A research-backed ranking of Andre Galvao's most useful BJJ Fanatics instructionals. We scored community reception, system clarity, applicability, pedagogy, and production quality.
Passing Modern Guard Using Old School Concepts
Your anti-lapel, anti-inversion blueprint that turns modern guards into predictable passes.
Side Control Dominance
A structured side-control system that turns pressure into high-percentage finishes.
The Stack Pass
A complete, scalable stack pass system with clean entries and fixes.
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🥋 #1 Passing Modern Guard Using Old School Concepts by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 6 hours and 58 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Beat modern guards with pressure
Techniques: Lapel Guard Counters, Reverse Stack Pass, Torreando
- Killing The Butterfly Guard – Focuses a common modern seated guard with similar pressure-first ideas.
- Killing The Knee Shield Half Guard – Targets knee-shield specialists that block your knee cut and mobility.
You will learn to shut down squid, worm, and inverted guards before they develop. You will build a pass sequence that alternates pressure and mobility. You will not get no-gi leglock material here.
✅ Pros
- Clear system flow from control to finish keeps you oriented.
- Reverse stack mechanics solve flexible, inverting guards.
- Eight volumes cover the big modern lapel families in depth.
⚠️ Cons
- Presentation can feel dry if you prefer high-energy coaching.
- Mostly gi; little immediate carryover to no-gi entanglements.
- Pricey if you only want one sub-guard answer.
💡 I ranked this first because r/bjj consistently points to it when lapel guards are the problem and the curriculum hangs together as a real system. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Side Control Dominance by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 6 hours and 20 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Control before submission
Techniques: Katagatame, S Mount Armbar, Americana
- Side Control Escapes: Basics To Advanced Concepts – Pair your top game with robust escapes to round out training.
- Winning From Full Mount – Turn side control dominance into higher finishing from mount.
You will learn to stabilize, isolate, and chain submissions from side control. You will develop transitions to mount and back that shut down escapes. You will not get lapel-specific passing here.
✅ Pros
- Submission chains flow naturally from stable control.
- Concepts apply in gi and no-gi without big changes.
- Pairs well with any passing game as a finishing layer.
⚠️ Cons
- Less time on bottom escapes; separate set covers that.
- Some prefer more charismatic instruction style.
- Pricey versus narrower side-control courses.
💡 I moved this near the top because many threads ask for a top-pin attack system after half guard study, and this fills that gap cleanly. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 The Stack Pass by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 3 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Control hips, then pass
Techniques: Stack Pass, Inverted Leg Drag, Super Stack
- Passing Modern Guard Using Old School Concepts – Wider passing toolkit plus lapel counters if you want more breadth.
- Defending and Countering Pressure Passes – Study opponents' counters to the stack to shore up weaknesses.
You will learn to build pressure safely and deny flexible guards. You will get answers to common elbow, triangle, and framing counters. You will not find extensive lapel-guard solutions here.
✅ Pros
- Organized solutions to stack counters keep you progressing.
- Great value price for a full passing pathway.
- Works across body types and belt levels.
⚠️ Cons
- Narrower scope than full passing mega-series.
- Limited gripfighting theory versus some conceptual instructors.
- Less focus on speed-based passing options.
💡 I placed it this high because r/bjj repeatedly recommends Galvao's stack pass content as a safe, universal pass that wins at most levels. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #4 Defending and Countering Pressure Passes by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 5 hours and 1 minute
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Prevent, then counterattack
Techniques: Stack Pass Defense, Over Under Defense, Kimura Trap
- The Guard Retention Anthology (Around and Under) – Broader retention lenses for varied passing styles.
- Side Control Escapes: Basics To Advanced Concepts – Backstop if prevention fails and you get pinned.
You will learn early stack and over-under prevention. You will turn frames into crucifix, back takes, and armlocks. You will not get a full retention masterclass for every pass style.
✅ Pros
- Practical counters that transition directly to attacks.
- Good fit for lighter players facing pressure styles.
- Concise four-part structure eases drilling.
⚠️ Cons
- Not a universal retention system for all passes.
- Requires drilling partners for timing details.
- Less gripfighting theory than some conceptual sets.
💡 I rated it highly because many r/bjj complaints center on getting smashed; this gives immediate, actionable counters to common pressure styles. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Killing The Knee Shield Half Guard by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 46 hours and 35 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Collapse frames, then cut
Techniques: Knee Cut, Modified Leg Drag, Anaconda Choke
- Passing Modern Guard Using Old School Concepts – If knee shield is part of a broader lapel/inversion problem.
- Killing The Butterfly Guard – Another common seated guard that pairs well with knee-shield solutions.
You will learn super knee cuts, chin-strap routes, and back takes. You will tie passing and submissions so frames collapse. You will not get bottom half-guard instruction here.
✅ Pros
- Specific fixes for the most common knee-shield problems.
- Submission threats accelerate passes against stubborn frames.
- Coverage includes movement and smash passing.
⚠️ Cons
- Niche focus if you rarely face knee shields.
- Eight parts can be daunting without a curriculum plan.
- Half-guard specialists may prefer bottom development first.
💡 I slotted it mid-list because threads show ongoing struggles with knee-shield; this set provides a focused passing answer. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Killing The Butterfly Guard by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: Technique Collection, System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 5 hours and 18 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Mix float and smash
Techniques: Headstand Pass, Leg Staple, Long Step Pass
- The Stack Pass – Simpler path if you want one reliable pass.
- Passing Modern Guard Using Old School Concepts – Includes butterfly counters within a broader anti-modern system.
You will learn headstand, leg-staple, and long-step routes. You will mix mobility with pressure to beat hooks. You will not get closed-guard or lapel-specific material.
✅ Pros
- Covers both mobile and pressure passing options.
- Headstand mechanics add a new layer versus seated guards.
- Large catalog of staple and long-step finishes.
⚠️ Cons
- Less conceptual than a pure theory course.
- Headstand sections require practice time to stabilize.
- Lower priority if butterfly is rare in your room.
💡 I placed it below knee-shield because r/bjj half-guard issues appear more common than butterfly at many gyms. Recommendation: Skip.
🥋 #7 Winning From Full Mount by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 5 hours and 9 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Control first, finish
Techniques: Mount Control, S Mount Triangle, Katagatame
- Side Control Dominance – Create a stronger funnel into mount with better control.
- The Full Mount Escape Plan – Study the other side to anticipate common escapes.
You will stabilize mount and kill typical hand-fight defenses. You will chain armbars, triangles, and katagatame with back-take options. You will not get guard passing or retention instruction here.
✅ Pros
- Clear framework for holding mount longer.
- Submission chains work well in gi and no-gi.
- Compact four-part course is easy to digest.
⚠️ Cons
- Less grip detail than some mount specialists.
- Not ideal if you prefer leg-dominant games.
- Limited troubleshooting for extreme flexibility.
💡 I ranked it here because mount finishing is a universal need and r/bjj threads regularly ask for structured mount resources. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 Breaking Open The Secrets of Closed Guard by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Posture, then open
Techniques: Standing Guard Open, Posture Resets, Stack Pass
- Dealing With Closed Guard When Standing – Shorter, standing-focused curriculum if you only want that piece.
- The Stack Pass – Pairs naturally once legs are opened.
You will learn posture resets and safe standing opens. You will get stack and handcuff passes to finish. You will not learn bottom closed guard attacks or chains.
✅ Pros
- Standing open mechanics align with r/bjj consensus.
- Practical lapel-cross fixes restore posture.
- Specific sparring contextualizes timing under resistance.
⚠️ Cons
- Bottom players will need a different course.
- Kneeling open advocates may disagree with emphasis.
- Mostly gi; limited no-gi examples.
💡 I put it here because standing opens are a common sticking point and this set gives clear posture-first solutions. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
How we ranked Galvao's instructionals for real-world training
We weighted community reception most (r/bjj threads over the last several years), then system cohesion, applicability, instructor pedigree, and production quality. Tie-breakers were recency and distinctiveness. We used primary product pages to confirm scope and pricing and cross-checked with BJJHeroes for credentials. Where Reddit sentiment diverged, we reflected that with lower confidence and balanced pros and cons.
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