Another turtle thread.

Mattt · 01-13-2007, 02:54 PM

I did a search but didn't really find what i wanted.

My student loan has come through so it's time to blow all my cash on DVDs. hahaha! Anyways, i'm looking to buy an instructional on the Turtle Guard. A book would be fine, but it seems that there are more DVDs on it than books.

The two that have caught my eye are the Eduardo Telles "The Turtle and Octopus Guard" and Josh Russell's "The Turtle."

I'm just looking for comments from people who either own one of (or both of) these instructionals, or from people who know about the respective turtle games of Russell and Telles. Obviously, Telles have a big rep regarding this game, so i know his shit is good... but i've never heard of Josh Russell and don't know the style of game he plays or if it's any good.

Russell's DVD, "The Turtle" is only $45... whereas the Telles DVD set is $125... you can guess how much i'd rather spend. Also, the Telles set covers the Octopus guard which i am really not interested in right now.

So, is the Telles set worth the price? And what are the differences between the turtle games of Telles and Russell?

For the record, i am interested mainly in sweeps/reversals from the Turtle, but learning some subs would be cool too.

Jiu-Jitsu Cop · 01-13-2007, 06:24 PM

Go to OTM fight store and check out "The Turtle" never get tapped for the back again. It is a good all around turtle video.

tudor_bjj · 01-13-2007, 07:49 PM

I have them both. If money it's not a very big issue, I say go with Telles. He has a different approach to the turtle. I have 2 herniated disk and can't put too much pressure on my back. Russell's style was too much for my back. Yet Telles it's more strength-less oriented. Also, he has many more techniques, plus the Octopus and also a lot of single leg guard on the DVD. BTW, I'm a 2 striped blue belt and the signature it's just an invention of mine, it has hothing to do with Telles. So I'm not biased...

**Bubble Boy** · 01-13-2007, 08:37 PM

Both obviously, but I think Josh's is an excellent introduction and Telles' goes off into the intermediate /expert techniques. Telles is pretty much the turtle master.

Mattt · 01-14-2007, 01:56 AM

Tudor...

Any chance of writing a sort of 'contents page' for both listing the techniques from turtle (not bothered about the other stuff on the Telles pack)...? I'd like to know exactly what is what.

My brother (blue belt) will go halfs with me on the Russell dvd but not the Telles one (he's a cheapskate, and so am i)... so i only have to pay $22.50 for the Russell one.

As such the Russell one is looking good to me right now, but if the content is very limited then it won't be worth it.

Cheers.

tudor_bjj · 01-14-2007, 09:42 AM

I'll do it... today or tom.

mmacheesedhead · 01-14-2007, 12:34 PM

i started to work the turtle guard and so far like it. No body I train with uses it so they don't expect it. I have done a couple of sweeps and ended up taking a guy's back. I have tried to get a knee bar out of it but i need more work and practice

tudor_bjj · 01-14-2007, 12:48 PM

There you go, young stud! Now give me a hug!

VOL. 1:
- general principles, solo-drills, how to go to turtle when guard passed and roll over shoulder and regain guard, no hand drill, fists cloesd drill, how to pull turtle, basic defenses and escapes from grips, how to escape back m. with one or two hooks (19 parts)
VOL. 2:
- more general principles (like what to do when opp places his weight on diff. parts of your back), many sweeps (like sweeping to mount), how to escape standing bear hug, how to take the back from turt., esc. from s m to turtle (22 parts)
VOL. 3:
- single leg guard sweeps and front turtle position, how to deal with combat base (16 parts)
VOL. 4:
- subs: wrist lock, americana, omoplata, kimura, various leglocks, collar choke (24 parts)
VOL. 5:
- Octopus Guard (21 parts)

BTW, Telles is more for a person who wants a "turtlesque" style of JJ. If you don't want to make turtle one of your main weapons you can go with Russell. As for me I really want a powerful turtle for my game. 2 reasons: I prefer to go to turtle then let somebody mount or sidem. me (as I don't want to use my back for making space or reverse the position) and I will start a JJ programme for blind people and I want one or two of them to compete with "normal" people and they'll have to start the fights from turtle...

Mattt · 01-14-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tudor_bjj

There you go, young stud! Now give me a hug!

VOL. 1:
- general principles, solo-drills, how to go to turtle when guard passed and roll over shoulder and regain guard, no hand drill, fists cloesd drill, how to pull turtle, basic defenses and escapes from grips, how to escape back m. with one or two hooks (19 parts)
VOL. 2:
- more general principles (like what to do when opp places his weight on diff. parts of your back), many sweeps (like sweeping to mount), how to escape standing bear hug, how to take the back from turt., esc. from s m to turtle (22 parts)
VOL. 3:
- single leg guard sweeps and front turtle position, how to deal with combat base (16 parts)
VOL. 4:
- subs: wrist lock, americana, omoplata, kimura, various leglocks, collar choke (24 parts)
VOL. 5:
- Octopus Guard (21 parts)

BTW, Telles is more for a person who wants a "turtlesque" style of JJ. If you don't want to make turtle one of your main weapons you can go with Russell. As for me I really want a powerful turtle for my game. 2 reasons: I prefer to go to turtle then let somebody mount or sidem. me (as I don't want to use my back for making space or reverse the position) and I will start a JJ programme for blind people and I want one or two of them to compete with "normal" people and they'll have to start the fights from turtle...

Cheers!!!!!

Not to be a pain in the ass, but how about a similar breakdown of the Russell one. I understand it is clearly not as good, but i would like to know what it includes. Even a brief description would do.

Thanks a lot for your help.

btw, i dunno if you were serious or not... but 'BJJ for the blind' sounds like it could be a successful idea if you did your homework.

jota · 01-14-2007, 11:36 PM

just another silly question to go along with this. for the telles tape do you guys have any discount place to purchase them from? Like usually i can get tapes off of ebay for fairly cheap but not this one. best i see is 125 for these; is this the best i am probably going to get?