A data-backed ranking of the most impactful BJJ Fanatics submission instructionals, based on r/bjj sentiment, structure, applicability, authority and production quality.
Triangles: Enter The System
A complete triangle system that upgrades your setups, control, and finishes from bottom and top.
High Percentage Chokes: No Gi
A clean, affordable no-gi choke system built around front headlock control and reliable finishes.
Systematically Attacking The Guillotine
Advanced guillotine mechanics and chaining that weaponize the front headlock for no-gi.
📋 Jump to a review (Click to expand)
🥋 #1 Triangles: Enter The System by John Danaher
Instructor: John Danaher
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Drill Heavy
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 8 hours and 49 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Mechanics before squeezes
Techniques: Triangle, Armbar, Reverse Triangle
- Systematically Attacking Triangles – A modern triangle toolkit with live examples from Gordon Ryan.
- The Science of Filthy Triangles – Unorthodox triangle mechanics and catch-wrestling angles.
You will learn a full triangle roadmap with precise mechanics. You will practice structured entries and link triangles to armlocks. You will not get a short highlight reel or a quick-fix tutorial.
✅ Pros
- A true system that connects entries, control and finishes clearly.
- Production has chapters and content mapping that aids spaced study.
- Transfers well to gi with minor grip changes.
⚠️ Cons
- Long runtime demands patience and note-taking.
- Some entries assume strong inversion and flexibility.
- Not ideal if you want quick, bite-sized drills only.
💡 I saw the biggest gains by drilling the trap-to-figure-four transition before chasing new entries. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 High Percentage Chokes: No Gi by Lachlan Giles
Instructor: Lachlan Giles
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 5 hours and 6 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Front headlock first
Techniques: Guillotine, Darce, Anaconda
- The Front Headlock System - Deeper, more comprehensive FHL control and submissions.
- Systematically Attacking The Guillotine - Advanced guillotine-focused path with high-wrist details.
You will learn front headlock control, guillotines and arm-in variations. You will see clear sequences and troubleshooting. You will not get a sprawling, eight-volume marathon.
✅ Pros
- Shorter, well-structured lessons make practice easier.
- Covers the whole choke family from the same hub.
- Budget-friendly without sacrificing key details.
⚠️ Cons
- Less exhaustive than Danaher or Gordon sets.
- Gi adaptations are only implicit.
- Fewer live application segments than some newer releases.
💡 I got faster results by drilling the snap-down into arm-in guillotine before adding darce and anaconda. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 Systematically Attacking The Guillotine by Gordon Ryan
Instructor: Gordon Ryan
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Footage Breakdown
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 4 hours and 49 minutes
Biggest takeaway: High wrist matters
Techniques: Guillotine, Arm In Guillotine, Front Headlock
- The Front Headlock System - Broader position-first FHL curriculum that complements the guillotine focus.
- High Percentage Chokes: No Gi - A shorter, easier starting point for FHL chokes.
You will learn high-wrist and arm-in guillotines with precise mechanics. You will connect attacks across front headlock transitions. You will not get much gi-specific guidance.
✅ Pros
- Elite, modern guillotine mechanics with layered counters.
- Integrates well with FHL passing and back takes.
- Lots of detail on finishing variations.
⚠️ Cons
- High price compared to peers.
- Heavy runtime with fewer beginner cues.
- Sparse gi adaptation notes.
💡 I improved finishes by prioritizing high wrist before any squeeze, then switching to arm-in as they pummel. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 The Front Headlock System by John Danaher
Instructor: John Danaher
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 7 hours and 52 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Reactions drive choices
Techniques: Front Headlock, Guillotine, Darce
- High Percentage Chokes: No Gi - A shorter, simpler entry point to FHL chokes.
- Systematically Attacking The Guillotine - Advanced guillotine focus if you already like FHL.
You will learn to hold and attack from front headlock. You will map reactions into guillotines, darce and anaconda. You will not get a short, beginner-only overview.
✅ Pros
- Strong position-first approach builds reliable control.
- Covers multiple chokes from the same hub.
- Teaches reaction-based decision trees.
⚠️ Cons
- Heavy lecture sections slow practice cadence.
- Some chapters feel confusing without coaching cues.
- Not tailored to gi grip specifics.
💡 I improved retention by drilling the three-choice decision tree before adding entries. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 The Complete North South Choke by Marcelo Garcia
Instructor: Marcelo Garcia
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 59 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Head position wins
Techniques: North South Choke, Shoulder Pressure
- The Front Headlock System - If you want a higher-frequency choke family in no-gi.
- High Percentage Chokes: No Gi - Broader head-and-arm choke pathways from FHL.
You will learn how to position and finish north-south. You will troubleshoot common stalls and counters. You will not get a generic choke compilation.
✅ Pros
- Addresses the 'feel' of finishing north-south.
- Strong control curriculum before squeezing.
- Useful coaching cues for troubleshooting.
⚠️ Cons
- Niche compared to FHL chokes.
- Video can only partially convey 'feel'.
- Production quality varies across MG releases.
💡 I started finishing more once I prioritized chest angle and shoulder drop before gripping. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 The Marcelotine by Marcelo Garcia
Instructor: Marcelo Garcia
Style: Technique Collection, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 27 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Elbow lift timing
Techniques: High Elbow Guillotine, Marcelotine
- Systematically Attacking The Guillotine - More complete and modern guillotine system with clear structure.
- High Percentage Chokes: No Gi - Cost-effective front headlock chokes with solid pedagogy.
You will learn the high-elbow guillotine details Marcelo popularized. You will see entries and finishing cues. You will not get brand-new footage across the board, based on reports.
✅ Pros
- Concise teaching of a proven guillotine variant.
- Highlights shoulder line control and head positioning.
- Pairs well with FHL positional work.
⚠️ Cons
- Reports of recycled MGInAction content.
- Organization feels jumbled to some viewers.
- Price-to-value questioned by many buyers.
💡 I would only buy this at a deep discount unless you specifically collect Marcelo resources. Recommendation: Skip.
🥋 #7 The Headhunter Guillotine Series by Neil Melanson
Instructor: Neil Melanson
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 38 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Pull the head first
Techniques: Guillotine, Arm In Guillotine, Snap Down
- High Percentage Chokes: No Gi - Cleaner pedagogy with similar choke family coverage.
- Systematically Attacking The Guillotine - Deeper finishing detail at a premium price.
You will learn catch-flavored guillotine finishes and entries. You will get strong standing and snap-down options. You will not get a perfectly linear curriculum.
✅ Pros
- Different arm-in mechanics unlock finishes many miss.
- Standing tie-ups into guillotines are well explained.
- Great complement to wrestling-heavy games.
⚠️ Cons
- Less cohesive structure than top-tier systems.
- Some material feels theoretical without drilling.
- Production varies across segments.
💡 I had success using his standing pulls to create immediate chin exposure for arm-in finishes. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 The Science of Filthy Triangles by Neil Melanson
Instructor: Neil Melanson
Style: Technique Collection, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 5 hours and 55 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Angles create clamps
Techniques: Triangle, Reverse Triangle
- Triangles: Enter The System - A cohesive triangle framework before adding Melanson’s variants.
You will learn nonstandard triangle pathways and controls. You will develop options for reverse and side triangles. You will not get a tightly linear, single-approach curriculum.
✅ Pros
- Expands triangle repertoire beyond standard guards.
- Methodical explanations aid retention.
- Great complement to classic triangle systems.
⚠️ Cons
- Structure is less cohesive than system-first courses.
- Some entries are body-type dependent.
- Fewer live application segments.
💡 I hit more reverse triangles after adopting his head-and-shoulder capture before leg threading. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #9 Master The Move: The Straight Arm Bar Ude Gatame by John Danaher
Instructor: John Danaher
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 57 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Legs break posture
Techniques: Armbar, Shotgun Armbar
- Arm Bars: Enter The System - A broader armbar curriculum if you prefer a full system.
- Systematically Attacking The Arm Bar - Ryan’s armbar course with grip breaks and live examples.
You will learn cutting and shotgun armbar mechanics in depth. You will refine finishes from mount and guard with exact leg positions. You will not get a short overview.
✅ Pros
- Detailed break mechanics and leg positioning.
- Fixes common finishing errors from mount.
- Focus helps advanced learners refine timing.
⚠️ Cons
- Runtime feels excessive to many viewers.
- Narrow scope vs comprehensive armbar systems.
- Not ideal for brand-new students.
💡 I would pair this with positional sparring from mount to absorb the details without burnout. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
How we weighted community reception for this ranking
We coded r/bjj posts for each instructional, looking for specific finish-rate reports, clarity notes and complaints about structure or runtime. We only counted posts with concrete reasons or examples. We then compared those signals to the product’s stated scope and teaching style, and adjusted for price and likely audience. This kept the ranking grounded in how real students actually used the material, not just marketing.
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