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The Pillars of Defense: Turtle & Front Headlock Escapes by Gordon Ryan — ByteByU

The Pillars of Defense: Turtle & Front Headlock Escapes by Gordon Ryan

Survive and recover from turtle and front headlock positions like a pro.

This is your chance to learn from 3-Time ADCC Champion Gordon Ryan as he shares all his secrets around escaping turtle and front headlocks
Gordon is one of the most detailed and thorough teachers in grappling, with incredible systematic attention to detail.
Use peak outs, 4 points, sitting to half guard, and more to get away from front headlocks.
Roll to guard and escape from turtle with Gordon’s tips for staying safe and preventing hooks so you can get away from their control while still staying safe from submission threats.
These are the same systems that Gordon uses to build his defensive skills as a foundation for his entire game.
Watch as Gordon rolls in the gym from these same positions and then breaks down the footage to explain the techniques in action.

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Course Content

Volume 1

10 Lessons

Introduction

0:00 - 3:15

Wrestling VS Jiu Jitsu

3:15 - 9:13

Overview

9:13 - 12:31

Front Headlock (Opponent's Hand Positions)

12:31 - 17:57

Opponent's Goals

17:57 - 22:58

Our Goals

22:58 - 28:06

Front Headlock - Locked Hands Hand Placement

28:06 - 33:04

Conservative Guillotine and Seated Kata Gatame Defense

33:04 - 41:04

Conservative Anaconda Defense

41:04 - 45:47

Conservative Darce Defense

45:47 +

Volume 2

9 Lessons

Intro To Defending Go-Behinds

0:00 - 5:38

Partner Circles With No Wedges - Follow Them

5:38 - 6:55

No Wedges Access Legs

6:55 - 11:40

No Wedges Sit to Guard

11:40 - 14:00

No Wedges Shoulder Roll

14:00 - 16:27

Defending a Straight Knee Block

16:27 - 21:58

Defending a Cross Knee Block

21:58 - 27:57

Defending Arm Drags

27:57 - 37:35

Defending Misdirectional Throw-Bys

37:35 +

Volume 3

15 Lessons

Sitting To Half Guard

0:00 - 4:02

Clearing Front Headlock With a 2 on 1

4:02 - 6:31

Clearing Front Headlock with Elbow Post

6:31 - 11:06

Arm Dragging From Attempted Anaconda

11:06 - 13:28

Building to a 4 Point

13:28 - 16:31

Ude Gaeshi

16:31 - 21:14

Comparing Locked VS Unlocked Hands in Front Headlock

21:14 - 23:30

Closing Out Front Headlock

23:30 - 26:50

Intro to Front Chest Lock

26:50 - 31:50

Basic Peak Out

31:50 - 37:26

Misdirectional Peak Out

37:26 - 40:24

Misdirectional Peak Out Sit to Half Guard

40:24 - 43:20

4 Point Peak Out

43:20 - 49:08

Comparing Chest Lock and Double Triceps

49:08 - 51:48

Closing Out Front Headlock Variations

51:48 +

Volume 4

23 Lessons

Intro to Escaping Turtle Position

0:00 - 2:23

Overview

2:23 - 6:28

Open VS Closed Turtle

6:28 - 11:09

Opponent's Goals

11:09 - 15:43

Our Goals

15:43 - 18:19

Technical Rule VS Tactical Rules

18:19 - 21:57

Hand Positions

21:57 - 27:04

Leg Positions

27:04 - 32:25

Kuzushi and Misdirection

32:25 - 34:50

Shoulder Roll VS Granby

34:50 - 37:04

When Not To Near Side Shoulder Roll

37:04 - 43:15

When To Near Side Shoulder Roll

43:15 - 55:14

Near Side Shoulder Roll Enter Triangle

55:14 - 59:01

Near Side Shoulder Roll Enter The Legs (Naive Opponent)

59:01 - 1:06:46

Near Side Shoulder Roll (Enter the Legs)

1:06:46 - 1:11:28

Escaping When Opponent Follows Shoulder Roll

1:11:28 - 1:18:28

Using Your Opponent's Claw to be Offensive

1:18:28 - 1:24:20

Law of the Locked Hands

1:24:20 - 1:28:23

2 on 1 Face Your Opponent

1:28:23 - 1:34:36

When to Not Far Side Shoulder Roll

1:34:36 - 1:39:47

When to Far Side Shoulder Roll

1:39:47 - 1:50:48

Escaping After Roll Through

1:50:48 - 2:00:33

Sitting to Half Guard

2:00:33 - 2:04:11

Closing Out Shoulder Rolls

2:04:11 +

Volume 5

17 Lessons

Intro to Head First Stand-Ups

0:00 - 4:08

Referee VS Tripod

4:08 - 15:24

Inside Leg VS Outside Leg

15:24 - 22:21

Inside Leg Tripod Standup (Mechanics)

22:21 - 25:47

Outside Leg Tripod Standup (Mechanics)

25:47 - 28:37

Inside Leg Referee Standup (Mechanics)

28:37 - 31:50

Outside Leg Referee Standup (Mechanics)

31:50 - 33:19

Technical VS Tactical

33:19 - 37:25

When to Not Use Head First Standups

37:25 - 43:59

When to Use Head First Standups

43:59 - 48:19

Building to a 4 Point

48:19 - 55:19

When Not to 4 Point

55:19 - 57:57

When to 4 Point

57:57 - 59:20

4 Point VS Back Head and Arm

59:20 - 1:03:07

Options From 4 Point

1:03:07 - 1:06:55

Closing Out Standing Escapes

1:06:55 - 1:09:00

Connecting the Dots

1:09:00 +

Volume 6

11 Lessons

Intro to Defending a Hook From Turtle

0:00 - 4:07

The Importance of Diagonal Control

4:07 - 6:44

Falling to a Hip to Avoid Diagonal Control

6:44 - 11:45

When Not To 4 Point Out

11:45 - 14:52

When to 4 Point out

14:52 - 21:05

Closing Out One Hook Escapes

21:05 - 23:16

Intro To Crucifix

23:16 - 27:53

Escaping a Front Leg Trap

27:53 - 35:47

Far Side Shoulder Roll VS Crucifix

35:47 - 39:34

Basic Crucifix Escape Options

39:34 - 47:05

Outro

47:05 +

Volume 7

5 Lessons

Rolling Reubin

0:00 - 5:09

Rolling Christos

5:09 - 9:56

Rolling Alex

9:56 - 14:57

Rolling Abdul

14:57 - 19:51

Rolling Placido

19:51 +

Volume 8

5 Lessons

Rolling Commentary Reubin

0:00 - 14:24

Rolling Commentary Christos

14:24 - 25:37

Rolling Commentary Alex

25:37 - 35:05

Rolling Commentary Abdul

35:05 - 44:51

Rolling Commentary Placido

44:51 +

????️ The Pillars of Defense: Turtle & Front Headlock Escapes

A robust defense system that empowers you to escape and reverse the most challenging positions—turtle and front headlock—through structure, timing, and proactive movement.

???? Course Overview

Gordon Ryan delivers a high-level escape curriculum that transforms two dangerous positions—turtle and front headlock—into opportunities for reversing control. This system teaches how to stabilize structure, recognize opponent intentions, and create space, enabling powerful counter-takes and reacceptance into offensive positions under real resistance.

???? What You’ll Learn

???? Turtle Position Escapes
Structural principles for preventing headlocks and avoiding flattening from turtle
Posture resets and frame insertion to trigger transitions out of turtle
High-percentage drills to roll escape into guard, single-leg takedown, or stand-up
Counter-chain methods: from turtle exit into back take or top control
???? Front Headlock Escape Tactics
Grip strategies and posture breaks to neutralize the front headlock
Step-by-step escapes: sit-out, grind-out, and shoulder roll under pressure
Transitional flow options into front headlock counter-attacks: guillotine, snap-down, takedown entries
???? Flow Drills & Positional Reaction
Partner drills pairing turtle or front headlock with next-phase options
Live-time drills that build escape instinct and situational awareness
Coach-guided triggers to help embed escape response under pressure

???? Who This Course Is For

Ideal for grapplers who:

Want to eliminate vulnerability when caught in turtle or front headlock
Prefer structured, chainable escapes instead of one-off techniques
Train in both gi and no-gi and need versatility under grip pressure
Aim to reverse disadvantage into offensive control seamlessly

✅ Key Benefits

Defense becomes offense
Rather than recovering, you reverse and reestablish control.
Drillable escape flow
Designed for position-into-escape partner progressions.
Proven under resistance
Crafted for effectiveness with real partner pressure.
Multi-Position Program
Two critical positions covered in one complete defensive package.