Rodeo Ride

Position

The Rodeo Ride is a top turtle position where the attacker sits on the turtle opponent's back with both hooks attempting to enter or with a seatbelt-style upper body control, riding them like a bronco. It is a transitional dominant position used to break down the turtle and advance to back control, crab ride, truck, or various submissions.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Maintain heavy hip pressure on the opponent's lower back to flatten them and limit their ability to roll or stand.
  • · Use a seatbelt grip or crossface/underhook combination to control the upper body and prevent them from turning into you.
  • · Anticipate the opponent's granby roll or sit-out attempts by shifting your hips and posting with your hands to stay attached.
  • · Keep your knees tight to their hips to prevent them from creating space or shaking you off.
  • · Ride dynamically—react to their movement rather than staying static, using their energy to advance position.

Execution

  1. 1 From top turtle, sprawl your hips onto their lower back and establish a seatbelt grip (one arm over the shoulder, one under the armpit).
  2. 2 Squeeze your knees tight against their hips and keep your chest glued to their upper back to maximize control.
  3. 3 As they move, ride their motion by shifting your weight and hips, using posts with your hands or feet to maintain balance.
  4. 4 Work to insert hooks, transition to crab ride, or break them down flat to advance to back mount or submission entries.
  5. 5 If they attempt to roll, follow them and use the momentum to secure a deeper control position like the truck or crucifix.

Common mistakes

  • × Sitting too upright on the opponent's back, which makes it easy for them to buck you off or barrel roll to escape.
  • × Gripping too rigidly without adjusting to movement, causing you to get thrown off during scrambles instead of flowing with their escape attempts.
  • × Neglecting knee and hip pressure against their sides, allowing the bottom player to easily turtle up tight or transition to guard.

Attacks & transitions

Offense available from Rodeo Ride.

Truck Entry transition Turtle To Back Take transition Twister Finish submission
8 less common
Bow And Arrow submission Clock Choke submission Crab Ride To Back transition Crucifix From Turtle transition Darce From Turtle submission Rolling Back Take transition Triangle Choke From Back submission Spine Lock submission

Escapes & defense

Getting out of Rodeo Ride, or shutting it down.

Elbow Escape escape Granby Roll escape Rolling To Guard escape Turtle To Guard escape