Atlas/Control/Turtle
Control position·Clock Choke - the classic turtle attack using collar grip and circling; Rear Naked Choke - via back take inserting hooks; D'Arce / Anaconda - reaching around the head and arm from beside the turtle
Turtle
Turtle Guard

Turtle

Hands and knees, elbows tight - protect neck, escape quickly

Dominance
85
vs 15
Control depth
Head neck
Controlling
Transitions
20
outbound
Submissions
68
downstream
//01—About this position

What it is

Defensive position on hands and knees where you protect your neck and look for escape opportunities. Your elbows stay tight to your knees to prevent them from getting hooks in. This position provides temporary protection but requires quick escapes to avoid giving up back control.

What you do

The step-by-step execution guide lives in the app — 6-step breakdown, biomechanics, and situational tips.

Open1position detailin the App Store↗
Dominance — Controlling perspective
85 vs 15
Disadvantaged↓ 70Dominant
Control depth · Head neck — Control hips, get seatbelt, insert hooks, take the back
Dominance — Escaping perspective
15 vs 85
Disadvantaged↓ -70Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Elbows tight, strong base, escape before hooks go in
//02—Concept tags
ATTACKTRANSITIONDEFENCEESCAPE
//03—Transitions outbound

20 ways out.

All20transitionsin the App Store↗
Turtle →
Chair Sit Back Take
Behind with hooks - back control, submission access
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Crucifix Entry
Both arms trapped - one in legs, one in hands
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Cradle from Top
Head and near or far leg connected — variant shapes available transition angles
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Guillotine from Turtle
Hips sprawled down, head controlled - stops takedown, creates attacks
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Guillotine from Turtle
Arm around neck - choke or takedown
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Turtle to Short Base Back Control
High tight hooks, low base - compact control, compression
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Front Headlock
Head trapped in armpit - posture control
Type
Scramble
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Turtle Crucifix
Turtle pinned, near arm in legs - back attacks, armbar
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Controlling
Turtle →
Turtle Roll to Guard
Legs locked around waist - complete distance control
Type
Escape
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Turtle Sit Through
Seated upright facing opponent - guard entry position
Type
Escape
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Sit-Out
Lying across torso - cross-body pressure control
Type
Scramble
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Peterson Roll
Lying across torso - cross-body pressure control
Type
Reversal
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Turtle to Half Guard
One leg trapped - asymmetrical guard control
Type
Guard recovery
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Single Leg X Entry
One leg hooked, one elevating - sweep angles
Type
Guard recovery
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
X-Guard Entry
Crossed leg hooks - explosive sweeps
Type
Guard recovery
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Deep Half Guard Entry
Hip penetration beneath opponent - sweep leverage
Type
Guard recovery
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Turtle to Dogfight
Kneeling half guard - underhook battles, back takes
Type
Guard recovery
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Granby Roll
Inverted on shoulders - dynamic scrambles, unusual angles
Type
Scramble
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Sit-Out
Short sit-out from turtle - creates space, paths to guard
Type
Escape
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
Turtle →
Turtle Crucifix
Turtle pinned, near arm in legs - back attacks, armbar
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Escaping
//04—Submissions downstream

68 finishes live
from this position.

All68submissionsin the App Store↗
SUB-001
Clock Choke
Controlling
Live
9/10
SUB-002
Rear Naked Choke
Controlling
Live
9/10
SUB-003
D'Arce Choke
Controlling
Live
8/10
SUB-004
Anaconda Choke
Controlling
Live
8/10
SUB-005
Bow and Arrow Choke
Controlling
Watch
7/10
SUB-006
Crucifix Choke
Controlling
Watch
7/10
SUB-007
Peruvian Necktie
Controlling
Watch
7/10
SUB-008
Hawaiian Necktie
Controlling
Watch
7/10
SUB-009
Dragon Sleeper
Controlling
Live
7/10
SUB-010
Yoko Sankaku
Controlling
Watch
7/10
SUB-011
Brabo Choke
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-012
Crucifix Neck Crank
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-013
Guillotine Choke
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-014
Japanese Necktie
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-015
Kimura
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-016
Twister
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-017
Bulldog Choke
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-018
Hara Gatame
Controlling
Watch
6/10
SUB-019
Arm-in Guillotine
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-020
Arm Triangle
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-021
Armbar
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-022
Gi Tail Choke
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-023
Head and Arm Choke
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-024
High Elbow Guillotine
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-025
Kata Ha Jime
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-026
Katagatame
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-027
Ninja Choke
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-028
Okuri Eri Jime
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-029
Rear Triangle
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-030
Short Choke
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-031
Spine Crank
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-032
Ten Finger Guillotine
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-033
Cattle Catch
Controlling
Long
5/10
SUB-034
Arm-in Ezekiel
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-035
Banana Split
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-036
Prone Armbar
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-037
Bread Cutter Choke
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-038
Calf Slicer
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-039
Cross Collar Choke
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-040
Ezekiel Choke
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-041
Gift Wrap Choke
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-042
Hammerlock
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-043
Loop Choke
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-044
North-South Choke
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-045
Paper Cutter Choke
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-046
Scorpion Lock
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-047
Straight Jacket
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-048
Wrist Lock
Controlling
Long
4/10
SUB-049
Americana
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-050
Arm Crush
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-051
Bicep Slicer
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-052
Calf Compression
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-053
Calf Crank
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-054
Calf Crusher
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-055
Goose Neck Wrist Lock
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-056
Inverted Armbar
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-057
Kneebar
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-058
Reverse Calf Slicer
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-059
Reverse Wrist Lock
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-060
Rolling Kneebar
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-061
Scarf Hold Armlock
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-062
Straight Armlock
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-063
Straight Wristlock
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-064
Texas Cloverleaf
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-065
Top Wrist Lock
Controlling
Long
3/10
SUB-066
Boston Crab
Controlling
Long
2/10
SUB-067
Hip Slicer
Controlling
Long
2/10
SUB-068
Tarikoplata
Controlling
Long
2/10
//05—Linked positions

Browse the graph.

Control90
Back Mount
Behind with hooks - back control, submission access
6 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control86
Crucifix
Both arms trapped - one in legs, one in hands
6 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control80
Cradle Control
Head and near or far leg connected — variant shapes available transition angles
5 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control70
Sprawl Control
Hips sprawled down, head controlled - stops takedown, creates attacks
10 ↗ transitionsControlling
// Turtle · Control

Read this position
on your phone.

Open Turtle in Grapla for the full detail block, all 20 outbound transitions, the counter graph, and the option to log this position straight to your journal.

Download on the
App Store