so i competed in my first competition this past weekend. had an awesome time, placed 2nd in my division however, i found myself stuck in the turtle position for what seemed to be a long while when i realized that i had no idea what to do other than defend the position.
it seemed as though i was in the position for a while, maybe a minute and a half or so. i believe that i was defending fine as my opponent could not get his hooks or finish me from the position. the match ended with me in that position.
any advice on how to sweep or attack from this position would be great. thanks
You need to be more turtley! 
Turtle turtle!
for me it is best to sit out to my butt and then work my way out/down.
there are sweeps, subs and things to do from there, but if you're just starting with the turtle position I'd work on recovering guard (I guess you're technically already in a guard and he hasn't gotten points, but you know what I mean)
A very basic thing is to post on your near side foot as you underhook him with your near arm. You shin should be fairly vertical and you create a nice connected frame with your elbow and knee as you use you post on your far hand....You're kind of in a position to do a technical standup...Then you can drive into him and take him down or more often sit through with your bottom leg into guard... hopefully full guard, maybe 1/2. I think this is probably the best initial thing to learn from turtle. You can build of this position to add subs such as triangles, etc.
After you get comfortable with the above, you can do a shoulder roll on the near side shoulder. Try to keep your near side foot in the same place. As you do the shoulder roll, your far side leg swings up and over him into full guard.
The combination of these 2 recoveries work well together and I think they are the 1st two things to start with....there is a whole lot more, but I thiink that these are fundamental starting points for the position.
mrgoodarmbar - there are sweeps, subs and things to do from there, but if you're just starting with the turtle position I'd work on recovering guard (I guess you're technically already in a guard and he hasn't gotten points, but you know what I mean)
A very basic thing is to post on your near side foot as you underhook him with your near arm. You shin should be fairly vertical and you create a nice connected frame with your elbow and knee as you use you post on your far hand....You're kind of in a position to do a technical standup...Then you can drive into him and take him down or more often sit through with your bottom leg into guard... hopefully full guard, maybe 1/2. I think this is probably the best initial thing to learn from turtle. You can build of this position to add subs such as triangles, etc.
After you get comfortable with the above, you can do a shoulder roll on the near side shoulder. Try to keep your near side foot in the same place. As you do the shoulder roll, your far side leg swings up and over him into full guard.
The combination of these 2 recoveries work well together and I think they are the 1st two things to start with....there is a whole lot more, but I thiink that these are fundamental starting points for the position.
thank you for the sound fundamental advice!! i will take it with me tonight and see how it works out.
Telles' videos on the Turtle Guard
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Just switch to Judo and no changes need be made!
Defy. Seek Telles. 
Defo even.
joe canada - Telles' videos on the Turtle Guard
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Turtle and octopus...Well he's def the man on these things, but if you're searching youtube threads for turtle guard with telles, I don't think a beginner would know where to start.
Ive always wondered why people play technical when people turtle up. I mean why fiddle around trying to get the hooks in. It seems the logical thing to do is to grab an ankle or pants leg, an arm or gi top, back up a little and blast them right over to side body. No?
ChipW - Ive always wondered why people play technical when people turtle up. I mean why fiddle around trying to get the hooks in. It seems the logical thing to do is to grab an ankle or pants leg, an arm or gi top, back up a little and blast them right over to side body. No?
seriously? Or trollingly? For the same reason that you're technical from any other position...escapes, sweeps and submissions.
Telles
I almost always recover inverted guard from turtle. What's funny is that I've always been taught never to let my opponent get directly behind me when I'm turtled, but usually that's where I recover guard successfully. The more he tries to climb onto my back, the easier I find it to just front-roll between his legs, threatening a back take of my own (though usually not getting it on savvy guys).
mrgoodarmbar -ChipW - Ive always wondered why people play technical when people turtle up. I mean why fiddle around trying to get the hooks in. It seems the logical thing to do is to grab an ankle or pants leg, an arm or gi top, back up a little and blast them right over to side body. No?
seriously? Or trollingly? For the same reason that you're technical from any other position...escapes, sweeps and submissions.
I was serious. But i was talking about what to do from the top position not escaping or sweeping from the bottom.
chip, my coach showed me something similar. Guy on top grabs collar of gi and your belt and takes a big step back and yanks your ass to side mount. It suck if you are the turtle.
allchokedup - chip, my coach showed me something similar. Guy on top grabs collar of gi and your belt and takes a big step back and yanks your ass to side mount. It suck if you are the turtle.
Thanks. Yeah that was what I was thinking. Kind of like using a machete instead of a scalpel but they both can get the job done. Good stuff!
ChipW -mrgoodarmbar -ChipW - Ive always wondered why people play technical when people turtle up. I mean why fiddle around trying to get the hooks in. It seems the logical thing to do is to grab an ankle or pants leg, an arm or gi top, back up a little and blast them right over to side body. No?
seriously? Or trollingly? For the same reason that you're technical from any other position...escapes, sweeps and submissions.
I was serious. But i was talking about what to do from the top position not escaping or sweeping from the bottom.
That's one of many things you can to to attack turtle. Doesn't mean that you're technical about it and need to use good timing, etc.
XmmaAddictX - how did the advice work out for you?