Side Mount is a popular term used in Mixed Martial Arts to describe side control in grappling. This is also called as Side Control, Cross Mount, and Scarfold, where the dominant has to lie on top of his opponent perpendicularly. This is a type of ground grappling position, which allows the practitioner in exhibiting side control in a stable position. The practitioner has to transition his elbows and knees against his opponent into a mounted position. Using this technique would make it difficult for his opponent to break free from the practitioner’s legs. Side mount has three components: Kata-Gatame, Kesa-Gatame, and Twister Side-Control.
What is Kata-Gatame?
The Kata-Gatame, or most commonly known as the “SHoulder Hold”, is a mixed martial art method of pinning the opponent down by hugging him around his head. At the same time, the practitioner has to pin his opponent’s arms against his neck. Kata-Gatame is used as a counter-attack when the opponent tried to escape. Kata-Gatame is viewed as a chokehold because the practitioner has to compress his opponent’s neck through a side choke or arm-triangle choke.
What is Kesa-Gatame?
Kesa-Gatame is another pinning technique, or commonly called as the “Scarf Hold”. The practitioner has to position sideways while holding his opponent’s head closer to his chest while spreading his legs to ensure stability and control. Many martial artists have commented that Kesa-Gatame is a trickier technique than the Kata-Gatame because the submission holds and the transition is difficult to maintain. To effectively execute Kesa-Gatame, the player has to modify it with Kuzure-Kesa-Gatame, where the player has to wrap his opponent’s arms instead of his head.
The Variation of Twister Side-Control
The last component of an effective side mount is the Twister Side-Control, where the player has to face away from the opponent’s head while placing a portion of his back on the opponent’s chin. The practitioner has to control his opponent by trapping him behind his elbow. The practitioner’s free hand also has to be active in blocking the opponent’s legs from escaping. Twister Side-Control is also known as the guillotine because it permits the practitioner to perform a twister while attacking the opponent’s kneebars.