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Best BJJ Instructionals for Purple Belts (2026)
You already know the basics. At purple belt the game stops being about isolated moves and starts being about systems, chains, and game plans. These are the 10 system-level instructionals that made the biggest difference for purple-belt-level grapplers.
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Jump to a pick
- 1. Systematically Attacking The Guard
- 2. Guard Retention Anthology
- 3. Power Ride: A New Philosophy on Pinning
- 4. Leglocks: Enter The System
- 5. Unifying The Systems
- 6. New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing
- 7. Systematically Attacking The Back
- 8. K Guard & Matrix System
- 9. The Complete Butterfly Guard
- 10. The Modern Defensive Guard
- Comparison table
- FAQ
The top picks, up front
2026 editionSystematically Attacking The Guard
Gordon RyanA complete guard passing decision tree, competition-proven at ADCC level.
≈8 h · purple+ · no-gi · $$$Guard Retention Anthology
Lachlan Giles & Ariel TabakThe most complete guard retention system ever released, gi and no-gi.
≈10 h · blue-black · gi & no-gi · $$$Power Ride: A New Philosophy on Pinning
Craig JonesWrestling-BJJ hybrid pinning that nobody at your gym knows yet.
≈4 h · purple+ · no-gi · $$That shift is exactly why the right instructional matters more now than at any other belt. A beginner instructional teaches you what an armbar is. A purple-belt-level instructional teaches you how to build an interconnected attack system where your armbar setup feeds your triangle, which feeds your sweep, which feeds your pass.
I spent 200+ hours testing instructionals from BJJ Fanatics, Submeta, and other platforms – watching them, drilling the techniques, and pressure-testing everything in live rolls from purple belt through black belt. This guide covers the 10 instructionals that made the biggest difference for purple-belt-level competitors.
At purple belt the learning model flips. White and blue belts accumulate techniques; you need to go the other direction: depth over breadth, systems over moves, game plans over reactions. Every instructional below teaches systems, not isolated techniques.
Systematically Attacking The Guard
Gordon RyanThe guard passing bible. Gordon maps every guard configuration to a systematic response, building a complete decision tree that turns passing from pattern-matching into a science. BJJ World rated it 5/5.
What it covers
The system starts from “position zero” – Gordon’s split squat stance that gives you inside leg control. From there, every guard variant gets a mapped response: closed guard openers, rubber guard counters, RDLR neutralization, knee shield destruction, lasso guard counters, and the half-butterfly masterclass that made Gordon untouchable from top position at ADCC.
Volume 2 alone covers backstep passing, d’arce choke setups from passing sequences, and the toreando/high-step trilemma that forces guard players into lose-lose choices. Volume 3 addresses bodylock passing, over-under mechanics, deep half counters, Z guard, and lockdown escapes.
Why it stands out
- Decision tree structure: every position branches into clear if/then choices rather than “here are 5 passes, pick one”
- Split squat framework: a single starting position that connects to every passing pathway
- Counter-to-counter chains: Gordon shows what opponents do to stop each pass, then how to use their counter against them
- Live rolling breakdowns: narrated competition footage showing the system in real-time application
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this instructional. The system is flawless in technical execution.
BJJ World review (5/5 rating)
The sheer volume is the main challenge. At 8+ hours (even more in the 2.0 version), you can’t absorb this in a weekend. You’ll need to study it section by section over weeks, drilling each component before moving on. If you want a quick fix for your passing, this isn’t it – it’s a full curriculum.
Purple belts who want a complete no-gi passing system they can build their entire top game around for years.
You primarily train in the gi and want gi-specific grip-based passing. Also skip if you need a quick 2-hour instructional – this demands commitment.
Gordon’s Systematically Attacking The Back for what to do after you pass into back control.
Guard Retention Anthology
Lachlan Giles & Ariel TabakThe most complete guard retention system ever released. ADCC medalist Lachlan Giles and retention specialist Ariel Tabak deconstruct the science of not getting your guard passed, then teach you to counterattack from every defensive position.
What it covers
The anthology is split into two main series: “Around and Under” (defending toreando, leg drag, and around-the-legs passes) and “Through The Legs and Close Range” (defending stack passes, pressure passing, and tight passes). Each series builds from general concepts through specific scenarios to counterattack sequences.
The core framework teaches three “don’ts” of retention: don’t let your opponent hug your head, don’t let them pin your leg, and don’t let them into your inside space. From there, Lachlan builds layers of defense – hip movement, frames, posture management – and shows how each defensive action creates an opening for guard recovery or counterattack.
Why it stands out
- Layered defense model: not just “do this when they pass” but a multi-layer system where each layer feeds the next
- Both gi and no-gi: separate versions mean the grips and frames are tailored to each context
- Ariel Tabak’s specialization: a guard retention specialist brings a different perspective than most instructors who focus on attacks
- Narrated rolling: real-time application with Lachlan explaining his retention decisions during live rolls
Lachlan proves why he is one of the best coaches of today…a real masterpiece, completely deconstructing one of the most fundamental aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
BJJ World review
This is not a casual watch. The material is dense and the 16-volume bundle can feel overwhelming. Some sequences require good hip mobility that older or less flexible practitioners may need to adapt. Danaher’s New Wave: Positional Escapes covers similar defensive territory in a more theoretical framework if you prefer that teaching style.
Purple belts whose guard gets passed by aggressive pressure passers and want a systematic defensive game. If your guard attacks are decent but you can never get to them because your guard keeps getting smashed, start here.
You primarily play top game and rarely pull guard. Your money is better spent on passing or top control instructionals.
Any guard attack instructional (Mikey Musumeci’s K guard, Marcelo’s butterfly guard). Retention makes all guard attacks viable. Lachlan’s full library is also on Submeta.
Power Ride: A New Philosophy on Pinning
Craig JonesCraig Jones argues we’ve been pinning wrong in BJJ. Instead of passing to side control and mounting, pin like Khabib – stay on the legs, ride the body, and use wrestling-style control to break people. BJJ World gave it 10/10 across all categories.
What it covers
Volume 1 lays the theoretical foundation: why traditional BJJ point-scoring positions (side control, mount) aren’t always the most effective control positions. Volumes 2-3 cover the actual riding mechanics: turks, shelf positions, rear mount variations, claw rides, and the Dagestani handcuff. Volume 4 tackles turtle breaking with diagonal rides and crab hooks. Volume 5 integrates everything into standard BJJ positions. Volume 6 adds submissions from the riding system – the belly-down RNC and rear arm-in Ezekiel choke that become high-percentage from Jones’ control framework.
Why it stands out
- Genuinely novel for most BJJ players: wrestling-style riding is barely taught in BJJ academies, so this gives you techniques your opponents have never encountered
- Challenges scoring orthodoxy: Craig makes a compelling case that controlling legs is more dominant than traditional side control or mount
- Compact runtime: 4 hours means you can study and implement this in weeks, not months
- High submission rate: the control positions naturally feed into back takes and chokes
One of the best Craig Jones Jiu-Jitsu instructionals ever. It bridges wrestling and BJJ systematically, addressing a gap in modern grappling knowledge.
BJJ World review (10/10)
If you compete under IBJJF rules, some of the riding positions don’t score points the way traditional pins do. The system is built for ADCC-style and submission-only rulesets. Also, if you’ve never wrestled, the leg riding concepts may take more drilling time to feel natural compared to someone with a wrestling background.
Purple belts who want a competitive edge in no-gi that most opponents haven’t trained against. Tournament competitors in sub-only or ADCC-rules events will get the most immediate benefit.
You only compete under IBJJF points rules and want to maximize point-scoring positions. Also skip if you’re still working on basic guard passing – you need to get past the guard before you can ride.
Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking The Guard for a complete top game: pass the guard with Gordon’s system, control with Craig’s riding.
Leglocks: Enter The System
John DanaherThe instructional that changed how the entire sport thinks about leg locks. Danaher treats ashi garami positions as a control hierarchy – not a scramble-and-grab game – with systematic entries, progressive control, and high-percentage finishes built on ten core principles.
What it covers
Danaher builds the leg lock system from first principles. The ashi garami hierarchy moves from outside ashi (least control) through inside ashi, 50/50, cross ashi, and into the backside 50/50 (maximum control). Each position builds on the last, and Danaher teaches you to guide opponents through this hierarchy toward the inside heel hook – the highest-percentage finish in the system.
Beyond the positions, Danaher identifies ten core principles and six essential skills. The principles govern decision-making (when to enter, when to transition, when to finish), while the skills cover the mechanical requirements (hip positioning, knee line control, heel exposure, breaking mechanics).
Why it stands out
- Principle-based system: you learn the “why” behind every position, making it possible to improvise in live situations
- Control hierarchy: leg locks become a positional game, not a 50/50 scramble gamble
- Proven at the highest level: this system produced the Danaher Death Squad’s ADCC dominance
- Scales with your development: the concepts work at purple belt and remain relevant through black belt and competition
If you’re looking to develop a deadly leg locking game to beat any opponent, this is the product for you.
BJJ World review
Released in 2018, some of the entries feel dated compared to modern leg lock meta (K guard entries, matrix transitions). The core system is timeless, but you’ll want to supplement entries with more recent material. Lachlan Giles’ 50/50 system and Mikey Musumeci’s K Guard offer modern entry pathways that feed directly into Danaher’s control hierarchy.
Purple belts who want to build a complete leg lock system from the ground up. If your current leg lock game is “grab a heel and hope,” this replaces that with a systematic approach.
You already have a solid leg lock framework and just need specific entries or finishing details. In that case, look at Lachlan Giles’ Leg Lock Anthology for more granular technique work.
Mikey Musumeci’s K Guard for modern entries, Garry Tonon’s Unifying The Systems for connecting leg locks to upper body attacks.
Unifying The Systems
Garry TononThe missing link in the Danaher Death Squad system. While Danaher teaches individual submission systems in isolation, Tonon provides the transitions between them – the attack chains that make your submissions inescapable because they flow into each other.
What it covers
Each volume focuses on one submission system and maps the transitions from that system to every other system. Kimura grip leads to armbar leads to triangle leads to back take leads to leg lock entries. Tonon covers front headlock chains, guillotine-to-darce-to-anaconda sequences, armbar-to-triangle-to-omoplata loops, and kimura trap transitions that connect upper body and lower body attacks.
The critical insight: when an opponent defends one submission, their defense creates the opening for the next. Tonon maps these defensive reactions to specific transition points, so you’re always one step ahead.
Why it stands out
- Fills a real gap: most instructionals teach submissions in isolation. This teaches how to chain them into dilemmas
- Pressure-tested at the highest level: Tonon’s style of constant transitioning earned him ADCC medals and elite victories
- Compatible with existing knowledge: you don’t need to learn new submissions – you learn how to connect the ones you already know
- One volume per system: clean organization makes it easy to study the areas most relevant to your game
Tonon connected everything, providing the transitions that were sorely missed between all the submission systems.
BJJ World review
This instructional assumes you already know the individual submissions. If your armbar, triangle, and kimura aren’t at least decent, the transitions won’t make sense. It’s a connector between existing skills, not a foundational instructional. Also, Tonon’s explosive style can be hard to replicate for older or less athletic practitioners – focus on the concepts rather than matching his pace.
Purple belts who know their individual submissions but struggle to chain attacks in live rolling. If opponents consistently escape your first submission attempt, this teaches you to make that escape feed your second attack.
Your individual submission technique is still rough. Perfect your armbar and triangle mechanics first, then come back to learn how to chain them.
Danaher’s Enter The System (any volume) for the individual submission systems that Tonon then connects.
New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing
John DanaherDanaher’s most refined passing system, developed at the New Wave Jiu Jitsu academy with B-Team and New Wave athletes. More theoretical than Gordon’s approach, focusing on the conceptual framework behind passing decisions rather than specific sequences.
What it covers
Danaher structures passing around three main modalities: toreando (around the legs), body lock (through the legs), and over-under (between the legs). The headquarters concept serves as the neutral position from which you select your passing pathway based on your opponent’s guard structure. Each modality gets complete coverage: entries, progressions, counters to common defenses, and transitions between modalities when one pathway gets blocked.
Why it stands out
- Conceptual depth: Danaher explains the principles behind passing in a way that lets you adapt to any guard, including guards that don’t exist yet
- Three-modality framework: a simple mental model (around, through, between) that organizes all passing into three clear categories
- Updated for modern guards: covers responses to K guard, matrix, and modern open guard systems that the 2018-era instructionals missed
- Teaching quality: Danaher’s ability to explain complex concepts in clear, logical progressions is unmatched
Every grip leads to an off-balance, and every off-balance leads to a submission threat or positional advancement.
Open Note Grappling review
If you’ve already bought Gordon Ryan’s passing instructional, there’s significant overlap in concepts (Gordon learned from Danaher, after all). The difference is teaching style: Danaher is more theoretical and systematic, Gordon is more practical and competition-oriented. If you learn better from concepts, pick Danaher. If you learn better from “watch me do it, now copy,” pick Gordon. Buying both is redundant for most purple belts.
Purple belts who prefer a conceptual teaching style and want to understand the theory behind passing, not just the techniques. Strong choice for analytical thinkers.
You already own Gordon Ryan’s passing instructional. Also skip if you prefer more practical, competition-focused teaching over theoretical frameworks.
Danaher’s New Wave Positional Escapes for a complete defensive complement.
Systematically Attacking The Back
Gordon RyanGordon’s complete back attack system, developed with Danaher. 10 hours covering back control, hand fighting, grip management, and submission chains from rear mount – the position that produced five strangles at ADCC 2019.
What it covers
The system covers the complete back attack cycle: taking the back (from various positions), establishing control (seatbelt, body triangle, hooks), hand fighting and grip management (what to do when they strip your grips), and finishing sequences (rear naked choke variations, arm locks from back, triangles from back, and transitions to crucifix).
Gordon puts significant emphasis on the hand fighting and elbow fighting aspects that separate recreational back control from competition-level back attacks. Most purple belts can take the back but can’t finish because they lose the grip battle – this solves that problem.
Why it stands out
- Hand fighting depth: the grip management material alone is worth the purchase for purple belts who take the back but can’t finish
- Multiple submission chains: RNC, arm triangle, armbar, and crucifix transitions from the same control position
- ADCC-proven: this exact system strangled five elite black belts in one tournament
If you have the patience to use both the back system and Danaher’s material, your back attack game will become unstoppable.
BJJ World review
At 10 hours, this is another massive commitment. If your primary problem is getting to the back rather than finishing from the back, the first half of this instructional (entries) is less comprehensive than dedicated back-take instructionals. Consider Danaher’s Enter The System: Back Attacks for a more entry-focused approach.
Purple belts who can take the back but struggle to finish. If you’re getting to rear mount in 3 out of 5 rounds but only finishing 1, the hand fighting and submission chain material will fix that.
You rarely reach the back. Work on your sweeps and guard game first.
Craig Jones’ Power Ride for an alternative top control when back takes aren’t available.
K Guard & Matrix System
Mikey MusumeciFour-time gi World Champion Mikey Musumeci breaks down K guard as the launchpad for matrix back takes, baby bolo entries, and a complete bottom game that’s virtually impossible to shut down once you understand the mechanics.
What it covers
Mikey spends the early volumes on K guard fundamentals: posture requirements, balance rules, and the drilling structure you need before attempting the system live. From there, he builds into matrix hook entries, baby bolo mechanics, and the back take sequences that made him the most successful gi competitor at his weight class.
What sets this apart from other K guard material is Mikey’s obsessive attention to the details that make or break each entry. Small adjustments to hip angle, grip placement, and timing that most instructors gloss over become the focus of entire chapters.
Why it stands out
- Competition-current: Mikey is actively winning world titles with this system right now
- Detail obsession: the micro-adjustments that most instructors skip are Mikey’s primary focus
- Systematic progression: foundations first, then layered complexity – exactly how purple belts should learn
Starting from volume three, only advanced grapplers can follow Mikey. The Matrix style back takes from K guard seem way too advanced for beginners.
BJJ World review
This is primarily a gi system. While some K guard concepts transfer to no-gi, the grip sequences are gi-dependent. If you only train no-gi, look at Lachlan Giles’ leg lock entries from 50/50 for a comparable bottom game system. Also, Mikey’s body type (very flexible, lightweight) means some movements may need adaptation for larger or less flexible practitioners.
Purple belts who compete in the gi and want a cutting-edge bottom game that produces back takes and sweeps from a single guard position.
You train exclusively no-gi or prefer a more traditional guard game. Also skip if you haven’t solidified basic guard retention first.
Lachlan Giles’ Guard Retention Anthology – retain guard long enough to enter K guard, then attack with Mikey’s system.
The Complete Butterfly Guard
Marcelo GarciaThe butterfly guard blueprint from the greatest butterfly guard player in history. 9-time ADCC/IBJJF champion Marcelo Garcia distills his entire butterfly system: upright posture, underhook clamp, arm drag entries, X guard transitions, and the back takes that defined a generation of grappling.
What it covers
Marcelo builds butterfly guard from the sitting posture through underhook control, two-on-one grips, and butterfly hook elevation. The system naturally flows into X guard when opponents post to stop sweeps, and from X guard into technical standup or back take sequences. Every pathway connects back to the core butterfly position, creating a closed loop where failed attacks return you to your starting point rather than a scramble.
Why it stands out
- Timeless concepts: Marcelo’s butterfly game has been competition-viable for 20+ years because it’s based on fundamental principles, not trendy techniques
- Gi and no-gi integration: the system works in both contexts with minimal modification
- Natural back take connections: butterfly guard is the best guard for taking the back, and Marcelo shows exactly how to make that connection
- X guard as extension: butterfly and X guard form one continuous system rather than two separate positions
The classic butterfly blueprint with durable concepts. Great for learning the upright posture and underhook clamp, with strong connections into X guard and back takes.
BJJ World review
If you’re already a strong butterfly guard player, this may not add much to your game – it’s more of a complete system build than a set of advanced details. For deep butterfly refinement, Adam Wardzinski’s butterfly material offers more situational detail for specific problems. Marcelo’s teaching style is also more demonstration-heavy and less explanation-heavy than Danaher or Lachlan Giles.
Purple belts who want to build butterfly guard as their primary sitting guard, especially if they also want strong back take connections. Great for both gi and no-gi players.
You’re already competent in butterfly guard and need advanced troubleshooting rather than a system build.
Gordon Ryan’s back attack system for what to do after you take the back from butterfly/X guard transitions.
The Modern Defensive Guard
Ryan HallRyan Hall revisits defensive guard play with updated concepts for modern grappling. An 8-part instructional that builds an unpassable guard through shelling, framing, and counterattack sequences – taught by one of the most cerebral grapplers in BJJ history.
What it covers
Hall addresses guard defense from a conceptual perspective: what makes a guard “unpassable” at a principle level, rather than drilling specific retention movements. He covers shelling (creating a protective structure), framing (directing force), and counterattacks (turning defense into offense). Hall explicitly addresses how his defensive guard approach has changed from his earlier instructional to adapt to the current meta of aggressive pressure passing and leg lock entries.
Why it stands out
- Conceptual teaching style: Hall teaches the “why” behind guard defense in a way that’s uniquely his – you see both the details and the big picture simultaneously
- Updated for modern grappling: addresses modern threats like systematic pressure passing and leg entanglement entries
- Complementary to Lachlan Giles: where Lachlan is mechanical and systematic, Hall is conceptual and philosophical – together they cover the full spectrum of guard defense thinking
The way Ryan Hall structures things and explains the material is very rare among BJJ instructors. He is a true wizard at teaching Jiu-Jitsu and making practitioners see both the details and the big picture at the same time.
BJJ World review
Hall’s teaching style is more abstract than most. If you prefer “do this grip, move this hip, pass this leg” step-by-step instruction, you’ll find Hall frustrating. His concepts work brilliantly for analytical thinkers but can feel vague for practitioners who learn through repetition. Lachlan Giles’ Guard Retention Anthology is the more practical alternative.
Analytically-minded purple belts who want a conceptual understanding of guard defense that they can apply to any situation, even positions they’ve never encountered.
You learn best from step-by-step technique drilling. Also skip if you’ve already invested in Lachlan’s Guard Retention Anthology – there’s enough overlap that both may be redundant.
Any guard attack system (Mikey Musumeci’s K guard, Marcelo Garcia’s butterfly guard) for the offensive complement to Hall’s defensive framework.
All picks, side by side
Comparison tableSwipe sideways for details · the price column stays pinned →
| # | Instructional | Instructor | Runtime | Level | Format | Category | Tier | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Systematically Attacking The Guard | Gordon Ryan | 8+ hours across 4 volumes (8 in 2.0) | Purple belts and above | No-Gi | Passing system | $$$ | Check price → |
| 2 | Guard Retention Anthology | Lachlan Giles & Ariel Tabak | 10+ hours across 8 volumes (16 total in bundle) | Blue belts through black belts (purple belt sweet spot) | Gi and No-Gi versions included | Guard retention & defense | $$$ | Check price → |
| 3 | Power Ride: A New Philosophy on Pinning | Craig Jones | ~4 hours across 6 volumes | Purple belts and above | No-Gi (principles applicable with gi) | For developing an edge | $$ | Check price → |
| 4 | Leglocks: Enter The System | John Danaher | 9+ hours across 8 volumes | Blue belts through black belts | No-Gi | Leg lock system | $$$ | Check price → |
| 5 | Unifying The Systems | Garry Tonon | ~8 hours across 8 volumes | Purple belts and above | No-Gi | Submission transitions | $$ | Check price → |
| 6 | New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing | John Danaher | 8+ hours across 8 volumes | Blue belts through black belts | No-Gi | Conceptual passing system | $$$ | Check price → |
| 7 | Systematically Attacking The Back | Gordon Ryan | 10 hours across 8 volumes | Purple belts and above | No-Gi | Back attack system | $$$ | Check price → |
| 8 | K Guard & Matrix System | Mikey Musumeci | ~8 hours across 8 volumes | Purple belts and above (confirmed by BJJ World) | Primarily Gi (K guard concepts transfer to no-gi) | Gi guard system | $$ | Check price → |
| 9 | The Complete Butterfly Guard | Marcelo Garcia | ~6 hours across 4 volumes | All levels (purple belts get the most from advanced volumes) | Gi and No-Gi applicable | Butterfly guard system | $$ | Check price → |
| 10 | The Modern Defensive Guard | Ryan Hall | ~6 hours across 8 parts | All levels (conceptual depth rewards experienced grapplers) | Gi and No-Gi | Conceptual guard defense | $$ | Check price → |
Why these 3 for purple belts?
Why these 3 for purple belts?
Purple belt is where your game either becomes cohesive or stays a collection of disconnected techniques. These three instructionals each solve a core purple belt problem:
- Gordon Ryan’s passing system gives you a complete decision tree for the top position. Instead of knowing 5 random passes, you’ll have systematic responses to every guard configuration – including the modern guards (K guard, matrix, berimbolo entries) that give purple belts trouble.
- Lachlan Giles’ guard retention is the foundation that makes every guard attack work. If you can’t retain guard against heavy pressure passers, your fancy guard game is meaningless. This gives you layered defensive frameworks that buy time and create counterattack opportunities.
- Craig Jones’ Power Ride adds a dimension that 95% of BJJ players simply don’t have: wrestling-style top control. At purple belt tournaments, this kind of unique positional advantage separates podium finishers from early-round exits.
What purple belts actually need from instructionals
At purple belt, the learning model flips. White and blue belts accumulate techniques. You need to go the other direction: depth over breadth, systems over moves, game plans over reactions. Here’s what that means for choosing instructionals:
Systems, not techniques
A white belt instructional teaches “how to do a toreando pass.” A purple belt instructional should teach “when to toreando vs. body lock vs. over-under based on your opponent’s guard structure, and what to do when each one gets countered.” Gordon Ryan’s passing and Danaher’s New Wave series are built this way – every technique exists within a decision framework.
A-game refinement + B-game development
You probably have 2-3 positions you’re comfortable in. Your A-game needs refinement at the detail level – the micro-adjustments that turn a 60% finish rate into 90%. Simultaneously, you need B-game development: secondary systems you can switch to when your primary game gets shut down. This is exactly what Garry Tonon teaches in Unifying The Systems – the transitions between attack chains.
Competition-level problem solving
The instructionals on this list aren’t theoretical. They’re built by active competitors solving real problems against elite opposition. Gordon Ryan developed his passing system to beat ADCC-level guard players. Craig Jones built Power Ride to control wrestlers and BJJ specialists who neutralize traditional pinning. These are solutions to problems you’ll actually encounter.
Conceptual frameworks over memorization
At your level, you can’t just memorize a sequence and drill it. You need to understand the principles behind the techniques so you can improvise under pressure. Danaher’s teaching style is built around this – he gives you the conceptual skeleton, then fills in specific techniques as examples of broader principles.
Pricing, deals & how to save money
The most important rule for buying BJJ Fanatics instructionals: never pay full price. BJJ Fanatics runs permanent discount codes that cut prices by 40-50%. They also run daily deals that stack additional discounts.
| Instructional | Instructor | Regular | With code | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematically Attacking The Guard | Gordon Ryan | ~$197 | ~$100-130 | 8+ hrs |
| Guard Retention Anthology (Bundle) | Lachlan Giles | ~$197 | ~$100-130 | 10+ hrs |
| Power Ride | Craig Jones | ~$127 | ~$65-80 | 4 hrs |
| Leglocks: Enter The System | Danaher | ~$217 | ~$110-140 | 9+ hrs |
| Unifying The Systems | Garry Tonon | ~$127-197 | ~$65-100 | 8 hrs |
| New Wave: Guard Passing | Danaher | ~$197-249 | ~$100-130 | 8+ hrs |
| Attacking The Back | Gordon Ryan | ~$197-249 | ~$100-130 | 10 hrs |
| K Guard & Matrix | Mikey Musumeci | ~$127-197 | ~$65-100 | 8 hrs |
| Complete Butterfly Guard | Marcelo Garcia | ~$127-197 | ~$65-100 | 6 hrs |
| Modern Defensive Guard | Ryan Hall | ~$127-197 | ~$65-100 | 6 hrs |
How to find discount codes
- Check the BJJ Fanatics homepage banner – there’s almost always a sitewide code running
- Daily deals page – rotates specific instructionals at deep discounts
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday – the biggest sales of the year, typically 50-60% off
- Instructor social media – Gordon Ryan, Craig Jones, and others occasionally share exclusive discount codes
Alternative: Submeta subscription
If you’re interested in Lachlan Giles’ material specifically, Submeta.io offers 66+ courses from Lachlan for approximately $25/month. That includes guard retention, leg locks, half guard, no-gi chokes, and more. For the cost of one instructional, you get three months of access to his entire library. It’s particularly good value for purple belts who want to explore multiple areas of Lachlan’s teaching before committing to buying specific instructionals on BJJ Fanatics.
Purple belt buying guide: where to start
You don’t need all 10 of these. Here’s how to pick the right 1-2 instructionals based on your specific situation:
If your guard keeps getting passed
Start with Lachlan Giles’ Guard Retention Anthology (#2). No point investing in guard attacks if you can’t keep your guard. Once your retention is solid, add Mikey Musumeci’s K Guard or Marcelo’s butterfly guard for offensive weapons.
If you can’t pass guard consistently
Pick either Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking The Guard (#1) if you prefer practical, competition-focused teaching, or Danaher’s New Wave Guard Passing (#6) if you prefer conceptual frameworks. Don’t buy both – they cover similar territory with different teaching styles.
If you pass but can’t finish
Get Craig Jones’ Power Ride (#3) for top control, then Gordon Ryan’s Attacking The Back (#7) for finishing sequences. Together, these give you a complete “after the pass” system.
If your submissions are getting escaped
Get Garry Tonon’s Unifying The Systems (#5). Your problem isn’t individual submission technique – it’s that you’re attacking in isolation instead of chains. Tonon teaches you to make every escape feed your next attack.
If you want to build a leg lock game
Start with Danaher’s Leglocks: Enter The System (#4) for the foundational system, then add specific entries (Mikey’s K Guard for gi, Lachlan’s 50/50 for no-gi) once you understand the control hierarchy.
If you compete in the gi
Prioritize Mikey Musumeci’s K Guard (#8) and Marcelo Garcia’s Butterfly Guard (#9). Both systems are proven at the highest levels of gi competition and give you a complete bottom game.
FAQ
Are instructionals actually worth it at purple belt?
Purple belt is arguably the best time to invest in instructionals. You have enough mat time to understand what you’re watching, enough technical vocabulary to follow advanced concepts, and enough competitive experience to know what your game needs. At white and blue belt, instructionals often add confusion. At purple belt, they add structure to skills you already have.
Should I buy individual instructionals or a Submeta subscription?
If you’re specifically interested in Lachlan Giles’ teaching, Submeta at ~$25/month is outstanding value. For instructors like Gordon Ryan, Danaher, Craig Jones, and Mikey Musumeci, individual purchases on BJJ Fanatics with discount codes are your only option. Many purple belts use both: Submeta for Lachlan’s library, plus 1-2 targeted BJJ Fanatics purchases per year.
How many instructionals should I study at once?
One. Study one instructional at a time, drilling the material for 4-6 weeks before moving on. Purple belts who buy three instructionals and watch them all in a weekend learn nothing. The value comes from drilling and live testing, not passive watching. Pick the one that addresses your biggest current weakness and commit to it.
Gordon Ryan or Danaher for guard passing?
Both teach the same fundamental system (Danaher developed it, Gordon executes it). Gordon is more practical and competition-focused – watch me do it, here’s why it works. Danaher is more theoretical and principle-based – here’s the conceptual framework, here are examples. If you learn by doing, pick Gordon. If you learn by understanding, pick Danaher. Don’t buy both unless you really want both perspectives.
What if I mostly train gi? Are no-gi instructionals still useful?
Many of the concepts transfer. Passing principles, guard retention frameworks, and positional control concepts work in both contexts. The main gi-specific recommendations on this list are Mikey Musumeci’s K Guard and Marcelo Garcia’s butterfly guard. For gi-only passing, look at instructionals from Gui Mendes or the Miyao brothers (not covered here since they’re more niche).
What’s the best instructional for competition-focused purple belts?
Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking The Guard for passing, and Craig Jones’ Power Ride for top control. Both are built by active competitors solving real competition problems. For gi competition, add Mikey Musumeci’s K Guard system. These three together cover the majority of competition positions.
I can only buy one instructional. Which one?
Lachlan Giles’ Guard Retention Anthology. Here’s why: guard retention is the foundation that makes every other skill work. If you can retain guard, your guard attacks become viable. If you can defend against passes, your sweeps have a safety net. It’s the one skill that improves your entire game regardless of whether you prefer top or bottom, gi or no-gi, points or submissions.
Still deciding which one to buy first?
If you’re not sure, start with guard retention – it’s the foundation that makes every other skill work. Otherwise, pick the instructional that targets your single biggest weakness in live rolling and commit to it for 4-6 weeks before adding another. BJJ Fanatics runs ~50% codes almost year-round, so never pay full price.