Turtle Position for BJJ
Image Above: The top player (offensive position) has the bottom player (defensive position) in turtle control. The top player has their chest and torso against the back of the defensive player while fishing for a hook with their left hand. The defensive player is balled up, protecting their arms and neck.
What Is the Turtle Position?
The turtle position is characterized by the bottom defensive player curling up into a ball with their limbs kept close to their torso. The defensive player is facing the ground while the offensive player is on top of them.
Understanding the Turtle Position
Turtle for Jiu-Jitsu vs. Wrestling
Gordon Ryan: Free YouTube videoYouTube Video: Jiu Jitsu vs Wrestling - Understanding Turtle Position
Instructor: Gordon Ryan
Provided by: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
Length: 12 minutes 22 seconds
Synopsis: This video explains the difference between how turtle is played in jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
Defense for Turtle Position (Escape)
Image Above: 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.
Escaping the Bottom Turtle Position
Escapes from the bottom turtle position include:
Sit Out. By lifting your hips and stepping your legs through you can get to guard position.
1. Sit Out
How to escape turtle by sitting out to closed guardYouTube Clip: How to Escape the Turtle and Get Safely Back to Guard
Instructor: Stephan Kesting
Provided by: Stephan Kesting
Length: 32 seconds
Synopsis: 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).
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.
Image Above: 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.
Submission from Top Turtle Position
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.
Armbar. By separating an arm and attacking the upper body, you can get an armbar.
Banana Split. By attacking the legs you can get a banana split.
Rear Triangle. By off balancing your opponent and taking the arm with the leg you can get the rear triangle.
1. Clock Strangle
How to Strangle without HooksYouTube Video: Clock Strangle
Instructor: John Danaher
Provided by: BJJ Fanatics
Length: 13 minutes 48 seconds
Synopsis: The clock strange start in turtle and allows you to strangle your opponent without needing to get hooks in.
2. Armbar
How to attack the arms with an armbarYouTube Clip: How to Get the Armbar from Turtle
Instructor: Tom Davey
Provided by: The Grappling Academy
Length: 17 seconds
Synopsis: 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.
3. Banana Split
How to attack the legs for the banana split submission from top turtleYouTube Clip: Banana Split Submission
Instructor: Tom Davey
Synopsis: 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.
Length: 34 seconds
4. Rear Triangle
How to get the rear triangle from turtleYouTube Clip: Entries into Rear Triangle Back Position
Instructor: John Danaher
Provided by: BJJ Fanatics
Length: 4 minutes 11 seconds
Synopsis: 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.
More Positions
Back Mount: A position in which the offensive player controls the defensive players back.
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.
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.
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.
Kesa-Gatame: A position in which the offensive player has the head and one-arm of the defensive player.
Reverse Kesa-Gatame: A position similar to kesa-gatame the offensive player faces the defensive players legs.
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.
Turtle: A position in which the defensive player is in the fetal position. The offensive player has the back of the defensive player.
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