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Turtle

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

Core Mechanics and Concepts

Section titled “Core Mechanics and Concepts”

Alignment in turtle

Section titled “Alignment in turtle”

Postures

Section titled “Postures”
  • Tight turtle
  • Tripod
  • Seated turtle

Strategic overview (what is a good outcome?)

Section titled “Strategic overview (what is a good outcome?)”

Directions you can escape

Section titled “Directions you can escape”
  • Granby (far-shoulder roll)
  • Standing and shaking hooks
  • Sit-out / peek-out

The underhook problem

Section titled “The underhook problem”

Standing up strategy

Section titled “Standing up strategy”

When to go to turtle (entering turtle)

Section titled “When to go to turtle (entering turtle)”

Offense (Attacking Turtle)

Section titled “Offense (Attacking Turtle)”

Upper body controls

Section titled “Upper body controls”
  • Underhook
  • Seatbelt
  • Elbow control
  • Trap grip
  • Half nelson
  • Posting

Lower body controls

Section titled “Lower body controls”
  • Hooks and controls
  • Diagonal control

Concepts and strategy

Section titled “Concepts and strategy”
  • Side vs rear turtle
  • Off balancing
  • Winning the underhook battle
  • When to go for a choke
  • Dealing with a tight turtle
  • False hooks to hooks

Dealing with rolling escapes

Section titled “Dealing with rolling escapes”
  • Tilt back take
  • Diving back take
  • Rolling back take
  • Near shoulder roll

Breaking down the tripod

Section titled “Breaking down the tripod”
  • Positional hierarchy from the tripod
  • Breaking down the tripod
  • Recovering when falling off

Defense (In Turtle)

Section titled “Defense (In Turtle)”

Tight turtle

Section titled “Tight turtle”
  • Winning the underhook battle
  • Blocking leg hooks
  • Guard recovery: near side arm
  • Guard recovery: far side arm
  • From behind: stand up
  • Seated turtle (when knocked down)

Far leg hook responses

Section titled “Far leg hook responses”
  • To the back
  • Fatman roll
  • Double leg scoop

Fatman roll

Section titled “Fatman roll”
  • Leg shelf
  • Vs crucifix
  • Vs sprawl
  • Vs getting stuck underneath

Tripod

Section titled “Tripod”
  • When to tripod
  • Shaking them off
  • Vs hooks
  • Vs power half
  • Vs armbar/kimura
  • Vs sulaev stretch

From bottom hook

Section titled “From bottom hook”
  • Positioning and grips
  • To tripod
  • Clearing their bottom hook
  • To seated turtle

Turtle Escapes

Section titled “Turtle Escapes”

Far-shoulder roll (granby style)

Section titled “Far-shoulder roll (granby style)”

Standing and shaking hooks

Section titled “Standing and shaking hooks”

Sit-out / peek-out

Section titled “Sit-out / peek-out”

Back-to-the-mat turn (recovering guard)

Section titled “Back-to-the-mat turn (recovering guard)”

Inside leg stand (heisting)

Section titled “Inside leg stand (heisting)”

Summary

Section titled “Summary”

Coaching Guide

Section titled “Coaching Guide”

Common entries and sequences

Section titled “Common entries and sequences”

Duck under to turtle. From standing, the attacker uses a duck under to get behind the opponent, forcing them into turtle.

Defensive turn during guard passing. When about to have their guard passed, the bottom player turns away and retreats to their knees rather than allowing the passer to settle into side control or mount. One of the most frequent entries.

Sprawl and go behind. During a takedown attempt, the defender sprawls and uses a go-behind to take the attacker’s back or force them into turtle.

Front headlock transition. From a front headlock, the attacker threatens a guillotine. As the defender fights the hands, the attacker pivots to the side and enters turtle from the top.

Escaping bottom side control. The bottom player turns in toward the opponent to get to their knees. The top player tries to top spin to maintain control while the bottom player tries to establish turtle.

Transition from back control (hook loss). If the attacker loses hooks, the defender turns hips and chest toward the mat. The attacker follows with upper body control into turtle.

Attacking turtle sequences:

Shoulder roll back take. The defender attempts to roll over their far shoulder. The attacker maintains seatbelt, follows the rotation, inserts hooks using a chair sit motion.

Breakdown to the hip. Using a cross-grip or tight waist to pull the defender’s weight onto one side, killing their ability to stand or roll.

Crab hook transition. Inserting a foot behind the defender’s far knee to prevent standing and act as a lever to tilt their hips.

Transition to top pins. When unable to secure hooks, transitioning to mount or north south using power half nelson or front headlock as the defender flattens.

Common problems and cues

Section titled “Common problems and cues”
Section titled “Recommended games”

Resources

Section titled “Resources”