We ranked the strongest BJJ Fanatics 50/50 instructionals by community consensus, clarity of system, applicability for gi or no gi, and production quality.
Leg Lock Anthology: 50/50
A complete 50 50 leg lock blueprint with clear entries, control, and finishes.
Dynamic No Gi 50/50
A modern 50 50 roadmap that balances sharp offense with smart defense.
Modern 50/50 Fundamentals: Guard
A structured bottom 50 50 game with gi-friendly controls and clear reactions.
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🥋 #1 Leg Lock Anthology: 50/50 by Lachlan Giles
Instructor: Lachlan Giles
Style: System Based, Footage Breakdown
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Control beats speed
Techniques: Heel Hook, Backside 50/50, K Guard Entries
- No Gi Open Guard Volume 3: RDLR & Leg Entanglements – Pairs well by covering entries that funnel into 50 50.
- Understanding The K-Guard – Backside 50 50 links from K guard are emphasized.
- Open Guard Compendium: Leg Entanglements & Crab Ride – Includes 50 50 foot locks and escapes as modules.
You learn a full 50 50 leg lock system with clear sequences. You will see when to switch to outside sankaku and how to follow the heel. You will not get a short highlight reel.
✅ Pros
- System connects entries to finishes with decision points.
- Narrated rolling shows problem solving under resistance.
- Troubleshooting covers common escapes and counters.
⚠️ Cons
- Lengthy and requires note taking to digest.
- No-gi focus may limit gi-specific grip talk.
- Price is premium without a sale.
💡 I recommend starting with seated 50 50 modules, then add standing follow the heel lessons to avoid overwhelm. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Dynamic No Gi 50/50 by Jason Rau
Instructor: Jason Rau
Style: System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Follow the heel relentlessly
Techniques: Backside 50/50, Follow The Heel, Defensive Exits
- Understanding The K-Guard - Backside 50 50 links from K guard and matrix.
- Dynamic Cross Ashi - Covers double 50 50 connections from cross ashi.
You learn 50 50 sequences for seated and standing exchanges. You will drill heel following and extraction options under pressure. You will not get gi lapel solutions.
✅ Pros
- Balanced curriculum of offense, defense, and exits.
- Backside pathways are explained with reactions.
- Concise chapters help targeted review.
⚠️ Cons
- Minimal gi specific details.
- Assumes familiarity with leg entanglement names.
- Less focus on IBJJF legal footlocks.
💡 I suggest watching Volume 2 first to anchor the finishing heuristic, then circle back to Volume 1 basics. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 Modern 50/50 Fundamentals: Guard by Nick Salles and Danny Maira
Instructor: Nick Salles and Danny Maira
Style: System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 43 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Read weight before attacking
Techniques: Lapel 50/50, Matrix, Waiter X
- Modern 50/50 Fundamentals: Passing - Pairs with this course to complete top and bottom game.
- No Gi Open Guard Volume 2: DLR & Waiter - Feeds 50 50 entries from DLR for no gi.
You learn when to sweep, bolo, or back take from bottom 50 50. You will use lapels and weight shifts to trigger attacks. You will not get deep heel hook mechanics.
✅ Pros
- Actionable decision making based on top player posture.
- Strong gi specific lapel sequences.
- Beginner friendly structure without fluff.
⚠️ Cons
- Limited no gi finishing instruction.
- Less detail on heel exposure mechanics.
- Some redundancy across volumes.
💡 I would drill the neutral 50 50 to inside bolo chain before adding lapel layers. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 The Modern 50/50 Guard by Patrick Gaudio
Instructor: Patrick Gaudio
Style: Technique Collection, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 28 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Lapel details drive attacks
Techniques: Lapel 50/50, Toe Hold, Leg Drag
- Modern 50/50 Fundamentals: Guard - More bottom 50 50 structure for gi players.
- Leg Tangle 50/50 - Creative entries if you want variety.
You learn lapel based passes, back takes, and IBJJF legal footlocks. You will mix sweeps into leg drags and toe holds. You will not get extensive no gi heel hook work.
✅ Pros
- Concise three volume format is easy to digest.
- Strong lapel and passing integrations for points and pressure.
- Includes submissions and passes from the same grips.
⚠️ Cons
- Limited heel hook focus.
- Some drills require gi specific grips.
- Less conceptual than anthology style sets.
💡 I would connect lapel roll throughs to leg drag dives to keep momentum after sweeps. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Modern 50/50 Fundamentals: Passing by Nick Salles and Danny Maira
Instructor: Nick Salles and Danny Maira
Style: System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 56 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Base beats bolos
Techniques: Knee Wedge, Leg Weave, Stomp Bolo
- They Shall Not Pass - Broader passing concepts that still apply atop 50 50.
You learn base first, then lapel wedges and passes from top 50 50. You will get fast submissions to break stalemates. You will not get deep no gi heel hook detail.
✅ Pros
- Clear decision tree for top player safety.
- Multiple passing chains reduce stalemates.
- Solid coaching cues for posture and grips.
⚠️ Cons
- Gi only lanes limit no gi transfer.
- Less lower body finishing depth.
- Some duplication with their guard course.
💡 I would combine leg bundle stacks with high step outs to pressure both hips before committing to a leg drag. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Leg Tangle 50/50 by Jeff Glover
Instructor: Jeff Glover
Style: Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 1 hour and 18 minutes
Volumes: 2
Biggest takeaway: Surprise entries matter
Techniques: Entries, Wrestle Up, Back Take
- Back To Basics 1/2 and Butterfly - Pairs well to build entries into 50 50 from half and butterfly.
You learn multiple entries into 50 50 from unexpected places. You will add back takes and wrestle ups to avoid one dimensional leg hunting. You will not get a rigid system.
✅ Pros
- Adds unpredictability to standard leg paths.
- Covers transitions beyond leg locks.
- Good drilling ideas for entries.
⚠️ Cons
- Less cohesive than a strict system.
- Some flashier options may lack control.
- Not focused on modern heel following.
💡 I would steal two or three favorite entries and plug them into a more structured finishing system. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 The Double Guard Pull System by Tommi Pulkkanen
Instructor: Tommi Pulkkanen
Style: Technique Collection
Best for: Advanced
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 28 minutes
Volumes: 2
Biggest takeaway: Win double pull battles
Techniques: Berimbolo, Crab Ride, Ankle Lock
- Modern 50/50 Fundamentals: Passing - More top solutions if double pull stalls.
- K Guard and Matrix System Part 1 - Non double pull entries that still lead to backside 50 50.
You learn double guard pull attacks that transition into 50 50 or the back. You will apply crab ride, berimbolo, and ankle lock chains. You will not get dedicated 50 50 heel hook work.
✅ Pros
- Strong bolo mechanics tied to back takes.
- Lapel and grip details for double pull scenarios.
- Compact two volume format.
⚠️ Cons
- Less directly about 50 50 than others.
- Gi only approach narrows audience.
- Limited finishing depth beyond ankle locks.
💡 I would steal the double pant grip series to force top position before entering 50 50 on my terms. Recommendation: Skip.
How to choose a 50/50 course for gi vs no gi
If you train mostly no gi and want finishes, prioritize courses that teach backside 50 50, heel following, and extraction under standing exchanges. If you are a gi player who sees 50 50 in IBJJF brackets, pick instructionals with lapel counters, knee wedges, and pass chains from top. When in doubt, pair one bottom focused course with one top focused course for faster results.
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