Escape The Turtle Position
Posted by Corey Kuropas on
Being stuck in the turtle can be pretty demoralizing if you don’t know how to defend it properly. If you can defend the position long enough, you can escape it and get into a more advantageous position. Possibly even an effective attack off the escape. But before the escape, learn the points of defense. While in turtle, you have to tuck your chin, and keep your arms and legs tight. Giving any space gives the chance of your opponent to hurt you. Don’t give that space. Once you feel that you can stay tight, now you can work your escape. Here are a couple turtle escapes that I like to go to.
Turtle escape to full guard
This is one escape that you can always go to from the turtle. It is nothing fancy or wild. It is just getting back to a secure position, just getting back to the full guard. While your opponent has you in turtle and is controlling you from a side, you can do this. Take your inside leg and kick it through. Then put your leg behind him. Post your outside hand and push yourself up to get a higher base. Your inside hand will have the job of blocking the close knee of the opponent. Raise your hips up and sit through so you can put your opponent back into the guard. This is the first escape you should know and use.
Turtle escape to rolling kneebar
Once again, perhaps the opponent has you in turtle and is controlling you on the side. With your inside leg, hook the opponent’s inside leg. Then if you can, use your inside arm to also hook the leg. Once those controls are achieved, turn your shoulder away from your opponent and roll on through. You will be able to then easily kneebar your opponent and have them tap before they know it!
The turtle can be a great transitional position, but only know if you know the right escapes and ways to defend. When you do, you will have another spot where you can outwork and out-maneuver your opponent. Danaher black belt, Travis Stevens knows how to escape and fight from the position very well and has a whole DVD dedicated to it!
Check out Attacking &Defending The Turtle for $47.
ARE YOU A BJJ FANATICS INSIDER? IF NOT, YOU’RE MISSING OUT!
Take a deep dive on one specific skill per month with the top instructors in the BJJ Fanatics family.
With your subscription you'll get:
- Private Lesson (Masterclass)
- Preview of our Upcoming Daily Deals to better plan your purchases
- Rolling breakdowns & more.
You'll also get At Home Drills to work on, a Preview of our Upcoming Launches & More!
FREE FOR 7 DAYS TRIAL