MO1.0 Basic Mount Technique- [Open Guard]: 

(Tori’s Training Perspective) This is one of the first position a student is taught. If you’ve been placed, by an opponent in the guard, you are not getting kicked, but you can still be struck with fists, knees and elbows. First thing breath and relax. Do not waste energy. You can escape from this position, but you can also choke or apply a joint lock from this position and administer strikes too.

If you’ve placed an opponent in the guard, you can strike with your feet. Dropping your heels on the opponent’s kidneys, is one technique. In BJJ this is a preferred position. This is not so in the AOKK, so we do not advise simply pulling the adversary into the guard because our focus is on self-defense and not sport. You are vulnerable in this position. During randori (Free Grappling), you obviously cannot strike, but this is still a good practice to become familiar with administering blows in this range while on the bottom. It is also imperative that you train from the bottom because you might be in that position one day.

When an adversary has been thrown to the ground and is on their back does not mean they’re defenseless. The first time I ran into a heel-thrust from a student, into my solar-plexus, when the student had their back to the ground was a real shock. I had spent too much time simply grappling and expected to jump into the opponent’s guard. This did not happen, so deal with the legs first, and the guard second. If you are standing and the adversary is on the ground, you can also administer kicks while they’re on their back. If the adversary is incapacitated, you must stop your attack and render aid if necessary. 

(Uke’s Training Perspective) There are several methods to get out and escape this position if grappling is not your strong suite. Try to pass the guard or stand and begin kicking the downed opponent’s legs.  Do not let the opponent stand-up unless range one and two are your strong points.

Disclaimer:  I realize some of this material is somewhat outdated, but I had to learn it when I was a student and now so now you do also.

Warning: If you’re on your back in a life preservation situation the guard is not where you want to be, but if you’re knocked to the ground you need to know how to fight from this range. 

Mount:

Student-1: (Tori) Back to the tatami in the guarding position.

Student-2: (Uke) In student-1’s guard.

Execution:

• (Tori) Student -1 use your feet and knees to keep tori at bay.

Note: Tori do not intertwine your ankles (closed guard) to limit the uke’s movement.

• (Tori) Keep feet in student-2’s hip crease.
• (Tori) Pivot on your back and shift the hips side to side.
• (Uke) Student-2 keep your knees pushed out to create a wider base.

Note: Uke don’t extend your arms, and don’t let the tori pull you forwards. If you are practicing randori, use one of the many methods of passing the guard.

• (Tori) If the uke loosens their grip with the legs, try to stand and begin to kick their legs and hip joints, or leave the location.

Note: The guarding position is not new. It has always been part of jujitsu it simply was not termed the guard until BJJ was created.

Practice Options

1. (Uke) Student-2 creates a wider base and punches to groin, bladder, face, and solar plexus. Uke can practice driving their knee into the uke’s coccyx.
2. Uke) Should practice driving their elbows into the sides of uke’s knee joints.
3. (Tori) or student-1 can practice pulling uke down and placing them in a triangle choke or arm-bar.
4. (Tori) Student-1 should work on breaking uke’s base by pushing against uke’s knees and thighs.
5. (Tori) Student-1 should work on punching, hip shifting, escaping, and controlling uke’s hands to limit his/her striking ability.
6. (Tori should work on applying, chokes and locks from the guarding position.

Note: In a life preservation situation you can crush the attacker’s testicles.