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Chill Dog

Dec 09, 20259 min read

Chill Dog is a defensive turtle position popularized by Eddie Bravo and the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system. It represents a specific turtle variant where the bottom practitioner maintains a low, compact posture with hips turned slightly to one side while protecting the neck and preventing back exposure. Unlike traditional turtle where the goal is often to return to guard or stand up, Chill Dog emphasizes staying safe while creating opportunities for specific escapes and recoveries.

The position derives its name from the relaxed yet defensive nature of the posture - staying ‘chill’ while defending like a protective dog. The practitioner keeps their elbows tight to their knees, head tucked, and weight distributed to prevent easy rolling or flattening. This creates a strong defensive shell that makes it difficult for opponents to secure dominant positions like back control or establish powerful submission controls.

Chill Dog is particularly effective in no-gi competition where traditional turtle attacks like clock chokes and collar chokes are unavailable. The position allows the defender to weather aggressive attacks while waiting for opportunities to execute specific escapes like the Granby roll, technical stand-up, or transitions to half guard. It serves as a strategic position in the defensive hierarchy between full turtle exposure and complete guard recovery.

The strategic value of Chill Dog lies in its ability to neutralize many common turtle attacks while maintaining multiple escape routes. By keeping the defensive frame tight and compact, the bottom practitioner denies the opponent the fundamental grips and controls needed for back takes, crucifix positions, and front headlock submissions. This forces the opponent to work harder for their attacks, creating windows of opportunity for explosive escapes when they overcommit or shift their weight.

In the 10th Planet system, Chill Dog serves as a critical defensive position that connects to the broader guard recovery framework. Practitioners are taught to use this position as a temporary shield while setting up their preferred escape - whether that’s returning to rubber guard, establishing lockdown in half guard, or standing up to reset the engagement. The position exemplifies the system’s emphasis on defensive soundness combined with offensive creativity, allowing practitioners to survive dangerous situations and transition back to their attacking game.

Key Principles

  • Elbows must remain connected tight to knees to prevent hooks and harness control

  • Rounded back with tucked head protects neck and prevents forward pressure leverage

  • Hip positioning away from opponent’s primary attack creates defensive angles

  • Weight distribution forward on hands prevents easy rolling or flattening

  • Patience and controlled breathing enable recognition of escape windows

  • Position is always transitional - goal is escape to guard or standing, never sustained defense

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeDefensiveOffensive
Risk LevelMediumLow to Medium
Energy CostMediumMedium
TimeShort to MediumMedium

Key Difference: Compact turtle defense with escape options

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Elbow-to-knee connection is non-negotiable - this closed frame prevents all primary turtle attacks

  • Rounded back with tucked head removes opponent’s leverage points and protects neck from chokes

  • Forward weight distribution on hands prevents opponent from rolling or flipping you over

  • Hip positioning away from primary attack creates defensive angles while maintaining escape options

  • Controlled breathing and patience enable you to wait for opponent overcommitment before escaping

  • Position is always transitional - you must escape to guard or standing within 20-45 seconds

  • Explosive execution of chosen escape is critical - hesitation allows opponent to shut down movement

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Keeping hips too high and weight back on heels

    • Consequence: Opponent can easily insert hooks and establish back control or roll defender to their back
    • ✅ Correction: Keep weight forward on hands with hips low and heavy, distributing weight across all four points of contact equally

  • ❌ Allowing elbows to separate from knees

    • Consequence: Creates space for opponent to insert hooks, establish harness control, or attack with arm isolation techniques like crucifix
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant connection between elbows and inside of knees, keeping compact defensive frame at all times

  • ❌ Lifting head up to look around or track opponent

    • Consequence: Exposes neck to front headlock controls, guillotines, and allows opponent to drive weight forward to flatten turtle
    • ✅ Correction: Keep head tucked between shoulders with chin to chest, using peripheral awareness and feel rather than visual tracking

  • ❌ Staying static and not recognizing escape windows

    • Consequence: Opponent consolidates position and eventually establishes dominant control like back mount or submission controls
    • ✅ Correction: Stay patient but alert for opponent overcommitment or weight shifts, then explosively execute escape technique when window opens

  • ❌ Attempting to stand up before clearing opponent’s grips

    • Consequence: Opponent uses standing attempt to secure back control with both hooks or establish standing back control
    • ✅ Correction: Clear opponent’s primary grips first, create separation with hip movement, then stand with proper base and posture

  • ❌ Turning into opponent’s attacks instead of away

    • Consequence: Makes it easier for opponent to establish cross-body controls, mount, or side control positions
    • ✅ Correction: Identify opponent’s primary attacking direction and keep hips turned away from that side while maintaining defensive frame

  • ❌ Holding breath or tensing entire body

    • Consequence: Rapid fatigue, inability to feel opponent’s movements, and delayed reaction time for escapes
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain controlled breathing and selective tension - tight in defensive frames but relaxed in non-critical areas to conserve energy

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Use strategic pressure at specific points to prevent escape while conserving energy

  • Create dilemmas where defending one attack opens opportunities for another

  • Fight for dominant grips systematically - hips first, then shoulders or arms

  • Use weight distribution to flatten opponent before attempting back take

  • Recognize and capitalize on defensive frame breakdowns when elbows separate from knees

  • Attack timing is critical - explosive entries when opponent’s weight shifts or grips loosen

  • Prevent bottom player’s escape attempts by controlling their preferred exit routes

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Using excessive force to try to flatten opponent immediately

    • Consequence: Wastes energy and creates opportunity for bottom player to execute explosive escape when you’re overcommitted
    • ✅ Correction: Use strategic pressure at key points (hips, shoulders) while conserving energy and waiting for defensive frame to break

  • ❌ Attacking with single-minded focus on one technique

    • Consequence: Bottom player can focus all defensive effort on stopping that single attack and then escape when you reset
    • ✅ Correction: Create dilemmas by threatening multiple attacks - if they defend the back take, attack the arm; if they defend the arm, take the back

  • ❌ Allowing bottom player to control the pace of engagement

    • Consequence: Bottom player can wait patiently for best escape window while you tire from maintaining pressure
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant offensive pressure with grip fighting and position threats to force bottom player into reactive defensive mode

  • ❌ Neglecting to control the hips first before attacking upper body

    • Consequence: Bottom player can use hip movement to escape even if you secure upper body controls like front headlock
    • ✅ Correction: Establish hip control first with underhook or body triangle pressure, then work for upper body attacks

  • ❌ Staying too high on bottom player’s back

    • Consequence: Bottom player can easily execute technical stand-up or sit back to guard as you don’t have sufficient weight on them
    • ✅ Correction: Keep chest heavy on bottom player’s back or shoulder with weight distributed to prevent easy escape movements

  • ❌ Releasing pressure when bottom player makes small movements

    • Consequence: Bottom player uses these momentary releases to create space and execute their escape sequence
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain consistent pressure even during bottom player’s movements, adjusting position rather than releasing control

  • ❌ Attempting advanced submissions before establishing positional control

    • Consequence: Bottom player escapes during submission attempt as you haven’t secured fundamental controls like back hooks
    • ✅ Correction: Follow position-before-submission hierarchy: secure back control or dominant position first, then attack for submissions

  • Turtle - Parent position - Chill Dog is a specific defensive variant

  • Defensive Position - Category - represents defensive hierarchy in position system

  • Closed Guard - Primary target position after Granby roll escape

  • Half Guard - Common intermediate position during escape sequences

  • Back Control - Primary opponent objective if defensive frame breaks

  • Crucifix - Opponent attack if arm isolation occurs

  • Front Headlock - Common opponent attack requiring technical stand-up escape

  • Truck - 10th Planet-specific opponent attack if hooks are inserted

  • Standing Position - Alternative escape target via technical stand-up

  • Butterfly Guard - Escape option when sitting back from compact posture