Our evidence-backed ranking of the best Dante Leon instructionals, with Reddit sentiment, product facts, and buying advice.
No Gi Reverse De La Riva
Build a knee-shield-driven reverse de la riva that wins no-gi scrambles.
Wrestling Up From Guard
Turn seated guards into reliable single and double legs without getting front-headlocked.
The Knee Slice Pass
Pressure-pass modern guards with a knee slice that survives dogfight counters.
📋 Jump to a review (Click to expand)
🥋 #1 No Gi Reverse De La Riva by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 14 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Pair RDLR with knee-shield entries.
Techniques: Reverse De La Riva, Knee Shield, Wrestle Up, X Guard, 50/50, Shin To Shin, Ankle Lock
- Reverse De La Riva Formula Made Easy – Gi-oriented RDLR fundamentals from the same instructor.
- Wrestling Up From Guard – Pairs naturally with RDLR off-balances.
You learn how to anchor knee-shield frames into RDLR, then off-balance to shin-to-shin, X, and 50/50 without giving easy leg entries. The course shows wrestle-up routes and quick upper‑body finishes that fit points and sub‑only. You will not get lapel feeds or worm variations, so gi‑specifics seekers should pick the gi set.
✅ Pros
- Connects RDLR to safe wrestle-ups and X without leglock exposure.
- Clear order of operations that translates to fast drilling and sparring.
- Strong competition pedigree behind the tactics and examples.
⚠️ Cons
- Minimal gi sections; lapel players may want the gi set.
- Not a deep leg-lock finishing curriculum.
- Assumes basic open guard mobility and inversions.
💡 I found the knee-shield first approach makes RDLR entries safer and faster to repeat under pressure. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Wrestling Up From Guard by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: System Based, Drill Heavy
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Height wins; build to singles safely.
Techniques: Wrestle Up, Single Leg, Double Leg, Ankle Pick, Arm Drag, Butterfly Guard, Knee Shield
- Offensive Wrestling For Jiu Jitsu Vol. 1 – Deeper single and double finishes that chain after you stand.
- No Gi Reverse De La Riva – Builds the off-balances that feed wrestle-ups.
You learn how to stand safely from common guards and finish singles without exposing your neck. The drilling sequences make reactions automatic. You will not get comprehensive leg attacks; pair this with your preferred RDLR or shin-to-shin set.
✅ Pros
- High-percentage finishes that avoid common counter-guillotines.
- Covers multiple guard starts so you can apply it widely.
- Drills shorten the learning curve for newer wrestlers.
⚠️ Cons
- Limited gi-specific grip talk.
- Less detail on chain wrestling beyond first finish.
- Not a takedown encyclopedia from neutral stance.
💡 I saw most improvements when I treated wrestle-ups as sweeps that end on top, not as pure shots. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 The Knee Slice Pass by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Slice timing beats frames and underhooks.
Techniques: Knee Slice, Dogfight Counters, Pin Switch, Leg Weave, Backstep, Head Control, Pressure Passing
- Basic Takedowns & Defense Counters – Pairs well to force half guard entries you can slice.
- No Gi Reverse De La Riva – Understand the guard side you are slicing through.
You learn to set the slice with grips that deny underhooks and collar ties. The course shows when to pin-switch, leg weave, or backstep if the entry stalls. You will not get full body-lock passing; treat this as a focused slice system.
✅ Pros
- Clear dogfight half counters that save stalled slices.
- Strong timing notes for when to pin-switch or backstep.
- Competition-relevant sequences shown against active resistance.
⚠️ Cons
- Little on lapel entanglements in the gi.
- Does not cover complete body-lock systems.
- Demands solid base to avoid getting elevated.
💡 I liked the dogfight counter tree; it rescued many stalled slices in sparring. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Guillotine Choke Systems by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 57 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Guillotines and back takes share triggers.
Techniques: Guillotine, Arm In Guillotine, Front Headlock, Snap Down, Turtle Attacks, High Elbow, Chin Strap
- Power Back Takes – Use failed front headlocks to climb to the back.
You learn chin-strap entries and arm-in finishes that survive frantic scrambles. The set emphasizes when to commit to strangles versus climbing to the back. You will not get a full front headlock encyclopedia; it focuses on reliable guillotine chains.
✅ Pros
- Competition-backed finishes from common scramble positions.
- Balanced decision-making between choking and back exposure.
- Good entries for smaller athletes versus larger frames.
⚠️ Cons
- Not a comprehensive front-headlock course.
- Arm-in versus high-elbow debates may require cross-referencing.
- Less time on long-ride control once the choke fails.
💡 I found the standing snap-down to chin-strap flow the fastest way into scores or subs. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Power Back Takes by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: Drill Heavy, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 59 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Back takes emerge from consistent drills.
Techniques: Back Takes, Kimura Trap, Crucifix, Technical Mount, Turtle Attacks, Seatbelt Control, Body Lock To Back
- Guillotine Choke Systems – Blend headlocks into back exposure chains.
You practice back-take drills that also teach safe entries from body locks and front headlocks. The material favors decisive movement over long entanglements. It is not a deep finishing encyclopedia; use it to reach the back reliably and then apply your favorite strangles.
✅ Pros
- High repetition structure engrains reactions quickly.
- Standing-to-back options without risking big shots.
- Integrates front headlock and crucifix well.
⚠️ Cons
- Less time on multi-variation back maintenance.
- Some finishes polarize sport-rule purists.
- Not tailored for lapel-based gi attacks.
💡 I saw success chaining body-lock entries to turtle spins rather than chasing takedown points. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Offensive Wrestling For Jiu Jitsu Volume 1: Basic Singles and Doubles by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 38 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Finish into passes or the back.
Techniques: Single Leg, Double Leg, Turn The Corner, Whizzer Counters, Sprawl Counters, Back Take Off Shot, Body Lock Entries
- Basic Takedowns & Defense Counters – Adds defense counters and front headlock re-attacks.
You learn singles and doubles that land you in passes or immediate back exposure. The material addresses BJJ-specific risks like guillotine traps and guard pulls. It is not a judo-focused set; grips and stance are no-gi oriented.
✅ Pros
- BJJ-adapted finishes avoid guillotines and 50/50 stalls.
- Counter sequences to most common sprawl reactions.
- Back exposure paths keep scoring pressure after the shot.
⚠️ Cons
- Gi grip details are minimal.
- Chain wrestling depth is limited beyond basics.
- Not designed for judo or clinch-heavy rule sets.
💡 I got better results when I prioritized posture first, not speed, on entries. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 Basic Takedowns & Defense Counters for Jiu Jitsu by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 3 minutes
Volumes: 5
Biggest takeaway: Safe defense fuels fast counters.
Techniques: Takedown Defense, Single Leg Defense, Double Leg Defense, Body Lock Defense, Front Headlock, Anaconda, Guillotine
- Offensive Wrestling For Jiu Jitsu Vol. 1 – Switch to proactive singles and doubles.
You learn to neutralize the most common shots without giving up chokes or back exposure. The course then turns those defenses into quick counters. It does not teach full judo clinch systems; it is wrestling-centric for BJJ.
✅ Pros
- Covers overlooked rear body-lock defense options.
- Good bridge from defense into instant offense.
- Organized by realistic reactions seen in BJJ.
⚠️ Cons
- Defense-first approach may not excite attackers.
- Less gi-grip depth for judo-heavy gyms.
- Five volumes can feel dense for newer students.
💡 I noticed counter confidence rose once I had simple first-line hand defenses on autopilot. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 Reverse De La Riva Formula Made Easy by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: Technique Collection, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Gi grips stabilize RDLR off-balances.
Techniques: Reverse De La Riva, Lasso Guard, Spider Guard, Kiss Of The Dragon, X Guard, Sweep Series, Ankle Lock
- No Gi Reverse De La Riva – No-gi evolution of the same guard approach.
You get RDLR fundamentals that play nicely with gi grips like lasso and spider. The material covers classic sweeps and ankle-lock options. It is not focused on false reap or modern leg entanglements.
✅ Pros
- Clear gi integrations many RDLR sets skip.
- Good stepping stone before advanced inversions.
- Budget-friendly compared to larger encyclopedias.
⚠️ Cons
- Less emphasis on no-gi safety around leglocks.
- Older release with some overlap to newer sets.
- Not a false reap or backside 50/50 course.
💡 I saw gi players adopt RDLR faster when they started with lasso ties. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #9 Pull Weight Not Guard by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Consistent lifting supports guard and passing.
Techniques: Strength Programming, Conjugate Method, Periodization, Conditioning, Explosiveness, Injury Prehab, Accessory Selection
- Explosive Movements For Legs – Lower-body focus if you want add-on sessions.
You get a simple, sustainable strength template aligned with mat goals. Expect exercise selections and weekly layouts more than live rolling footage. Skip if you only want technical instructionals.
✅ Pros
- Simple structure makes consistency easier.
- Targets grappling-specific qualities rather than bodybuilding.
- Complements wrestle-up and passing development.
⚠️ Cons
- No technical sparring content included.
- Generic loads may not fit advanced lifters.
- Lacks individualized mobility prescriptions.
💡 I saw best compliance when pairing max-effort lifts with short mat sessions. Recommendation: Skip.
How we ranked Dante Leon’s instructionals
We weighed r/bjj sentiment and diversity of voices most (about 40%). Then we scored how systemized the material is and how well it maps to common training scenarios (35% combined). We also considered Leon’s competitive authority and the production’s clarity (25%). Tie-breakers were recency and distinctiveness. Where direct runtime or release years were unclear on product pages, we left them null rather than guess.
Gi or no-gi first for RDLR?
If you mainly train gi and like spider or lasso, start with the gi RDLR set. You will benefit from grip-specific off-balances before inverting. If your room is no-gi heavy or body-lock passing is common, start with the no-gi RDLR. It stresses knee-shield entries, wrestle-ups, and safer transitions to X and 50/50 without giving easy leg attacks.
Who should pick wrestle-ups vs. takedown sets?
If you often sit to guard or play seated open guards, wrestle-ups act like sweeps that become scores. They are lower risk for smaller athletes. If you start on the feet and like to drive forward, the offensive and defensive takedown sets give safer singles, doubles, and counters tailored to BJJ. Many athletes benefit from both: wrestle-ups for guard and singles for neutral.
💙 Was this article helpful?
Share it with your training partners!
