You changed my defense game forever!
Jay
Love it. Frustrating higher belts all day long with this.
Christian
I think you’re changing the game
Changed my game. I don’t care getting passed. I survive. Then recover. Love this game.
Oscar
I put Priit Mihkelson knowledge level and teaching ability on par with Danaher and Hall.
Theo
Everything he has to say is very interesting. I love Danaher but I think Priit has as thought out systems and is alot more user friendly to learn.
My rolling partners already know what I’m gonna do and roll their eyes while saying "that again...
Vince
10+ years of BJJ under my belt. Just recently started studying your defensive postures. Holy shit man! I’m having to completely re-evaluate my entire game and I couldn’t be more happy! Thank you!
Priit is one of the most difficult guys to hold down and/or submit. He has such good defensive positioning and so many different slick escapes that he seems to just slide out of things.
BJJ World
When I first started watching your videos from Globetrotters, I was very skeptical. After rolling with you in Maine, I was baffled. Now I use your turtle and baby bridge when I roll.
Anthony
Priit is the Estonian Danaher? Or is Danaher the American Priit?
No disrespect to Telles but Priit is the new turtle master
Very quickly changed my defense drastically for the better.
Coming from a background of science, your style of teaching always fascinates me
Lim
It‘s funny, I can’t get through Danaher‘s stuff at all but literally watched all of Priit’s turtle videos in one sitting.
Best defensive system for bottom that I have seen and used. Takes time but once you consistently apply the concepts you have super powers
Matt
I have to say, your defensive postures have completely changed my defence. I’ve been watching and testing your ideas for maybe 6 weeks now. I never feel in danger anymore. I’m a brown belt under Victor Estima, so it gets tested by a lot of high level grapplers.
The trouble with Priit is that he is so entertaining when he talks, that you might lose focus on what he’s demonstrating.
BJJ World
I had a guy last night attack my turtle for a minute or so, and finally just sit back and say, "OK, you win."
I really believe your material is fixing big problems for most people’s jiujitsu that no one else is addressing, just love your work
Have done some seminars under Priit. Dude’s a genius.
His turtle stuff is basically just "see Telles? Why aren‘t you doing what he’s doing?" and he does have a point.
Seriously it’s insane how effective it it.
I had the honour of spending 6 hours on the mats with Priit yesterday at Team Quest Thailand. After about 2 hours my mind was blown and by the end I felt that my bjj and the way I think about coaching had undergone a complete paradigm shift. Priit has a gift for thinking outside the box of tradition and dogma in bjj and finding the most effective way to do things, not to mention being an incredible coach. After rolling with him there’s no doubt in my mind about the effectiveness of his defensive system; he felt like he was surrounded by an impenetrable wall of defence and I felt like a white belt again, or perhaps a kid playing with his dad. Exciting times ahead trying to put all this into practice.
Brodie
What this Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional essentially is, is the best offensively defensive turtle instructional in existence.
BJJ World
Priit has turned my game around enormously. Phenomenal. But you have to be willing to learn and give it time.
By the end of the seminar, both my partner and I had a very strong back escape defense that neither of us (both purple belts) could attack very well. I consider my back attacks my strongest weapon and they were completely nullified by the escape. I can’t wait to try it out with all of my training partners.
Ohyayitstrey (Reddit)
Priit is really annoying. I went to his seminar when he came to my gym. I already had a pretty good turtle, but he helped me integrate it into other defensive positions, like running man and Hawking. Now people get really annoyed at me when I play defensive… It’s too good, feels a bit unfair sometimes
Shifume (Reddit)
Priit Mihkelson is exactly the type of coach that can take you a whole level higher in a very short period of time. His instructionals are definitely unusual, but they do work in both competition and training.
BJJ World
Priit is an amazing teacher, I just started watching his Grilled Chicken Guard Retention instructional and it’s so concise and immediately applicable.
Locnload (Reddit)
I loved learning from Priit as well, he made me a solid 20-30% harder to tap in one class – the babybridge class. That class was particularly fun because he 100% would let anyone come up and try to choke him who didn’t believe it would work for each new situation. Since then I’ve watched and incorporated the whole turtle – runningman – hawking – panda, the “mother of all stack passes”, and also the back escape you learned, all pure gold. I tried a tag team tournament that another local gym put on last year and my buddy and I did a horrible job of utilizing the rule set so I probably got my back taken 10 times from them just tagging out and holding me while the other person climbed on lol, but not one of them held it for more than a few seconds, I would just grab their knee turn around into their guard and dive into the stack pass. Worked like a charm and the division was white and blue belts mixed (no gi). Since I got good at the stack pass I’ve began baiting people with a guard armbar opportunity and if they go for it, and they aren’t a solid two belts or so better than me, then they’ve basically given me a full pass, nice and easy for me and as slow and miserable for them as I want it to be, lol
Human25920 (Reddit)
This guy is so brilliant. I went to all of his classes at Zen Camp last year and learned so much. I use all of his stuff and it worked since day 1. But I needed to suffer a lot to get it going against top dogs at my academy. I highly recommed his classes from Globetrotters channel and also his own yt channel. If you look for someone demistifying many jiu jitsu preconceptions and making your defense rock solid – just give his stuff a try, it will work even if you’re as stubborn in doing stupid things as I am.
Robertisfine (Reddit)
Priit Mihkelson, or in other words the genius you do not expect. They spoke me about him calling him a Northern European John Danaher. I was skeptical. Then his lessons raised the curtain between expectations and reality. All, including the professors, were there to follow and listen to his classes. He wasn’t teaching purely a technique, nor a defense, nor a finalization: just positions, concepts, systems, ‘click mechanics’, an innovative way to look at the top control positions (half and mount) and back defenses and from the turtle in active and passive version... and while we were all with our mouths open he says‘ Do not trust me, just challenge me! Who’s first? "... and from there, as those who were challenging were also inexorably failing, many of our certainties were systematically questioned.
Enrico
Ever since I’ve seen your stuff, I’ve change the way I look at the practicality and effectivity of techniques available online (free and paid). The problem is not in the techniques themselves, but rather in how it is thought. Mostly they are situational, highly specific, techniques that need to satisfy a lot of conditions to work. Most of them are negated by keeping your elbows “clicked.” And that’s why your way of teaching is so impactful. It starts where it should be, from 0. I’m a blue belt with 3-4 years of experience. Just the turtle itself has transformed my defensive game by leaps and bounds to the point where higher belts are seriously challenged. Then, as you say, the sport aspect comes in. I say this to objectively emphasize the effectivity of the techniques and not to brag.
Ahmed
It‘s funny. I think it has been the focus of jiu-jitsu from the beginning: To provide strategy that defeats physical prowess. This is often done in a fragmented way of learning different techniques here and there and then trying to figure out how they fit together. What you provide is everything in between - wich I feel is often overlooked. The small (almost banale) details that make everything else work (or hinder it from failing). A little story... This might sound like a bad TV commercial, but it’s true I used to train 4 times per week. Off course I improved fast when doing so. For the last year unfortunately I haven‘t been able to train more than once per two weeks. It was hard to keep up with the themes that were tought at my gym, not going there continously and hanging with the people who trained all the time seemed impossible. But thanks to adopting your system I have actually evolved my game even more in this period. I know it’s not enough to train like this in the long run - and neither is it my plan, but it’s quite remarkable... What this system does to the fundamentals and overall understanding of grappling is crazy. Not only does it teach you to understand the layers of defense and provide guidance for every mistake you make, but using the same principles to deconstruct the opponents defense is a great side effect I really hope you continue your much needed "crusade". Please, let me be the one doing the thanking.
Martin
I am a purple belt from Canada . This is kind of a wierd message but I just wanted to reach out and tell you how much I appreciate your videos on globetrotters and your take on jiu jitsu. I came to the spring camp but at the time I did not know who you were, I did the panda class and thought it was ok but nothing special at the time. A few months ago I thought maybe there was something more there, I rewatched the videos and have been hooked. Since then I have watched all your videos one or two times. My jiu jitsu is more than twice as good as it has ever been. Just thought I would reach out and say thank you and I hope you are doing well. I hope I will get to take some of your classes In the future.
Mark
I have watched some of the instructionals by high level athletes and find this blatant error of attacker being able to take the back from a sweep or turtle with such ease. After watching your videos and instructionals I have begun to question all these "techniques" people are showing and selling. And yes, thank you for all your research, testing and for making it available to us
I am following Priit‘s ideas since BJJ Globetrotters Zen Camp in 2019. His stuff is simple and easily applicable even against high level opponents, but you need to abandon some preconceptions that you learned before (e.g. don’t expose your back). This instructional is no different, if you already learned Turtle and Panda - this one is like the final piece of the puzzle. All those postures work together extremely well as a system, and they all can be pressure tested since day 1 with great success. I would even say that if you want to dive in into Priit‘s system - this DVD should be your starting point, since it covers the most defensive postures in it, and on top of that you can add both sitting Turtle and the Turtle itself. This DVD will make your training partners confused, because you would learn all the shades of side control and turtle, and use it as coherent system, while other people are used to generic simplified distinction between being pinned in "side control" and exposing the back in "turtle". This positional awareness will enable you to play with transitions to create openings to escape and/or attack in sort of funky way, that is surprisingly effective. Can’t wait for more stuff from him!
What I get from the series is a paradigm shift in ‘attitude‘ on how to solve any technical issues by myself just by the few basic concepts you cover. It’s my belief that Jiu Jitsu often times creates problems to ‘sell’ the solutions. I feel your work is all about untangling some of the mess and confusion that is creeping into the sport. Seriously think how different BJJ would look if we are taught this series as a basic foundation day #1 entering a dojo? A lot of wasted time and frustration would be saved....for both teacher and student. Last thing, the ‘feedback loop’ and co-operating with your partner to give them ‘success’ etc. I think you could devote a whole DVD to the teaching methology you work with. This has been another really important factor in not wasting time on the mat.
Kevin
This system has one major flaw... FRUSTRATING beyond belief! Lol. Amazing system and concepts.
Dalton
Priit Mihkelson improved my defense a lot. really A LOT. Especially when playing against people much better than me - when my offense was shut down, then I was basically done despite being a "survivalist" since day 1. Priit‘s concepts made me a lot better, like from being tapped 2-3 times to no tap against the same opponents. It’s just so mechanically sound!
Priit I have found your stuff makes it much easier to escape as the person on top has no options but to give space. I‘ve even had people quit on top from exhaustion! I’ll keep saying this: I’ve been a black belt for almost 11 years and Your techniques, especially running man, panda, and turtle have had the biggest impact in my game post black belt.
Carter
He‘s one of the best thinkers in grappling at the moment, and he’s driven by science, so he doesn‘t act like he knows everything and encourages people to test things for themselves. Some of what he teaches involves ’unlearning‘ habits that you may have been taught (’never show your back‘), in favour of other, more useful ones, so it may seem unorthodox at first, but once he explores the reasoning behind his system, you’ll find it’s actually completely logical and has revolutionized my defensive/counter-offensive game over the last couple of years. Highly recommended.
Tim
I found its almost like the bridge between scrambling chaos and attaining guard. It feels like it‘s too simple to be true when you watch it. But as an older guy that is a bit of an instructional addict, I dont think any other instructionals have had a more positive effect on my grappling. I’ve got all Priits work and I feel he shows insight that could change how we learn the game, but at the same time simplifying it. It’s a must have for me
Paul
Personally, I think maybe the mark of genius is to review the fundamentals with a new eye for detail, break down something we all think we know and find a lot more there. I constantly coach new white belts to keep their elbows in, but this first of all gave me more understanding of what I actually do (more to it than just ‘keep your elbows in’) so my coaching immediately improved. And I found lots more that I didn’t know—he’s better at this than most of us and he can explain it. To me there’s a lot of value in this approach.
Benedict
Priit’s instructionals have become my “go to” bjj sources for a whole variety of reasons - all good. Priit Mihkelson is “thinking outside the box” … at minimum, he opens your mind to what otherwise, has been largely ignored by mainstream BJJ
Keith
I‘ve been utilizing Priit’s system for the last 12 months and have found all of his material to be very useful. As a 45 year old man these systems have helped me slow down the younger more athletic youngsters, allowing me to really open up my game. He hits the nail on the head in saying that the more effective your ability to escape, the more you feel willing to open up and go on the attack!
Priit Mihkelson has an awesome gift of being able to make Jits feel simple and easy to grasp No matter how complex the topic can seem at first glance. If you haven‘t gone to one of his seminars yet it’s about time to do so. You’re missing out in important and valuable info that you need to progress and understand our sports.
Daniel
I love the way you explain new techniques, make so much sense to me. And really comfort my anxiety of not able to remember new techniques. Thank you.
Wang
I‘ve sparred a lot since and used them and it’s incredibly that when I time things well even purple/brown belts that have trained for many years compared to me just look so puzzled how the hand fighting and then getting back to guard works so well. Once again- thank you for what you’re doing for bjj, with the teaching backwards methods as well, really glad someone is progressing the sport so much like yourself
I had a tournament today and although I lost this match by a couple points, my opponent was helpless while he was on top. He couldn’t do anything to isolate my arms or get knee on belly while in side control, and when I turtled he couldn’t get a seat belt, hooks, or collar grips on me! Thanks for the awesome knowledge! It’s changed my defense game tremendously!!!
Aaron
I now use the videos as a reference source. But actually the real gift that this system offers is an increased ability to figure things out for yourself. More like a key to creativity. So far, I don’t think my ‘confidence is based on a lie’. My own students remark how jiu jitsu is now much more fun for them...the evidence is there.
Kevin
Lately, when rolling with white and blue belts, I have been ignoring submission attempts, and playing your defensive postures. It’s coming along nicely. I did the running man for about 30 seconds straight today and could hear my partner laughing in frustration. So much fun! I’m looking forward to sharpening up my turtle at a Globetrotter camp in the near future.
Anthony
I have to admit, I’m really excited every time I see a new Priit Mihkelson DVD emerge. Until a few months ago, I truly had no idea who the guy was. After his first BJJ instructional though, I doubt there’s anyone that doesn’t recognize him. His second was also pure gold and left us all wanting for more.
BJJ World
I am a black belt from Langes MMA in Sydney, Australia. I turned 65 on Sunday and decided to celebrate by rolling continuously for 65 minutes with friends. In doing so, I raised over AUD $2500 for disabled athlete charities. Your defensive strategies worked brilliantly, allowing me to stay safe and eventually escape while conserving energy. This event showed me that I can stay in jiu jitsu for many years yet if I am smart about it. Yesterday I experimented with some active turtle, with considerable success. My rolling confidence has taken a huge boost thanks to you and your material. I am enthusiastic about exploring it further. Thanks!
Andrew
I think calling Priit‘s approach *a* scientific method instead of *the* scientific method makes more sense. I think he’s making his predictions predicated on openness to the problem space changing and an assumption of incompleteness. Priit‘s stated objective is to attack the problem domain by finding the things that have the least variables over time (his zeropoints), if I’m interpreting his statements correctly. This would be an attempt to create relatively fixed points in the problem domain that is *by necessity* changing all around those fixed points. It would be like having a mountain range where Mount Upa is a fixed constant that is independent of the variables of the surrounding terrain like vegetation/elevation/rainfall, or strength/speed/athleticism. This doesn’t discount the variables, it only looks for what is stable over time.
Paul
We’ve met during Zen Camp this year and rolled and talked a bit. I was amazed by your approach and concepts so when I came back, I watched lots of your classes on Globetrotters channel and start applying your stuff right away. Basically, implementing your stuff leveled me up a lot in terms of defense and consciousness when playing jiu jitsu, especially Hawking did wonders to my back mount and side control survival skills.
Robert
You‘ve made a massive impact on my game and I’m starting to get the purples and browns in my gym calling my game annoying and my turtle exceptionally tight. I’m very grateful for your blunt Estonian style and no bullshit tested approach. Thanks for your help.
Jackson
If someone told me before BJJ Globetrotters Zen Camp, that I‘d start using turtle in my matches - I would have laughed at them! But after the Jitsvulcan Priit Mihkelson seminar on mount, I realised that it’s part of an overall system. Sessions with Chris Paines really helped too. In this instance I kept my elbows in the right place, he couldn’t get hooks in and I won the match on points - against the guy who eventually took Gold.
Alex
Watched the late arm bar escape videos the other day, went to open mat at a different gym and tried it out. Revolutionary.
Brian
You know you’ve hit the sweet spot, when both your ideological friends and enemies have to buy your stuff. Well played.
Paul
Your ideas are very good and I enjoy your perspective on zhoo-zitsu. I like how you are looking at the traditional positions and questioning them. I enjoy your thought processes and how you are deconstructing positions and movements, (ex) playing the extreme ranges in the closed guard, or not giving up the underhook from the bottom. I realized I always give underhooks. You are definitely making me rethink the way I am approaching zhoo-zitsu and cannot wait to apply more of these ideas
Karlito
You systemise and teach details otherwise only practised by the most elite practictioners, and they do so without thinking or reflecting about it. These details are what elevates them over others rather than anything magical, and by systemising and teaching you are democratising our sport and in the long run evolving it. Thank you for never giving up on this calling that you have and for sharing, we are all the better for it.
Jimmy
I really appreciate your perspective and concepts. I’m a 46 year old purple belt that has trained for about 7 years although I have learned some great techniques I find that the concepts you’ve shared are the why many of them work. I appreciate conceptual learning. Very intelligent and sound concepts. Thank you.
Eric
I was a brand new purple belt when I met Priit the first time. I thought the stuff he taught (turtle power) was great, but it took a while to incorporate into my game. A year later I had a second run in with Priit, and since then, I‘ve become EXTREMELY hard to choke (regardless of belt level), and I have purple and brown belts actively avoiding rolling with me, because my style frustrates them too much. I’ve even come up with an arm bar from positions that I learned from Priit, that the guys in my gym have started calling the "Carl-Bar", as I‘m the only one doing it. Guys don’t seem to get they don‘t really have my back, when they’re on my side with one hook in. It leaves me with 2 arms and my head against their one arm. My game has been heavily influenced by Priit, and I thank him for it.
Carl
Was working on the mount ‘escapes’ you recently uploaded today. Its amazing how everything integrates with all the other movements in the system. It all just flows together. Definitely have got drunk on your kool aid... evidence is there.
Kevin
A few months ago a friend sent me one of your globetrotter turtle guard seminar videos. I initially kinda rolled my eyes thinking “Turtle Guard? Really?” I had never been a fan of the position and typically, completely avoid going to it. This friend is on point with his recommendations though, and he assured me that I needed to watch this, so I figured I’d give it a few minutes out of obligation. Man! That seminar was phenomenal! The conceptual stuff you cover, especially comparing turtle to a reverse open guard was revolutionary for me and completely changed my view on the position. Now I haven’t drilled anything, but I just took the concepts you taught and started playing with them during rolling. Man I felt like I’d been given an unfair advantage with this new knowledge! My guard retention and escapes from bad positions has drastically improved since watching that video. I’ve just been having a ton of fun playing with turtle and frustrating my opponents with it. I just wanted to express my appreciation for you sharing that and let you know it’s had a big impact on my game.
Steven
I’m 52 and started 5 years ago. I constantly come up against younger more flexible guys who are great at technique but I found it would go in one ear and out the other. Then I stumbled over your vids. It wasn’t technique, it was ‘fundamental’ body position with a scientific explanation. I’ve started to apply your ideas and suddenly the ‘younger better guys’ aren’t getting taps because they’re technique or fitness is better than mine. Their ‘game’ has been turned ‘off’. The chokes have gone and for the first time I know why. It’s still very early days but it feels like a different path has been shown to me, one that finally makes sense. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas on the vids.
Steve
I’m pretty sure it’s changed BJJ for me forever, and has given me much more inspiration on the mats then I’ve had in a long while.
We‘ve been watching your seminars on YouTube. Your approach to learning and teaching BJJ has been revolutionary. Especially the introduction of testing and questioning old systems. BJJ has a lot of similarity to the exploration of science. Your approach reminds us of, the philosopher of science, Thomas Kuhn’s paradigm shift. Just wanted to say you are a true Jiu Jitsu scientist and encourage you to continue with your work!
I am sure that you get this type of feedback all the time but I felt that I really had to take some time just to say ‘thanks’. I‘ve been trying out your concepts recently and they honestly feel like I have gained a superpower. I met you a the Globetrotters’ Iceland camp and, after seeing your ‘Babybridge’ concept, I was inspired to buy your Turtle series from BJJ Fanatics and am about to start on your Grilled Chicken instructionals. I’m an older, less agile BJJer: I feel that the focus on defence and escapes has really helped me to slow everything down in my mind and has allowed me to prolong my rolls, conserve energy and tap less! I’d also say that I think the obsession with a plethora of techniques and the lack of easy to follow principles is a flaw in most BJJ instructionals. For those that think a certain way, your teaching just makes sense. So, again, thank you and please keep up the good work.
Simon
Almost everyone see themselves as free thinkers, but in reality we are very much dominated by our need for relations and we are afraid of what we don‘t know. We don’t go against our own "tribe" and we tend to listen to WHO is speaking instead of WHAT they‘re saying. So a lot of people will keep training karate blocks because the man on the picture says so. But it’s quite funny, that they follow the man on the picture because he developed or changed something - and then they stop developing in order to follow him! People who create change will always swim against the current. But it will make you one hell of a swimmer. I have no doubt that "your" principles will take hold and spread like wildfire. It‘s just a matter of exposure. People need to roll with someone who does it well and feel the frustration in order to realize that they’re missing out.
Martin
I think your instruction is some of the best I have ever seen. I am 47 years old and a mid level blue belt. I train at a wrestling heavy gym with a bunch of maulers and your turtle system and the guard stuff has revolutionized the way I think about grappling and it has made my defense infinitely better.
Brian
Your turtle is the most annoying thing someone can do to make your opponents angry. I used it at the tournament this weekend, and I saw the sheer frustration of my opponents.
Your turtle seminar made a huge difference to my game, I’ve pissed off a lot of higher belts thanks to you, cheers for giving me your knowledge!
Karl
Best experience I’ve had to date in my Jiu Jitsu journey was being thought your understanding of basic positions, your defensive approach to on bottom in considered “dangerous positions”. My game has never been the same.
Sam
Attended many of his workshops through the Globetrotters camps, and have always come away with something. He has a way of making complex subjects easy to understand. Really enjoy his instruction
My guys love and hate me for it. Definitely shuts down a lot of attacks and frustrates positional control.
Matt
I’m a white belt. After watching your videos, I was able to go 4 minutes with a 7ft 300lb blue belt from Brazil without tapping. Not even close.
Ben
Super glad this guy is getting the props he deserves! Fantastic coach!
I use the panda and turtle all the time in training! I love it! Haven’t gotten my back taken since playing it. Huge thanks!
Jay
Met Priit at the Globetrotter camp in Tallinn this year. His classes changed my life. Going back in August for more. Thinking about and trying his survival positions (running man <-> plank <-> turtle <-> panda <-> the one I call hammock) as well as the grilled chicken guard made me about three times better at jiu-jitsu in a week. No exaggeration. He’s a genius. Deserves to be as well-known and respected as Danaher. Really humble and nice guy as well. If you have a chance to attend one of his seminars I am sure you will find it worth your time.
Can we stop talking about Priit on here please? It‘s unacceptable to give anyone else I train with the sudden remarkable increases in defense I’ve seen since watching all his stuff. I went from being choked repeatedly at will by our resident clock choke obsessed judoka to having my coach try to solve me like a rubiks cube and fail. For real though, Priit is a genius.
I took his baby bridge class at Globetrotters USA camp a few weeks ago. At first I was a little skeptical, then found myself using it in multiple situations where it really worked (kimura defense, mounted guillotine defense). Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to roll with him, but a few people who did said he was impossible to do anything to.
I was at a seminar of his in Stockholm where he let brown and black belts start in a fully locked bow and arrows, clock chokes, guillotines, head and arms etc from various stages between turtle and having his back taken with absolutely no problems at all. There were a handful of people "calling his bullshit" throughout the seminars (12 hours over two days), and I didn‘t see him struggle once. Rolled with two of his students (blue and purple), and it was strange. The moment you pass, it’s like all pinning options (chambering the hips, underhooks, crossfaces, shoulder pins etc) just disappear and the fuckers just roll back to butterfly. Is it a guard? Not really. His best moves are standing up or granbying. Does it work? Jesus christ.
Firstly the best breakthrough seminar that you should invest in. Like Priit I have been questioning certain structures within the sport but after this seminar things became to look a lot clearer and thankfully with a new direction that seems to have been over looked. I am and still hold John Danaher as one of the greatest teachers of BJJ but I feel the whole BJJ world has not focused on a lost piece of the jigsaw and I am excited and waiting for the complete development of this missing piece and waiting for upcoming instructions from Priit
Ean
Priit works strictly evidence based and is still making adjustments based on his results and the results from other people who give him feedback.
Shout out to Priit - spent a few weekend seminars with him and no one has change Jiu Jitsu more for me than anyone... and I mean that, including multiple time black belt world champs
I‘ve been using your turtle tips gleaned from youtube globetrotter videos with much success lately. I’m happy to go to turtle now and no longer think of it as a temporary transitional (read ‘bad’) position.
Adam
I just yesterday talked to my coach about the new Danaher DVD and told him that the difference between his stuff and yours is not about different techniques to escape, but about a different mindset, that you are representing a system where you aim to not even end up in those positions.
Heiko
I started using Priit Mihkelson’s concepts last week, and it has transformed my jiu-jitsu (as an older white belt). Rolling is more fun, less tiring, and getting submitted now provides hints as to how to improve
Ben
Finally the missing piece of the puzzle for the turtle. Never seen you teaching that before. You’re systems save me every time my guard starts failing (which happens quite often).
Andrej
Things that work tend to make believe in them. But it is still pretty amazing how putting my chin on my shoulder is shutting down stuff. Add underhook protection, and you "become very annoying." But damn sir, couldn‘t you have told me that 3 years ago when I started? It would have saved me a lot of pains in the neck. So yes, put me down as a believer. I proved it to myself (with just lil ol amateur me) and multiple (well 4) black belts that had a lot of trouble in my cloned version of Priit demos showing the bow and arrow defense. And so I have great news to report; it completely worked! For now, I have them puzzled (and hopefully interested) all thanks to my man Priit. Honestly, I’m just so happy to have survived. I would’ve looked like such an idiot if they all just toasted me.
Todd
I incorporate all of this into my game and it throws people off! I love it. Thank you!
Kirstyn
There’s nothing else that unifies bjj successful principles in such a minimalist way so that they can be easily remembered. The pain I could have avoided if I would have started my bjj training on these 2 series. All schools would be way ahead if they started here. Step one in bjj should be find the trenches, from which later on, you can try to pick off the enemy from safety.
Todd
I spent the last six days at a jiu-jitsu training camp in Tallinn, and my mind was blown by meeting a guy called Priit Mihkelson. His approach to jiu-jitsu is completely revolutionary, and I get the feeling he‘s going to be very famous and very successful. It’s a bit like meeting Steve Jobs when he was building computers in a garage before anyone knew who he was 😉 After his classes I had to go and sit down by myself for a bit to think about the content. In a way they kind of broke my mind a little. It was a real Road to Damascus moment. I hope to spend a lot more time with Priit in the future before he gets too famous.
Ben
I’ve been obsessively watching your videos over the past month or so, and annoying the hell out of my training partners by taking your advice on the turtle position. Really looking forward to the camp in Tallinn to iron out some of the details.
Robert
I agree with all of these. Using the running man as a starting position has helped me to develop an unorthodox (but high percentage) way to retain my guard, sweep, kneebar, or enter deep half and sweep from there. I‘ll try to send you a video at some point so you can see the ’clicks‘ for yourself. I genuinely don’t care if someone passes my guard anymore...I can often beat them to the punch, nullify their game and turn the tables. And it all comes back to the running man as the ‘seed’ idea. Thanks for opening my mind, Priit.
Tim
I just want to tell you quickly that I taught 12 guys at a MMA gym the grilled chicken concept and I could hear them whisper "man that‘s good" while I showed it. Also your quote "failing without knowing why is torture " (my favorite) got a lot of "that’s so true"- nodding as a response . Only half a year ago I would have held the class showing random techniques because that‘s how I learned it’s done and at the same time I would have felt insecure. But today was so different!! I learned that addressing problems that even the strongest guy can relate to reaches students on a whole different level. Talking about and understanding concepts is so amazing.
Heike
Yeah, he is an unusual guy, to say the least. That doesn’t make him anything less than an admirable grappler, though. In fact, Priit is one of the most underestimated BJJ black belts worldwide.
BJJ World
Since you pointed me in the right direction, I started to consider every triangle attack as an invitation to stack. With very nice results!
Pieter
Never did so little in 8 hours and learn so much
Jelmer
Your training was amazing The week before i used all the defensive training at a quintet rules tournament I will see you soon! Love training with you and everybody at your gym
Raoul
You’re encouraging us all to step outside the box and question .... ‘why is it like that’... if the answer is ‘is always been that way’.... then maybe it’s time for another look!
Ian
Starting BJJ in my 40‘s isn’t easy and this series will give a chance to reguard on some of my younger teammates.
Dan
I have been using your turtle principals and have been able to regain my guard more effectively.
Brodie
LOVE babybridge and use it nearly every time I roll. Very frustrating for my training partners when I escape nearly everything!
Jason
You deserve those opportunities. Your passion for what you do is undeniable.
Berkeley
I’ve used your concepts to create a lot of complexity. Fit it into my scrambling style.
Dan
I have been experimenting the whole week letting beginners start from turtle and tell them to focus only on that, arms tight and never two shoulders on the mat. All the main postures magically happen by themselves. Great results!
Wim
I‘m 11 months into BJJ. Until I did a Priit class, I’d been working on the unconscious assumption that I needed to keep them off my neck at all costs and that attacking their neck should be my first move. I now understand that the armpit to hip area is more important so I‘m readjusting my assumptions, fortunately my habits are not too deeply engrained. I think it’s counterintuitive, but I’m a believer!
Alex
Just finished the podcast. Really liked your honesty and it was a really good conversation. I hate watching instructionals, but now I guess I have to watch yours. It’s not easy to make a conversation flow when it goes “off topic”. I was expecting a jiu jitsu conversation, which is ok I guess, but he got you to open up and it made it super interesting. I don’t know how many downloads he gets, but my guess is that the episode will further your career even more. I am super happy to be involved in a jiu jitsu community that doesn’t base itself on brown nosing the Professor.
Daggi
Sometimes the best ‘secrets’ are hidden in plain sight. Your mount escape is not getting enough love.Perhaps its because we don‘t have a cute name for it ex: Panda, Grilled beef ( My 2.0 Chicken version. Sorry, Pritt has taught me to be original) You can’t even call it an escape. More like, ‘what the hell just happened, I was just on top of this guy’.
Kevin
My turtle never felt safer and tighter than after playing around with you advices, even though I always loved the turtle. I rolled with a higher belt, pro MMA fighter recently and he actually complimented me on my defense from the turtle recently, that’s in large parts thanks to your advices.
Arthur
I’ve been using your wrestler-based back survival position quite a bit lately (as well as the Hawking and Turtle) and I absolutely love it. I actually get happy/excited now when people take my back. Keep up the awesome work, Priit
Adam
Priit is on the cutting edge of following evidence based learning in BJJ. A pioneering spirit in what has often been driven by dogma as so many of our martial arts. He’s one to follow and promote before the world discovers him.
There is another masterful display of survival and defense of Priit competing in the 88kg Estonian championship in 2013. It’s nice to see the concepts you teach today in action back then. It’s also obvious you had no interest in winning points. You were clearly competing to test your ideas. Glad the ‘evidence’ has been preserved.
Kevin
I was literally just talking about you today as I practiced the techniques from your mount, back defense, and baby bridge videos. Despite being new to this and a bit slow at times in transition between positions, I am already being called annoying to roll with.
Matthew
If you keep sharing this, everyone is going to know how I keep escaping! Ha! Joking aside, I love your instruction/thought processes and it’s helped my training tremendously!
Jason
I had the pleasure of sharing room with Priit while at the USA Globetrotters Camp in Main this spring. We stayed in the same room across from each other and he shared some very unorthodox positions that I thought first to be strange but later tried them back at my club and frustrated the hell out of my training partners.
Steve
I attended the Estonian Summer Camp in 2016 with the mma group. Using the gi seemed silly at the time. A couple of years later I started bjj, then I came across one of your videos on yt and was like "Aha I know that guy". I studied your material and it totally changed my game. I stuck with it ever since. After this pandemic is over, I hope to see you soon in Italy.
Filippo
I like your idea of calling it “close” guard. Ever since I started studying Rob Biernacki’s materials (I think you guys would get along... you both speak scientific language when it comes to BJJ and talk more about concepts and principles), I’ve stopped playing closed guard with my legs locked around my partners’ waists.
Matthew
This is one of the best guard systems I have ever worked. I just got off the mats at my gym and have been doing the drills from the dvd and working it in live rolls and Grilled Chicken is amazing. It moves seamlessly into the “Estonian Defense” (that is what I call the whole turtle system Priit teaches.
Brian
It’s crazy...it used to squish the jelly out of my donut when someone took my back, and now I actually look forward to any survive/escape opportunities I get.... Put me down as an honorary member...
Kevin
I love that you truly follow the scientific method Priit. So few do. You follow the evidence no matter where it leads. A true scientist in a modern day time of science dogma/religious cultists. Pioneering!
Dave
The postures are defensive goldmines, but they are equally offensive.
Kristy
I mean, the amount of free material you have on YOUTUBE, actually free, is incredible. This shows strong character and I am proud and happy to be able to buy your DVDs whenever they come out.
Abdullah
To be honest, you do a very good job any communicating the overall concept. What I do is use the set as a reference. First figure things out myself and come back and review if necessary. If you understand Panda, its easy to get ‘Running man’. If you get that,Hawking makes sense...etc etc. Protect your neck, don‘t let under hooks and don’t go flat. It‘s not complicated and does not require athletic attributes. For me more than individual technique, what I get from the series is a paradigm shift in ’attitude‘ on how to solve any technical issues by myself just by the few basic concepts you cover. It’s my belief that Jiu Jitsu often times creates problems to ‘sell’ the solutions. I feel your work is all about untangling some of the mess and confusion that is creeping into the sport. Seriously think how different BJJ would look if we are taught this series as a basic foundation day #1 entering a dojo? A lot of wasted time and frustration would be saved....for both teacher and student. Last thing, the ‘feedback loop’ and co-operating with your partner to give them ‘success’ etc. I think you could devote a whole DVD to the teaching methology you work with. This has been another really important factor in not wasting time on the mat.
Kevin
I was the first to do it after getting frustrated by you and some Brit who was impossible to hold in side control last camp. But it took an Estonian at our gym (Märt Põllumäe) who went to the last camp in your gym (Estonia camp) to really get it going. Through frustrating everyone. Now coach does it as well. I should have kept quiet.
Vetle
I’ve used your back stuff from those globetrotters videos and annoyed the SHIT out of training partners when they’ve take my back. Failed a few times but also had some successes with no hands choke defense.
Matthew
When I first started learning attacks from the turtle I always wondered why we didn’t also learn how to defend against such attacks, or how to mount counter attacks. Thanks for showing us.
Berkeley
Priit‘s stuff was legitimately completely different from anything I’d ever learned and really filled in a gap I didn’t even know was there. It was also immediately very useful, effective, and easy/simple to implement. Also just plain fun to do, which is maybe its best feature.
I’ve been Scientist my entire life. Your thoughts ( very scientific) on Jiu Jitsu and learning are extremely intriguing to me. I love your model, and your willingness to go against the grain. I’m seeking to emulate it and apply it!
Chris
I have been working on this system for over a year and it has taken my defence to next level and side benefit is it has made my submission game better as well.
I love the hawking. Its my default when my guard gets passed. Makes me feel comfortable. Sometimes to comfortable lol
Frank
I rolled with some non believers today. No submissions were scored.
I really love the stuff you doing. It’s so fundamental but overlooked. My defence improved so much because of your videos.
Noel
I caught your class in Heidelberg this year and enjoyed it so much I’ve been pretty much only watching your videos since.
I don‘t think I’ve tapped to an arm triangle once since your babybridge class in Iceland.
Clayton
Here’s some feedback for you. We had open mat today. I used Stephen Hawking and your turtle. After trying to submit me while in Hawking he became frustrated and tried something else. I then went to turtle. After trying to submit or at least roll me from turtle he said, ‘what the fuck is going on?’ This is frustrating.’ Yes, yes it is. Lol. Thanks for the lessons Priit.
At the end of the seminar I asked to the group if they wanted part 3 in February and it was a 100% yes response from every single person within seconds. We now have a good understanding on how the complete system can work and look forward to hard work trying to put it in action. If you are considering booking a seminar my words of advice is don’t think about it to long or you will miss out.
Ean
I have really tried to take this whole system to heart, since it sort of fits my style. Only been training for little over two years, and the biggest help for me is that I’m simply harder to submit. And that annoys some people, though most will develop new attacks which helps their offensive game, I think.
I had a brown belt yesterday ask me "what are you working on? Just getting passed?" I kept turning away from him and going to panda and running man. He didnt like my reply that it wasnt a pass there was no points. He didnt have side control bc of running man. He got frustrated and told me thanks for the roll, got up and walked away lol.
Derek
My defensive game has become so much better from utilizing your principles about turtle and "giving the back". It also has improved my ability to spot weaknesses while on offense 🙂
MArtin
I want to thank for your commitment and dedication to Jujitsu and the grappling Community . Keep bringing your insightfulness as a grappling tactician and unquestionably a man breaking new ground in the grappling arts. Continue forgorging ahead showing us your evidence and intelligence insights as a real instructor.
I learned this at the Maine camp. I rolled with Priit before his class and his "flopping" around baffled me. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing that nullified every attack. After his class it became more clear. I use it every time I roll it seems. This refresher is great!
I am in love with your concept of building a game based on good defense. I am a 40 year old white belt, but I have been following your videos for a fair bit and trying them out. It has made it a lot easier to try new stuff while rolling because it reduces the chance of getting caught and has helped me build a concept of "safe zones" around which to play my attacks. If anything goes wrong, I pull back into the closest safe zone for an escape. Thanks!! Love your system!
Renjith
These videos are gold. I’ve been working on turning away and turtling for the last 4 months or so, and man... It’s a brand new world!
3 stripe white belt, been trying to implement this system on my own. Based entirely on YouTube vids from your channels and Globetrotters in action. I feel much safer, and survive longer against most everyone but my coaches.
This guy is a frickin genius coach! There‘s a lot of great stuff right here. I’ve gotta search more of his stuff. I think I"m a super fan after just one video.
Marvin
He’s an excellent teacher and smart critic. If you can, meet him!!
Heike
Im a simple man. I see Priit’s new video, I click, I watch, I learn, I try in class and frustrate my rolling partners.
Your scientific approach to jiu-jitsu is a breath of fresh air.
Your turtle game has already done wonders to my BJJ.
Have tried it and it works!! This guy is defying all we thought we knew. Break the rules and step outside what you were taught!
I always use it. It helps so much! Thanks for sharing your system. I would not enjoy BJJ this much if I would not have this save space to always come back. The funny thing is that people think that they are in a superior position and really gas themselves out. But after the storm comes the good time, I am fresh and they are tired
Herbert
Been using this for a year now. As I am a bit older it helps to be able to absorb the ‘enthusiasm’ of my younger opponents or of higher belts. Worst case scenario Hawking, the running man onto turtle, then stand-up or wrestle with what you can get 2 hands on. Great fun! But the very best effect is this... I love showing the fresh white belts the ropes in rolling. And if they listen, this keeps them from getting smashed, builds timing and healthy automatisms from the start and makes them progress ridiculously fast. A great service to the sport on all levels!
Christian
I‘m just a no stripe white belt, started in February, but using your concepts, my game has taken a quantum leap. It is amazing how much fun I’m having frustrating blue and purple belts with my turtle, Panda, Running man etc. From getting tapped 5 times in ten minutes, many rolls now I‘m not getting tapped at all. I’ve stopped giving up free underhooks, and I can‘t believe how much more my top game has come along, knowing how to attack positions better... from a better understanding on how to defend. The fact that I’m 1/4 Estonian might also factor in as well, ha. You are a visionary. Thank you.
David
Of all of the things that I took from Heidelberg, the most game-changing was yours and Chris’ classes. This was my introduction to you and your jiu-jitsu. I came back and watched all of your videos and purchased your DVDs. As a Blue Belt, I started practicing the positions while rolling with White Belts and other Blue Belts. I am now successfully defending against Purple and on occasion Brown Belts. Because of your teaching, I have very rarely been put in positions where I have to resort to traditional escapes. If I am lucky enough to be able to attend another Globetrotter camp, it will be with the hope that you will be conducting classes there. Always looking forward to more material from you. Thank you for everything.
I can’t stop watching this... Thank you Priit for your generosity and passion.
I love the scientific method and progressive resistance drills training & development in self defense and combat sports. I totally agree with you on that. Great material I appreciate your system. Thank you for your contributions.
This man is a true scientist
2 months later I‘m getting props on my turtle from the higher belts in class.. can’t wait for Tallinn camp this May. Still so much to learn from Priit and so much I can make better with my turtle. I want to be super dangerous from the position.
Incredible! He’s one of the best when it comes to breaking down positional mechanics.
Annoys the hell out of the opponent.
If you want to be convinced by quick results, look into his back defense.
I like his approach.. there is still a ton of flaws in the way we, collectively, teach BJJ. I think we are in the midst of an enlightenment era (I know that sounds cheesy) where we are really boiling things down collectively to their essence. It‘s always cool to see instructors who are clearly massively invested into to the pedagogy of BJJ. There are a lot of competitors and coaches who share "techniques" but I really like when instructionals go deeper and tap into the root concepts. Among other things he tends to take the approach that much of what is taught in BJJ is not taught in an optimal way. Like the sequences we teach (knee slice to far side arm bar) don’t really make sense, because they don‘t take into account the highly probably reactions off our knee slice (e.g a shrimp). So instead of teaching a knee slice to a far side armbar, he would teach a knee slice, to a north/south transition, to something else, which takes into account the bottom player’s defensive efforts. If that makes sense.
The little bit of work i did with priit had a huge impact on my game. By focusing on my defense im not only getting subbed way less, but im able to get back to a guard or wrestle up to standing far better than i was previously. it also helps me in being offensive, because im comfortable with my defense.
I believe that he was exposed to some good back attacks, he is not limiting himself to his own gym, he pressure tests his systems wherever he goes, and he is travelling a lot.
In Priit’s words "Bottom mount is a bad position but people still train how to escape from there" I agree that competence in defense is really important.
When I roll with someone who I know is going to run through me I like to use that round and work on just what Pritt teaches. The boxing thing was weird at first but when you start doing it things start to make sense. I’m sitting turtle the boxing style defense really starts to click. He has improved my defense tremendously. Which let’s me just go for it offensively more than I used to.
It just works because it‘s mechanically sound and stripped of all those fancy stuff that’s most probably low percentage even for top competitors.
Priit‘s defensive postures have completely changed my defence. Absolutely love his method and I can’t wait to get to his seminars.
Priit has turned my game around enormously. Phenomenal. But you have to be willing to learn and give it time.
If you look for someone demistifying many jiu jitsu preconceptions and making your defense rock solid - just give his stuff a try, it will work even if you’re as stubborn in doing stupid things as I am.
I got to roll with Pritt once. He purposely went from panda to turtle over and over (he was just playing) and it was like trying to catch a ghost
Priit is amazing but God I hate rolling with people that try to play this style LOL
If I‘m in danger it’s my go-to and people get super annoyed as they find it hard to get anything going. You time your escape and it’s back to open guard. Works really well.
I think Priit is the Estonian Danaher. Seriously his stuff is game changing.
Met Priit at the Globetrotter camp in Tallinn this year. His classes changed my life. Going back in August for more.
Attended many of his workshops through the Globetrotters camps, and have always come away with something. He has a way of making complex subjects easy to understand. Really enjoy his instruction
All the classes he taught in Iceland were really amazing and left me kinda scratching my head.
Just adopting the turtle posture he teaches has significantly reduced the amount of times my back has been taken, guillotines have been snatched or armbars have been entered on me from that position. I’m a believer so far.
Grilled Chicken leveled up my guard retention like crazy. In the span of a week I feel like I made years of improvement on my guard. One of the top instructionals I’ve ever seen.
I love that moment when someone tries the various turtle guard entries (hook, seat belt etc...), none of them work, and then there is that brief pause where they are thinking "what the hell do I do."
He‘s the first person I’ve ever seen actually do a great job of illustrating how to use the basic defensive principles we hear about from the start and put them into a system of positions that we can survive in very well but also work out of to go on the offensive, so it all flows together. All he does is do a better job of illustrating the fundamentals of defensive posture, it shouldn‘t be anything too special, but there’s a reason it is.
I‘ve been trying the turtle stuff out in training for a month or two and it has frustrated some training partners for long enough for me to have time to find the opportunity to switch to doing something else more productive. It has also made me realise how bad other some people are in that position, and that’s probably because most people don’t practice it, which is what Priit notes
His back defense and active turtle has lowered the amount of times I’ve been submitted. Also his baby bridge video. I think his explanation of how bjj needs to be trained more like a sport rather than a martial art makes a lot of sense. It aligns with what Jon Thomas and Keenan have been saying about drilling versus specific training.
I met him at the BJJ Globetrotter camp in Estonia this year, and since then have been really into his defensive positions. The thing is, they all complement each other, and moving from one to another while your opponent tries to figure out why they can’t submit you is a great feeling.
I’m a huge fan. His defensive positions (turtle, sitting turtle, side turtle, quarter turtle) have completely changed my game and made sparring much more fun.
Priit‘s is more conceptual and similar to the newer school guards like Keenan and the Miyaos play. Danaher’s is somewhat conceptual and alot of responses to specific scenarios. Danaher‘s has more depth as all of his videos do, but does not address the same type of guard Priit is showing. Most of Priit’s stuff is cutting edge and Danaher’s is battle tested. Both are good.
It’s a minimalist, technical approach that works extremely well for the less athletic.
Just rolled with Priit at camp. He did all those things to me and was super annoying, forced me to abandon closed guard so I could just frame and keep him away from noggin. Really looking forward to rolling with him more and taking his classes.
Priit is such an awesome instructor! Love his techniques, concepts, and overall approach to grappling. Big fan with more notes from his Globetrotter seminars than I‘d care to publicly admit. It’s really helped provide me a different perspective to the game.
I’ve worked on Priit‘s stuff for 2+ years (with the man himself) and honestly, it‘s baffling to me how overlooked turtle is in the jiu jitsu world. So many times both in competition and against good guys in training that I’ve almost had my guard passed then safely been able to go to turtle and then back to guard. I don’t understand why anybody wouldn’t want to invest time in developing that skill.
A brown belt at my gym has gone to multiple Priit seminars and is very much diving into his style of playing defense, and getting any kind of offense working against him has gotten SO MUCH harder in the last year or so. It used to be that if I managed to pass his guard that was half the battle won, but now there is just an entire new world of suck involved in getting any kind of grip or hook in on him.
Partners really struggled to attack and this allowed time and space to turtle and re-guard. I’ve always liked Telles’ turtle game, but couldn’t find any comprehensive system on how to implement it. I watched Priit’s seminar and now I have that base.
After watching alot of Priit videos and trying to decide if he‘s full of shit or an innovator I decided to try some of what he taught in sparring. Pretty confident he’s an innovator.
Because his stuff is subtle and goes against some jiu jitsu dogma (and because he talks too much for some people), I think lots of people are sleeping on Priit‘s content. But everything I’ve implemented thus far has made notable differences in my defense.
My club just brought Priit down for a series of seminars over the weekend. It was my first BJJ seminar and couldn’t be happier with how it went, Priit is a great coach and really left an impression on me.
