Turtle Guard – Grappling Technique
This page provides details on how to do the Turtle Guard or Turtle Position. This is a defensive technique used in martial arts systems such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts. When learning this technique, you should also study Turtle Attacks (or how to attack an opponent who is in the turtle guard/position) and Turtle Escapes (or how to escape an attacker when you are in the turtle guard/position).
According to Martial Arts Lab, “The fighter in a turtle position is going to be playing very defensively. He will be on his hands and knees with his head tucked in tight trying to make it hard for his attacker. But the fighter can still be in a very vulnerable position, unless he is skilled enough to be able to reverse the position and launch an attack of his own.”
All grappling techniques are potentially dangerous and should only be practiced under the supervision of a trained martial arts instructor. For more grappling and submission techniques, please visit our main Submissions & Grappling Techniques section.
Recovering Guard from the Turtle Position
Turtle Escapes & How To Do The Turtle Guard
Turtle Positions Fundamentals
References
- Martial Arts Lab, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Positions for Beginners, http://martialartslab.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-positions-beginners/, Added – 07/31/14