A research-driven ranking of the most useful BJJ Fanatics instructionals for brown belts, with Reddit sentiment, product specs, use-cases, and alternatives so you buy the right course.
Guard Retention Anthology: Around and Under
A complete guard-retention roadmap that stops modern passes and gets you back on offense fast.
The Anti-Wrestling Equation
Turn wrestlers’ pressure into front headlocks, mat returns, and strangulations that score and finish.
Wrestle Up Series
Build reliable wrestle-ups from seated guard that convert to scores and back takes.
📋 Jump to a review (Click to expand)
🥋 #1 Guard Retention Anthology: Around and Under by Lachlan Giles & Ariel Tabak
Instructor: Lachlan Giles & Ariel Tabak
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Footage Breakdown
Best for: Advanced
Format: Both
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Layers beat passes
Techniques: Guard Retention, Pummeling, Sit Up Escape
- Under Pressure: Half Butterfly Mastery by Brian Glick – Pair with half-butterfly retention when opponents get chest to chest.
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing by John Danaher – Complements retention by giving you a structured passing game.
- The Saddle by Lachlan Giles – Great if your retention flows into leg entanglements.
You will learn how to classify passes and apply the right retention layer. You will see when to face in, face away, invert or sit up. You will not get a random move dump.
✅ Pros
- Cohesive system with clear branches and counters.
- Strong balance of concepts and specific mechanics.
- Live-roll analysis makes timing and switching obvious.
⚠️ Cons
- Volume count can intimidate at first.
- Less focus on close-range knee shield problems.
💡 I rank this first because it upgrades your defensive baseline, which multiplies every other skill you own. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 The Anti-Wrestling Equation by Craig Jones
Instructor: Craig Jones
Style: System Based
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 6 hours and 11 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Attack the four-point
Techniques: Front Headlock, Back Takes, Mat Returns
- The B Team Bottom Game: Imparting Wrestling, Turtling, and Heisting - If you prefer developing wrestle-ups and heists from bottom.
- Offensive Wrestling For Jiu Jitsu Vol. 1 by Dante Leon - Add basic singles and doubles to round out stand-up threats.
- Power Ride: A New Philosophy on Pinning - Pairs perfectly with mat returns and back attacks.
You will learn to turn shots and go-behinds into back exposure. You will build mat returns and ride pressure into finishes. You will not study isolated counters without a system.
✅ Pros
- Unified plan from standing to the back.
- Well-paced teaching and good troubleshooting.
- Immediate value against collegiate-style pressure.
⚠️ Cons
- Title oversells strict 'anti' nature.
- May not cover all classic wrestling counters.
💡 I put this second because brown belts often lack a cohesive answer to wrestling pressure; this gives one. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 Wrestle Up Series by Nicky Ryan
Instructor: Nicky Ryan
Style: System Based
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 4 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Heist timing matters
Techniques: Wrestle Up, Single Leg, Heist
- Wrestling Up From Guard by Dante Leon - Simpler sequences if you want a shorter course.
- Power Bottom: Wrestle Up System by Andrew Wiltse - Popular gi-friendly wrestle-up approach; compare styles.
You will learn when to heist and what finish to chase. You will connect arm drags, singles, and front headlock attacks. You will not rely on low-percentage guard pulls.
✅ Pros
- Gives bottom players a scoring plan.
- Strong links to front headlock and back.
- Modern sequences that fit current meta.
⚠️ Cons
- Not ideal if you play closed guard only.
- Requires conditioning for repeated stand-ups.
- Less emphasis on gi grips.
💡 I recommend this early because wrestle-ups fix the brown-belt problem of stalling from seated guards. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing by John Danaher
Instructor: John Danaher
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 12 hours and 15 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Choose tight or loose
Techniques: Body Lock Passing, Toreando, Leg Pummel
- Higher Tripod Passing by Craig Jones - Prefer float-style to chest-to-chest half guard forcing.
- Tripod Float Passing by Paul Schreiner - Another respected tripod passing curriculum with deep details.
You will learn to choose loose or tight passing by scenario. You will use hierarchies to fix common errors. You will not rely on one-off passes without context.
✅ Pros
- Complete framework with clear scenarios.
- Addresses both open guard and half guard.
- Error hierarchies speed troubleshooting.
⚠️ Cons
- Premium pricing.
- Requires patient note-taking.
- Limited gi-specific grips.
💡 I include this because many brown belts plateau on passing choices; this system removes guesswork. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Butterfly Guard Re-Discovered by Adam Wardzinski
Instructor: Adam Wardzinski
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Advanced
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 29 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Grips create height
Techniques: Butterfly Guard, Single Leg X, Arm Drag
- The Reverse De La Riva System by Mikey Musumeci - If you want more outside hook options from open guard.
- Wrestling Up From Guard by Dante Leon - When opponents refuse to kneel against butterfly.
You will learn stable grips and overhook dilemmas. You will connect butterfly to SLX and RDLR for standers. You will not rely on one flashy sweep.
✅ Pros
- Battle-tested entries that scale to heavier opponents.
- Explains posture and height control well.
- Covers lazy butterfly to deal with distance.
⚠️ Cons
- Less leg entanglement detail than leglock-specific sets.
- Not a passing or top game resource.
- Some drills need a compliant start.
💡 I rate this highly because butterfly remains a brown-belt staple that wins exchanges without strength. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Wrestling Up From Guard by Dante Leon
Instructor: Dante Leon
Style: System Based
Best for: Advanced
Format: Both
Runtime: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Distance dictates timing
Techniques: Wrestle Up, De La Riva, Two On One
- Nicky Ryan Wrestle Up Series - If you want deeper integration with back exposure.
- Power Bottom: Wrestle Up System by Andrew Wiltse - Popular gi-first wrestle-up path; compare approaches.
You will learn to manage distance and force reactions. You will stand into singles from DLR, RDLR, X and knee shield. You will not memorize endless solo drills.
✅ Pros
- Short, focused curriculum easy to implement.
- Balances DLR and RDLR entries.
- Transferable to gi and no-gi.
⚠️ Cons
- Less coverage on finishing chains.
- Conditioning demands for repeated heists.
- Assumes basic takedown mechanics.
💡 I placed this mid-list for brown belts who want a quick wrestle-up plug-in without 8 volumes. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 Higher Tripod Passing by Craig Jones
Instructor: Craig Jones
Style: System Based
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Float, then flatten
Techniques: Tripod Passing, Near Side Underhook, Mount Transitions
- Power Ride: A New Philosophy on Pinning - Build the ride that tripod feeds into.
- Tripod Float Passing by Paul Schreiner - Alternative voice with deep tripod mechanics.
You will learn entries that stall seated guards. You will pin hips and funnel to mount and chokes. You will not guess between leg-drags and knee cuts randomly.
✅ Pros
- Modern sequences with clear finishes.
- Pairs well with ride control.
- Actionable cues for seated guards.
⚠️ Cons
- Can struggle vs elite butterfly.
- Demands good balance and mat feel.
- Less gi-specific material.
💡 I added this because tripod passing gives brown belts a dynamic alternative to constant knee cuts. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 The Reverse De La Riva System by Mikey Musumeci
Instructor: Mikey Musumeci
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Advanced
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 34 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Timing beats strength
Techniques: Reverse De La Riva, Tripod Sweep, Kiss Of The Dragon
- No Gi Reverse De La Riva by Dante Leon - Shorter no-gi oriented RDLR approach.
- Modern RDLR by Jason Rau - Another respected no-gi RDLR perspective.
You will learn exact frames, hooks, and off-balances. You will connect to berimbolo and back exposure safely. You will not get a short, fast-paced course.
✅ Pros
- Elite technical depth on RDLR basics and chains.
- Applies to gi and no-gi with minor tweaks.
- Clear three-box attack structure.
⚠️ Cons
- Long-winded pacing.
- High cost for the runtime perceived by some.
- Less relevant if you avoid inversion.
💡 I include it with caution: huge upside if you love detail, skip if you need concise delivery. Recommendation: Skip.
🥋 #9 Half Guard Anthology by Lachlan Giles
Instructor: Lachlan Giles
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Advanced
Format: Both
Runtime: 12 hours and 14 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Underhooks win halves
Techniques: Half Guard, Underhook Series, Knee Lever
- Under Pressure: Half Butterfly Mastery by Brian Glick - Bridges half butterfly to top pressure and back-takes.
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing by John Danaher - Counter-study for top players smashing your half.
You will learn layered underhook and knee lever attacks. You will address knee-cut and crossface denial. You will not rely on one sweep that fails under pressure.
✅ Pros
- Covers both offense and late defense in half.
- Scales to heavier partners with leverage focus.
- Integrates cleanly with retention ideas.
⚠️ Cons
- Demands drilling partners who pressure realistically.
- Few leg lock transitions from half.
- Runtime is large for note-takers.
💡 I rate it for brown belts who build their whole A-game around half guard. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #10 Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster by John Danaher
Instructor: John Danaher
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 11 hours and 57 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Structure beats pressure
Techniques: Pin Escapes, Turtle Escapes, Frames
- Guard Retention Anthology: Around and Under - If your issue is retention rather than pin escapes.
- The Anti-Wrestling Equation by Craig Jones - Build turtle and four-point into attacks.
You will learn frames, hip motion, and bridging hierarchies. You will connect turtle survival to real escapes. You will not get random escape tricks without structure.
✅ Pros
- Improves survival so your A-game appears more.
- Clear priorities for late-stage defense.
- Applies in gi and no-gi.
⚠️ Cons
- Pricey for a fundamentals category.
- Teaching still dense for some learners.
- Less drilling templates than drill-heavy sets.
💡 I include this because brown belts win more by never giving up easy top control. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
How should a brown belt choose between wrestle-up sets?
Pick based on your main guard and ruleset. If you mainly play seated open guard against standers, start with Dante Leon for a compact foundation, then layer Nicky Ryan for deeper back-exposure chains. If you play heavy collar-sleeve or demand gi details, Wiltse’s material is often preferred by r/bjj users. In no-gi tournaments with strong wrestlers, pair Anti-Wrestling with your wrestle-up to score even when your first heist stalls.
Do I need retention or escapes first at brown belt?
If you usually lose position before submissions arrive, buy a guard retention system first. It prevents passes and multiplies offense. If you get flattened and held after scrambles, prioritize pin and turtle escapes to stay in scoring range. Many brown belts benefit from one of each: retention for mid-stage defense and escapes for late-stage survival.
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