This article is based mainly on Taekwondo techniques, but it's applicable to any martial art.

Rear-mount position

The rear-mount position (aka back-mount) is thought to be the safest and most advantageous position in grappling, because the enemy has very few possibilities available. It is considered the
“rear-mount” regardless if you are sitting, lying on your back on the floor or if the opponent is raised up on his hands.  The rear-mount also provides for one of the most effective, yet relatively easy, disabling techniques in the grappling arsenal, namely the rear naked choke.

Quick review

Position yourself close against the back of your opponent with your legs wrapped around him and your heels hooked inside the opponents legs. Do not cross your ankles. Secure the position by wrapping one arm under one of the opponent’s armpits, and your other arm around his neck. Clasp your hands together in an
opposing-thumbs grip with your thumbs tucked in.

Possible strikes

Elbow strikes are very effective weapons at close range. Taekwondoin can use their elbows for front or inward strikes to the rear-side and side of the neck, the angle of mandible, and the temple. By leaning slightly back the Taekwondoin can execute a downward elbow strike (naeryo palgup taerigi) to the occiput. The occipital bone is the membrane bone at the lower back part of the cranium that protects the cerebellum or “little brain”. Trauma directed at the cerebellum can cause loss of consciousness, loss of coordination of motor movement,
various long-term disabilities and even death.

Using a downward elbow strike to the cervical (the region of the spine that forms part of the neck), is also a possibility. Injuries to the cervical spine can cause loss of motor function, loss of
sensation, affect breathing (by affecting the diaphragm) and possibly result in death. (Apology: In the previous article on Taekwondo and Ground Fighting it was erroneously mentioned that the
cervix is a possible target from this position. It should have read cervical spine, or neck. The error is due to a wrong Korean-English translation in the ITF Encyclopaedia.)

A downward strike with the elbow onto the trapezius muscle (the muscle connecting the neck and shoulder) causes less serious trauma, although it is still quite painful. Attacking the trapezius may also leave the enemy temporarily unable to use that arm for punching, as the trapezius muscle is used to pull the arm back.

Different attacks with the hands, using the fore-knuckles, palm, hammer-fist and other attacking tools are also possible. Some examples include a middle-knuckle fist turning punch to the temple,
a side-fist inward strike to the angle of mandible, or knife-hand inward strike to the neck.


An open fist (palm-heel) strike to the rear side of the skull, if performed at the proper angle and with a slight rotation, can also be used to activate some of the pressure points at the back of the
head that may result in unconsciousness.

The suggested striking techniques will not be effective if the rear-mount position is in a reclining posture, thus placing your back on the floor. An opponent may roll you back on the floor in order
to smother your strikes. If this is the case, follow-up with the rear naked choke.

Rear naked choke

Slightly safer and less traumatic is the rear naked choke.  Since a choke does not necessarily cause direct physical
trauma it can be applied with a fare level of safety and if controlled and applied correctly will not result in permanent injury. From a legal point of view this is probably the best technique from the rear-mount because strikes can cause serious long term injuries or even fatality, while a controlled choke will only result in temporary unconsciousness. However, when faced with multiple attackers the rear naked choke may take too long to execute to be an effective defensive technique. (While choking one opponent you are vulnerable to attacks from the other opponents.)

Rear naked choke, broken into separate words, the “rear” refers to fact that the technique is always applied from the back of the opponent. Most choking techniques use the opponents clothing (collar and/or lapel) as part of the technique. The rear naked choke does not make use of the opponents clothing and is therefore considered a “naked” technique. The usage of the word “choke” is obvious.

The rear naked choke can be performed irrespective if the rear-mount position is in the sitting or reclining posture, or with your opponent standing on his hands and knees.

Step 1: From the rear-mount position, use your stronger arm to reach around the enemy’s neck and under his chin, so that his trachea nestles in the crook of your elbow.

Step 2: Bring your other hand (weaker arm) around to the back so that you cup your opponent’s head from the back with your palm, pushing his head forward into your stronger arm. Use the hand from your choking arm to grasp your other upper arm (bicep or even shoulder region) to secure the choke tightly.

To finish the technique press your elbows towards each other and expand your chest. The choke restricts blood flow from the carotid arteries to the brain. If performed correctly it will cause temporary unconsciousness within a few seconds.

In a one on one fight a choke can be a good way to incapacitate the enemy quickly. When fighting multiple opponents it is better not to grapple a single opponent.

Surviving the rear-mount

If you find yourself the victim of the rear-mount you have to act quickly and with utmost determination. The rear-mount is the most dominant and therefore probably the most dangerous of the grappling positions and not a position from which you can just “wrestle” your way out.

Your obvious aim would be not to get into a vulnerable position where your opponent can move into a rear-mount. Therefore, you should never “give your back” to your opponent. If your opponent should gain access to your back, try some of the various back attacks available in Taekwondo, such as the back elbow thrust (dwi palgup tulgi), to create distance between yourself and your opponent and to give you an opportunity to turn around.

If your opponent has broken through your defences and gained access to your back it is important to keep him from assaulting you with strikes to the various vital points on your back and the back of your skull as described earlier. Roll over or push backwards, so that you force your opponent onto his back, with your chest facing the ceiling (your back pressing against his chest. As mentioned at the end of the possible strikes section, with the attacker on his back it is difficult for him to perform striking techniques.

When the enemy is attempting a rear naked choke, you can try and prevent the choking arm from coming around your neck, for instance by using an X-block (as illustrated on the left) and then pushing the arm away. It is difficult to perform the rear naked choke with just one arm; therefore controlling one of your opponent’s arms could give you a small advantage from this position.

If the arm is already wrapped around your neck, you want to lessen the pressure as quickly as possible. Use both your arms to pull the choking arm (preferably at the wrist) away from you.

Also, tuck your chin in as deep as possible to make it difficult for him to apply the choke easily.  You may also try to press hard into the pressure point on the underside of his wrist (Pericardium
6) – this will possibly weaken his arm a bit.

As you are pulling, with your chin still tucked in tightly, try to move your head towards the opening (his wrist side). Also, move your hips towards the same side, away from your assailant. Try to
turn your body so that your back is not exposed any longer and manoeuvre your hands to his hips, pushing him away from you, to create some distance.

Additionally, whenever the opportunity presents itself, you can try to bend over his fingers and break them or gouge his eyes, which will weaken his assault.

Coda

Take utmost care when practising the techniques above as all martial art techniques should be considered potentially lethal. The use of such techniques should only be performed when your life
is in serious danger and even then there exist the possibility of legal action towards you. Only practise techniques under the supervision of a professional instructor.

References:

ITF Encyclopaedia, Volume 3.
US Military Combatives Field Manual (FM 3-25.150)
www.Wikipedia.Org
www.LockFlow.Com