Eduardo Telles is the pioneer of offensive turtle guard, creator of the octopus guard, 2013 No-Gi World Champion, ADCC veteran, and the man behind “esquijitsu” (weird jiu-jitsu). This ranked guide covers his four BJJ Fanatics instructionals with specific technique breakdowns, real review quotes, and honest pros and cons from named sources.
The Turtle Guard Revisited by Eduardo Telles
Turn turtle into a reliable attack platform with clear defenses, reversals, and submissions.
The Naked Turtle by Eduardo Telles
A no-gi turtle plan to stop back takes, wrestle up, and counter.
Surf Passing by Eduardo Telles
Adopt a moving, angle-first passing style that rides and redirects guards.
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🥋 #1 The Turtle Guard Revisited by Eduardo Telles
Instructor: Eduardo Telles
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Drill Heavy
Best for: White to Purple Belt (Jiu-Jitsu Times recommends for white belts)
Format: Gi (concepts transfer to no-gi)
Runtime: ~80 minutes (4 parts, each under 40 min per Jiu-Jitsu Times)
Volumes: 4 (Parts 1-2: Turtle, Parts 3-4: Surf-Ride Passing)
Biggest takeaway: Roll away from opponents to bait overextension, then reverse.
Techniques: Steamroller escape, Turtle-Plata, Front Headlock Defense, Crucifix Defense, Back Escape to Deep Half, Leg Traps from Knee Cut, Surf-Ride Passing, Kimura Options
- The Turtle System by Henry Akins – More traditional, step-by-step turtle curriculum.
- The Sitting Turtle by Priit Mihkelson – Deep posture-first defensive framework.
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes by John Danaher – Highly structured back-escape fundamentals.
Telles teaches the steamroller escape from side control and clock choke positions, the turtle-plata shoulder lock (his signature submission), back escapes to deep half guard, and leg traps from knee cut passes. Parts 3-4 cover his surf-ride passing philosophy. Jiu-Jitsu Times called it “an invaluable resource for lower belts, especially white belts, as they’re the most likely to get their backs taken.” The counterintuitive core: Telles encourages rolling AWAY from opponents, exposing the back to bait overextension, then reversing.
✅ Pros
- Covers the full turtle offense chain: steamroller reversals, turtle-plata submissions, leg traps from knee cut, and back escapes to deep half guard.
- Affordable at $47 with both turtle offense (Parts 1-2) and surf-ride passing (Parts 3-4) in one package.
- Builds from seated-to-turtle drills up to advanced combinations, so white belts can follow the progression.
⚠️ Cons
- Only ~80 minutes total across all volumes. Jiu-Jitsu Times noted each part runs under 40 minutes, so depth is limited compared to modern 4-8 volume sets.
- Priit Mihkelson’s “Protecting & Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle” covers defensive turtle survival more thoroughly across 4 dedicated volumes.
- The surf-ride passing sections in Parts 3-4 are brief. For dedicated passing depth, Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking The Guard offers far more material.
💡 Jiu-Jitsu Times highlights that many of Telles’ moves seem counterintuitive, rolling away from opponents rather than into them. Start with the steamroller and hook-blocking drills before moving to the turtle-plata. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 The Naked Turtle by Eduardo Telles
Instructor: Eduardo Telles
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Blue to Brown Belt (BJJ World recommends for older/smaller/injured grapplers)
Format: No-Gi
Rating: 8/10 (BJJ World Expert Rating)
Volumes: 1
Biggest takeaway: The Turtle Trap system turns defense into counterattacks with submissions.
Techniques: Turtle Trap System, Rolling Sweeps, Sliding Sweeps, Sit-Out Sweeps, Ankle Pick, Leg Traps, Turtle-Plata, Armbars, Seat Belt Grip Attacks
- The Ultimate Turtle Bundle by Priit Mihkelson - Posture-first defense that many prefer for no-gi.
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes by John Danaher - Structured survival and back-escape methodology.
- The Turtle System by Henry Akins - Broader gi/no-gi turtle curriculum.
BJJ World rated The Naked Turtle 8/10 and called it essential for "older, smaller, weaker, or injured grapplers" who need the turtle as a "silver bullet." The Turtle Trap system takes up nearly half the instructional, covering leg traps, kimuras, underhooks, the turtle-plata shoulder lock, armbars, and attacks against seat belt grips. Additional sections cover rolling sweeps, sliding sweeps, lever-based sweeps, sit-out sweeps, and ankle pick attacks. As BJJ World noted: "Telles took a purely defensive position and upgraded it with guard attacks. That means you can use it to sweep."
✅ Pros
- The Turtle Trap system (nearly half the content) is unique to Telles: leg traps, kimuras, turtle-plata, and attacks against seat belt grips.
- BJJ World specifically recommends it for older, smaller, or injured grapplers who need defensive counterattacking options.
- Rated 8/10 by BJJ World, with practical ankle picks, rolling sweeps, and sit-out sweeps from bottom turtle.
⚠️ Cons
- BJJ World's main criticism: "way too short" compared to modern multi-volume instructionals. Single volume limits instruction depth.
- Craig Jones's Octopus Guard v2 offers a more modern, competition-proven no-gi system with B-Team footage and more volume.
- Priit Mihkelson's Sitting Turtle provides more detailed defensive fundamentals for no-gi turtle survival across multiple volumes.
💡 BJJ World recommends starting with the Turtle Trap chapters (nearly half the content) before the sweeps. The turtle-plata shoulder lock is the most creative submission here and worth drilling early. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 Surf Passing by Eduardo Telles
Instructor: Eduardo Telles
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Purple Belt and Above (requires passing fundamentals already in place)
Format: Gi
Volumes: 1
Biggest takeaway: "Surfing the guard" - stay loose and mobile, then strike when balance breaks.
Techniques: Circle Pass, Toreando Circle Pass, Summersault Pass, Spinning Pass with Armbar Finish, Ninja Roll to Back Take, Knee Collapse Pass with Kimura, Reverse Half Guard Passing
- Tripod Passing: Beating Inside Position by Jozef Chen - Modern, structured outside passing blueprint.
- The Relentless Toreando Passing System by Ronaldo Junior - Speed-based passing with clear sequences.
- They Shall Not Pass by Gordon Ryan - Guard-retention counter study to sharpen passing choices.
Telles teaches an entirely different passing philosophy he calls "surfing the guard": staying loose and mobile from top, then striking when the opponent's balance breaks. Specific techniques include the circle pass, toreando circle pass, summersault pass, spinning pass with armbar finish, ninja roll to back take, knee collapse pass with kimura finish, and reverse half guard passing. This is not a systematic A-to-B passing plan. It is creative, movement-based passing that complements any existing game.
✅ Pros
- Truly unique passing philosophy not found in any other instructional: ninja roll to back take, summersault pass, spinning pass with armbar finish.
- Teaches the underlying surf-ride principle (when to flow vs. when to commit) that transfers to any passing situation.
- Complements any existing passing game as an entirely different approach, especially for grapplers frustrated with force-on-force passing.
⚠️ Cons
- Very niche and unorthodox. For structured, high-percentage passing, Gordon Ryan's or Lachlan Giles's passing instructionals are more proven at the highest levels.
- Limited community reviews and feedback compared to the turtle guard instructionals, so less validation of real-world results.
- May be too creative for beginners who need fundamental toreando and knee cut passing first. This is an advanced supplemental tool.
💡 The circle pass and ninja roll to back take are the highest-percentage moves here. Drill those first before experimenting with the summersault pass. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Octopus With Pajamas by Eduardo Telles
Instructor: Eduardo Telles
Style: Technique Collection, System Based
Best for: Blue Belt and Above (TurtleGuard blog: "NOT for beginners")
Format: Gi (the "pajamas" in the title)
Volumes: 1
Biggest takeaway: The octopus guard is a hybrid turtle/half guard position that creates back takes and sweeps.
Techniques: Octopus Guard Theory, Basics & Fundamentals, Sweeps & Turnovers, Submissions from Octopus, Advanced Adjustments, Gi Grip Control
- The Reach Around AKA Octopus Guard by Craig Jones - Modern no-gi octopus mechanics and scrambles.
- The Roger Gracie Turtle Attack System - If your octopus aims at back takes, consider a back-attack masterclass.
- The Reverse Seat Belt by David Avellan - Alternative upper-body harness to create reversals and back takes.
Telles invented the octopus guard: a hybrid position between closed guard and back take where you swim your arm and head under the opponent's far side arm (per The Fight Site). He got an octopus tattoo on his shoulder because of his belief in this position. This instructional covers the complete gi-based octopus guard system: theory, basics, sweeps, turnovers, and submissions. The TurtleGuard blog explicitly states this material is "NOT for beginners" and recommends it for experienced grapplers who want something unconventional.
✅ Pros
- The only dedicated gi-specific octopus guard instructional from the inventor of the position. Nobody else has this depth on gi octopus.
- Complete system covering theory, fundamentals, sweeps, turnovers, and submissions with gi grip options not available in no-gi.
- Telles is the originator; learning octopus guard from anyone else is learning a derivative. This is the source material.
⚠️ Cons
- Craig Jones's Octopus Guard v2 has more recent competition validation and modern no-gi mechanics from B-Team.
- Adam Wardzinski's Octopus Guard (reviewed by BJJ World) offers a more wrestling-influenced, modern competitive version of the position.
- Niche position that requires significant drilling time. The TurtleGuard blog warns this is "NOT for beginners" who should focus on fundamentals first.
💡 The Fight Site describes octopus guard as "a form of hybrid turtle/half guard in which the guard player tries to swim his arm and head under his opponent's far side arm." Start with the basic entries before attempting sweeps. Recommendation: Skip.
How we ranked the Telles catalog
We weighted named reviewer ratings (BJJ World gave The Naked Turtle 8/10), publication reviews (Jiu-Jitsu Times reviewed Turtle Guard Revisited), and technique specificity over vague community sentiment. Turtle Guard Revisited ranks #1 because it covers both turtle offense (steamroller, turtle-plata, leg traps) and surf-ride passing in one affordable package. The Naked Turtle ranks #2 on its BJJ World rating and unique Turtle Trap system. Surf Passing ranks #3 for its one-of-a-kind passing philosophy (circle pass, ninja roll, summersault pass) that no other instructor teaches. Octopus With Pajamas ranks #4 because despite Telles being the inventor, Craig Jones's Octopus Guard v2 and Adam Wardzinski's version offer more modern competitive validation.
Should beginners learn turtle early?
Yes, and Jiu-Jitsu Times specifically recommends Turtle Guard Revisited for white belts "as they're the most likely to get their backs taken." Start with the steamroller escape and hook-blocking drills from Part 1. Treat turtle as a temporary stop to stand up or reverse, not a camping spot. Pair Telles's offensive material with Priit Mihkelson's defensive turtle framework for a complete system: Priit for survival, Telles for counterattacks. Stephan Campbell documented an 18-month deep dive into turtle guard referencing both Telles and Priit, finding the combination gave him the strongest turtle game. Drill short chains: block hooks, steamroller to top, or roll to deep half guard.
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