The turtle position is one of the most important in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It is an advanced defensive position that BJJ practitioners should learn and understand to improve their bottom game.
This guide will teach you how to play the turtle position correctly from the bottom or the top. Among other things, I’ll explain numerous effective attack tactics from this fantastic position. Stay tuned!
BJJ Turtle Position Explained
The turtle position is regarded as a critical and advanced posture in BJJ. This is because playing it well necessitates a thorough mastery of the fundamentals of jiu-jitsu. Otherwise, the turtle is a well-known wrestling stance that has existed since the beginning of grappling.
Aside from that, numerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters, including Eduardo Telles, have tested the turtle position in the top BJJ tournaments and taken it to the next level. So, what exactly does the turtle stance in BJJ stand for?
The turtle position is a BJJ posture in which a bottom grappler coils up into a crunch, knees, and tops of feet on the ground, elbows, arms inside, and forehead on the mats. This stance is similar to that of a turtle in the wild.
In the following video, Gordon Ryan Teaches you everything you need to know about the fundamentals of the turtle position.
Source: Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
What Should You Do from the Turtle Position?
The jiu-jitsu turtle is an advanced defensive position in which many competitors attempt to prevent having their guard passed.
Many pupils become stranded at the turtle and cannot find their way out. This is due to practitioners viewing this position as a static defensive stance, which it is not.
The BJJ turtle is a transitional position in which you have limited time to recover your guard or attack your opponent while protecting yourself by closing all gaps.
When you’re at the bottom turtle position, you can reclaim the guard, attack the opponent’s arm, and so on. The following are some great transitions from this position.
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Jiu Jitsu Kimura Lock from Turtle
The kimura lock is a powerful submission in gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu. It can be executed correctly from various BJJ positions, including the turtle, side control, etc.
The video below shows how to get an excellent kimura submission from the bottom turtle position.
Source: ZombieProofBJJ
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Turtle Position to Guard Recovery
Guard recovery is one of the essential skills to learn when beginning the art of BJJ. In addition, guard retention is critical to developing a compelling game that will assist you in winning many matches, particularly in tournaments.
The video below shows Lachlan Giles how to recover the guard from a turtle position.
Source: Absolute MMA St Kilda
How Do I Attack the Turtle Position?
The bottom player’s primary goal in the turtle position is to close all gaps before attempting to recover the guard. Therefore, he will drive his corps a litter low, putting his elbow in and very tight to his knees. However, these moves will not save him from being beaten if he has a slow reaction time.
On the other hand, many jiu-jitsu fighters are high-speed and can instantly attack the turtle. They can take the opponent’s back, attack the arms and legs, and perform various moves. The following are some of the most effective attacks for destroying the turtle position.
Source: The Grappling Academy
Conclusion
The turtle is an excellent defensive and advanced position in the art of jiu-jitsu. It can provide unique transitions from the bottom to the top. This position, however, necessitates a thorough understanding of the fundamentals.
As a result, learning how to defend and attack from the turtle position is a great way to take your game to the next level.
