ATTACKING TURTLE IN GI - JIU JITSU TIPS
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Attacking Turtle·Will Brooks Official
Last week we covered attacking turtle in nogi. This week I’m covering some gi variations that I like. I love how Jiu Jit…
Attacking Turtle
Family攻撃亀(Kōgeki Kame)
TraditionalTranslation: attacking turtle
Overview
The Attacking Turtle family covers positions where one fighter is on top of or behind a turtled opponent, seeking to break down the turtle, take the back, or execute submissions. [1] Attacking the turtle is a critical skill in grappling because the turtle occurs frequently and the attacking fighter must capitalise on the positional advantage before the turtled fighter escapes. [1],[2] Primary attacking positions include the front headlock (controlling from the head side) and seatbelt (controlling from behind). [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Attacking the turtle is a fundamental skill in judo ne-waza and BJJ. [1]
Competition Record
Turtle attacks are a critical skill set in judo and BJJ competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Perpendicular chest-to-chest control — pinning the opponent's upper body while maintaining mobility
Joints Involved — Attacker's chest (primary contact), hips (sprawled or driving), opponent's near shoulder and hip (controlled)
Force Vector — Downward and lateral — chest pressure pins the opponent while hip positioning prevents escape
Positional Mechanic — Crossface and underhook combination controls the opponent's head and near arm, preventing bridging or turning
Position & Entry
From arm drag or duck under — Create an angle behind the opponent, secure seatbelt grip, insert hooks to establish back control
From turtle (opponent turtles) — When the opponent turtles to avoid guard pass, take the back by inserting hooks and securing the seatbelt
From sweep (taking the back during the sweep) — During a sweep, circle behind and establish back control instead of ending on top
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Turtle is a defensive shell position; vulnerable to back takes and chokes
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— matte called
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — common transitional position
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— UWW — Legal — bottom position, opponent works to turn/pin
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Attacking turtle encompasses all offensive positions and techniques used against an opponent in the turtle (all-fours) position — the goal is to take the back, attack the neck, or return the opponent to a controlled pin (Danaher, Back Attacks, 2018)
✓When the opponent turtles, the attacker's priorities in order are: 1) take the back (highest value), 2) attack the neck (front headlock/guillotine), 3) return to a pin (side control or mount)
✓Attacking turtle from the top requires: maintaining chest-to-back contact, controlling the hips, and threatening the seatbelt or front headlock
✓Speed is essential when attacking turtle: the turtle is a transitional position; the opponent is actively working to escape within seconds
✓The seatbelt (over-under arm control from behind) is the primary control for attacking turtle: it secures the upper body while hooks are inserted
✓In wrestling, attacking the turtle (top position in referee's position) has extensive technique: tilts, turns, and gut wrenches are all turtle attacks
✓Attacking turtle in MMA adds strikes: short punches and elbows to the exposed head from behind the turtled opponent
Common Mistakes
!Attacking too slowly — the turtle is transitional; the opponent will escape or recover guard if given time
!Not maintaining chest-to-back contact — space between you and the turtled opponent allows them to turn or stand
!Reaching for the back without controlling the hips — the hips are the anchor; control them first
!Attacking only the neck without threatening the back take — the opponent can defend one attack; threaten multiple
!Standing up to attack the turtle — stay low and heavy to maintain contact and control
!Not using the seatbelt when attacking from behind — the seatbelt is the most important control from this position
!Attacking the turtle without a systematic approach — have a clear sequence: seatbelt → hooks → back control
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Achieve Position — transition into this position through passing, sweeping, or scrambling
2Stabilize — establish controlling grips and weight distribution
3Maintain — adjust to the opponent's escape attempts to hold position
4Attack — launch offensive techniques from the stabilized position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, 2001)
1BookKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [3] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
5OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
6CitationKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [3] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations
7CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hook control, seatbelt grip endurance, hip connection
Favours
long legs for deep hooks, strong grip for seatbelt
Key muscles
hip adductors, biceps, forearms, core
Sub-techniques
Front Headlock Turtle
SubFamilyThe Front Headlock Turtle subfamily covers the attacking position where the top fighter controls the turtled opponent from the head side, using a front headlock (head-and-arm control) to break down the turtle and set up submissions or back takes. [1] The front headlock provides powerful head control that can be used for guillotines, d'arce chokes, anaconda chokes, and snap-downs to break the turtle. [1,2] It is one of the most versatile attacking positions against the turtle. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Seatbelt Turtle
SubFamilyThe Seatbelt Turtle subfamily covers the attacking position where the top fighter controls the turtled opponent from behind using the seatbelt grip (over-under arm configuration from behind). [1] The seatbelt provides strong upper body control that facilitates hook insertion for full back control. [1,2] From seatbelt turtle, the attacking fighter works to insert hooks, establish a body triangle, or flatten the opponent to achieve full rear mount. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
Attacking the turtle appears referenced extensively — turtle defense is documented in 362 passages across 80 books. The primary attacks from turtle are: clock choke, crucifix, back take via seat belt, and various turnovers. In wrestling, the referee's position is essentially attacking turtle. (80 books; multiple sources)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to stay on my feet when attacking turtle instead of dropping my knees?
Will Brooks emphasizes that you want to make your opponent carry your weight as much as possible by staying on your feet. Dropping your knees takes away pressure and makes it harder to finish the submission effectively.
What makes the attacking turtle choke so powerful?
Will Brooks describes it as probably the most powerful choke he can think of because you're essentially dead lifting fabric—a rope of fabric—through your opponent's neck, which creates significant power. However, you should be careful with it during training due to its intensity.
How do I prevent my opponent from escaping by posturing up?
Will Brooks stresses the importance of pressing your opponent's head down to the mat so they don't feel like they can sit up at any time, as allowing them to posture up makes finishing the choke much harder.
Do I need to be athletic or strong to make this technique work?
Will Brooks emphasizes that the attacking turtle choke relies on leverage and body weight rather than athleticism or strength, making it accessible to practitioners of various physical abilities.
How does the Attacking Turtle work?
The Attacking Turtle family covers positions where one fighter is on top of or behind a turtled opponent, seeking to break down the turtle, take the back, or execute submissions. Attacking the turtle is a critical skill in grappling because the turtle occurs frequently and the attacking fighter must capitalise on the positional advantage before the turtled fighter escapes.
Where does the Attacking Turtle come from?
Attacking the turtle has been a core skill in wrestling (from the referee's position) and judo (breaking down turtle for turnovers and pins) since those arts' inception. BJJ added back-taking and submission attacks to the wrestling and judo frameworks for attacking the turtle.
Is the Attacking Turtle legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — common transitional position; IJF: restricted — Legal position but extended turtle without attacking penalized for non-combat…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal — bottom position, opponent works to turn/pin; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Attacking Turtle?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — turtle is a defensive shell position; vulnerable to back takes and chokes
How do I set up the Attacking Turtle?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Position → Stabilize → Maintain → Attack.
How do I defend against the Attacking Turtle?
Standard counters include: Hand Fight — grip-fight the choking hand to prevent the rear naked choke / Shoulder Walk — walk shoulders to the mat to escape back control / Turn into Guard — rotate to face the attacker and recover guard position.
What are the variants of the Attacking Turtle?
Common variants: Back control with hooks (both feet hooked inside the opponent's thighs); Body triangle back control (legs locked in a figure-four around the torso); Rear mount (mounted on the back with both hooks, opponent face-down); Chair sit back control (sitting behind the opponent with hooks, upright position).
How effective is the Attacking Turtle in competition?
Turtle attacks are a critical skill set in judo and BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Attacking Turtle?
Top errors to watch for: Attacking too slowly — the turtle is transitional; the opponent will escape or recover guard if given time / Not maintaining chest-to-back contact — space between you and the turtled opponent allows them to turn or stand / Reaching for the back without controlling the hips — the hips are the anchor; control them first / Attacking only the neck without threatening the back take — the opponent can defend one attack; threaten multiple.
What are other names for the Attacking Turtle?
The Attacking Turtle is also known as Kōgeki Kame, Turtle Top, Turtle Attack Position, Riding Turtle.