Turtle is the defensive position where you are on your knees and elbows, belly to the mat, head tucked and elbows tight to your thighs. You see it every time a throw lands short in judo and every time a guard pass goes wrong in BJJ.
- In judo: a common place to end up after a partial throw. A judoka on their knees and elbows is giving up no pin, so the attacker has to turn them over or move to a choke.
- In BJJ: a transition position. The player on top hunts the back; the player underneath looks to sit back to guard, stand up, or roll.
- The shape matters more than the name. A tight turtle has no gap between elbows and knees and no space under the chin.
What is the turtle?
Turtle is a ball. Your knees are under your hips, your elbows are inside your knees, your hands cover your collar or your chin, and your head is down. The whole point is that there is nothing sticking out to grab: no arm to hook, no leg to pass, no collar open for a choke.
It is a place to recover from, never a place to live. Every second you spend in turtle the player on top is working to flatten you, put hooks in or set a choke.
How do you hold the turtle?
- Knees under your hips, shins flat on the mat, weight spread evenly so a push from any side does not tip you.
- Elbows inside your knees, forearms on the mat, so no hook can slip between your arm and your leg.
- Hands on your own collar or under your chin, and chin tucked, to close the neck.
- Head down and back rounded, which keeps your spine safe and makes you hard to flatten.
- Move early. Sit back to guard, stand up with a technical stand-up, or roll before the top player settles.
The most common mistake is reaching out with a hand to stop a push. The moment an elbow leaves your knee the top player has a hook, a kimura or a route to your back. Keep the ball closed and move with your hips.
Can you pin or score from the turtle?
Not in judo while they stay there: the IJF Sport and Organisation Rules count a pin only when the held player's back or upper back is on the mat.
In BJJ the IBJJF Rules Book scores the turtle when you put someone into it: after a takedown or a sweep that ends with them on all fours, you score once you control their back, hooks not required, with at least one of their knees on the mat for three seconds.
How is the turtle attacked?
From the top the standard attacks are the back take, with one hook then two; the clock choke and the bow and arrow choke on the gi; and turnovers that put you flat on your back. Drilling turtle escapes against each of them is standard practice in both arts. Our BJJ training gear covers the kit.
Sources
- IBJJF Rules Book, IBJJF
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation
Related terms
Back control / rear mount, Clock choke, Technical stand-up, Guard retention, Ground work.