Charles Oliveira's System for Attacking from the Guard in MMA | BJJ Breakdown | BJJ For MMA
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Up-Kick from Shell·BJJ For MMA
In this video I will analyze UFC Champion Charles Oliveira's infamous style of Jiu Jitsu, using the Full Guard in MMA al…
Up-Kick from Shell
SubFamilyUp-kick・From・Shell(Up-Kick from Shell)
Translation: up-kick from shell
Overview
History & Origin
MMA-specific strike developed for cage fighting. [1]
Effectiveness
Effective in MMA ground-and-pound scenarios. [1]
Lineage
Modern MMA methodology. [1]
Competition Record
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Up-Kick from Shell-specific striking mechanics
Joints Involved — Technique-specific
Position & Entry
From MMA position — Execute up-kick from shell
Variants
Standard Up-Kick from Shell
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
MMA ground strike with significant damage potential
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All kicks prohibited in boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
Legal
— Unified MMA — Legal striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFKyokushin — Legal at full power to body and head {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinn...
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Practise with appropriate safety gear (Penn et al., 2007)
Common Mistakes
!Poor base during execution
!Over-committing
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Position control → Up-Kick from Shell → Follow-up
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (Penn, Cordoza & Krauss, 2007)
1Book[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
2Citation[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
Community
Athletics
Good balance and base from ground positions
Notes
The up-kick from shell (turtle) is delivered from the bottom position lying on the back — kicking upward at the standing opponent. Legal in MMA (unless the opponent is grounded). Anderson Silva's up-kick TKO of Vitor Belfort is the most famous example. (MMA competition records; Unified Rules of MMA)
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I throw up-kicks from the guard in MMA?
Up-kicks are effective when your opponent is in a stacked position throwing strikes at you—they serve to keep distance and create the reactions you need to escape or improve your position. According to BJJ For MMA's breakdown of Charles Oliveira's system, up-kicks are part of a layered defense strategy when an opponent wants to stay on top and strike.
How do up-kicks fit into a guard escape sequence?
Up-kicks are one tool in a progression that includes framing to defend strikes, using arm control, and creating space with your legs. The sequence follows: knees to chest, then feet to hips, which is the order used to get up off your back, with up-kicks helping maintain distance during this transition.
What's the primary purpose of the up-kick from guard?
The up-kick from guard is designed to keep your opponent away and force them to react, allowing you to create space and get your legs involved in attacking or escaping rather than remaining pinned.
How does the Up-Kick from Shell work?
The Up-Kick from Shell is a powerful upward kick delivered from the defensive shell position on the ground, targeting a standing opponent's face or body as they attempt to enter the guard.
Where does the Up-Kick from Shell come from?
MMA-specific strike developed for cage fighting.
Is the Up-Kick from Shell legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal striking technique; WBC/Boxing: banned — All kicks prohibited in boxing; WKF: legal — Legal, chudan (body) kick scores 2 points, jodan (head) kick scores 3 points; Kyokushin: legal — Legal at full power to body and head; WT: legal — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinning body 4 points, spinni…; WAKO: legal — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal; IFMA: legal — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
How dangerous is the Up-Kick from Shell?
Danger rating 7/10. MMA ground strike with significant damage potential
How do I set up the Up-Kick from Shell?
The standard setup chain: Position control → Up-Kick from Shell → Follow-up.
How do I defend against the Up-Kick from Shell?
Standard counters include: Guard recovery / Escape / Block.
What are the variants of the Up-Kick from Shell?
Common variants: Standard Up-Kick from Shell.
How effective is the Up-Kick from Shell in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Up-Kick from Shell?
Top errors to watch for: Poor base during execution / Over-committing.
What are other names for the Up-Kick from Shell?
The Up-Kick from Shell is also known as Up-Kick from Shell, Shell Up-Kick, Ground Up-Kick.