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The Best BJJ Instructionals
21 systems worth your money, ranked after 200+ hours of watching and a few thousand rounds of testing.
- 1
Guard Retention AnthologyLachlan Giles - 2
Power RideCraig Jones - 3
Attacking the LegsGordon Ryan
Reviews. The instructional rankings.
Danaher, Craig Jones, Gordon Ryan, Lachlan Giles and more. Every guide ranked by someone who watched the material and tested it on the mat.
Browse the guides → No. 2The BJJ Map. Know what to learn first.
Every technique in jiu-jitsu, which ones actually matter, and what to learn first. My learning guide, fully updated. Coming soon.
See what’s coming → No. 3Free Tools. Study smarter, free.
The gi size calculator is live now. The BJJ Skill Tracker and Body Match are launching this week.
Check out the tools →Most popular guides
Start with the big ranking →Best BJJ Instructionals
The flagship: 21 systems ranked
The master list. Every instructional I would actually recommend, ranked overall and by situation, with the honest weaknesses included.
Craig Jones Instructionals
26 instructionals ranked and reviewed
Complete rankings of every Craig Jones instructional, from his leg lock systems to body lock passing.
John Danaher Guide
40 instructionals ranked and reviewed
The internet’s most thorough Danaher guide. Every series from Enter the System to New Wave, rated and compared.
Gordon Ryan Instructionals
31 instructionals ranked and reviewed
Every Gordon Ryan instructional reviewed, from Systematically Attacking the Guard to his passing and pin series.
Best for Beginners
Top picks for white belts
Not sure where to start? These are the instructionals I recommend to every white belt, with specific picks for each position.
BJJ Gi Size Guide
Interactive calculator for 13 brands
Find your perfect gi size with our interactive calculator covering 13 brands, including size adjustments for body type.
Promotion day · July 2024
Who’s behind this?
The reviewer who can’t outgrind anyone, so he out-studies them.
I’m Max. Black belt since July 2024, two young kids, a full-time job, and still on the mats three times a week.
A busted elbow means I can’t outgrind anyone, so I out-study them instead: I used to teach at a university, where judging teaching quality was literally my job.
That’s what I do with every instructional I review. And after a quiet stretch, the reviews are coming back on a schedule.
Max
The BJJ Map: every technique, what actually matters, what to learn first.
There are thousands of techniques in jiu-jitsu and nobody tells you which handful deserve your limited mat time. The BJJ Map does. Six stages, from surviving bad positions to finishing the fight, and every review on this site tells you which stage it belongs to.
See what’s inside →Free study tools
All tools →Built for grapplers who’d rather study smart than grind more. All free.
Gi Size Calculator
Enter your height and weight, get a size recommendation for 13 gi brands, including adjustments if you’re tall and skinny or short and stocky. The most used tool on this site by far.
Find your gi size →Gi Knowledge Quiz
Ten questions on gi fabrics, weaves, and fit. Most people miss at least three. Useful before you spend 150 dollars on a gi based on the product photo.
Take the quiz →BJJ Skill Tracker
Tick off every technique you can actually hit in sparring and watch the gaps in your game appear. Based on the same technique inventory as The BJJ Map.
See the preview →
Body Match
Which pro grappler matches your build? Enter your height, weight, and wingspan and steal your game from athletes with your proportions, not from a 100kg giant if you’re 70kg.
See the preview →
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