Wrestling Basics: Referee's Position to the Breakdown
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Referee Position·Sign&Sub
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Referee Position
Familyレフェリーポジション(Referī Pojishon)
TransliterationTranslation: referee position
Overview
The Referee Position family covers the specific turtle-like starting position used in wrestling, where one fighter starts on hands and knees and the other starts on top with a defined grip position. [1] The referee's position is used in folk-style and freestyle wrestling to restart matches from the ground, giving the bottom fighter an opportunity to escape and the top fighter an opportunity to control or turn. [1],[2] It is the formal starting position for ground work in many wrestling rulesets. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The referee's position is a formal starting position in wrestling competition, established as part of the rules of folk-style and freestyle wrestling to provide a structured starting point for ground exchanges. [1] It has been a standard part of wrestling competition format throughout its modern history. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
The referee's position is the standard starting position for ground wrestling in folkstyle and freestyle competition. [1]
Competition Record
The referee's position is the mandated starting position for par terre wrestling in UWW and NCAA competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Establishing and maintaining a controlling position relative to the opponent
Joints Involved — Body positioning determines which joints and limbs are available for control and attack
Force Vector — Varies by position — gravity, frames, hooks, and pressure dictate control dynamics
Positional Mechanic — Hierarchy of positions — each position offers different offensive and defensive capabilities
Position & Entry
From guard pass defence — When the guard is about to be passed, turn to hands and knees (turtle) to prevent giving up side control
From takedown defence — After a partial takedown, land on hands and knees in turtle to prevent being put flat on the back
From scramble — During a scramble, transition to turtle as an intermediate defensive position
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
✓Referee position is the neutral restart position in wrestling: one wrestler is on all fours (bottom) and the other is behind with one hand on the elbow and one on the waist (top) — it is the starting position for par terre wrestling (Cael Sanderson, Wrestling Technique, 2010)
✓Referee position is used in folkstyle and freestyle wrestling as a restart position after out-of-bounds or when starting the second/third period
✓The bottom wrestler in referee position has three primary options: stand up, sit-out, or switch
✓The top wrestler in referee position works to: maintain control, execute a breakdown (flatten the bottom wrestler), or turn them for exposure points
✓Referee position develops fundamental wrestling skills: the bottom wrestler learns explosiveness and escape, the top wrestler learns riding and control
✓In BJJ, referee position is rarely used in competition but is valuable for training: it develops turtle attack and escape skills
✓Referee position drills are essential for MMA wrestlers: the position closely mirrors turtle situations in cage fighting
Common Mistakes
!Starting from referee position without an immediate plan — both top and bottom should have their first technique ready before the whistle
!Bottom wrestler staying flat — explode off the whistle; the first movement determines the exchange
!Top wrestler not maintaining contact — the hands must stay on the elbow and waist until the whistle
!Not training referee position in BJJ — it develops turtle skills that transfer to live grappling
!Bottom wrestler always choosing the same escape — develop stand-up, sit-out, and switch equally
!Top wrestler only holding without attacking — the top position should lead to turns and back exposure
!Not drilling referee position with intensity — it requires explosive movement from both positions
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
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Alias sources — [1] United World Wrestling Rules [2] United World Wrestling Rules [3] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] IBJJF Rules and Regulations
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
4OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
5CitationKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
Alias sources — [1] United World Wrestling Rules [2] United World Wrestling Rules [3] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations
6CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] IBJJF Rules and Regulations
Community
Athletics
Requires
core strength, tight elbow position, neck protection
Favours
compact build with strong core for stability
Key muscles
core stabilisers, shoulders, neck, hip flexors
Sub-techniques
Notes
The referee's position is the standard bottom position in folkstyle and freestyle wrestling — hands and knees with the top wrestler behind. In judo, this is equivalent to turtle position. All bottom wrestling escapes (stand-up, sit-out, switch) begin from this position. (Coaching Wrestling Successfully, Gable)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the correct hand and knee placement when setting up the referee position?
Your knee on the same side as your setup goes down, while your opposite knee comes up with your foot positioned behind the opponent's tailbone. Your hand on the down-knee side forms a C grip just above the opponent's elbow.
Why is connecting my upper and lower body important in the referee position?
Connecting your upper body and lower body is critical in wrestling because pushing or attacking without this connection won't be effective—the movements need to work together as an integrated unit.
How should I attack the legs from referee position?
Focus on cutting away and controlling the opponent's leg before attacking it, rather than simply taking them on top of yourself.
How does the Referee Position work?
The Referee Position family covers the specific turtle-like starting position used in wrestling, where one fighter starts on hands and knees and the other starts on top with a defined grip position. The referee's position is used in folk-style and freestyle wrestling to restart matches from the ground, giving the bottom fighter an opportunity to escape and the top fighter an opportunity to control or turn.
Where does the Referee Position come from?
The referee's position is a formal starting position in wrestling competition, established as part of the rules of folk-style and freestyle wrestling to provide a structured starting point for ground exchanges. It has been a standard part of wrestling competition format throughout its modern history.
Is the Referee Position 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 Referee Position?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — turtle is a defensive shell position; vulnerable to back takes and chokes
How do I set up the Referee Position?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Position → Stabilize → Maintain → Attack.
How do I defend against the Referee Position?
Standard counters include: Posture Control — maintain strong posture to limit the opponent's offensive options / Escape to Neutral — work back to standing or a neutral position.
What are the variants of the Referee Position?
Common variants: Standard turtle (hands and knees with elbows tight, head protected); Flattened turtle (driven to the mat from turtle, attempting to re-turtle); Active turtle (using sit-outs or rolls from the turtle position).
How effective is the Referee Position in competition?
The referee's position is the mandated starting position for par terre wrestling in UWW and NCAA competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Referee Position?
Top errors to watch for: Starting from referee position without an immediate plan — both top and bottom should have their first technique read… / Bottom wrestler staying flat — explode off the whistle; the first movement determines the exchange / Top wrestler not maintaining contact — the hands must stay on the elbow and waist until the whistle / Not training referee position in BJJ — it develops turtle skills that transfer to live grappling.
What are other names for the Referee Position?
The Referee Position is also known as Referī Pojishon, Par Terre, Referee's Position, Ground Start Position.