Turtle Position for BJJ

What Is the Turtle Position?

The turtle position is characterized by the bottom defensive player (gold) curling up into a ball with their limbs kept close to their torso. The defensive player is facing the ground while the offensive player (purple) is on top of them.

Defense for Turtle Position (Avoid Submissions + Escape)

The gold-colored character represents the defensive position of the turtle. The defensive player is curled up into a ball keeping their arms, legs, and neck protected.

Option 1: Sit Out to Guard.

By lifting your hips and stepping your legs through you can get to guard position. Kick your inside leg out and then around to step around your opponent's leg. Post with your outside hand. Block the knee or grab the pants with your inside hand. Raise your hip up and then kick your outside leg through (sit out).Watch YouTube: How to Escape the Turtle and Get Safely Back to Guard (Stephan Kesting)

Offense for Turtle Position (Submissions)

The top offensive position is tasked with opening up the bottom player's defenses. The bottom player is curled into a shell, and the top player has to find a way to attack the neck or separate their opponent so they can attack the arms or legs. The purple-colored character represents the offensive player of the turtle position. In this picture, the offensive player pressuring into the defensive player with their hip and torso. The offensive player is fishing for an arm or a collar with their left hand.

Attacking the turtle position will require getting your opponent to open up. You should know the following:

Clock Strangle

A choking option that doesn't require getting the hooks in. The clock strange start in turtle and allows you to strangle your opponent without needing to get hooks in.YouTube Video: Clock Strangle

Armbar.

By separating an arm and attacking the upper body, you can get an armbar. Penetrate between the arms and torso with your leg until you can see your knee. Bring the outside over the arm and touch your knee. Then bring the leg back to extend your opponent's arm into a crucifix. Base to the front while bringing your opposite foot the the other side of their torso. Roll your opponent over and squeeze your knees.YouTube Clip: How to Get the Armbar from Turtle

Banana Split.

By attacking the legs you can get a banana split. Shove your opponent forward to create space for your leg. Hook your leg around their inside leg and hold their torso with your elbows (facing their rear). Step your other leg in and grab a hold of the outside foot with both of your hands. Roll back and ensure that your opponent's hips come on top of you. Pull your opponent's legs apart by hugging your arms in and pushing your legs away.YouTube Clip: Banana Split Submission

Rear Triangle.

By off balancing your opponent and taking the arm with the leg you can get the rear triangle. From the top turtle position, you can break your opponent down onto their hip. Control their arms, allowing you to put your knee behind their tricep. This will allow you to get to the rear triangle.YouTube Clip: Entries into Rear Triangle Back Position

Seated Kata-Gatame.

YouTube Video: Seated Kesa-Gatame (Nicky Ryan)

Bonus Content!

Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Turtle Position.

Turtle for Jiu-Jitsu vs. Wrestling

This video explains the difference between how turtle is played in jiu-jitsu and wrestling.YouTube Video: Jiu Jitsu vs Wrestling - Understanding Turtle Position

More Positions

Back Mount: A position in which the offensive player controls the defensive players back.

Click here to visit the back mount page.

Mount: The position in which the offensive player is on top of the defensive player while the defensive players back is exposed to the floor.

Click here to visit the mount page.

Knee-On-Belly: A position in which the offensive player is on top of the defensive player with their shin and knee across their opponent's torso and abdomen. The defensive player has their back exposed to the ground.

Click here to visit the knee-on-belly page.

Side Control: A position in which the offensive top player is perpendicular to and on top of the defensive player. The defensive player has their back exposed to the floor.

Click here to visit the side control page.

Kesa-Gatame: A position in which the offensive player has the head and one-arm of the defensive player.

Click here to visit the kesa-gatame page.

Reverse Kesa-Gatame: A position similar to kesa-gatame the offensive player faces the defensive players legs.

Click here to visit the reverse kesa-gatame page.

North-South: A position in which the top player is face down and laying on top of their opponent's chest. The two opponent's body's are offset 180 degrees.

Click here to visit the north-south page.

Turtle: A position in which the defensive player is in the fetal position. The offensive player has the back of the defensive player.

You are currently viewing the turtle position page.

Google Sites

Report abuse

Turtle Position for BJJ

What Is the Turtle Position?

Defense for Turtle Position (Avoid Submissions + Escape)

Offense for Turtle Position (Submissions)

Bonus Content!

Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Turtle Position.

More Positions

Want to Support BJJ.University?

1. Bookmark This Page

2. Share on Social Media

3. Link to this Page