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/cons, who it helps most, and trusted sources.
Pressure Passing Encyclopedia
A repeatable over under passing system with entries, finishes, and fixes that work for regular adults.
The Battle Tested Half Guard
A simple, sturdy half guard you can trust against bigger players.
Omoplata Everyone
Turn a neglected attack into safe sweeps and subs from guard.
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🥋 #1 Pressure Passing Encyclopedia by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 36 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Pressure beats flexible guards.
Techniques: Over Under Pass, Pressure Passing, Grip Fighting, Leg Staple, Torreando Setups
- 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.
- No Gi Pressure Passing – Carry the pressure style to no-gi without fabric grips.
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.
✅ Pros
- 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.
⚠️ Cons
- Mostly gi specific; sleeve and lapel grips are assumed.
- Narrow focus on over under may feel repetitive to some.
- Production does not include structured drills or homework.
💡 I finally stopped bouncing between passes when I committed to this one sequence and refined the reactions. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 The Battle Tested Half Guard by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: System Based, Footage Breakdown
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 8 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Win half guard with timing and underhooks.
Techniques: Deep Half Guard, Knee Shield, Single Leg, Underhook Dogfight, Back Takes
- The No Gi Half Guard – Same concepts adapted for no-gi grips and pace.
- The Coyote Half Guard – Alternative half style built around dogfight entries.
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.
✅ Pros
- 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.
⚠️ Cons
- Gi-first grip language; fewer explicit no-gi fixes.
- Deep half exposure can worry new players.
- Limited submissions; it is a sweep-first approach.
💡 I stopped stalling in knee shield once I committed to underhooks and immediate dogfight timing. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 Omoplata Everyone by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Omoplata is safe and repeatable.
Techniques: Omoplata, Closed Guard, Triangle Chains, Back Takes
- Side Control Setups & Submissions – Transition to top and finish after omoplata scrambles.
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.
✅ Pros
- Immediate upgrade to a high-percentage, low-risk submission.
- Clean entries from positions you already reach.
- Great chaining advice to avoid stalling.
⚠️ Cons
- Primarily gi focused with sleeve control.
- Less appeal if you already specialize in omoplata.
- Limited emphasis on no-gi grips and leg entanglements.
💡 I started threatening earlier, then rode reactions to triangle or sweep instead of forcing finishes. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys: Over/Under Pressure Passing System by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 16 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Control beats speed as you age.
Techniques: Over Under Pass, Entries From Everywhere, Pressure Passing, Pinning Concepts
- Entries for Over Under (Old Guys series) – More ways to reach over under from common guards.
- Pressure Passing Encyclopedia – The core gi-focused system in full detail.
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.
✅ Pros
- 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.
⚠️ Cons
- Higher price than his classic sets.
- Limited coverage of non-over-under styles.
- Still assumes some gi habits if you are no-gi only.
💡 I passed more by doing less, focusing on chest pressure and smart angles. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: Technique Collection, Conceptual
Best for: Beginner
Format: Both
Runtime: 5 hours and 41 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Basics win when organized.
Techniques: Fundamentals, Closed Guard Sweeps, Takedown Basics, Pin Escapes, Posture And Grips
- Introduction to BJJ – Shorter on-ramp with expectations and safety basics.
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.
✅ Pros
- 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.
⚠️ Cons
- Loose structure can frustrate learners who want a linear path.
- Shallow depth per technique by design.
- Less exciting for experienced grapplers.
💡 I saw fewer white belt stalls once people had a simple baseline for each position. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 The No Gi Half Guard by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 56 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Underhooks still win in no-gi.
Techniques: No-Gi Half Guard, Head Positioning, Underhook Dogfight, Single Leg, Sweeps
- Systematically Attacking From Half Guard – If you want advanced no-gi offense depth.
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.
✅ Pros
- Smooth bridge from gi half guard to no-gi.
- Keeps the same teaching cadence and clarity.
- Emphasizes safe, reliable sweeps over scrambles.
⚠️ Cons
- Not a cutting-edge no-gi meta course.
- Limited finishing options from bottom.
- Assumes familiarity with his gi half guard.
💡 I kept my half guard identity in no-gi by prioritizing head and underhook battles. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 No Gi Pressure Passing by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Pressure still translates in no-gi.
Techniques: No-Gi Over Under, Shoulder Pressure, Hip Pin, Entries Vs Butterfly
- Pressure Passing Encyclopedia – If you mostly train gi and want the full system.
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.
✅ Pros
- Bridges gi habits to no-gi with clear adjustments.
- Focuses on the safest staple pass for hobbyists.
- Entries mapped to common no-gi guards.
⚠️ Cons
- Not aligned with current bodylock-heavy trends.
- Repetitive if you own other pressure sets.
- Less depth on counter-passing sequences.
💡 I passed more no-gi guards by trusting shoulder pressure and head position over speed. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 Escapes from Everywhere by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: Technique Collection
Best for: Beginner
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 52 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Basics first, then systemize later.
Techniques: Mount Escapes, Back Escapes, Side Control Escapes, North South Escapes, Turtle Escapes
- Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys: Positional Escapes – Age-friendly structure if you are a masters athlete.
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.
✅ Pros
- Covers exactly where beginners suffer most.
- Affordable when discounted compared to premium series.
- Bernardo’s delivery is calm under pressure topics.
⚠️ Cons
- Shallow depth by category limits advanced carryover.
- Mixed community sentiment on quality and pacing.
- Less coherent than dedicated escape systems.
💡 I recommend it as a stop-gap for new students until a deeper escapes system is chosen. Recommendation: Skip.
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.
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