“Don’t Be a Dying Turtle”: Turning Turtle from a Refuge into a Trap (Offensive Turtle)
You are sparring at BJJ Bangkok. Everything is going well until… your guard gets passed! Panicking, you turn over, belly down, pulling your arms and legs in tight like a “Turtle.”
In your mind, you think, “I’m safe here. I’ll just wait it out until the round ends.”
But reality hits hard: Your opponent smiles, sinks their hooks in, flattens you out, and secures a Rear Naked Choke (Wikipedia).
This is the fate of 90% of white belts who misunderstand the Turtle position. They use it as a “Bunker”—a passive place to hide. But at a high level, especially within the Marcelo Silva Martial Arts system, the Turtle is not a hiding spot. It is a powerful Launchpad.
Today, we revolutionize your game with the Offensive Turtle. We will transform you from a passive victim into a dangerous “Ninja Turtle” with hidden weapons.
Why the Turtle Dies (The Static Mistake)
Static vs. Dynamic
The biggest mistake is being “Static.” In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Wikipedia), stopping in Turtle invites an attack.
In Judo: Rules protect you; if you stall, the referee resets the match.
In BJJ: No one is coming to save you. Your opponent has all the time in the world to pry your “shell” open.
The Fatal Gap
When you shell up without structure, you leave gaps between your elbow and knee or your neck and shoulder. These are invitations for “Hooks”—the legs of your opponent that secure back control. Mastering the Offensive Turtle starts with sealing these gaps airtight.
Building the Fortress (The Structure)
Before you can attack, you must ensure the house won’t collapse. At BJJ Bangkok, we prioritize solid foundations based on the Marcelo Silva Martial Art philosophy.
Connection (Elbow-to-Knee): Your elbows must touch your thighs or knees at all times. Flaring an elbow is a highway for your opponent to take your back.
Live Toes: Never lay the tops of your feet flat (Dead Toes). You have no power to move. Always dig your toes into the mat (Live Toes) to be ready to explode or “Wrestle up.”
Protect the Neck: Both hands must be guarding your collars/neck to prevent chokes and to “hand-fight” effectively.
Turning Defense to Offense (The Traps)
With a solid structure, it’s time to set traps. Here are three key techniques to weaponize your Turtle:
Trap 1: The Rolling Kimura
Popularized by masters like Eduardo Telles, this is the ultimate arm-trap.
Scenario: Your opponent reaches under your armpit for a seatbelt grip.
The Trap: Bait them by opening a small gap. As they reach, trap their wrist (Wrist Control).
The Finish: Perform a forward roll over the shoulder of the trapped arm. You will reverse the position and land in a Kimura (Wikipedia) or Armbar finish.
Trap 2: The Wrestling Sit-Out
Modern BJJ borrows heavily from Scholastic Wrestling (Wikipedia).
Scenario: Your opponent is sprawling or putting heavy weight on your back.
The Trap: Step one leg out. Shoot your other leg and hips “underneath” their armpit (Sit through).
Result: A lightning-fast reversal that uses their momentum against them—perfect for smaller students at BJJ Bangkok.
Trap 3: The Granby Roll (Reguard)
Scenario: Your opponent runs to the side to secure Side Control.
The Trap: Drop your far shoulder to the mat, elevate your hips, and invert (roll) to face them.
Result: You instantly recover Open Guard and are ready to attack again.
Training at BJJ Bangkok (Drilling the Turtle)
Reading about the Offensive Turtle is easy; executing it requires sweat. At BJJ Bangkok, we use Positional Sparring aligned with the Marcelo Silva Martial Arts curriculum:
The Drill: One person starts in Turtle, the other on top.
The Goal: The bottom person must not stay still! You have 10 seconds to either Sweep, Submit (Kimura), or Reguard.
The Mindset: This forces your brain to stop seeing Turtle as a rest stop and start seeing it as an offensive opportunity.
Conclusion: A Shell with Spikes
The Turtle is not a symbol of defeat. It is a position full of opportunity if you understand its mechanics. Shifting your mindset from “Passive” to “Active” will make opponents hesitate before they dare to attack you.
Don’t be a sitting duck. Learn to weaponize your shell at BJJ Bangkok under the expert guidance of Marcelo Silva Martial Art. You will find that even a turtle can be a hunter.
FAQ: Mastering the Turtle
Q1: Is the Turtle position actually safe? A: Only if you are “Active.” If you freeze, you are a target. If you constantly move and frame, it is a very difficult nut to crack.
Q2: Why do I always get choked in Turtle? A: You are likely dropping your head too low or allowing your elbows to drift away from your knees. Keep your shoulders shrugged high (“No Neck”) and fight the hands constantly.
Q3: Does this work in No-Gi? A: Yes, often even better! Without the friction of the Gi, spinning, sit-outs, and Granby rolls are much faster.
Q4: Which class covers this at BJJBKK? A: We cover Turtle counters in our All Levels and Advanced classes, specifically during our “Escapes & Counters” modules.
Q5: What is the Marcelo Silva Martial Art view on this position? A: We view it as a Transition. You should never plan to stay in Turtle; you use it as a pit stop to either return to Guard or reverse the fight.
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