How to Execute the Turtle Escape in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

In Jiu Jitsu, one of the most challenging positions to escape is the turtle. It’s a defensive position where your opponent is in a seated position with their knees tucked in and their head tucked down. However, there is a technique to escape from the turtle position that can help you regain control of the match. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the turtle escape in detail, step by step, to help you understand how to execute it properly.

What is the Turtle Position?

Before we dive into the technique for escaping the turtle position, it’s important to understand what this position is and how it works. The turtle position is a defensive posture that can be used by a Jiu Jitsu practitioner when they are under attack. In this position, the person in the turtle position will be seated with their knees tucked in and their head down, protecting their neck and vital organs from strikes and submissions.

Why is the Turtle Position So Challenging to Escape?

The turtle position can be challenging to escape because it provides your opponent with a strong base, making it difficult to create space and execute techniques. Additionally, the person in the turtle position can use their legs and arms to prevent you from getting to a dominant position, such as mount or side control.

Step-by-Step: How to Perform the Turtle Escape

To perform the turtle escape, follow these steps:

Begin by establishing a strong grip on your opponent’s hips. You can do this by wrapping your arms around their waist or reaching under their arms and grabbing their belt.
Next, place your feet on the ground, with your knees bent and your toes pointing outward.
Using your feet, lift your opponent’s hips off the ground, creating space between their knees and the mat.
While maintaining your grip on your opponent’s hips, slide your knees underneath their body.
Once your knees are under their body, drive forward, using your hips and legs to topple your opponent onto their back.
As your opponent falls onto their back, release your grip on their hips and immediately establish a dominant position, such as mount or side control.

Drilling the Turtle Escape

As with any Jiu Jitsu technique, the key to success is practice. To drill the turtle escape, start by having your training partner assume the turtle position. Practice the technique slowly at first, focusing on your foot placement and grip on your opponent’s hips. As you become more comfortable with the movement, you can begin to increase the speed and intensity of your drilling.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When performing the turtle escape, there are a few common mistakes that you should avoid. These include:

Failing to establish a strong grip on your opponent’s hips.
Forgetting to lift your opponent’s hips off the ground before sliding your knees underneath their body.
Failing to drive forward with your hips and legs, making it difficult to topple your opponent.

Conclusion

Escaping the turtle position is challenging, but it’s not impossible. With the turtle escape technique, you can turn the tables and take control of the match. Remember to establish a strong grip on your opponent’s hips, lift their hips off the ground, slide your knees underneath their body

Hey there! Just a heads up that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. But don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything extra – in fact, you might even get a sweet deal! Plus, every purchase made through one of these links helps support my blog and keep the content coming. So, if you do decide to make a purchase, thank you so much for your support – it means the world to me!

All the best,

Will