A ranked, research-backed guide to Adam Wardzinski's most useful BJJ Fanatics instructionals with who they help, key strengths, and when to buy.
Butterfly Guard Rediscovered 3.0 by Adam Wardzinski
A complete, modern butterfly system that keeps you unflattened and sweeping.
Octopus Guard Engineering by Adam Wardzinski
An underused guard turned into a reliable sweep-and-back system.
Polish Power Passing by Adam Wardzinski
Turn half guard into mount with relentless, leg-dominating pressure.
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🥋 #1 Butterfly Guard Rediscovered 3.0 by Adam Wardzinski
Instructor: Adam Wardzinski
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 7 hours and 22 minutes
Volumes: 9
Biggest takeaway: Stay angled; never get flattened.
Techniques: Butterfly Guard, Lazy Butterfly, Underhook Sweep, Overhook Sweep, Single Leg X Entries, Back Takes
- The No Gi Butterfly Guard Rediscovered – Same core ideas tailored for no-gi players.
- Single Leg X Reimagined – Pairs naturally with butterfly off-balances.
- Polish Power Passing – Gives you top finishes after your sweeps.
You learn a connected butterfly blueprint that links lazy, side, and classic entries to reliable sweeps, back takes, and armbars. The structure teaches you when to underhook, when to overhook, and when to switch to SLX or lapels. You will not get a random move dump; you will get a cohesive plan you can drill and use immediately.
✅ Pros
- Clear progression from concepts to chained attacks that scale for all levels.
- Excellent tactics against knee-cut pressure and common posts.
- Pairs naturally with SLX and your passing, so you score and stabilize.
⚠️ Cons
- Gi-focused grips mean extra adaptation for pure no-gi players.
- Nine volumes can feel long without a drilling plan.
- Less live-sparring footage than some prefer.
💡 I got the most value by drilling anti-flattening angles first, then layering underhook and overhook trees. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Octopus Guard Engineering by Adam Wardzinski
Instructor: Adam Wardzinski
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 16 minutes
Volumes: 5
Biggest takeaway: Octopus thrives when opponents pressure.
Techniques: Octopus Guard, Half Guard Entries, Hip Bump Sweep, Back Takes, Dogfight
- Knee Lever John Wayne Sweep Engineering – Pairs well because dogfight and octopus flow into knee lever dilemmas.
- Closed Guard Reintroduced – Another classic-guard update with tight control focus.
You learn how to enter octopus from half guard without getting crossfaced. The course shows back takes, hip-bump chains, and clean transitions into butterfly. You will not get random tricks; you will get a structured pathway that surprises opponents and scales to no-gi with grip tweaks.
✅ Pros
- Gives you a clear plan from a rarely studied position.
- Connects directly to butterfly and dogfight for continuous offense.
- Concepts transfer to no-gi with simple grip adjustments.
⚠️ Cons
- Focus is mainly half guard octopus, not bottom-side variants.
- Requires comfort with underhooks and shoulder pressure.
- Intermediates will progress faster than brand-new white belts.
💡 I found octopus entry timing easiest after forcing the passer to commit a crossface or knee cut. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 Polish Power Passing by Adam Wardzinski
Instructor: Adam Wardzinski
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 36 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Own the bottom leg; pass gets easy.
Techniques: Smash Passing, Knee In Smash, Three Quarter Mount, Leg Dominance, Half Guard Passing
- Polish Power Inside Passing – Deeper dive on inside lines once you master the base system.
- Polish Power Smash Passing – Focused drills to finish half guard with shoulder-heavy pressure.
You learn to control hips first, then collapse frames with knee-in smash and three-quarter mount. The course shows how to neutralize knee-shield and SLX counters. You will not need athletic speed; you will need sequencing and patience.
✅ Pros
- Addresses the exact sticking points of stubborn half guards.
- Teaches transitions to stable finishes like mount and leg drags.
- Pairs perfectly with Adam's butterfly bottom game.
⚠️ Cons
- Gi-based grips require adaptation for no-gi rooms.
- Four volumes may feel brief if you want broader passing coverage.
- Less standing passing than some wrestle-up players expect.
💡 I passed more consistently after focusing on isolating the bottom leg before hunting upper-body controls. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 The No Gi Butterfly Guard Rediscovered by Adam Wardzinski
Instructor: Adam Wardzinski
Style: System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Angles beat standers.
Techniques: Butterfly Guard, No-Gi Grips, Wrestle Ups, Single Leg X Entries, Off Balances
- Butterfly Guard Rediscovered 3.0 – Deeper gi-based study if you want the most detail.
- Single Leg X Reimagined – Great add-on for no-gi off-balances.
You learn the same posture, angle, and hook mechanics as the gi set but with no-gi grips and wrestle-up options. Entries shift toward SLX and body-lining control. You will not get lapel tricks; you will get transferable no-gi mechanics.
✅ Pros
- Keeps the core butterfly system while removing reliance on collars and sleeves.
- Efficient three-volume format accelerates study.
- Pairs well with SLX and knee tap wrestle-ups.
⚠️ Cons
- Less exhaustive than the nine-volume gi set.
- Assumes you understand basic butterfly posture and hooks.
- Limited footage on finishing sequences after sweeps.
💡 I got more sweeps after focusing on bringing opponents back to seated butterfly before entering SLX. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Pinning and Pressure Engineering by Adam Wardzinski
Instructor: Adam Wardzinski
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 4 hours and 44 minutes
Volumes: 6
Biggest takeaway: Pin first; pass becomes trivial.
Techniques: Folding Pass, Shin Staple, Headquarters, S Mount Entries, Arm Triangle
- Polish Power Smash Passing – More half guard specific pressure and finishing drills.
- Polish Power Inside Passing – If you want additional inside-line details and variations.
- Pins And Dominant Position Escape Engineering – Round out your defense to keep top momentum after scrambles.
You learn to set head-quarters, fold the guard, and use shin-staple rides to shut down motion. Mount chapters layer S-mount, arm triangle, and lapel options. You will not outrun opponents; you will out-control them and force slow, safe finishes.
✅ Pros
- Teaches how to slow dynamic guards and maintain top progress.
- Explains upper-body torque and hip rides with repeatable cues.
- Pairs well with half guard smash to chain passes into mount.
⚠️ Cons
- Gi reliance limits one-to-one transfer to no-gi.
- Concept-heavy pacing may feel slower to scramblers.
- Price is higher than some alternatives.
💡 I held mount longer after focusing on hip rides and three-quarter mount transitions before attacking. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
How we ranked these instructionals
We weighted r/bjj reception most (clarity, usefulness, adoption), then judged how cohesive the system is, who benefits, instructor authority, and production quality. We favored sets that connect positions into decisions rather than list moves. When threads conflicted, we reflected that in pros and cons and leaned on primary product pages for scope and volume counts.
Gi or no-gi first for Adam's systems?
If you train mostly gi, start with Butterfly 3.0 and Polish Power Passing. They share grips, posture, and sequencing. If you play more no-gi, use No Gi Butterfly Rediscovered first, then add SLX Reimagined to expand off-balances. The core angle and hook mechanics transfer both ways with simple grip changes.
Do you need to be big to play his butterfly?
No. Posters highlight that not getting flattened is the key. Adam's off-center posture, hooks, and re-seating angles help smaller athletes avoid pressure while generating levers. Taller players may find belt and lapel grips easier, but smaller players succeed by prioritizing angle, underhooks, and bringing standers back to seated butterfly before sweeping.
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