Rodeo Ride from the top represents an advanced turtle attack position where you maintain dynamic control over a turtled opponent through asymmetric grips and constant pressure adjustment. Unlike static turtle control positions, Rodeo Ride emphasizes mobility and the ability to flow between multiple attack vectors—back takes, submissions, and positional advancements—while preventing opponent escapes. The position’s effectiveness stems from its transitional nature: you’re never holding a static position but rather creating a dilemma-based scenario where every defensive choice the opponent makes opens different offensive opportunities.
The fundamental mechanics of top Rodeo Ride involve establishing perpendicular or angular positioning relative to the opponent’s spine, loading your hips onto their torso, and maintaining strategic control of the near arm while threatening the far side or collar. This asymmetric control pattern prevents the opponent from effectively posting, standing, or rolling to guard while simultaneously setting up your primary attacks. Success in this position requires excellent balance and the ability to ride your opponent’s movement—staying heavy enough to control them but mobile enough to capitalize on their escape attempts.
Rodeo Ride is particularly valuable in modern competition BJJ because it provides a systematic pathway from initial turtle control to back control or submission. The position has become essential in both gi and no-gi grappling, with variations that emphasize different control mechanisms based on the ruleset and available grips. Advanced practitioners use Rodeo Ride as a testing position: they threaten multiple attacks to read the opponent’s defensive priorities, then exploit the openings created by those defensive choices. The position requires significant mat time to develop the sensitivity needed to feel opponent weight shifts and anticipate escape attempts.
Position Definition
- Top practitioner positioned on opponent’s side or back with hips loaded on opponent’s torso between their shoulder and hip, maintaining dynamic weight distribution that shifts responsively with opponent movement while preventing them from flattening completely or achieving standing position
- Control established through asymmetric gripping pattern where top practitioner controls near-side arm (wrist, elbow, or shoulder control) while maintaining collar, neck control, or far-side grip to prevent opponent rotation and create attack opportunities
- Opponent in defensive turtle position with hands and knees on mat, head tucked protectively, attempting to maintain base against top practitioner’s pressure while defending back exposure and submission threats
- Top practitioner’s chest making firm contact with opponent’s back or shoulder area, with one leg posted on mat for base (typically far leg) while other knee or shin applies pressure to opponent’s hip or thigh to control their mobility
- Active pressure distribution maintained through constant micro-adjustments that prevent opponent from sitting back to guard, standing to feet, or rolling through, requiring top practitioner to ride opponent’s movement rather than forcing static control
Prerequisites
- Opponent must be in defensive turtle position with hands and knees on mat
- Top practitioner must establish initial control over opponent’s upper body, near arm, or collar
- Sufficient balance and mobility to maintain control while opponent attempts movement and escapes
- Understanding of back attack mechanics, submission entries from turtle, and transition opportunities
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain constant hip pressure on opponent’s torso while staying mobile and ready to adjust position
- Control the near arm to prevent opponent from posting and creating defensive frames
- Keep chest pressure on opponent’s back to flatten their posture and limit mobility
- Stay perpendicular or at angle to opponent’s spine to maximize control leverage
- Anticipate opponent escape attempts and flow to superior positions or submissions
- Use opponent’s movement and energy against them rather than forcing static control
- Maintain one point of base (posted leg) while applying pressure with other points of contact
Available Attacks
Turtle to Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Truck → Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Clock Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Bow and Arrow Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Rolling Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Side Control to Mount → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Darce from Turtle → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 18%
- Intermediate: 32%
- Advanced: 48%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains tight turtle with good base and head protection:
- Execute Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Clock Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 35%)
- Execute Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix (Probability: 45%)
If opponent attempts to sit back to guard or roll through:
- Execute Turtle to Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Rolling Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent turns away to protect neck or attempts to stand:
- Execute Transition to Truck → Truck (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Bow and Arrow Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 40%)
If opponent flattens out on stomach or extends arms for base:
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix (Probability: 55%)
If opponent creates space between hips and mat:
- Execute Turtle to Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Side Control to Mount → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Highest percentage path to submission
Rodeo Ride Top → Turtle to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Quickest submission from position
Rodeo Ride Top → Clock Choke → Won by Submission
Alternative high-percentage path
Rodeo Ride Top → Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride → Turtle to Back Control → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Truck system path
Rodeo Ride Top → Transition to Truck → Truck → Twister Finish
Crucifix submission path
Rodeo Ride Top → Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix → Choke from Crucifix → Won by Submission
Gi-specific path
Rodeo Ride Top → Bow and Arrow Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 45% | 40% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 60% | 30% |
| Advanced | 80% | 75% | 45% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before advancement or submission
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Rodeo Ride represents a critical transitional state in the turtle attack hierarchy where the attacker must balance between maintaining control and advancing position. The biomechanical advantage lies in the asymmetric loading of pressure—by positioning your hips perpendicular to the opponent’s spine while maintaining chest connection, you create a leverage system that makes their defensive turtle structurally unstable. The key technical element is the near arm control combined with far-side grip, which creates what I call a ‘control diagonal’ across the opponent’s back. This diagonal prevents rotation in either direction while simultaneously setting up multiple attack vectors. The position requires constant micro-adjustments in weight distribution as the opponent shifts their base—static pressure is ineffective here. Your goal should be to use this position as a decision point: read the opponent’s defensive priorities and exploit the opposite angle they’re leaving open. When they defend the choke, take the back. When they defend positional advancement, attack submissions. The systematic approach is to threaten one avenue of attack to create the opening for your actual objective.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, Rodeo Ride is one of my highest percentage positions for securing back control against high-level opponents who defend their turtle well. The mistake most people make is trying to force the back take immediately—against good defensive players, you need to make them choose between defending the choke attack and defending positional advancement. I typically establish Rodeo Ride, threaten a clock choke or collar choke to get their hands up defending their neck, then capitalize on that reaction by securing the back or truck position. The position also works exceptionally well in overtime situations where you need to score quickly—threatening submissions from here forces referees to see clear offensive action while you’re systematically breaking down their defensive structure. Against wrestlers with good turtle defense, Rodeo Ride lets you stay heavy and offensive without committing to positions where they can explode and escape. The key detail that separates good from great execution is maintaining that near arm control throughout your transitions. That arm is your anchor point—once you lose it, they can post and create the frames that enable their escapes.
Eddie Bravo
Rodeo Ride fits perfectly into the 10th Planet turtle attack system because it maintains that constant flow state we emphasize—you’re never static, always moving, always threatening. From here, we have multiple paths into the truck position, which is one of our primary back attack entries. The no-gi application requires you to be even more dynamic since you don’t have collar grips to anchor your control. I teach students to use the rodeo motion—that constant adjustment and rebalancing—to keep opponent guessing about your next move. One of my favorite sequences is to threaten the twister from truck, which makes them defend that side, then capitalize by rolling them the opposite direction into full back control. The position also sets up the lockdown game if they start to recover half guard during your attack—you can transition into that whole system. What makes Rodeo Ride effective in our system is that it embraces the chaos of the scramble rather than trying to achieve perfect static control. You’re riding their movement, using their energy against them. The more they try to escape, the more opportunities you create. It’s beautiful jiu-jitsu when executed correctly—completely overwhelming for the person on bottom because they can’t find any moment of safety to start their escape.