Chill Dog Top represents the attacking perspective against an opponent using the compact Chill Dog defensive turtle. From this position, you are behind or beside the bottom practitioner who has adopted a tight defensive shell with elbows connected to knees, rounded back, and tucked head. Your primary objectives are to break the defensive frame, establish back control, secure submissions, or advance to other dominant positions.
Attacking Chill Dog requires a different approach than traditional turtle attacks. The compact nature of the position makes it difficult to secure standard grips like the harness or establish hooks for back control. You must use strategic pressure, grip fighting, and technical entries to break down the defensive frame. The key is creating dilemmas where defending one attack opens opportunities for another - forcing the bottom practitioner to make difficult choices under pressure.
Successful top players recognize that Chill Dog is designed to be a transitional defensive position, not a sustainable one. Your goal is to prevent the bottom practitioner from escaping while systematically breaking down their defenses. This requires patience to maintain pressure and control, combined with explosive attacks when opportunities present themselves. Rushing your attacks often leads to the bottom player successfully executing their escape, while too much patience allows them to recover guard or stand up.
The most effective attacks from Chill Dog Top involve targeting specific vulnerabilities in the defensive shell. These include: isolating arms for crucifix control, attacking the neck with front headlock positions, establishing the truck position by controlling near-side hip and far-side shoulder, and using weight distribution to flatten the opponent before taking the back. Each attack requires specific setups and grip sequences that overcome the defensive frame.
In no-gi competition especially, Chill Dog Top tests your ability to maintain positional control without relying on gi grips. You must use body weight, strategic pressure points, and proper weight distribution to maintain control while working for your attacks. This makes timing and technique critical - heavy pressure at the right moments combined with precise grip work determines whether you secure the back or the opponent escapes.
Position Definition
- Top practitioner positioned behind or beside bottom player who is on hands and knees in compact defensive shell with elbows tight to knees
- Top player maintains chest pressure on bottom player’s back or shoulder, using weight distribution to prevent easy escape while fighting for dominant grips
- Top player’s hands actively fighting for control of bottom player’s hips, arms, or neck while bottom player defends with closed elbow-knee frame
- Bottom player’s defensive posture remains compact with rounded back and tucked head, creating protective shell that resists standard turtle attacks
- Position is transitional with top player working to break defensive frame and establish back control or submission, while bottom player seeks escape window
Prerequisites
- Top player has passed guard or secured top position from standing
- Bottom player has turned to turtle and adopted Chill Dog defensive posture
- Top player is positioned behind or beside bottom player with access to attack
- Bottom player maintains defensive frame with elbows connected to knees
- Top player has weight distributed to prevent bottom player’s immediate escape
- Position is recognized as transitional requiring strategic attack approach
Key Offensive 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
Available Attacks
Turtle to Back Control → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Darce Setup → D’arce Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Anaconda Setup → Anaconda Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Front Headlock to Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Truck Entry → Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Guillotine Setup → Guillotine Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 18%
- Intermediate: 32%
- Advanced: 48%
Arm Triangle from Turtle → Arm Triangle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 28%
- Advanced: 42%
Decision Making from This Position
If bottom player maintains tight defensive frame with elbows to knees:
- Execute Establish chest pressure and fight for hip control → Back Control (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Circle to front headlock position → Front Headlock (Probability: 40%)
If bottom player’s elbow separates from knee on one side:
- Execute Insert near hook and establish back control → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Trap arm for crucifix position → Crucifix (Probability: 50%)
If bottom player attempts Granby roll or forward roll escape:
- Execute Follow roll and establish back control → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Intercept with front headlock → Front Headlock (Probability: 45%)
If bottom player attempts to stand up:
- Execute Snap down to front headlock → Front Headlock (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Establish standing back control → Standing Back Control (Probability: 50%)
If bottom player’s hips turn exposing near side:
- Execute Establish truck position → Truck (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Insert near hook for back control → Back Control (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Back attack path
Chill Dog Top → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Crucifix submission path
Chill Dog Top → Crucifix → Armbar from Crucifix
Front headlock path
Chill Dog Top → Front Headlock → Darce Choke
Truck submission path
Chill Dog Top → Truck → Twister
Mount path
Chill Dog Top → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 45% | 40% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 55% | 35% |
| Advanced | 75% | 70% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 30-60 seconds to establish back control or dominant position
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Attacking Chill Dog requires a systematic approach to breaking down the defensive shell. The key is understanding that the position’s strength - the closed elbow-to-knee frame - is also its fundamental weakness. When you create pressure that forces the bottom practitioner to post on one hand or adjust their base, that momentary separation of elbow from knee is your entry point for establishing hooks or attacking the arm. From a strategic perspective, you must create dilemmas where every defensive choice opens a different offensive opportunity. If they keep elbows tight to defend the back take, you can attack the neck with front headlock controls. If they defend the front headlock by pulling their head back, you can establish the crucifix by trapping the posting arm. The patient attacker maintains consistent pressure while waiting for these defensive adjustments, then capitalizes explosively when the window opens. Remember that in no-gi especially, your ability to maintain this pressure without gi grips requires superior weight distribution and understanding of pressure points on the human body.
Gordon Ryan
From the top of Chill Dog, I’m looking to create a specific reaction that opens up my preferred attack - usually the back take or front headlock. Against guys who know how to defend turtle well, you can’t just muscle your way in. You have to make them think you’re going for one attack, then capitalize when they defend. For example, I’ll threaten heavy chest pressure like I’m trying to flatten them, which makes them post harder on their hands to maintain base. The moment they post heavy, I’m attacking that posting arm for the crucifix or wrapping the head for a guillotine. The key is not committing 100% to any single attack until you see the defensive frame start to break. Stay heavy, keep threatening, and the moment you feel that elbow come off the knee or the head start to lift, that’s when you explode into your finish. At the highest levels, this position doesn’t last long - either I’m establishing my control within 20-30 seconds or the guy is escaping. The window is small, so your technique has to be sharp and your timing has to be perfect.
Eddie Bravo
Attacking Chill Dog is all about understanding the 10th Planet defensive system and knowing where the vulnerabilities are. When someone adopts this position, they’re basically saying ‘I’m not letting you take my back the standard way.’ So you have to get creative with your attacks. The truck position is money from here - you control the near-side hip and far-side shoulder, and even if they maintain their defensive shell, you can still establish the lockdown and start working toward the twister or calf slicer. Another high-percentage attack is the crucifix, especially in no-gi where they can’t hide behind gi grips. The moment they post on one arm to defend your pressure, you trap that arm and go to work. But here’s the thing - you can’t just attack randomly. You have to have a system where each attack flows into the next one. If the truck gets defended, you’re already transitioning to the back take. If the back take gets defended, you’re going for the front headlock. This is about creating chains of attacks that don’t give them time to reset their defensive position. Keep the pressure on, stay creative, and don’t let them get comfortable enough to execute their escapes.