A research-driven ranking of Josh Barnett instructionals on BJJ Fanatics. We compared community feedback, system clarity, applicability, instructor pedigree, and production quality to pick the best buys.
Championship Catch Wrestling: The Head and Arm Ride
A complete kesa gatame system that turns crushing control into high-percentage finishes.
Championship Catch Wrestling: Arm Locks
A comprehensive catch-wrestling armlock toolkit built around the top wrist lock.
Championship Catch Wrestling: The Toe Hold
A focused toe-hold system from positions you already reach in rolls.
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🥋 #1 Championship Catch Wrestling: The Head and Arm Ride by Josh Barnett
Instructor: Josh Barnett
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 11 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Pin first, submit second.
Techniques: Kesa Gatame, Head And Arm Ride, Scarf Hold, Chest Compression Choke, Top Wrist Lock, Fujiwara Armbar
- Championship Catch Wrestling: Neck Locks – Pairs naturally with kesa-style chest and face attacks.
- Championship Level Catch Wrestling – Older double-wrist-lock fundamentals to round out your top game.
- Championship Catch Wrestling: Arm Locks – Expands finishing options once you have the ride secured.
If you like to pass, pin, and then submit, this is your map. Barnett shows how to acquire the head-and-arm ride, kill escapes, and convert pressure into taps without giving space. You will not learn guard sequences here; you will learn to suffocate bottom players and end matches.
✅ Pros
- Clear, stepwise system from entry to finishes with strong positional logic.
- Addresses common reversals and shows weight distribution that actually works.
- Translates well to gi, no-gi, MMA, and self-defense contexts.
⚠️ Cons
- Not ideal if you dislike pin-heavy, grindy top control.
- Back exposure fears may slow adoption without drilling the specifics.
- Chest compression finish can create rule gray areas in some events.
💡 I saw how pairing pinning rides with small, cruel angles removes most bottom offense before submissions even start. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Championship Catch Wrestling: Arm Locks by Josh Barnett
Instructor: Josh Barnett
Style: Technique Collection, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 3 hours and 32 minutes
Volumes: 6
Biggest takeaway: Control wrists, isolate, then break.
Techniques: Top Wrist Lock, Fujiwara Armbar, Straight Arm Lock, Short Arm Scissor, Arm Isolation
- Championship Catch Wrestling: The Head and Arm Ride - Best foundation if you want armlocks from heavy pins.
- Championship Level Catch Wrestling - Double wrist lock focus at a budget price.
- Championship Catch Wrestling: Neck Locks - Adds face and neck attacks that pair with armlock chains.
Barnett walks you through armlock mechanics that work from the pins you already use. The set covers straight, bent, and scissor armlocks plus wrist-control chains. You will not get berimbolo or lapel tricks, but you will finish more from dominant topside positions.
✅ Pros
- Large, well-organized catalog of armlocks and entries.
- Strong integration with rides and north-south transitions.
- Easy to adapt to gi or no-gi without grip dependency.
⚠️ Cons
- Terminology may require translation for BJJ-only students.
- Less appeal if your game is guard-first and distance based.
- Few pure drill sections; you must self-structure reps.
💡 I saw how controlling the top hand first makes every armlock attempt safer and higher percentage. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 Championship Catch Wrestling: The Toe Hold by Josh Barnett
Instructor: Josh Barnett
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 3 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Fulcrum plus turn equals tap.
Techniques: Toe Hold, North South Toe Hold, Half Guard Toe Hold, Leg Entanglement Entries
- Championship Catch Wrestling: The Achilles Lock - Simpler mechanics if you are new to leg locks.
- Championship Catch Wrestling: The Knee Bar - Pairs well for lower-body chains when the toe hold fails.
- Championship Catch Wrestling: Heel Hooks - Expands to modern heel hook meta with catch flavor.
Learn the inside and outside toe hold with the exact fulcrums and turns that make it finish. Entries from half guard, north-south, and passing keep opponents guessing. If you want a non-heel-hook lower-body threat, this is a great lane.
✅ Pros
- Clear mechanics that fix the common toe-hold stall.
- Practical entries from top and transitional spots.
- Complements straight ankle and knee bar attacks.
⚠️ Cons
- Less universal legality than straight ankle locks at lower belts.
- Requires sensitivity in sparring to protect partners.
- Not as comprehensive as multi-course leg locks libraries.
💡 I realized the finish depends less on arm strength and more on building a lever with hips and torso. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Championship Catch Wrestling: Bottom Defense & Counter Offense by Josh Barnett
Instructor: Josh Barnett
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 18 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Defense should create offense.
Techniques: Turtle Defense, Seatbelt Escape, Bottom Stand Ups, Counter Offense
- Championship Catch Wrestling: The Head and Arm Ride - Completes the turtle-to-top cycle with pinning offense.
- Championship Catch Wrestling: Arm Locks - Adds finishes once you reverse to topside.
Barnett presents a bottom framework that does not accept flat-guard as the only safe place. You learn safe turtling, seatbelt escapes, and get-ups that feed counters. If you want something more wrestling-flavored than pure guard retention, start here.
✅ Pros
- Clear heuristics for when and how to turtle safely.
- Directly addresses seatbelt and front-headlock issues.
- Builds toward reversals, not just stalling.
⚠️ Cons
- Guard-centric players may find it philosophically different.
- Requires mat time to internalize timing under pressure.
- Less detail on classic guard escapes than other systems.
💡 I understood why giving the back briefly can be safer than staying flat when you have answers for the seatbelt. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Championship Catch Wrestling: Neck Locks by Josh Barnett
Instructor: Josh Barnett
Style: Technique Collection, Conceptual
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 57 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Open the chin without losing control.
Techniques: Face Lock, Neck Crank, Chin Control Openers, Chest Compression
- Championship Catch Wrestling: The Head and Arm Ride - Ideal platform for chest-and-face pressure attacks.
- Championship Catch Wrestling: Arm Locks - Follow-up submissions once the chin is opened.
Barnett outlines safe chin-opening, face locks, and chest compression options that create real taps or force defensive mistakes. You will learn when these are legal and how to blend them with chokes. If your gym or ruleset forbids cranks, this is less useful.
✅ Pros
- Rare, under-taught neck-attack mechanics from a trusted source.
- Clear safety and legality notes for common rulesets.
- Integrates well with north-south and kesa pressure.
⚠️ Cons
- Reduced value in IBJJF-only contexts.
- Requires partner trust and careful pacing.
- Less beginner friendly than choke-only libraries.
💡 I learned how to turn chin defenses into setups for higher percentage chokes and armlocks. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
How we ranked Josh Barnett’s instructionals
We weighted community reception most, using r/bjj threads where people discussed kesa, toe holds, and catch-influenced defense. Then we judged clarity (is there a system, not a move dump), applicability to gi/no-gi and common positions, instructor pedigree, and production quality. Tie-breakers were recency and distinctiveness. The result favors the head-and-arm ride as a platform, with armlocks and toe holds rounding out finishes and a defensive shell for those who prefer standing up over staying guard-first.
Rules considerations for catch-style attacks
Neck cranks without chokes are illegal in IBJJF, which limits the direct use of some neck locks. However, face pressure to open the chin for a choke is often allowed, and rules like ADCC handle cranks differently. Always check your event rules and talk with coaches and partners. When in doubt, practice slowly and favor chest pressure that leads to clean chokes or armlocks to stay competition friendly.
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