The turtle position is a defensive posture where an opponent protects themselves by keeping their limbs tight and minimizing openings. While it can be a vulnerable position, a skilled practitioner can use it to defend against attacks, recover to a better position, or set up counterattacks.

A strong turtle defense involves staying compact, keeping the head and arms protected, and using movement to prevent an opponent from establishing dominant control. While the position is often used to prevent an opponent from advancing, staying too passive can lead to getting controlled or attacked.

From an offensive perspective, controlling an opponent in turtle requires breaking down their structure while maintaining control over their movement. Understanding the balance between defense and counterattacking is key to using the turtle position effectively in both offense and defense.