Best Guard Passing Instructionals (BJJ Fanatics) 2026

The only dedicated body lock passing instructional on the market, and it earns the #1 spot because Giles doesn’t just show you the pass – he gives you a complete five-stage system with narrated sparring that shows exactly how and when it fails.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~8 hours across 6 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2019
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Body Lock Passing

What It Covers

Six volumes covering the complete body lock system: grip acquisition and weight distribution principles, entries from seated, lying, butterfly, reverse De La Riva, and half guard positions. Volume 3 tackles clearing the knee line against butterfly guard, guillotine counters, and knee shield defenses. Volume 4 covers pass completion with tripod variations and lockdown counters. Volume 5 introduces the Sao Paulo guard opening as a standalone bonus system. Volume 6 features six narrated sparring rounds with voice-over explaining real-time decisions and mistakes.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Five-stage framework (grip acquisition, defense management, timing, knee line clearing, pass completion) makes a complex pass digestible
• Narrated rolling footage with live corrections is exceptionally valuable for seeing how to recover from mistakes mid-roll
• Sao Paulo guard opening (Volume 5) adds a complete secondary system most instructionals don’t include
• Covers every defensive response and troubleshooting scenario you’ll face

What the Community Says

A pressure pass – possibly the most powerful of them all.

BJJ World (reviewer: “colleric”), 5/5 rating

This is the only one that focuses solely on this pass and goes into this much detail. The shorter sections almost feel like a private lesson.

The Grappling Conjecture

If you’re completely new to body lock passing then there’s enough content to have you covered for months of training.

Jitsmagazine.com

Weakness

Strictly no-gi. The Grappling Conjecture noted reduced gi applicability, and some techniques Giles advises against actually work in practice. Gordon Ryan’s Systematizing Guard Passing covers body lock within a broader system if you want more variety.

My Recommendation

Best for: No-gi grapplers at any level who want a single passing system they can build their entire top game around.

Avoid if: You train exclusively in the gi. Lucas Lepri (#2) or Bernardo Faria (#7) are better picks for gi-only passing.

Pairs with: Matheus Diniz’s No Gi Power Passing (#5) for pressure-based passing that complements body lock entries.

Six World Championship titles. Over 100 black belt wins with only 25 losses (just 2 by submission). Lepri’s passing combines pressure and speed in ways that most competitors can’t replicate, and this instructional captures that system in under three hours.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2h 58m across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2019
• 🥋 Gi (many concepts transfer to no-gi)
• 🎯 Intermediate to advanced
• 🕸 Gi Guard Passing

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers knee cut fundamentals including reverse De La Riva knee cuts, folding pass to knee cut, and tripod knee cut variations with direct back takes. Volume 2 tackles modern guards: spider lasso (punch pass), deep half guard (hip lock pass), and kimura trap system. Volume 3 addresses single leg X-guard shutdowns with monoplata submissions, X-guard passing, and worm guard passing. Volume 4 rounds it out with spider guard back takes, advanced RDLR options, sit-up guard, and quarter guard solutions.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Rare hybrid of pressure passes AND speed passes from one competitor, covering both ends of the passing spectrum
• Addresses every modern guard: spider, lasso, worm, De La Riva, X-guard, single leg X, deep half
• Direct back takes from passing positions – a focus most passing instructionals skip entirely
• Best value for gi passing at $79 from a 6x World Champion

What the Community Says

The best knee cut instructional ever recorded… a real masterpiece you simply have to own if you’re a modern-day BJJ competitor.

BJJ World, 5/5 rating

What’s rare to see is someone that has a passing system that incorporates both pressure passes and speed passes.

BJJ World staff

Clear explanations with a systematic knee slide approach that translated well to sparring.

Reddit r/bjj

Weakness

Very gi-dependent – harder to adapt for no-gi training. Some r/bjj users felt Lepri teaches techniques rather than an integrated gameplan (Danaher’s systems approach addresses this). No narrated sparring footage, unlike Giles or Faria.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi competitors from blue belt up who want championship-level passing that covers every modern guard.

Avoid if: You train exclusively no-gi. Lachlan Giles (#1) or Matheus Diniz (#5) are better no-gi options.

Pairs with: John Danaher’s Passing the Guard (#3) if you want the conceptual framework underneath Lepri’s technical system.

Twelve hours of the most thorough conceptual framework for guard passing ever committed to video. Danaher’s five-step model and ‘Negate Advantage Completion’ formula give you a passing roadmap that works against any guard, including ones that haven’t been invented yet.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~12 hours across 8 volumes
• 📅 Released: March 2020
• 🥋 Gi (concepts apply broadly)
• 🎯 Beginners to intermediate
• 🕸 Conceptual / Systematic Passing

What It Covers

Part 1 opens with closed guard philosophy and 12 options for opening opponent’s guard. Part 2 introduces the five-step guard passing formula and the ‘Negate Advantage Completion’ model. Parts 3-5 cover seven high-percentage passes in depth: double underpass, over-under, knee cut, toreando, leg drag, long step, and smash pass. Part 6 breaks down shutting down lasso, DLR, and collar/biceps guards. Part 7 introduces staging positions (split squat, knee drop, double knee, outside advantage). Part 8 covers guard recovery defense including frames, angles, and inversion handling.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Five-step passing model provides a universal framework applicable to any guard variation
• 12 closed guard opening options is unmatched by any other instructional
• Staging positions concept (split squat, knee drop, double knee) is unique to Danaher and gives clear intermediate checkpoints
• Seven high-percentage passes covered in systematic detail

What the Community Says

We finally might have a solution for the guard passing puzzle of BJJ.

BJJ World staff

A John Danaher instructional is longer, and better organized than any other BJJ DVD.

BJJ World

Helped learners connect techniques to live success quickly.

Reddit r/bjj

Weakness

Massive ~12 hour time investment with lots of talking. Lucas Lepri covers essential passing in under 3 hours at less than half the price ($79 vs. $197). Structure feels less clear compared to later GFF releases. Best value when purchased on sale.

My Recommendation

Best for: White and blue belts who want a complete conceptual foundation for passing, or anyone who values understanding the ‘why’ behind techniques.

Avoid if: You want concise, drill-ready content. At 12 hours, this is a long-term study commitment. Advanced competitors may find Lepri or Giles more immediately applicable.

Pairs with: Lucas Lepri’s Science of Guard Passing (#2) for the technical execution that builds on Danaher’s conceptual framework.

Lovato is one of very few Americans to win the BJJ World Championship in the gi, and he did it with a pressure game built on checkpoints. His headquarters position gives you a home base, and every pass flows from there as a reaction to your opponent’s defense.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 5h 12m across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: BJJ Fanatics
• 🥋 Gi (primarily)
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Pressure Passing

What It Covers

Volume 1 establishes the headquarters position as your passing base, covers closed guard opening, bullfighter passes, knee slice, side smash, and a “secret choke” from passing. Volume 2 introduces the shin staple system with arm triangle from passing, heavy knee slice variations, and butterfly guard bypassing. Volume 3 covers troubleshooting with three-quarter mount, thumb-in shotgun grip, and killing the knee shield. Volume 4 completes the system with butterfly guard passing, knee shield elimination, and managing common opponent reactions.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Checkpoint-based system (headquarters to shin staple to pass) keeps you a step ahead of your opponent’s defensive reactions
• Side smash is uniquely devastating and underrepresented in other instructionals
• Submission threats during passing (arm triangle, secret choke) give you finishes when opponents defend the pass
• Dual BJJ/MMA World Champion validates the system for gi, no-gi, and MMA contexts

What the Community Says

The ultimate guide to an old school fundamental pressure game designed to kill off modern BJJ.

BJJ World (reviewing related “Top Game Devastation”)

Instant download, clear instruction, good quality video, all angles clearly presented. No over- or under-explaining.

Ground Never Misses (BJJ review blog)

Structured around getting to the headquarters position, with passes as reactions to the opponent.

Reddit r/bjj

Weakness

Expensive at $197 for a gi-focused set. Bernardo Faria’s Battle Tested Pressure Passing covers similar ground for $79 with the over-under. Lovato’s system requires patience and doesn’t suit dynamic, aerial technique practitioners. Modern guards like worm guard and K-guard aren’t specifically addressed.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi grapplers who want a systematic pressure game built around a single home-base position with clear decision trees.

Avoid if: You train primarily no-gi (Lachlan Giles or Diniz are better choices) or prefer speed-based passing. Also a tough sell at $197 when Faria covers pressure passing at $79.

Pairs with: Bernardo Faria’s Battle Tested Pressure Passing (#7) for complementary over-under pressure from a different angle.

Won the 2019 ADCC at 88kg without giving up a single point, scoring the most takedowns and passes in the toughest no-gi tournament on Earth. This instructional captures that system in under three hours with zero filler.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2h 52m across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: Post-2019 ADCC
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 Intermediate to advanced
• 🕸 No-Gi Pressure Passing

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers standing vs. kneeling philosophy, breaking closed guard from standing, and initial grip fighting. Volume 2 tackles half guard and knee shield passing with Diniz’s signature technique of putting weight directly on the opponent’s shield. Volume 3 addresses open guard solutions including butterfly guard, seated guard, and standing passing sequences. Volume 4 integrates everything with pass chains, managing reactions, and pinning/consolidation after passing.

What Makes It Stand Out

• ADCC champion system at budget price ($79) – best value for no-gi passing
• Concise runtime (under 3 hours) with zero filler – every technique is immediately applicable
• Pressure-first approach that doesn’t require athleticism or physical attributes
• Marcelo Garcia Academy pedigree ensures world-class technique lineage

What the Community Says

Won ADCC without giving up a point, scoring the most takedowns and passes in the toughest no-gi tournament on Earth.

BJJ Fanatics

The 2019 ADCC champion shows his way of passing the knee shield – favoring a pressure pass where he puts his weight on the opponent’s shield.

BJJEE.com

Weakness

Shorter runtime means less depth per topic. Lachlan Giles covers body lock passing alone in 8 hours with far more detail. Less conceptual framework than Danaher’s approach. No narrated sparring footage. Better as a complement to a more comprehensive system than as a standalone.

My Recommendation

Best for: No-gi competitors who want an ADCC-proven system they can drill and apply quickly, especially as a complement to body lock passing.

Avoid if: You want deep conceptual breakdowns (go Danaher) or extensive technique coverage on a single system (go Lachlan Giles).

Pairs with: Lachlan Giles’ Body Lock Pass (#1) for a complete no-gi passing arsenal combining body lock depth with pressure passing breadth.

The only instructional that explicitly connects body lock and high step passing into a single system. When the body lock stalls, the high step takes over, and vice versa. Nicky Ryan learned this approach directly from John Danaher.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2h 21m across 5 volumes
• 📅 Released: October 2023
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 Intermediate
• 🕸 Body Lock + High Step System

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers body lock grip configurations and acquisition. Volume 2 focuses on methods to force the opponent into half guard from body lock position. Volume 3 covers passing from body lock half guard with multiple variations. Volume 4 introduces high step mechanics, timing, and how it connects to body lock. Volume 5 integrates both systems and covers switching between passing families in live situations.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Unique combination of body lock AND high step – no other instructional connects these two systems explicitly
• Clear, concise teaching style that’s easy to digest in a single session
• Modern approach from a Danaher-trained, ADCC-level competitor
• Logical three-family pass connection: body lock forces half guard, high step finishes when body lock stalls

What the Community Says

Clear, concise teaching that’s easy to digest. Good crash course on body locks and half-guard passing.

BJJMore.com

High step passing plays an integral role by offering the ability to outflank and outmaneuver even the most flexible guards.

BJJ Fanatics

Weakness

Very short runtime (2h21m) for a $197 price tag – the worst value ratio on this list. Lachlan Giles covers body lock alone in 8 hours for $99 with significantly more depth and troubleshooting. Gordon Ryan’s Systematizing Guard Passing covers both systems more comprehensively. More of a crash course than a complete system.

My Recommendation

Best for: Intermediate no-gi grapplers who want a quick overview of how body lock and high step connect, especially if they already have a foundation in one of those systems.

Avoid if: You want depth and value for money. Lachlan Giles (#1) gives you 3x the content at half the price. This is the weakest value proposition on the list.

Pairs with: Lachlan Giles’ Body Lock Pass (#1) for the depth that this overview-level instructional lacks.

Five-time World Champion, IBJJF Hall of Famer, and co-founder of BJJ Fanatics. Nobody teaches the over-under pass the way Bernardo does, and the 20+ narrated rolling sessions in Volume 4 make this one of the best learning tools on the entire platform.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 3h 9m across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: BJJ Fanatics
• 🥋 Gi (separate no-gi version available)
• 🎯 All levels (especially beginners)
• 🕸 Pressure Passing

What It Covers

Volumes 1-3 cover the over-under pass (Bernardo’s signature) with weight distribution principles, shoulder placement details, and counters for lapel guard, spider guard, butterfly guard, worm guard, and deep half. Grip configurations and transition sequences connect everything. Volume 4 features 20+ narrated rolling sessions against high-level opposition where Bernardo analyzes every situation using the material from the first three volumes.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Over-under pass coverage that no other instructor can match – Bernardo teaches this pass at a level nobody else reaches
• 20+ narrated rolls in Volume 4 is exceptional value, showing exactly how the system works against live resistance
• Requires zero athleticism, strength, or flexibility – pure technique and weight management
• IBJJF Hall of Famer credentials at a budget-friendly $79 price point

What the Community Says

A true masterpiece that includes all of his latest guard passing tactics and techniques. This pressure pass is unstoppable.

BJJ World, 5/5 rating

Does not rely on athleticism, strength, or flexibility.

YouJiuJitsu.com

The amount of detail behind each step in the process is incredible. Professor Faria always seems to take time to explain the ‘why’ behind each part.

BJJ Fanatics reviews

Weakness

Heavily over-under focused – if you want diverse passing styles, Lovato’s headquarters system (#4) covers more variety. Gi-specific (his No Gi Pressure Passing is a separate purchase). Chronological structure means you can’t easily jump to specific guard solutions. Less modern guard coverage than Lepri.

My Recommendation

Best for: Beginners to intermediates who want a proven pressure passing system they can apply without athleticism. Older grapplers especially benefit from the weight-based approach.

Avoid if: You train no-gi exclusively (this is gi-focused). If you want variety beyond the over-under, Lovato (#4) covers more passing styles.

Pairs with: Lucas Lepri’s Science of Guard Passing (#2) for the speed passing and modern guard solutions that complement Faria’s pressure approach.

A completely unique passing concept you won’t find in any other instructional. Step on your opponent’s thigh, immobilize their guard, and chain into x-passes, leg drags, and submissions. Simple, immediately applicable, and surprisingly effective.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 1h 22m across 2 volumes
• 📅 Released: Post-2019 ADCC
• 🥋 No-Gi (primarily)
• 🎯 Intermediate to advanced
• 🕸 Speed / Movement Passing

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers the leg pin concept and setup (stepping on the opponent’s thigh to immobilize their guard), balance and timing principles, basic entries from standing, transitions to x-pass and leg drag, and submission threats from the leg pin position. Volume 2 covers advanced applications against various guard types, combining with standard outside passing, chaining passes from reactions, dealing with leg lock threats, and flow-based sequences.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Completely unique passing technique not covered in any other instructional on the market
• Simple concept that’s immediately applicable in your very next rolling session
• Effective against leg lock players – developed specifically to neutralize that threat
• Complements existing outside passing rather than replacing it

What the Community Says

A unique way to pass guard that is clearly and concisely explained. The biggest attributes that help with leg pin passing aren’t actually speed, but balance and timing.

The Grappling Conjecture

Leg pin techniques are stupid simple and highly effective. Use it all the time now.

Reddit r/bjj

Weakness

Very short runtime (1h22m) for $127 – the worst content-per-dollar ratio after Nicky Ryan. Only 2 volumes with no sparring footage and no troubleshooting section. More of a supplementary technique than a complete passing system. Lachlan Giles or Bernardo Faria offer vastly more content for less money.

My Recommendation

Best for: Intermediate to advanced grapplers who want to add a unique, immediately effective tool to their existing outside passing game.

Avoid if: You’re looking for a complete passing system. This is a supplement, not a foundation. At $127 for under 90 minutes, the value is poor unless on sale.

Pairs with: Mica Galvao’s Next Generation Guard Passing (#9) for complementary outside passing with toreando and over-under.

Black belt world champion before age 20, with a 100+ match win streak that included victories over Leandro Lo and Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa. This instructional captures his passing philosophy: merge toreando movement with over-under pressure and set up submissions directly from passing.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 1h 46m (organized in 3 parts)
• 📅 Released: BJJ Fanatics
• 🥋 Both Gi and No-Gi concepts
• 🎯 Intermediate to advanced
• 🕸 Movement / Outside Passing

What It Covers

Part 1 covers the knee cut system with controlling the head during passes, preventing deep half guard, the towel passing technique, reverse De La Riva counters, and cleaning the knee line to take mount. Part 2 introduces submission threats from passing positions: baseball choke, brabo choke, and Mica’s signature armbar from knee slice setup. Part 3 covers toreando pass variations, over-under pass system with back takes, controlling ankles to leg drag, and combining toreando with over-under.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Submissions integrated directly into passing (baseball choke, brabo, armbar from knee slice) – a rare focus that gives you finishes when opponents defend the pass
• Back takes from passing positions are a standout feature most passing instructionals skip
• Combines movement passing (toreando) with pressure passing (over-under) in one system
• Budget price ($79) for championship-level content from a generational talent

What the Community Says

Guard passes like knee cuts, toreando, over under, and more to create a unified passing style – supercharged with some of Mica’s tricky techniques.

BJJ Fanatics

Mica Galvao’s Armbar From Knee Slice Pass Setup – a standout technique.

BJJEE.com

Weakness

Very short runtime (1h46m) limits the depth on any single passing style. Limited community reviews make it hard to assess real-world training impact. Less structured than Danaher or Giles. Teaching ability at such a young age is untested over time. Lucas Lepri covers gi passing in more depth for the same price.

My Recommendation

Best for: Intermediate to advanced grapplers who want a modern, submission-integrated passing approach from one of the sport’s rising stars.

Avoid if: You’re a beginner who needs foundational concepts (go Danaher) or you want deep coverage of a single system (go Giles). The short runtime means you’ll need supplementary material.

Pairs with: Ruotolo Brothers’ Leg Pin System (#8) for complementary outside passing tools that chain with toreando and leg drag.

The wrestling-informed body lock approach that took Nicky Rod to the 2019 ADCC finals as a blue belt. A four-phase system (acquire body lock, force half guard, beat legs, pin) with entries from every starting position. His teaching has improved significantly since his earlier instructionals.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 5h 19m across 6 volumes
• 📅 Released: BJJ Fanatics
• 🥋 No-Gi (applicable to gi and MMA)
• 🎯 Intermediate (blue-brown belts with wrestling background)
• 🕸 Body Lock / Wrestling-Based Passing

What It Covers

DVD 1 covers grip configurations, head positioning, and timing principles. DVD 2 addresses acquiring the body lock from four scenarios: seated opponent (standing), supine opponent (standing), seated opponent (kneeling), supine opponent (kneeling), plus chest pushing and shin-to-shin entries. DVD 3 covers forcing half guard with 2-on-1 grips, butterfly hook counters, and sprawl techniques. DVD 4 handles beating the legs with elbow pry, tight waist, and knee line stepping. DVD 5 covers top pinning from side control and mount. DVD 6 features FAQs with frame counters and overhead sweep solutions.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Wrestling-based methodology brings a unique perspective to body lock passing that pure BJJ instructionals miss
• Four-phase system (acquire, force half guard, beat legs, pin) is logical and sequential
• Covers all four starting scenarios (seated/supine x standing/kneeling) systematically
• Applicable to gi, no-gi, and MMA contexts due to wrestling-first approach

What the Community Says

This is not just another body lock instructional trying to outdo Gordon Ryan’s famous one. Such is Nicky Rodriguez’s reputation, and every bit of it is more than well-deserved.

Filip Zanki, BJJ World (7/10 overall, technical quality 10/10, content quality 7/10)

Great information on body lock passing but not really intended for everyone.

Reddit r/bjj

Weakness

Expensive at $194 with only a 7/10 content rating from BJJ World. Filip Zanki noted ‘limited cohesion between segments’ and ‘technical presentation lacks big-picture context.’ Highly dependent on the instructor’s athleticism – may not translate for smaller practitioners. Lachlan Giles’ Body Lock Pass is $99, more systematic, and better taught.

My Recommendation

Best for: Blue-to-brown belt intermediates with a wrestling background who want a body lock system that leverages their wrestling instincts.

Avoid if: You’re a beginner (too complex), an advanced black belt (lacks substance at that level), or a smaller practitioner (system depends on athleticism). Lachlan Giles (#1) is a better body lock instructional for almost everyone.

Pairs with: Matheus Diniz’s No Gi Power Passing (#5) for pressure-based approaches that complement wrestling-informed body lock entries.