When Your Opponent Assumes the Turtle Position, It's Time for an All-Out Assault

Using his right hand, Paulo Guillobel (rear) grabs Jamie's right wrist. Using his left hand, Paulo grabs his opponent's belt. To do this, note that Paulo passed his arm between Jamie's legs (1). Moving parallel to his opponent, Paulo gets ready to stand (2). When Paulo stands, he pulls his opponent's belt (3). After Jamie completes his roll, Paulo puts his right knee on the opponent's stomach and pulls his arm up (4). Paulo steps over his opponent's head with his left leg, begins to sit (5) and finishes with an armbar from the side (6).

In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the ultimate goal is to submit your opponent through the use of a lock or a choke. Of course, there is much more going on during a match than just the submission. Typically, you will see competitors pass the guard and defend the guard, plus there'll be throws and much, much more. During the course of a match, you might also see an opponent go to his knees with his forearms on the ground. This is a common maneuver, and it is called the turtle position.

During a fight, in general, people tend to go to their back as a means of protection. They want to turn their back to their opponent so they can protect their face. As an attacker, that is why it's good to know how to take advantage of the turtle position. If you can do that while your opponent is in that position, you may be able to surprise him and end the fight right there.

There are several advantages to attacking from the back. First, because you are attacking from his back, your opponent is not able to see what is going on. This gives you the freedom to move your hands and legs without your opponent noticing. As a result, it's easier for you to surprise him, because you can attack from many different angles.

It is also easier for you to get the grips that you want, but you want to establish a grip that makes sense for what you want to do. Think about what you are doing and go for the appropriate grip. Once you establish that grip, you should be confident that you'll be able to get him. While going for that grip, keep an open mind, because you might have to change to a new grip.

Conversely, there can be disadvantages to attacking from the back. One of those disadvantages can arise when you don't have a sharp, clean attack, yet your opponent has a really good defense from that position. In this case, he would be able to execute a reverse, take advantage of your lack of timing and get out of there. This would enable him to reverse the fight completely.

Getting the Back

There is no standard formula to get your opponent in the turtle position, of course, but there are a couple of different methods that should get him there.

One case is when an opponent tries to attack your legs. When this occurs, go into a sprawl. If he goes to his knees during the battle, maneuver over his head. Now you are in position.

Next, you could attack him from the turtle position after you pass his guard. During the process, you can force him to roll on his back.

Finally, you can also get there from side control. If he goes to his knees, you can take the back.

Ideally, you always want to go to a guy's back, but you should just go there when an opening is present. How do you know when you have an opening? Experience. You have to use all the knowledge that you have in your game and all the techniques you know and apply them with common sense. When you use common sense, you see an opening when it is there.

When you go to the back, you can attack or set up another move. When I go to the back, my decision is based on a couple of things. First, it depends on the match. If I am trying to win by points and need to score more, I will go to the back to score more.

If I don't have 100 percent control and have to let go and look for other positions that will enable me to get 100 percent control, I will go for something else. If it feels like he is escaping, that is when you need to go to something else.

Once you get the back, how soon do you attack? Immediately? Normally, you always want to go straight to the technique. When you reach a level of expertise in which you have a number of combinations of attack that you can apply instinctively and right away, you should do them. When you see an opening, you should go for the technique that you want. This is a skill that will develop when you have regular training in BJJ.

Keys to Making Them Work

Good combinations and timing are the keys to making any technique work in BJJ. When I say "good combinations," what do I mean? Let me explain.

When you have a good combination, you have more than one option coming from one move. That confuses your opponent, because he does not know what you are going to do. It is much easier to defend one attack than a good combination of attacks. Think of this in terms of boxing. To be effective, you need a jab, cross and hook. In jiu-jitsu, you need the same thing. You need to come at your opponent with something and finish the job with something else.

More options are vital when your opponent has a strong defense and can anticipate what you are going to do. However, it's hard to anticipate three steps ahead. It is like a chess game. Both players need to always anticipate their opponent's moves. If you are not ready to do that, you are not going to make it.

Anticipation comes through experience. When you train on a regular basis, you pass through all the positions all the time. So, you start to notice there is a pattern for every kind of move. Of course, you can get surprised every once in a while, but basically you can figure out what the guy is about to do.


What About No Gi?

People have asked me if attacks from the back differ when your opponents is not wearing a gi. The answer is yes.

When you are wearing a gi, you have more options because you can use the gi to assist in the execution of the technique. Plus, the fight becomes much more technical because you are forced to sort through a variety of options and choose the best. This makes you think harder about what you want to do. When you and your opponent are not wearing a gi, you have fewer options, so the fight is not as technical and it is easy to know what you want.

One of the advantages of not wearing a gi is that it's much easier to get your arms and legs in places than if you were wearing a gi. The sweat makes the skin slippery, and you can slide your arms and legs right in.

In regards to submissions, such as chokes, it's harder to defend against a choke when you are not wearing a gi because you can't grab the gi and pull the opponent's arm away from your neck. Conversely, if you are attacking your opponent's arm, foot or neck, your technique has to be tighter because there is no gi to help you secure the hold. You also have to work harder to get the submission.

As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages, depending on the conditions.

Reaching the Elite Level

Now, how do you put all of these elements together and become one of the best? To become one of the elite, there are several things you need to do. First, the best fighter will always be the one who makes the fewest mistakes, and that goes for any sport.

To make fewer mistakes, you have to work out at a location that provides good instruction. You have to train at an academy that can teach you everything you need. Thus, you need to train with people from whom you can learn. When you train and don't have people who can challenge you, you aren't going to be as accurate as when you have people who can challenge you all the time.

You also have to have a well-rounded game. The guys I consider the best fighters are those with well-rounded games ... most of the time! Some guys will become champs, but, in rare instances, that does not necessarily mean they have a well-rounded game. Sometimes, their success can be attributed to conditioning and training.

Overall, however, you're more likely to excel if you have a well-rounded game, as well as excellent conditioning and awesome training partners.

 

 

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Paulo's Resume

Name: Paulo Guillobel
Age: 31
Years Training: 17
Instructors: Jorge Pereira and the Machado brothers
Competition Highlights: 2005 Best of the West champion, 2004 U.S. Open champion,
2003 Pan-American champion, Brazilian champion and State champion of Rio de Janeiro

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How To Reach Him

 

 

Academy: San Clemente Martial Arts Academy
Address: 148 Calle de los Molinas
San Clemente, CA 92672
Phone: (949) 366-2107
Web Address: www.guillobelbjj.com
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Mistakes to Avoid

 

• A basic mistake occurs when you let your opponent control you by grabbing your legs. Not only does he stop you from moving, but he can control you and anticipate exactly what you want to do because he has control of your legs.
  Key: Make your legs elusive.
• Do not stop or hesitate next to your opponent's side because that gives him time to apply his plan.
  Key: Keep moving and have a plan.
• Sloppy grips and poor timing.
  Key: To succeed, you need a firm grip and good timing.

 

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Paulo (rear) grabs the opponent's collar with his left hand and wrist with his right hand (1).	Note that Paulo secured both holds by going under the armpits. Paulo places his right foot on Jamie's knee (2).
Using his right foot, Paulo pushes Jamie's knee, forcing him to lose his balance (3).	Paulo then passes his left leg over Jamie's head, places it on his chest and goes for an armlock (4).

 

 

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Reaching under the armpits, Paulo grabs both of Jamie's collars (1).	Note that Paulo keeps his chest on his opponent's back. Paulo then leans forward (2), which drops his opponent.
While maintaining his grip on the collar, Paulo places his head between his opponent's head and shoulder and rolls forward (3).	When Paulo's back touches the mat, he opens his elbows and pulls his opponent toward his lap (4).
As soon as the opponent hits the ground, Paulo puts his legs around him (5).	Paulo establishes back control (6)
and then chokes his opponent (7).

 

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Jamie is in the turtle position. Paulo puts his chest on Jamie's back and grabs the opponent's collar with his right hand and leg with his left hand (1).	Paulo leans over and places his head between Jamie's left knee and left elbow (2).
Throwing his body forward, Paulo goes over his opponent (3).	Paulo then pulls Jamie close. Using his left leg to create pressure on the opponent's ribs, Paulo pulls the collar and completes the choke (4).

 

 

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Using his left leg, Paulo steps over and traps his opponent's right leg (1).	He also secures Jamie's left leg and moves his right knee in front of the opponent's right leg. Paulo leans back and pulls his opponent's left leg toward his chest (2).
Next, he traps the right leg (3).	Paulo releases the left leg, grabs the right foot and pulls down to get the calf lock (4). The opponent's facial expression reveals the effectiveness of the move.