds
- Grapevine release to technical mount and submission chains
Related Techniques
Summary
Grapevine mount hooks both of their legs from mount to kill bridges and stabilize the pin. Use it as a control layer, then climb to technical or S-mount and finish with upper-body attacks.