White Lotus Jiu Jitsu

We continued working from the turtle position last night, this time shifting our focus to being offensive from turtle.

We worked through a couple of different scenarios, including using a two-on-one to circle around and face our opponent by wrestling up, as well as the Fat Man Roll to turn the position into an opportunity to attack.

Turtle doesn’t have to mean simply surviving. Find your attachments, create movement, and look for ways to turn defense into offense.

Last night we drilled turtle

We started with what a strong turtle position actually looks like: elbows home and tight to your sides, forehead to the floor, and hands ready to work. Think of your hands as piranhas. Always looking for something to grab, disrupt, and attack.

Then we flipped the script and worked on being offensive from turtle. We focused on securing an attachment, getting our two-on-one grip, and using that connection to start creating opportunities instead of just hanging on and waiting.

Turtle doesn’t have to be a place where you’re just surviving. Build a solid shell, then start hunting for the opening.

This week, we went back to the basics and worked on one of the most important movements in jiu-jitsu: sh*****ng.

It’s easy to overlook the fundamentals when you’re excited to learn the next technique, but good movement is what makes everything else work.

We focused on keeping our feet connected to the ground or our partner, using that connection to create space, and making our shrimp actually move us where we want to go.

Simple movement, but there’s a lot packed into it. The goal is to make these basics feel automatic so we can rely on them when things get chaotic.

*****ng

This weekend, White Lotus ventured out to Devil’s Lake.

We hiked, swam, spent time hanging out at the beach, ate ice cream, and somehow turned the car rides into full-blown karaoke sessions.

It was really nice getting everyone outside of the gym for a weekend and getting some fresh air. We spend so much time together on the mats that it was fun to hang out, relax, and spend time together without anyone trying to choke each other.

We kept working our crucifix game this week and focused on two key details that make the position work:

🔒 Don’t let them get their elbows home.
Once their elbows start escaping back toward their body, you lose a lot of your control. Keep your attachments tight and make sure those arms stay where you want them.

🧱 Break their posture.
The crucifix gets much stronger when their posture is already compromised. Don’t just chase the position. Use your wedges, connections, and pressure to break their structure first, then lock everything in.

Last night we worked through the crucifix, starting from a front headlock position with the arm controlling the back of the head.

We looked at how, when they try to roll, we can follow the roll and turn it into a crucifix rather than losing the position.

From there, we built the position by:

🔸 Using our posture to break theirs down and create a “pillow” for their head
🔸 Wedge with the legs, then create another wedge with the arms
🔸 Establishing the Kimura grip
🔸 Keeping our attachments and bringing our elbows home
🔸 Using our feet and hips to follow their movement
🔸 And finally, transitioning from the crucifix to the back

The goal was to stay connected through every transition. Don’t chase the position. Keep your attachments, follow their movement, and let the wedges do the work.

We’re excited to announce that White Lotus Jiu Jitsu will be a participating organization at PULSE: A Health & Wellness Fest for All!

Join us on Saturday, August 29, from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM at Henry Maier Festival Park on the Summerfest grounds.

This free event will feature:

• 50+ fitness classes and experiences
• 75+ health and wellness organizations
• Cooking demonstrations
• And more!

Stop by the White Lotus Jiu Jitsu booth to meet our community and learn how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can build confidence, resilience, mobility, and overall well-being.

Register for free at:
[https://www.milwaukeeworldfestival.com/pulse/registration]

Last night’s class was the perfect way to spend a summer evening. We couldn’t have asked for better weather.

Josh kicked things off by teaching arm-in guillotines, then we got some great rounds of rolling in before trading the mats for picnic tables and lounge chairs. There was plenty of good food, even better company, and it was so nice to slow down and spend time together outside of training.

A huge thank you to everyone who brought a dish to share, and a special shoutout to Ellie for bringing his guitar and providing the soundtrack to the evening.

These nights are a great reminder that the best part of our gym isn’t just the jiu jitsu. It’s the people who make it feel like home.

Half guard has been the focus in advanced class, with a simple idea driving everything: treat it like a two-on-one battle.

From there we worked on the John Wayne sweep, using our feet as extra hands to create control, off-balance our partner.

We finished Tuesdays class up by exploring a variety of kneebar entries and transitions, eventually working our way to the belly-down dog bar.

Last night we kept building on the idea of owning the space between your opponent’s elbow and hip. Once you create that connection, don’t rush past it. Settle in, maintain the attachment, and let it do the work for you.

This time we used a Kimura grip, then threw the leg over to strengthen the attachment before working toward the finish. Strong control makes submissions feel a lot less like a battle of strength and a lot more like a matter of patience and positioning.

It’s always fun to watch everyone start connecting these pieces and seeing how much easier the finish becomes when the attachment comes first.