Chill Dog Bottom

Chill Dog Bottom represents the defensive practitioner’s perspective in this specialized turtle variant. From this position, you are on hands and knees with opponent behind or beside you, maintaining a compact defensive shell to prevent back control, crucifix, and submission attacks. Your primary objective is survival and escape - using the defensive frame to weather the storm while waiting for the right moment to execute your guard recovery or stand-up.

The bottom practitioner’s success in Chill Dog depends on maintaining three critical elements simultaneously: tight elbow-to-knee connection, rounded back with tucked head, and forward weight distribution. These elements work together to create a protective shell that denies the opponent the fundamental controls they need for their attacks. When any of these elements breaks down, you become vulnerable to back takes, arm isolation, or front headlock controls.

Timing is everything from the bottom position. You must be patient enough to maintain your defensive frame under pressure, but alert enough to recognize when the opponent overcommits their weight or loosens their grips. These momentary windows are when you execute your escape - typically either a Granby roll to guard, technical stand-up to feet, or sit-through to butterfly guard. The key is explosive execution once you commit to the escape, as hesitation allows the opponent to readjust and shut down your movement.

Breathing and mental composure are critical skills for bottom Chill Dog. Newer practitioners often panic when opponent pressure increases, leading to premature escape attempts or defensive frame breakdown. Advanced practitioners stay calm, maintain controlled breathing, and use their sense of feel to track opponent weight distribution and grip positions. This allows them to make intelligent decisions about which escape to attempt and when to initiate the movement.

In the 10th Planet system, Chill Dog Bottom serves as a gateway back to offensive positions. Once you successfully escape to guard, you immediately work to establish your preferred attacking position - whether that’s rubber guard, lockdown half guard, or one of the specialized 10th Planet guard variations. The position teaches practitioners that defense is not passive survival, but an active process of controlling the situation while setting up your return to offense.

Position Definition

• Bottom practitioner maintains hands and knees contact with mat, weight distributed evenly across four points creating stable base that resists rolling and flattening attempts
• Elbows remain pressed tight against inside of knees throughout position, creating closed defensive frame that prevents opponent hook insertion and harness grip establishment
• Back stays rounded with head tucked between shoulders, chin to chest, removing opponent’s ability to use spine as lever for control or drive weight forward to flatten
• Hips turned slightly away from opponent’s primary attacking direction, creating defensive angle while maintaining ability to explosively rotate for escapes
• Minimal space exists between thighs and torso with knees pulled toward chest in ball-like configuration, preventing opponent from driving wedges or establishing cross-body controls

Prerequisites

• Guard has been passed or bottom player has been swept to top position
• Bottom player has turned to turtle to prevent being flattened to back or side control
• Opponent is positioned behind or beside attempting to establish back control or submission
• Bottom player maintains sufficient base on hands and knees to support weight
• Initial back take attempts have been defended by maintaining compact posture
• Bottom player has identified need for defensive shell before attempting escapes

Key Defensive 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

Available Escapes

Granby Roll → Closed Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 30%
• Intermediate: 45%
• Advanced: 60%

Granby to Closed Guard → Closed Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 25%
• Intermediate: 40%
• Advanced: 55%

Technical Standup → Standing Position

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 35%
• Intermediate: 50%
• Advanced: 65%

Rolling to Guard → Half Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 30%
• Intermediate: 45%
• Advanced: 60%

Turtle to Guard → Open Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 25%
• Intermediate: 40%
• Advanced: 55%

Hip Escape → Butterfly Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 20%
• Intermediate: 35%
• Advanced: 50%

Hip Escape → Half Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 28%
• Intermediate: 42%
• Advanced: 58%

Granby Roll → Closed Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 22%
• Intermediate: 38%
• Advanced: 52%

Opponent Counters

• Turtle to Back Control → Back Control (Opponent Success: 50%)
• Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix (Opponent Success: 35%)
• Darce Setup → D’arce Control (Opponent Success: 30%)
• Anaconda Setup → Anaconda Control (Opponent Success: 30%)
• Guillotine Setup → Guillotine Control (Opponent Success: 25%)
• Front Headlock to Back → Back Control (Opponent Success: 40%)
• Truck Entry → Truck (Opponent Success: 35%)

Counter-Attacks

• Hip Escape → Half Guard
  • Opponent overcommits to one side attempting to establish hooks
• Granby Roll → Closed Guard
  • Opponent drives forward with chest pressure attempting to flatten
• Hip Escape → Butterfly Guard
  • Opponent attempts to circle around to far side for back take
• Technical Standup → Standing Position
  • Opponent’s weight shifts backwards or they attempt front headlock control
• Rolling to Guard → Open Guard
  • Opponent commits to crucifix or truck position setup

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent establishes strong chest pressure and attempts to flatten turtle:

• Execute Granby Roll → Closed Guard (Probability: 45%)
• Execute Hip Escape → Half Guard (Probability: 40%)

If opponent circles to attack back or attempts to establish hooks:

• Execute Turn into opponent → Butterfly Guard (Probability: 40%)
• Execute Granby Roll → Closed Guard (Probability: 35%)
• Execute Technical Standup → Standing Position (Probability: 50%)

If opponent attempts front headlock control or guillotine setup:

• Execute Technical Standup → Standing Position (Probability: 55%)
• Execute Pull head free and sit to guard → Open Guard (Probability: 40%)

If opponent attempts to isolate arm for crucifix or kimura:

• Execute Pull arm back and roll → Half Guard (Probability: 45%)
• Execute Post on isolated arm and stand → Standing Position (Probability: 40%)

If opponent attempts to establish truck or twister control:

• Execute Rolling to Guard → Open Guard (Probability: 50%)
• Execute Straighten bottom leg and turn in → Half Guard (Probability: 45%)

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

Training Drills for Defense

Chill Dog Position Hold

Partner applies varying levels of pressure and attack attempts while defender maintains proper Chill Dog posture. Focus on keeping elbows to knees, head tucked, and base solid for 2-minute rounds. Partner progresses from light pressure to aggressive back take attempts.

Duration: 5 rounds x 2 minutes

Granby Roll Chains from Chill Dog

Start in Chill Dog with partner attempting to flatten or take back. Defender executes Granby roll to guard when partner commits forward. Reset and repeat, working both directions. Focus on timing the roll when opponent’s weight is committed and maintaining momentum through completion.

Duration: 10 minutes alternating

Technical Stand-up Progression

From Chill Dog, practice clearing grips and executing technical stand-up while partner provides progressive resistance. Start with cooperative drilling, then add timing requirements as partner attempts various turtle attacks. Emphasize proper grip breaks, base creation, and standing posture.

Duration: 15 minutes

Turtle Escape Flow Drill

Partner attacks turtle with various controls (harness, front headlock, truck setup, crucifix attempt). Defender must identify attack and execute appropriate escape: Granby for flattening, stand-up for front headlock, sit-through for hook attempts, etc. Continuous flow for time.

Duration: 5 rounds x 3 minutes

Chill Dog Positional Sparring

Start every round in Chill Dog with partner behind attempting any legal attack. Defender scores points for successful escapes to guard or standing. Attacker scores for back control, mount, or submissions. Reset after each score. Emphasizes realistic timing and decision-making under pressure.

Duration: 6 rounds x 4 minutes

Escape and Survival Paths

Opponent submission path from top

Chill Dog Bottom → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Opponent crucifix path

Chill Dog Bottom → Crucifix → Armbar from Crucifix

Opponent choke path from front headlock

Chill Dog Bottom → Front Headlock → Darce Choke

Defensive escape path to counter-attack

Chill Dog Bottom → Technical Standup → Standing Position → Double Leg Entry

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill Level	Retention Rate	Advancement Probability	Submission Probability
Beginner	40%	30%	5%
Intermediate	55%	45%	10%
Advanced	70%	60%	15%

Average Time in Position: 20-45 seconds before escape or position change

Related Positions and Techniques

• Turtle - Parent position - Chill Dog is a specific variant of turtle
• Defensive Position - Category - Chill Dog is a defensive position in hierarchy
• Granby Roll - Primary escape technique from Chill Dog to guard
• Technical Standup - Alternative escape method when space is available
• Back Control - Primary opponent objective from this position
• Crucifix - Common opponent attack if arm is isolated
• Closed Guard - Target position after successful Granby escape
• Half Guard - Common intermediate position during escape sequences
• Twister Control - 10th Planet-specific attack opponent may attempt from this position
• 10th Planet No-Gi Guard System - System context - Chill Dog is part of 10th Planet defensive framework