A research-backed ranking of the best 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu instructionals on BJJ Fanatics, with community sentiment, who they fit, and smart alternatives.
Rubber Guard: The Meathook
Master the meathook sequence to make rubber guard reliable without extreme flexibility.
Truck The World
Build a modern truck system that feeds the back and finishes without scrambles.
The Ultimate Rubber Guard
Learn Eddie Bravo's latest rubber guard and lockdown roadmap, explained by the inventor.
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🥋 #1 Rubber Guard: The Meathook by Brandon McCaghren
Instructor: Brandon McCaghren
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 4 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Meathook simplifies rubber guard.
Techniques: Rubber Guard, Meathook, Omoplata, Triangle, Mission Control
- The Ultimate Rubber Guard – Learn the entire system from its creator.
- The Ultimate Path to the Rubber Guard – Solo and partner drills to build mobility and timing.
- Art & Science of Locking the Shoulder From Rubber Guard – Shoulder-isolating finishes from 10th Planet pioneer.
You learn how to set, keep, and exploit the meathook to attack armbars, triangles, and omoplatas. The emphasis is on posture breaks, safe hip angles, and repeatable grips that work under pressure. You will not get a random move-dump or MMA-focused tangents; it stays on rubber guard mechanics for grapplers.
✅ Pros
- Tight, linear system that builds reliable rubber guard reactions fast.
- Explains safety and angles that protect your knees and hips.
- Pairs well with free drills so you can start today.
⚠️ Cons
- Not a full closed guard encyclopedia; scope stays narrow.
- Requires some hip mobility to access later chains.
- Gi players may need to adapt grips and entries.
💡 I rate this highest because it gives you a focused rubber guard path you can actually hit in sparring without being a contortionist. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Truck The World by Geo Martinez
Instructor: Geo Martinez
Style: System Based, Drill Heavy
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 44 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Truck feeds the back efficiently.
Techniques: Truck, Back Takes, Crab Ride, Leg Attacks
- Getting to the 10th Planet - Broader overview of rubber guard, lockdown, truck, and spider web.
- The 10th Planet Dead Orchard and Truck Finishes - Endgame-focused finishes after entering the truck.
You learn clean truck entries from common guards and turtle, how to maintain control, and when to convert to back takes. The course includes crab ride-style transitions and high-percentage slicers. You will not get a general back system; this is a truck-first framework that complements a strong back game.
✅ Pros
- Clear, stepwise conversions from truck to back without wrestling scrambles.
- Great for learners who need structured back exposure drills.
- Applies broadly to no-gi tournaments with EBI-style rules.
⚠️ Cons
- Not a full back control finishing system.
- Terminology can feel unique and confusing at first.
- Less relevant if your style is takedown-to-ride wrestling.
💡 I like this for teaching you to create reliable back exposure even when classic back takes stall out. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 The Ultimate Rubber Guard by Eddie Bravo
Instructor: Eddie Bravo
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 13 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: The source on rubber guard.
Techniques: Rubber Guard, Mission Control, Lockdown, Meathook
- Rubber Guard: The Meathook - More concise, faster to implement for sparring.
- Rubber Guard: Concepts From Half Guard - Rubber guard ideas that start from half guard.
You get the canonical rubber guard story, the key checkpoints, and how lockdown ties the bottom game together. Expect long conceptual segments alongside technique chapters. You will not find a quick-start meathook-only plan; use this when you want full-context understanding.
✅ Pros
- Most authoritative look at rubber guard and its evolution.
- Explains naming and history that clarify 10th Planet lingo.
- Connects half guard lockdown to classic rubber guard attacks.
⚠️ Cons
- Pricier than most BJJ Fanatics titles.
- Some segments feel long or off-topic to pragmatists.
- Beginners may prefer a tighter starter system first.
💡 I use this to understand the rationale and lineage behind techniques so I can teach them precisely. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 10th Planet Top Game No Gi Back Takes by PJ Barch
Instructor: PJ Barch
Style: System Based, Drill Heavy
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 24 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Passing should constantly expose backs.
Techniques: Back Takes, Leg Drag, T Kimura, Headquarters
- Truck The World - Alternate path to back exposure from the truck.
- Getting to the 10th Planet - Intro survey of truck, rubber guard, lockdown, spider web.
You learn how headquarters leads to pinning passes that expose the back. T-kimura chains and leg-drag drills make the exposure repeatable under pressure. You will not get a finishing catalog; combine this with your rear-naked and short choke study.
✅ Pros
- Realistic drills that build automatic back exposure habits.
- Bridges passing and submissions through T-kimura transitions.
- Competition-proven sequences that scale to advanced rooms.
⚠️ Cons
- Drill volume is high; needs mat time to absorb.
- Less lapel-specific guidance for gi specialists.
- Assumes basic passing fundamentals are in place.
💡 I like how this turns every pass into a back-take attempt so you always threaten the finish. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 The Boogeyman Darce by Richie Martinez
Instructor: Richie Martinez
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 28 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Chain neckties to raise finish rate.
Techniques: Darce, Japanese Necktie, Peruvian Necktie, Front Headlock
- Arm Bars, Spider Webs and EBI Overtime Concepts - Spider web control for overtime and armbars.
- Counterculture: Counters & Submissions - Alternative 10P-flavored counter offense.
You learn the darce and its necktie partners from passes, escapes, and 50/50-style exchanges. The structure pushes you toward chaining finishes rather than one-shot attempts. You will not get a front headlock encyclopedia; it is a tight finishing package.
✅ Pros
- Compact system that integrates three chokes seamlessly.
- Entries come from realistic pass and escape moments.
- Easy to bolt onto existing top games.
⚠️ Cons
- Less depth on positional head control maintenance.
- Assumes basic front headlock mechanics.
- Not optimized for gi grip sequences.
💡 I like this as a plug-in that immediately boosts finishing from top and scrambles. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 The 10th Planet Half Guard by Zach Maslany
Instructor: Zach Maslany
Style: System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 53 hours and 32 minutes
Volumes: 2
Biggest takeaway: Lockdown must be used responsibly.
Techniques: Lockdown, Electric Chair, Octopus Guard, Buggy Choke
- Getting to the 10th Planet - Great companion for truck and spider web intros.
You learn when lockdown helps and when to transition out. Attacks and recoveries keep you safe while building offense. You will not get old-school knee-shield patterns; this is a 10th Planet-flavored half guard.
✅ Pros
- Clear instruction on when and how to use lockdown safely.
- Connects to rubber guard and truck-style transitions.
- Good for submission-only rule sets.
⚠️ Cons
- Lockdown misuse can cause partner injuries.
- Less classic knee-shield detail than traditional sets.
- Two volumes may feel brief to encyclopedic learners.
💡 I appreciate the safety and timing cues around lockdown that many sets skip. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 The 10th Planet Dead Orchard and Truck Finishes by Jeremiah Vance
Instructor: Jeremiah Vance
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Trap both arms, then finish.
Techniques: Dead Orchard, Armbar, Truck, Spider Web
- The Ultimate Path to the Rubber Guard - Mobility and drilling to access DO positions reliably.
- Truck The World - Alternate route to back and slicer finishes.
You learn how to triangle the arms for tight armbars and how to link truck into finishes. The material assumes you can already get to closed guard or truck. You will not get basic closed guard posture-breaking fundamentals; this is conversion and finishing.
✅ Pros
- Sharp focus on finishing mechanics once position is secured.
- Complements rubber guard and truck-first games.
- Rare content for a niche but powerful position.
⚠️ Cons
- Attribute dependence can limit universal adoption.
- Not a general closed guard curriculum.
- Requires partners willing to learn DO interactions.
💡 I like it as a specialist finisher pack for people who already flirt with dead orchard. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 GEO: Bear Trap by Geo Martinez
Instructor: Geo Martinez
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 32 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Leg isolation forces back turns.
Techniques: Bear Trap, Back Exposure, Leg Isolation, Back Takes
- Truck The World - Cheaper, broader truck-to-back system.
- 10th Planet Top Game No Gi Back Takes - Systematic pass-to-back plan with drills.
You get entries, control cues, and follow-ups to the back from bear trap. The material is niche but powerful when combined with truck and leg-ride chains. You will not get a general passing or back-control curriculum; it is a specialist module.
✅ Pros
- Clear, focused approach to a unique 10P control.
- Strong synergy with truck and crab-ride transitions.
- Helpful for passers who want forced back exposure.
⚠️ Cons
- Higher price than most comparable titles.
- Niche position with steeper learning curve.
- Naming can confuse if you are new to 10P terms.
💡 I would only add this after you already run truck or pass-to-back chains consistently. Recommendation: Skip.
How to choose your first 10th Planet instructional
Start with a system that solves a real problem you face weekly. If your closed guard stalls, pick a rubber guard starter like Meathook. If you struggle to finish after passing, pick a back-exposure roadmap like PJ Barch or the truck system. Prefer shorter, focused courses over encyclopedias so you can drill one decision tree. Add specialist finishers like dead orchard or bear trap only after your base pathway produces regular entries.
Is lockdown safe for my knees and my partners?
Used correctly, lockdown is safe, but poor escapes and forward pressure can damage knees. Communicate with partners, avoid forcing knee-slice pressure inside lockdown, and release if you feel rotation. Learn safe escapes and timing alongside your lockdown attacks. If a partner reports discomfort, switch to knee shield or underhook half; the goal is training longevity, not one sweep.
Truck vs straight back takes: which should I learn first?
If you already hit classic seatbelt back takes, the truck gives you another door to the back and slicers when turtle stalls. If your wrestling rides are limited, start with a pass-to-back plan (e.g., Barch). If you like leg-ride control and crab-ride ideas, the truck is a natural first choice. Both complement each other; the key is reliable exposure and conversion.
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