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Best Bernardo Faria Instructional
We ranked the most useful Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics instructionals using real r/bjj feedback, teaching quality, and on-mat applicability. Each pick includes quick pros and cons, who it helps most, and trusted sources.
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The top picks, up front
2026 editionPressure Passing Encyclopedia
Bernardo FariaA repeatable over under passing system with entries, finishes, and fixes that work for regular adults.
≈2.5 h · all levels · gi · $The Battle Tested Half Guard
Bernardo FariaA simple, sturdy half guard you can trust against bigger players.
≈3 h · all levels · gi · $Omoplata Everyone
Bernardo FariaTurn a neglected attack into safe sweeps and subs from guard.
≈2.5 h · all levels · gi · $We ranked the most useful Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics instructionals using real r/bjj feedback, teaching quality, and on-mat applicability. Each pick includes quick pros and cons, who it helps most, and trusted sources.
Pressure Passing Encyclopedia
Bernardo FariaStyle: system based, conceptual. Biggest takeaway: pressure beats flexible guards. Community rating: 8.8/10. List price $79.
What it covers
You get a full pressure-passing roadmap built around the over under, with specific entries against common guards and detailed finishing mechanics. The pace and structure help you remember steps and troubleshoot live. It is gi-first and narrow in scope by design, so do not expect a survey of every modern pass.
Techniques: over under pass, pressure passing, grip fighting, leg staple, toreando setups.
Why it stands out
- Builds a complete, repeatable pass chain instead of moves in isolation.
- Coaching is slow, clear, and adult-learner friendly.
- Realistic entries from common guard scenarios you face weekly.
Mostly gi specific; sleeve and lapel grips are assumed. The narrow focus on over under may feel repetitive to some, and the production does not include structured drills or homework.
Regular adults who want one repeatable over under pass chain with entries, finishes, and live fixes. My take: I finally stopped bouncing between passes when I committed to this one sequence and refined the reactions. Recommendation: buy it now.
You train no-gi only or want a broad survey of every modern passing style.
Notable alternatives: Battle Tested Pressure Passing (older cut focused almost entirely on over under entries), Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys: Over/Under Pressure Passing System (same core mechanics adapted for older bodies and pace), and No Gi Pressure Passing (carry the pressure style to no-gi without fabric grips). Read the full review.
The Battle Tested Half Guard
Bernardo FariaStyle: system based, footage breakdown. Biggest takeaway: win half guard with timing and underhooks. Community rating: 8.6/10. List price $79.
What it covers
You learn how to build half guard around knee shield, deep half, and dogfight, then connect sweeps and back takes. Narrated sparring clarifies timing and typical reactions. If you only play no-gi, you will need to translate some grips.
Techniques: deep half guard, knee shield, single leg, underhook dogfight, back takes.
Why it stands out
- Tight, teachable system with clear paths to the sweep or back.
- Narrated sparring shows real speed decisions and corrections.
- Works well for older or heavier practitioners.
Gi-first grip language with fewer explicit no-gi fixes. The deep half exposure can worry new players, and it is a sweep-first approach with limited submissions.
Older or heavier players who want a sturdy gi half guard built on timing and underhooks. My take: I stopped stalling in knee shield once I committed to underhooks and immediate dogfight timing. Recommendation: buy it now.
You train no-gi only or want a submission-heavy half guard.
Notable alternatives: The No Gi Half Guard (same concepts adapted for no-gi grips and pace) and The Coyote Half Guard (alternative half style built around dogfight entries). Read the full review.
Omoplata Everyone
Bernardo FariaStyle: system based, technique collection. Biggest takeaway: omoplata is safe and repeatable. Community rating: 8.3/10. List price $79.
What it covers
You will develop reliable omoplata entries and learn to keep the shoulder pinned. The course shows how to convert defenses into triangles, sweeps, and back takes. It is gi oriented and pace favors newer learners over specialists.
Techniques: omoplata, closed guard, triangle chains, back takes.
Why it stands out
- Immediate upgrade to a high-percentage, low-risk submission.
- Clean entries from positions you already reach.
- Great chaining advice to avoid stalling.
Primarily gi focused with sleeve control. Less appeal if you already specialize in omoplata, and there is limited emphasis on no-gi grips and leg entanglements.
Guard players who want a safe, repeatable omoplata that chains into triangles, sweeps, and back takes. My take: I started threatening earlier, then rode reactions to triangle or sweep instead of forcing finishes. Recommendation: wait for a daily deal.
You already specialize in the omoplata or train no-gi only.
Notable alternatives: Side Control Setups & Submissions (transition to top and finish after omoplata scrambles). Read the full review.
Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys: Over/Under Pressure Passing System
Bernardo FariaStyle: system based, conceptual. Biggest takeaway: control beats speed as you age. Community rating: 8.2/10. List price $197.
What it covers
The series slows entries down and emphasizes frames, angles, and patience. You will learn to arrive in over under from your current guards and finish without scrambles. It is still a single-lane system, so buy for mastery, not variety.
Techniques: over under pass, entries from everywhere, pressure passing, pinning concepts.
Why it stands out
- Age-friendly pacing and mechanics that scale to tired nights.
- Keeps decision-making simple under pressure.
- Transfers well to teaching beginners and mixed-level classes.
Higher price than his classic sets. Limited coverage of non-over-under styles, and it still assumes some gi habits if you are no-gi only.
Masters athletes and mixed-schedule grapplers who want age-friendly over under mechanics. My take: I passed more by doing less, focusing on chest pressure and smart angles. Recommendation: wait for a daily deal.
You want variety beyond over under or a lower price point.
Notable alternatives: Entries for Over Under (Old Guys series) (more ways to reach over under from common guards) and Pressure Passing Encyclopedia (the core gi-focused system in full detail). Read the full review.
Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Bernardo FariaStyle: technique collection, conceptual. Biggest takeaway: basics win when organized. Community rating: 7.9/10. List price $99.
What it covers
You will patch knowledge gaps fast across takedowns, guard, pins, and escapes. The tone is supportive and aimed at new adults. It is an overview, so you still need focused systems for passing or guard.
Techniques: fundamentals, closed guard sweeps, takedown basics, pin escapes, posture and grips.
Why it stands out
- Covers the essentials across all positions at a fair price on sale.
- Works as a home-study companion to fundamentals classes.
- Bernardo’s tone keeps beginners engaged.
Loose structure can frustrate learners who want a linear path. The depth per technique is shallow by design, and it is less exciting for experienced grapplers.
New adults who want a supportive, all-position overview to patch knowledge gaps. My take: I saw fewer white belt stalls once people had a simple baseline for each position. Recommendation: wait for a daily deal.
You are an experienced grappler or want a strict linear curriculum.
Notable alternatives: Introduction to BJJ (shorter on-ramp with expectations and safety basics). Read the full review.
The No Gi Half Guard
Bernardo FariaStyle: system based. Biggest takeaway: underhooks still win in no-gi. Community rating: 7.8/10. List price $79.
What it covers
You get the same half guard philosophy without collars, focusing on head position and underhooks. It offers practical sweeps and transitions to single legs and top. If you want high-level no-gi submission hunting, you will need another source.
Techniques: no-gi half guard, head positioning, underhook dogfight, single leg, sweeps.
Why it stands out
- Smooth bridge from gi half guard to no-gi.
- Keeps the same teaching cadence and clarity.
- Emphasizes safe, reliable sweeps over scrambles.
Not a cutting-edge no-gi meta course. Limited finishing options from bottom, and it assumes familiarity with his gi half guard.
Gi half guard players moving to no-gi who want to keep their identity through head and underhook battles. My take: I kept my half guard identity in no-gi by prioritizing head and underhook battles. Recommendation: wait for a daily deal.
You want cutting-edge no-gi meta or deep bottom submissions.
Notable alternatives: Systematically Attacking From Half Guard (if you want advanced no-gi offense depth). Read the full review.
No Gi Pressure Passing
Bernardo FariaStyle: system based. Biggest takeaway: pressure still translates in no-gi. Community rating: 7.5/10. List price $79.
What it covers
You will learn over under mechanics without sleeves and how to arrive there from butterfly, knee shield, and open guard. The lessons emphasize shoulder pressure and head control. If you chase modern no-gi meta, this is an adjunct, not a replacement.
Techniques: no-gi over under, shoulder pressure, hip pin, entries vs butterfly.
Why it stands out
- Bridges gi habits to no-gi with clear adjustments.
- Focuses on the safest staple pass for hobbyists.
- Entries mapped to common no-gi guards.
Not aligned with current bodylock-heavy trends. Repetitive if you own other pressure sets, with less depth on counter-passing sequences.
Hobbyists who want to carry a safe over under pressure pass into no-gi from common guards. My take: I passed more no-gi guards by trusting shoulder pressure and head position over speed. Recommendation: wait for a daily deal.
You chase the bodylock-heavy no-gi meta or already own other pressure sets.
Notable alternatives: Pressure Passing Encyclopedia (if you mostly train gi and want the full system). Read the full review.
Escapes from Everywhere
Bernardo FariaStyle: technique collection. Biggest takeaway: basics first, then systemize later. Community rating: 7.0/10. List price $79.
What it covers
You will get out of bad spots more often by learning simple routes out of mount, back, side, and north-south. It is best as a sale pickup to fill gaps. Advanced students may want more systemization and troubleshooting depth.
Techniques: mount escapes, back escapes, side control escapes, north south escapes, turtle escapes.
Why it stands out
- Covers exactly where beginners suffer most.
- Affordable when discounted compared to premium series.
- Bernardo’s delivery is calm under pressure topics.
Shallow depth by category limits advanced carryover. Mixed community sentiment on quality and pacing, and it is less coherent than dedicated escape systems.
New students who want simple routes out of mount, back, side, and north-south to fill gaps. My take: I recommend it as a stop-gap for new students until a deeper escapes system is chosen. Recommendation: skip unless deeply discounted.
You want a coherent, deep, dedicated escape system.
Notable alternatives: Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys: Positional Escapes (age-friendly structure if you are a masters athlete). Read the full review.
All picks, side by side
Comparison tableSwipe sideways for details · the price column stays pinned →
| # | Instructional | Instructor | Runtime | Level | Format | Category | Tier | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pressure Passing Encyclopedia | Bernardo Faria | 2h 36m | All levels | Gi | Pressure passing system | $ | Check price → |
| 2 | The Battle Tested Half Guard | Bernardo Faria | 3h 8m across 4 volumes | All levels | Gi | Gi half guard | $ | Check price → |
| 3 | Omoplata Everyone | Bernardo Faria | 2h 30m | All levels | Gi | Omoplata system | $ | Check price → |
| 4 | Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys: Over/Under Pressure Passing System | Bernardo Faria | 2h 16m | All levels | Gi and No-Gi | For masters athletes | $$ | Check price → |
| 5 | Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | Bernardo Faria | 5h 41m | Beginner | Gi and No-Gi | For beginners | $ | Check price → |
| 6 | The No Gi Half Guard | Bernardo Faria | 2h 56m | Intermediate | No-Gi | No-gi half guard | $ | Check price → |
| 7 | No Gi Pressure Passing | Bernardo Faria | 2h 30m | Intermediate | No-Gi | No-gi pressure passing | $ | Check price → |
| 8 | Escapes from Everywhere | Bernardo Faria | 2h 52m | Beginner | Gi and No-Gi | Escapes collection | $ | Check price → |
How we ranked Bernardo Faria instructionals
We weighted r/bjj community sentiment the heaviest, then judged how coherent each course is as a system rather than a move dump. We also factored real-world applicability for hobbyists, instructor authority, and production clarity. When evidence conflicted, we reflected it as pros and cons and adjusted ratings. We avoided duplicate SKUs and pointed you to the definitive product, listing similar sets as alternatives.
Gi or no-gi: which Faria set should you buy first?
If you mainly train gi, start with Pressure Passing Encyclopedia or Battle Tested Half Guard. If you are no-gi heavy, pick The No Gi Half Guard and then No Gi Pressure Passing. Mixed-schedule grapplers can take the Old Guys over under system and translate it both ways. Buy Foundations on sale to fill knowledge gaps if you are new.
Still deciding which Faria set to buy first?
If you mainly train gi, start with the Pressure Passing Encyclopedia or The Battle Tested Half Guard. If you are no-gi heavy, pick The No Gi Half Guard, then No Gi Pressure Passing. New to the sport? Grab Foundations on a daily deal.