We ranked every Dan 'Big Dan' Manasoiu Milk the System instructional by community reception, system clarity, applicability, and production quality to help you pick the right course.
Milk the System: Leg Locks From Beginner To Advanced
A complete, step-by-step no-gi leg lock system that links entries to high-control finishes.
Milk the System: Power Passing – Body Locks, Half Guard & Butterfly Half Guard
A no-gi passing roadmap that ties body locks to half and butterfly solutions with stable control.
Milk the System: Defending Leg Locks from Cross Ashi and 50/50
A practical defense-first blueprint to escape cross ashi and 50/50 without panicking.
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🥋 #1 Milk the System: Leg Locks From Beginner To Advanced by Dan Manasoiu
Instructor: Dan Manasoiu
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Entries chain into safe finishes
Techniques: Single Leg X, Cross Ashi, Inside Heel Hook, Outside Heel Hook, 50/50, Toe Hold, Straight Ankle Lock
- Under Pressure: Leg Entanglements by Brian Glick – Control-focused leg system from a Danaher black belt.
- Battle Tested Down Under Leglocks by Craig Jones – Proven competition entries and finishes at a lower price.
- Understanding The K-Guard by Jason Rau – Modern leg-entry hub that pairs well with Big Dan.
You will learn how to connect single leg X, cross ashi, and 50/50 with reliable finishes. The focus is control first, so your partners feel stuck before a heel is exposed. You will not get a random move dump or gi-specific grips; everything is organized for live rounds.
✅ Pros
- Four-volume structure makes it easy to drill progressions and build a coherent attack tree.
- Balances early control mechanics with clear finishing details for safer training.
- Covers modern positions like 50/50 and leg lace without fluff.
⚠️ Cons
- Heavyweight body type examples may not translate perfectly to smaller athletes.
- Assumes basic no-gi movement literacy; total beginners may need fundamentals first.
- Overlap with broader Danaher material can feel familiar to veterans.
💡 I found the system’s emphasis on control-first positioning makes heel exposure safer to practice and easier to finish consistently. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Milk the System: Power Passing – Body Locks, Half Guard & Butterfly Half Guard by Dan Manasoiu
Instructor: Dan Manasoiu
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Drill Heavy
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Control beats agility here
Techniques: Body Lock, Shin Pin, Half Guard Passing, Butterfly Half, Knee Slide, Three Quarter Mount, Head And Arm
- Efficiently And Effectively Passing The Guard by Luke Griffith – Another New Wave perspective on body lock and pressure.
- Polish Power Passing by Adam Wardzinski – Heavy pressure game with clear lap-by-lap passing ideas.
- The Stack Pass by Andre Galvao – Classic over-the-legs solution to pair with body locks.
You will learn to generate waist exposure, lock the body lock, and convert it to passes from half and butterfly. The shin-pin and top head-and-arm sequences keep you stable while opponents scramble. You will not get speed-based cartwheel passing; everything favors pressure and positional wins.
✅ Pros
- Connects entries, control, and finishes into one repeatable passing flow.
- Excellent for larger athletes seeking reliable no-gi pressure without athleticism.
- Covers troubleshooting when opponents post, underhook, or invert.
⚠️ Cons
- Less emphasis on dynamic outside passing and speed tactics.
- Some sequences presume strong squeezing mechanics that smaller players lack.
- Overlap with other New Wave body lock materials exists.
💡 I like how the shin-pin and head-and-arm transitions make body lock passing feel secure even when opponents invert or underhook. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 Milk the System: Defending Leg Locks from Cross Ashi and 50/50 by Dan Manasoiu
Instructor: Dan Manasoiu
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 1 minute
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Defense turns into offense
Techniques: Cross Ashi Escapes, 50/50 Escapes, Heel Slip, Knee Line Recovery, Counter Leg Locks, Ashi Bolo, Z Lock Defense
- Leg Lock Defense: Survive And Escape by Giancarlo Bodoni – Extensive early and late-stage protocols from an ADCC champion.
- Leglocks: Enter The System by John Danaher – Canonical offense that clarifies what your opponents are trying to do.
- Dynamic No Gi 50/50 by Jason Rau – Dedicated 50/50 answers for offense and defense.
You will learn knee line recovery, heel hiding, and structured heel slips. The course shows how to turn late defenses into counters or top transitions. You will not get a leg lock highlight reel; it is survival-first and competition-relevant.
✅ Pros
- Clear, stepwise approach to early and late-stage defense under real pressure.
- Teaches when to concede and when to counter for back exposure or passes.
- Great confidence builder if heel hooks scare you.
⚠️ Cons
- Less material on offensive entries; pure defenders may still need offense later.
- Advanced re-entries assume decent movement and inversion comfort.
- Overlap with Bodoni and Danaher defense content exists.
💡 I like how the knee-line-first rule and timed heel slips create calm decision points in chaotic entanglements. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Milk the System: Devastating Attacks From Mount by Dan Manasoiu
Instructor: Dan Manasoiu
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 46 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Small steps, huge pressure
Techniques: Mount Entry, Mount Maintenance, Head And Arm Strangle, Mounted Triangle, Armbar, Back Takes, Chest Wrap
- No Gi Mount by Jeff Glover – Creative no-gi mount attacks and finishes at a friendly price.
- Mastering The Low Mount by Ante Dzolic – Alternative pressure approach for smaller athletes.
- Mount Attacks Beyond The Basics by Thomas Lisboa – Gi-to-no-gi transferable finishing mechanics.
You will learn entries from side control and half butterfly into stable mount. The course emphasizes chest wraps, head-and-arm strangles, and triangles to finish. You will not see lapel grips or gi-only details; everything is built for no-gi pressure.
✅ Pros
- Shows realistic transitions to mount that work against frames and underhooks.
- Finishing mechanics are simple and repeatable under fatigue.
- Pairs well with body lock passing to create a cohesive top game.
⚠️ Cons
- Some sequences may rely on big-man weight distribution and length.
- Less coverage of mount escapes or troubleshooting slippery opponents.
- Pricey compared to focused single-topic mount mini-courses.
💡 I appreciate the chest-wrap series for isolating arms without losing mount, which keeps attacks safe and steady. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
What order should you watch Big Dan’s instructionals?
If leg locks are your main weakness, start with Defending Leg Locks to build survival habits. Then study Leg Locks From Beginner To Advanced for offense. Next, use Power Passing to enter your A-game positions more often. Finally, add Devastating Attacks From Mount to convert passes into clean finishes. This order ensures you can survive, then attack, then arrive to mount with structure.
Who benefits most from Big Dan’s systems?
Bigger athletes who like pressure thrive with these courses, but smaller practitioners can still win by copying the control-first mechanics before hunting finishes. Focus on knee line control and layered grips, not just force. Pair body lock entries with angle changes, and drill heel slips slowly to keep partners safe. If you train gi, translate frames and angles, not lapel details.
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