Turn your turtle into an attacking hub with a tested, wrestling-influenced no-gi system.
The Bottom Line
You will build a safe, structured turtle with clear defensive rules. You will add go-behinds, singles, and choking chains to score and finish. You will not get a loose move-dump.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Wrestlers and no-gi players
Skip if: You want pure IBJJF basics
Tech focus: Turtle, Front Headlock, Kimura
Biggest takeaway: Make turtle truly offensive
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What You'll Learn
Tactical Turtle is Melanson's complete blueprint for turning turtle from a last-ditch shell into a launchpad for reversals, back takes, and finishes. It blends wrestling, catch, and no-gi concepts into a cohesive plan that keeps you safe while threatening chokes and kimuras. The course spans eight volumes with clear progressions from defense to offense. If you turtle often in scrambles or MMA-influenced rounds, this is his most universally praised system.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Turtle
- Front Headlock
- Kimura
- Back Takes
- Reversals
- Peek Out
- Ankle Pick
- Granby
- Darce
- Rnc
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 8 hours and 53 minutes
- Volumes: 8
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I found turtle becomes a position of control once you adopt his grip rules and immediate go-behinds.
Why Neil Melanson?
Neil Melanson is a Hayastan black belt under Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell, former Xtreme Couture and Blackzilians coach, and a noted catch-influenced no-gi specialist.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Made my turtle way better and more offensive with wrestling-style attacks.
- Covers defense and offense; not a purely reactive turtle.
- Good reference encyclopedia that covers all bases and concepts.
- Has Priit-like defensive base but adds strong offense.
- Great for building a go-to turtle with back takes and singles.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some find the presentation less organized than DDS or B-Team.
- Sequences can be long; hard to remember every step live.
- A few dislike the delivery style and tone.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- Crack The Turtle – Shorter turtle-attacking roadmap if you want a compact set. (Price: $127.00, 4 vols)
- Beating Them From Behind – Pairs perfectly by finishing sequences once hooks are in. (Price: $180.00, 8 vols)
- The Shoulder Pin Guard System – Budget entry to Melanson control concepts from guard. (Price: $39.50, 4 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Tactical Turtle on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
