A data-backed roundup of the best BJJ Fanatics instructionals for blue belts: what each course teaches, who benefits most, and how they compare.
Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Escapes (Gi & No Gi)
A clear, eight-volume escapes system that fixes your worst positions in gi or no-gi.
Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster
The deepest beginner-friendly escape framework from the Go Further Faster series.
Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
A friendly, reference-style fundamentals library that covers every core position for newer belts.
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🥋 #1 Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Escapes (Gi & No Gi) by Lachlan Giles
Instructor: Lachlan Giles
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Footage Breakdown
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 7 hours and 57 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Link escapes under pressure
Techniques: Mount Escapes, Side Control Escapes, Back Escapes, Turtle Escapes, Front Headlock Escapes, Knee On Belly, Linking Sequences
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes (GFF) – Deeper detail if you want maximum polish.
- Grilled Chicken Guard Retention – Conceptual retention that pairs well with escapes.
- Keeping the Guard (No Gi) – Budget guard retention and recomposition.
You learn how to survive and escape from back control, mount, side control, turtle, and front headlocks with a linked framework. The course shows both gi and no-gi paths and includes narrated live rounds so you can model timing and transitions. You do not get endless micro-variations; instead you get the essential pathways that blue belts can actually remember and use.
✅ Pros
- System connects positions so you escape and re-guard instead of resetting.
- Applies equally in gi and no-gi, so nothing you learn is wasted.
- Narrated live rolling accelerates timing and decision-making.
⚠️ Cons
- Fewer tiny details than ultra-deep sets.
- Focuses on escaping over immediate counter-attacks.
- Production is straightforward, not cinematic.
💡 I found blue belts improve fastest when they stop fearing bad positions and have two to three practiced exits for each pin. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster by John Danaher
Instructor: John Danaher
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 11 hours and 57 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Escapes are priority one
Techniques: Mount Escapes, Side Control Escapes, Turtle Escapes, Pin Frames, Hip Heist, Underhook Series, Head Arm Defense
- Fundamentals of BJJ Escapes (Gi & No Gi) – Broader coverage with concise delivery.
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: Positional Escapes – More counter-offense if you are experienced.
You get a principles-first blueprint for surviving and escaping common pins and turtle. Emphasis is on body alignment, frames, and reproducible movements in gi and no-gi. It is long and lecture heavy, but blue belts who commit gain a foundation that upgrades every position.
✅ Pros
- Extensive detail clarifies why escapes work and fail.
- Universal mechanics for gi and no-gi make training efficient.
- Framework scales as opponents improve.
⚠️ Cons
- High price compared to other options.
- Lecture style demands patience and note-taking.
- Less immediate counter-attacking than newer sets.
💡 I see blue belts jump levels when escapes become automatic and they stop burning energy in bad pins. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: Technique Collection, Conceptual
Best for: Beginner
Format: Gi
Runtime: 5 hours and 41 minutes
Volumes: 6
Biggest takeaway: Basics win often
Techniques: Takedowns, Closed Guard, Open Guard, Guard Passing, Submissions, Mount, Escapes
- The Basics of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – 24-day plan if you want structure.
- Start Here: Complete Fundamentals Curriculum – Coach-focused fundamentals progression.
- First Steps in No-Gi – Modern basics if you prefer no-gi.
This is a broad tour through takedowns, guard work, passing, submissions, and escapes with simple cues you can remember. It will not hand you a single tightly linked system, but it will fill knowledge gaps fast. Blue belts who like browsing and drilling basics will get steady returns.
✅ Pros
- Wide coverage helps you spot and fix basics gaps.
- Simple cues make drills transfer to sparring quickly.
- Discounted often, making it strong value.
⚠️ Cons
- Not a cohesive system with clear progressions.
- Some early techniques are less beginner-safe.
- Primarily gi-focused grips and examples.
💡 I recommend blue belts pair a fundamentals reference with one focused system like escapes or guard retention. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 The Basics of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Andre Galvao
Instructor: Andre Galvao
Style: System Based, Drill Heavy
Best for: Beginner
Format: Gi
Runtime: 6 hours and 30 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Consistency beats intensity
Techniques: Mount Escapes, Closed Guard Attacks, Guard Passing, Sweeps, Back Attacks, Submissions
- Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Cheaper broad overview if you want variety.
- Start Here: Complete Fundamentals Curriculum – Coach-minded lesson planning alternative.
You follow a clear day-by-day schedule through core escapes, sweeps, chokes, armbars, and guard passing. It suits blue belts who want to rebuild fundamentals with structure. If you dislike rigid plans or mainly train no-gi, it is less ideal.
✅ Pros
- Daily structure prevents wandering and speeds skill stacking.
- Balanced mix of escapes, attacks, and passing keeps training fun.
- Taught by a proven world champion and coach.
⚠️ Cons
- Mostly gi-focused grips and finishes.
- Cost adds up if you pair with other sets.
- Less depth on any single position.
💡 I see busy blue belts stick to drilling when a simple, dated plan tells them exactly what to practice. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 The Grilled Chicken Guard Retention System by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 14 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Frames before scrambles
Techniques: Guard Retention, Knee Cut Defense, Torreando Defense, Leg Drag Defense, Double Under Defense, Spin Outs, Framing
- Fundamentals of BJJ Escapes (Gi & No Gi) – Pair escapes with retention for defense.
- Keeping the Guard (No Gi) – Budget retention with drills.
You learn a simple language for stopping knee cuts, leg drags, double-unders, and more before they become pins. The concepts apply in gi and no-gi, and the body positions suit older athletes. If you want a deep anthology with dozens of micro-variations, this is not it.
✅ Pros
- Concepts transfer across many passes.
- Low-flexibility approach helps older athletes.
- Clear drills make timing natural.
⚠️ Cons
- Less detail than newer retention anthologies.
- Defensive bias if you do not add counters.
- Presentation style is polarizing.
💡 I like how a short retention vocabulary shrinks chaos and buys time to re-guard or stand. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 The Daisy Fresh Curriculum: Blue Belt Stripe 1 (Gi) by Heath Pedigo
Instructor: Heath Pedigo
Style: System Based, Drill Heavy
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Volumes: 5
Biggest takeaway: Chain pressure passes
Techniques: Closed Guard Openers, Headquarters Entries, Knee Cut, Folding Pass, Leg Drag, Half Guard Passing, Pressure Concepts
- Blue Belt Curriculum (No Gi) – Stripe 1 – Same stripe focus for no-gi players.
- Blue Belt No-Gi Bundle – Bundle if you want the whole track.
This module centers on opening closed guard, getting to headquarters, and chaining knee cuts, folds, and leg drags. It is a passing-first slice of the larger program. If you want escapes or submissions, you will need other modules or a fundamentals set.
✅ Pros
- Sequenced passing makes your top game coherent.
- Competition-tested details suit gritty rounds.
- Works well alongside a separate escapes set.
⚠️ Cons
- Narrow focus on passing; you need other modules.
- Premium pricing compared to alternatives.
- Strong tone may not fit every academy vibe.
💡 I like how the HQ entries and pressure cues make common passes click together for blue belts. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 Blue Belt Requirements 2.0 by Roy Dean
Instructor: Roy Dean
Style: Technique Collection, Drill Heavy
Best for: Beginner
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Benchmark your basics
Techniques: Ukemi, Takedowns, Mount Escapes, Headlock Escapes, Closed Guard Attacks, Guard Passing, Leg Locks
- Daisy Fresh Blue Belt Stripe 1 (Gi) – Newer, team-tested passing curriculum.
- Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Broader fundamentals at a lower price.
You get a structured list of what a solid blue belt should be able to do. It is not modern in style, but it still organizes your practice well. Consider it if you prefer clear milestones more than deep systems.
✅ Pros
- Easy to measure progress against clear fundamentals.
- Covers all major positions for new belts.
- Pairs well with a modern escapes or retention set.
⚠️ Cons
- Less depth than current system-based courses.
- Some sequences feel dated for no-gi trends.
- Higher cost than several alternatives.
💡 I view this as a milestone map: use it to check your base, then specialize. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
How we ranked these picks for blue belts
We weighted r/bjj community reception most (~40%), then judged each course on clarity of system, day-one applicability for blue belts, instructor track record, and production quality. We prioritized escapes and guard retention because blue belts win more rounds by escaping and keeping guard than by adding exotic attacks. When two options were close, we favored recent, distinctive approaches and better value when regularly discounted in Daily Deals.
How to use a course without drowning in content
Pick one escapes system and one retention set. Drill two sequences daily for 10 minutes each. In sparring, start from your worst pin, attempt your two exits, and log results. Once success hits 70% in the room, add one pass or one high-percentage attack. Keep notes. Resist buying a third course until you see measurable wins.
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