Best BJJ Instructionals Under $50: Budget Picks That Actually Deliver

Foundations of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Bernardo Faria

90 techniques across 6 volumes from a 5x World Champion. BJJ World called it “the best basics DVD for BJJ ever.” At ~$49 on sale, you’re paying roughly $0.55 per technique.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 6 Volumes / 90 Techniques
• 📅 Regular: $99 / On Sale: ~$49
• 🥋 Gi Focus
• 🎯 White and blue belts

What It Covers

The six volumes cover the full positional hierarchy: standing work, closed guard (sweeps and submissions), open guard (De La Riva, lasso guard, and Faria’s trademark knee shield), guard passing (starting with posture and progressing to more complex passes), and position escapes from side control, north-south, and knee on belly.

What Makes It Stand Out

• 90 techniques covering every major position
• Friendly teaching style with clear explanations
• Proven fundamentals from a 5x World Champion
• Works for both gi and translates well to no-gi

Weakness

Older production quality (no multi-angle shots). No leg lock content. Doesn’t go deep on any single position.

My Recommendation

Best for: White and blue belts who want a complete fundamentals encyclopedia

Avoid if: You want deep coverage of a single position

Read our full review

The Road to Blue Belt
Travis Lutter

A focused 2-DVD set that answers one question: what does a white belt actually need to know? Fewer techniques done really well.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2 DVDs
• 📅 Under $50
• 🥋 Gi + No-Gi
• 🎯 White belts

What It Covers

Where Faria gives you 90 techniques across every position, Lutter narrows it down to the essentials that work for “regular people” (his words). The emphasis is on seat belt grips, basic positional control, and submissions that are reliable under pressure.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Focused curriculum with clear progression
• Works in both gi and no-gi
• Realistic techniques for hobbyists, not competitors
• UFC-tested instructor who understands pressure

Weakness

Only 2 DVDs, so coverage is intentionally limited. Won’t take you beyond blue belt fundamentals.

My Recommendation

Best for: Overwhelmed white belts who want a roadmap, not an encyclopedia

Avoid if: You want deep coverage or you’re already at blue belt

Read our full review

Escapes and Attacks From Bottom Side Control
Eli Knight

Don’t just get out. Get out and immediately attack. Every escape chains directly into a counter-attack or positional improvement.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ Multiple Volumes
• 📅 Under $50
• 🥋 Gi + No-Gi
• 🎯 White to blue belts

What It Covers

Elbow escapes, shrimping variations, and bridging techniques from bottom side control, with every escape chaining directly into a counter-attack or positional improvement.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Escape-to-attack chains, not just survival
• Multiple options from every bad position
• Royce Gracie lineage and self-defense emphasis
• Budget price point, well under $50

Weakness

Focused only on side control bottom (not mount, back, etc.). Less competition-oriented than Danaher’s escape series.

My Recommendation

Best for: White belts who spend most of their time pinned under side control

Avoid if: You need a complete escape system covering all positions

Half Domination
Tom DeBlass

Half guard is the single most covered topic in BJJ instructionals (814 titles on GrappleDB). DeBlass’s Half Domination is where many people’s half guard journey starts.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 DVDs
• 📅 Regular: $77 / On Sale: ~$39-47
• 🥋 Gi + No-Gi Applicable
• 🎯 All levels

What It Covers

Volume 1 builds your knee shield and Z guard foundation from bottom. Volume 2 switches to top half guard. Volume 3 digs into advanced bottom half guard attacks. Specific techniques include the waiter sweep, elbow trap sweep, butterfly hook sweep, kimura from half guard, and omoplata sweep sequences.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Complete bottom and top half guard system
• Z guard and knee shield fundamentals
• Sweep-to-submission chains (kimura, omoplata)
• Pressure-based style that works for bigger grapplers

Weakness

Lachlan Giles’ Half Guard Anthology goes deeper for $30 more. DeBlass’s style is heavy and pressure-oriented, may not suit lighter grapplers.

My Recommendation

Best for: Anyone who wants a reliable, pressure-based bottom game

Avoid if: You’re a lighter grappler who prefers speed-based approaches

Compare options: Best Half Guard Instructionals

Closed Guard Domination
Tom DeBlass

A systematic closed guard approach from an ADCC veteran. Cross-collar chokes, armbars, triangle setups, hip bump sweeps, and the scissor sweep.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 DVDs
• 📅 Regular: $77 / On Sale: ~$39-47
• 🥋 Gi Focus
• 🎯 All levels

What It Covers

Breaking posture, setting up sweeps, and attacking submissions from closed guard. Nothing revolutionary, but taught clearly by someone who has spent decades making these basics work against resisting opponents.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Systematic closed guard approach from an ADCC veteran
• Classic submissions taught with modern details
• Sweep-to-submission transitions
• Great for gi players at any level

Weakness

Closed guard is less relevant in no-gi at higher levels. Roger Gracie’s closed guard instructional is more detailed (but costs more).

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi players who want to sharpen their closed guard fundamentals

Avoid if: You primarily train no-gi

Compare: Best Closed Guard Instructionals

Fundamentals of Guard Passing
Mikey Musumeci

A multiple-time World Champion who knows guards better than almost anyone teaches you how to break and pass them. Deliberately simplified for white belts.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ Multiple Volumes
• 📅 Under $50
• 🥋 Gi Focus
• 🎯 White to blue belts

What It Covers

The approach is methodical: first break the guard structure, then pass. Musumeci covers posture management, grip fighting, and specific passing sequences that chain together.

What Makes It Stand Out

• World Champion teaching passing in beginner-friendly terms
• Systematic guard-breaking progressions
• Simplified versions of advanced passing concepts
• Budget-friendly entry into guard passing

Weakness

Gi-focused; no-gi passers should look elsewhere. Not as comprehensive as Lachlan Giles’ Guard Passing Anthology.

My Recommendation

Best for: White and blue belts who need a structured passing framework

Avoid if: You train primarily no-gi or want competition-level detail

Compare: Best Guard Passing Instructionals

Submission Escapes
Tom DeBlass

One of the most practical purchases you can make under $50 on sale. Every escape you learn is one less tap in sparring.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 3 Volumes
• 📅 Regular: $79 / On Sale: ~$39-47
• 🥋 Gi + No-Gi
• 🎯 White to purple belts

What It Covers

Volume 1 handles upper body escapes: armbars, triangles, omoplatas, kimuras, and guillotines. Volume 2 addresses leg lock defense: straight ankle locks, heel hooks, toe holds, and kneebars. Volume 3 covers positional escapes from mount, side control, and back control.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Comprehensive coverage of the most common submissions
• Includes modern leg lock defense (heel hooks, toe holds)
• Positional escapes alongside submission escapes
• Works in both gi and no-gi

Weakness

Danaher’s New Wave Submission Escapes goes much deeper ($197+). Defensive focus means no counter-attack chains.

My Recommendation

Best for: White belts tired of tapping every 30 seconds

Avoid if: You want escape-to-counter-attack systems

Compare: Best Submission Escape Instructionals

Position, Transition and Submission
Eli Knight

Connects the dots between positions. Get to a position, transition to a better one, finish with a submission. Originally planned at $147+, now well under $50.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ Multiple Volumes
• 📅 Under $50
• 🥋 Gi + No-Gi
• 🎯 White to blue belts

What It Covers

As a Royce Gracie black belt, Knight teaches a self-defense-oriented style. The techniques are simple and high-percentage. Position-to-submission chains rather than isolated techniques.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Position-to-submission chains, not isolated techniques
• Self-defense applicable
• Priced well below what the content is worth
• Clear, methodical instruction

Weakness

Self-defense emphasis may not appeal to sport BJJ players. Less name recognition than Faria, DeBlass, or Danaher.

My Recommendation

Best for: Self-defense-oriented beginners who want connected techniques

Avoid if: You’re focused on sport BJJ competition