turtle (top)

the following are tactics that can be applied when in the top position in turtle.

submissions

the following are submissions that can be applied in the top position in turtle.

defense

sprawling while in turtle, or while attempting to enter turtle, is helpful. a way to enter turtle is when a person is attempting a double leg takedown, you stifle them by framing your forearms on their shoulders and positioning as much weight on their traps/shoulders as possible and pushing down on their body while moving your hips backwards and your legs towards the ground. this will “fold” their body and get them into a bottom turtle position.

anaconda

what is an anaconda?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLYBOuXKzVQ
anacondas are useful from top turtle if the opponent’s arms are not on your legs after getting put into turtle (otherwise a guillotine might be better). secure a grip by running one arm across the person’s neck and meeting your other arm in a grip in the space between the person’s torso and arm, placing pressure on the person’s traps and shoulders with your head. take your inside arm and secure it to your bicep while your outside arm is now fastened onto the person’s lat. move your head to sit right next to where your inside arm’s hand is connected to your bicep.

now for the gator roll. roll in the direction of your head onto your back, and on success your opponent should have rolled with you. immediately seek to position your opponent’s head along your stomach, and at this point move your head closer to the opponent’s back. start walking your legs towards the opponent’s hips and begin squeezing.

if you cannot finish in anaconda, you can use momentum from one leg to propel yourself back to your knees. before you do this, secure a GABLE GRIP on your opponent’s back between your hands, squeezing tightly on the head and arm, and then roll to your knees. depending on how the opponent lands (sprawled, knees, etc.) you can go for a guillotine or d’arce from here.

d’arce

what is a d’arce?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeeX3fzoHOM
d’arce can be useful in turtle if you are able to move the opponent’s arms away from your legs or they are not near your legs at the moment (similar to an anaconda starting position), or if you attempted an anaconda and failed but still have the grip/dominance. unlike the anaconda which goes from neck to armpit (inside out), the d’arce goes from armpit to neck (outside in). use one arm to go in from the armpit of the opponent out to the opponent’s neck, using your other arm to catch this grip from the top of the opponent’s head. keep your gable grip on the base of the opponent’s skull and drive your forearm into their head, pushing against it to apply pressure.

while doing this, pivot your body to attack the head from an angle rather than head on, using your shoulder to drive into the person’s body and get them on their side while you meet them there. at this point keep your chest by the opponent’s exposed tricep. drop and apply pressure. wiggle your bottom hand out while still keeping your top hand on the opponent’s back - now use that bottom hand to grab your other arm’s bicep and move your free hand to the opponent’s lat closest to your head. if you were on your knees before, you can sprawl and use your hips to apply pressure.

like the anaconda, you can also get onto your side and start “walking” towards the opponent’s hips to apply even more sideways pressure.

if you’re coming from a failed anaconda, it’s a bit easier, just moving your already existing headlock from one side to the other while pivoting your body to the side of the opponent and pushing them onto their side while you apply pressure.

turtle (bottom)

the following are tactics that can be applied when in the bottom position in turtle.

defense

try not to sprawl your legs back unless you are using them to pivot away from your opponent when you see a free moment. try to stay on your knees and fight for your position and for ways to break your head out of turtle. ideally seek to go from kneeling to standing, and when you find an open trajectory to stand, you can try to clinch the opponent’s head or attempt to go for their back and enter a more dominant position right off the bat.