Turtle

Overview

Core Mechanics and Concepts

Alignment in turtle

Postures

• Tight turtle
• Tripod
• Seated turtle

Strategic overview (what is a good outcome?)

Directions you can escape

• Granby (far-shoulder roll)
• Standing and shaking hooks
• Sit-out / peek-out

The underhook problem

Standing up strategy

When to go to turtle (entering turtle)

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Offense (Attacking Turtle)

Upper body controls

• Underhook
• Seatbelt
• Elbow control
• Trap grip
• Half nelson
• Posting

Lower body controls

• Hooks and controls
• Diagonal control

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

• Tilt back take
• Diving back take
• Rolling back take
• Near shoulder roll

Breaking down the tripod

• Positional hierarchy from the tripod
• Breaking down the tripod
• Recovering when falling off

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Defense (In Turtle)

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

• To the back
• Fatman roll
• Double leg scoop

Fatman roll

• Leg shelf
• Vs crucifix
• Vs sprawl
• Vs getting stuck underneath

Tripod

• When to tripod
• Shaking them off
• Vs hooks
• Vs power half
• Vs armbar/kimura
• Vs sulaev stretch

From bottom hook

• Positioning and grips
• To tripod
• Clearing their bottom hook
• To seated turtle

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Turtle Escapes

Far-shoulder roll (granby style)

Standing and shaking hooks

Sit-out / peek-out

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

Inside leg stand (heisting)

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Summary

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Coaching Guide

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

Recommended games

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Resources

• Turtle Defense, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
• Turtle Back Takes, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
• Back Takes: Seated Turtle, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)