Best Marcelo Garcia Instructionals: 2026 Rankings and Reviews

BJJ World called this the instructional of the year and compared it to Danaher’s leg lock system for revealing closely guarded secrets. Marcelo proved it still works by finishing Masakazu Imanari with this exact choke at ONE 170 in January 2025 during his post-cancer comeback. Four volumes covering arm blocking, alignment, setups from half guard/mount/knee-on-belly, and advanced entries that make the choke virtually inescapable.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~3 hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels (blue belt+ for best results)
• 🕸 Submissions / Chokes

What It Covers

Part 1 covers fundamentals: arm blocking, alignment, positioning, grip concepts, and elbow positioning for the choke itself. Part 2 teaches setups from half guard top, mount, and various top positions, plus counters to head turns and arm positioning defenses.

Part 3 introduces advanced variations: arm-in north-south choke, using leg involvement to break grips and frames, and transitions from seatbelt escapes and closed guard. Part 4 covers advanced entries from knee-on-belly, armbar transitions, arm traps, double arm wraps, and single-arm finishing mechanics.

What Makes It Stand Out

• BJJ World called it “the instructional of the year” – comparing its significance to Danaher’s leg lock revelations
• Marcelo finished Imanari with this exact choke at ONE 170 (Jan 2025) during his post-cancer comeback
• No other instructor teaches the north-south choke with remotely this depth or detail
• Converts side control pressure into a finish pathway faster than any other course on the market

What the Community Says

“Finally, the secret is out. You simply can’t miss this one!”

BJJ World (“instructional of the year”)

“Converts side control pressure into a finish pathway faster than any other course.”

Community feedback (r/bjj)

Weakness

This is a single-submission course. If you want a broader submission system covering multiple finishes, Danaher’s Strangles and Turtles (Go Further Faster) covers chokes across many positions. The north-south choke is also primarily a no-gi technique, so gi-only practitioners will get less out of it. And at ~3 hours, you’re paying full price for a tighter course than most of Marcelo’s 4-hour+ offerings.

My Recommendation

Best for: No-gi grapplers who frequently reach side control or north-south and want a reliable finish. Particularly strong for pressure passers who already dominate top position but lack a go-to submission from there.

Avoid if: You want a multi-submission system (Danaher’s GFF Strangles is broader), you train exclusively in the gi, or you rarely reach side control/north-south.

Pairs with: The Complete Side Control System for dominating side control before applying the choke, or the Complete Marcelo Garcia Bundle if you want his full positional game.

BJJ World described it as “one of the best I’ve ever seen” and “the most complete butterfly guard formula ever.” Four volumes covering Marcelo’s ADCC-winning butterfly guard: fundamentals, his signature attacks (the “blast,” Marcelotine, overhook/underhook sweeps), advanced mechanics including the shoulder clamp sweep, and butterfly guard vs standing opponents.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~4 hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Butterfly Guard / Guard Systems

What It Covers

Part 1 establishes butterfly guard fundamentals: hand positioning, foot positioning, butterfly guard posture, elbow positioning, and basic sweep mechanics, plus the kick spin back take. Part 2 covers Marcelo’s favorite attacks: the “blast” (getting underneath your opponent), reverse armlock, Marcelotine guillotine, overhook sweeps, and underhook sweeps.

Part 3 teaches advanced butterfly guard mechanics: distance control, grip work, posture breaking, push-pull dynamics, and the shoulder clamp sweep that Marcelo made famous at ADCC. Part 4 covers butterfly guard vs standing opponents: salvage sweeps, shin-on-shin guard transitions, double leg takedowns from guard, and pressure defense responses.

What Makes It Stand Out

• BJJ World: “one of the best I’ve ever seen” with “flawless” production quality
• Covers the exact butterfly guard system that won 4 ADCC gold medals across nearly a decade
• The shoulder clamp sweep (Part 3) is a technique Marcelo used to beat elite grapplers at ADCC multiple times
• Strong connections into X guard and back takes make it part of a larger offensive system

What the Community Says

“Nobody, even Marcelo himself, has ever issued a better instructional on the butterfly guard.”

BJJ World

“Classic butterfly blueprint with durable concepts, great for learning upright posture and the underhook clamp.”

r/bjj community sentiment

Weakness

Part 3 (advanced mechanics) may be difficult for beginners who haven’t developed a feel for butterfly guard timing. The course has limited back-take coverage (only one demonstrated) – for a complete butterfly-to-back system, you’d need to pair this with one of his back attack titles. Adam Wardzinski’s butterfly guard instructional offers a more modern, competition-current alternative with recent ADCC and Worlds results.

My Recommendation

Best for: Anyone who wants to build a butterfly guard game from the person who proved it works at the highest level. Strong for smaller grapplers who need sweep-based offense against larger opponents.

Avoid if: You already own The Marcelo Guard: Mastering Butterfly Guard (significant overlap), you want more back take coverage from butterfly (this covers only one), or you want a more modern competitive take (Adam Wardzinski).

Pairs with: The Marcelo X Guard for the transitions from butterfly into X guard, or MG Back Attack System 2.0 for finishing from the back takes butterfly guard creates.

The newest and most refined version of Marcelo’s back attack system. Covers never-before-seen techniques including standing back attacks using single leg setups, transitions between control mechanisms based on opponent reactions, and updated approaches for modern no-gi grappling. Supersedes the original no-gi back attack system.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2023
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 Intermediate to Advanced
• 🕸 Back Attacks / Back Control

What It Covers

Updated back attack system covering standing back attacks including using the single leg to set up hooks, transitions between controlling mechanisms based on opponent reactions, back takes from multiple positions, back mount maintenance and control, and submission setups including RNC variations. Builds on the original system with techniques Marcelo hadn’t previously shared publicly.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Most refined version of the back attack game that produced 23 submissions from 32 ADCC opponents
• Never-before-seen techniques not included in the original version or the gi version
• Standing back attack entries are particularly relevant for modern no-gi scramble-heavy grappling
• Supersedes the original that BJJ World called “the best of the bunch”

What the Community Says

“His back attacks instructional is the best of the bunch Marcelo has out so far.”

BJJ World (on the original version this supersedes)

Weakness

Three versions of Marcelo’s back attacks exist (original no-gi, gi, and 2.0), which creates confusion about which to buy. If you train primarily in the gi, the Complete MG Back Attack System: Gi (rated 9/10 by BJJ World’s Ognen Dzabirski) is the better pick. Danaher’s Back Attacks: Go Further Faster is more conceptually detailed and methodical. Gordon Ryan has stated that his back attack system builds on what he learned from Danaher and Marcelo but is more systematized for competition.

My Recommendation

Best for: No-gi grapplers who want the most current version of Marcelo’s back attack game. Particularly strong for practitioners who reach the back frequently but struggle with control and finishing.

Avoid if: You train primarily in the gi (get the gi back attack version instead), you already own the original no-gi back attack system and found it sufficient, or you prefer a more conceptual/systematic approach (Danaher’s GFF Back Attacks).

Pairs with: The Complete Butterfly Guard for the guard sweeps that create back-take opportunities, or The Complete Crucifix Back Attack System for an alternative back control position.

A modern update of the position Marcelo helped popularize. Covers shin-to-shin entries, grip and frame concepts, controlling the opponent’s center of gravity from underneath, and high-percentage sweeps. Structured to help you adopt the X guard system in weeks rather than months.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2023
• 🥋 No-Gi / Mixed
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 X Guard / Guard Systems

What It Covers

Covers how to enter, attack, and win with X guard. Shin-to-shin entries from seated and standing guard situations. Grip and frame concepts for maintaining the position. Controlling the opponent’s center of gravity from underneath to set up sweeps. High-percentage sweep finishes and transitions to dominant positions.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Updates the classic MG X guard for modern no-gi grappling with clean entries and reliable sweeps
• Structured so you can adopt the system in weeks, not months, according to community feedback
• Deepens the X guard connections from Marcelo’s butterfly guard for a complete bottom game system
• Shin-to-shin entries work from the most common guard engagement scenarios

What the Community Says

“Updates the classic MG x-guard in a structure that helps you adopt it in weeks, not months.”

Community feedback (r/bjj)

“A tight, modern x-guard system with clean entries and high-percentage sweeps.”

Community review

Weakness

Lachlan Giles covers X guard within his broader guard system with more conceptual depth and modern ADCC competition footage. The X guard position has evolved since Marcelo’s competitive peak, and some modern players prefer single leg X (SLX) as the primary entry rather than full X guard. Community recommendation is to wait for daily deal pricing rather than paying full retail.

My Recommendation

Best for: Butterfly guard players who want to add X guard as a natural extension of their sweeping game. Also strong for anyone who already plays some X guard and wants Marcelo’s specific details on entries and finishes.

Avoid if: You prefer a more modern, conceptual approach to X guard (Lachlan Giles), or you primarily play closed guard or half guard where X guard entries are less common.

Pairs with: The Complete Butterfly Guard for the butterfly-to-X-guard pipeline, or 2 on 1 Control No Gi for grip setups that feed into X guard entries.

BJJ World’s Ognen Dzabirski rated this 9/10, calling it a blueprint that answers all the important questions a back-attacking specialist might ask. Four volumes covering standing back takes (jumps, mat returns, sprawls), crucifix entries, arm trap systems, RNC variations for both gi and no-gi, bow and arrow chokes, and grip fighting solutions.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2+ hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2021
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 Intermediate to Advanced
• 🕸 Back Attacks / Gi Techniques

What It Covers

Part 1 covers getting the back from standing: jumps, mat returns, takedown attempts, sprawls, rear body lock variations, and posture breaking. Part 2 teaches quick back takes and crucifix: near-side and far-side attacks, re-back takes when you lose position, and crucifix entry, holding, and submissions.

Part 3 covers arm traps and the RNC: multiple RNC variations for both gi and no-gi, arm trap systems for exposing the neck, grip fighting to clear defensive hands. Part 4 focuses on bow and arrow choke with grip solutions, turtle position and sit-out defenses, and standing bow and arrow variations.

What Makes It Stand Out

• BJJ World (Ognen Dzabirski) 9/10: “a blueprint containing the answers to all the important questions a back-attacking specialist might ask”
• Covers both gi-specific (bow and arrow, collar grips) and universal back attack principles
• Crucifix integration (Part 2) connects to Marcelo’s separate crucifix instructional for deeper study
• Grip fighting solutions in Part 4 address the most common defensive reactions gi players face

What the Community Says

“A blueprint containing the answers to all the important questions a back-attacking specialist might ask.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (9/10)

“Achieving even a fraction of Marcelo’s success with this system is undoubtedly going to make you significantly better at the back mount in a matter of weeks.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World

Weakness

At just over 2 hours, this is noticeably shorter than Marcelo’s no-gi back attack courses. Danaher’s Back Attacks: Go Further Faster is significantly more comprehensive and detailed for gi back attacks. If you train primarily no-gi, the Back Attack System 2.0 is the better purchase. The overlap with the crucifix instructional means you’re paying twice for some of the same positional coverage.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi practitioners who want Marcelo’s back attack system adapted with collar chokes, bow and arrow setups, and gi-specific grip fighting. Strong for competitors who need reliable back finishes in IBJJF tournaments.

Avoid if: You train primarily no-gi (get the 2.0 version instead), you want comprehensive coverage (Danaher’s GFF is more thorough at 10+ hours), or you already own the crucifix instructional (some overlap in Part 2).

Pairs with: The Complete Crucifix Back Attack System for deeper crucifix study, or The Complete Butterfly Guard for the sweeps that create back-take opportunities.

BJJ World rated the complete bundle 10/10, with Ognen Dzabirski writing that “it has everything – not just the bare bones or the bits and pieces that most top grapplers offer.” Six instructionals across 24 volumes covering butterfly guard, north-south choke, guard passing, side control, mount, and crucifix back attacks. 18+ hours of Marcelo’s complete no-gi game.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 18+ hours across 24 volumes (6 titles)
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Complete System / Bundle

What It Covers

Includes all six “Complete” series titles: The Complete Butterfly Guard (4 volumes), The Complete North-South Choke (4 volumes), The Complete No-Gi Guard Passing System (4 volumes), The Complete Side Control System (4 volumes), The Complete MG Mount System (4 volumes), and The Complete Crucifix Back Attack System (4 volumes).

Together, these cover Marcelo’s complete no-gi positional game from guard to top control to submissions. The system flows logically: butterfly guard creates sweeps, sweeps lead to top position (side control, mount), top positions create submission opportunities (north-south choke, arm locks), and back takes connect everything.

What Makes It Stand Out

• BJJ World (Ognen Dzabirski) 10/10: “it has everything – not just the bare bones or the bits and pieces that most top grapplers offer”
• 18+ hours covering virtually every aspect of Marcelo’s no-gi game in one purchase
• Significant savings vs buying all six titles individually ($149 each = $894 vs bundle pricing)
• Comprehensive tactical advice alongside technique instruction

What the Community Says

“It has everything – not just the bare bones or the bits and pieces that most top grapplers offer.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (10/10)

Weakness

At $497-$597 regular price, this is a major investment. 18+ hours is a massive time commitment that could take months to work through. If you only want one or two of Marcelo’s systems (butterfly guard and north-south choke, for example), buying individually during BJJ Fanatics daily deals may be cheaper. The guard passing and side control sections haven’t received standalone reviews as detailed as the butterfly guard and north-south choke, so quality may vary across titles. Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking from Every Position bundle covers similar ground with more recent competition proof.

My Recommendation

Best for: Committed students who want to study Marcelo’s complete game as an integrated system. Best value if you plan to buy 4+ of the individual titles anyway.

Avoid if: You only want one or two specific systems (buy individually during sales), you’re on a tight budget (wait for sales where individual titles drop to ~$77), or you prefer more modern competition-proven systems (Gordon Ryan).

Pairs with: MG Back Attack System 2.0 for the one major system not included in the bundle (back attacks), or The Marcelotine for deeper guillotine study.

A focused deep dive on Marcelo’s signature guillotine variation. Uses the “chin strap grip” followed by “ball in socket grip” with the bony wrist below the thumb applying pressure on the neck. The free arm’s elbow sits against the opponent’s shoulder (high elbow position). Includes flowcharts and visual notes for self-study.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2023
• 🥋 Gi and No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Submissions / Guillotines

What It Covers

Focuses specifically on the Marcelotine variation (high elbow guillotine). Covers guillotines from everywhere: standing, guard top and bottom, side control. Troubleshooting against common and modern defenses. How to combine the guillotine as part of a broader attacking game rather than a standalone technique.

Mechanics breakdown: chin strap grip, ball in socket grip, bony wrist pressure on the neck, high elbow positioning. No strength dependency – the choke works through positional mechanics. Works in both gi and no-gi. Accessible from butterfly guard, closed guard, half guard, mount, side control, and standing.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Newer production with flowcharts and visual notes – better study material than the older Complete Guillotine
• The Marcelotine works without strength through pure positional mechanics – accessible for all body types
• Covers the choke from every major position (butterfly, closed guard, half guard, mount, side control, standing)
• Troubleshooting section addresses modern defenses that have evolved since the technique became widely known

What the Community Says

“Uses the chin strap grip followed by ball in socket grip with the bony wrist below the thumb applying pressure. No strength dependency – works through positional mechanics.”

BJJ World (Marcelotine analysis)

Weakness

If you already own the Complete Guillotine Choke, there is meaningful overlap in the standing and guard guillotine sections. Danaher’s Strangles and Turtles (GFF) covers guillotines alongside other chokes with more conceptual depth. Craig Jones and Josh Hinger both have focused guillotine content with more recent competition proof. This is also a single-submission deep dive at full price, similar to the north-south choke course.

My Recommendation

Best for: Practitioners who want to develop the Marcelotine as a primary submission weapon across all positions. Particularly strong for those who already play butterfly guard, where the Marcelotine is a natural attacking option.

Avoid if: You already own the Complete Guillotine Choke (meaningful overlap), you want a broader submission system (Danaher’s GFF Strangles), or you prefer guillotine instruction with recent competition footage (Craig Jones, Josh Hinger).

Pairs with: The Complete Butterfly Guard since the Marcelotine is a primary attack from butterfly, or The Complete North-South Choke for a two-submission system covering both top and guard positions.

BJJ World’s Ognen Dzabirski rated this 9.5/10. A unique multi-instructor format featuring 8 MGA black belts (Paul Schreiner, Matheus Diniz, Joel Burgess, Scott Kaplan, Kanan Clarke-Jones, Matheus Lutes, Tony Bibaj, Yuta Shimada) teaching their interpretations of Marcelo’s techniques. 100% of proceeds go to Marcelo’s cancer fight.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~2 hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2023
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Mixed Techniques / Charity

What It Covers

Part 1 covers north-south choke finishing mechanics and setups plus the back control hand-fighting system. Part 2 teaches single leg X guard sweeps (double ankle sweep, twist sweep, overhook attacks) and guillotine finishes from seated guard.

Part 3 covers passing and turtle attacks: knee cut pass, outside passing, turtle attack breakdowns, knee-shield passing (high and low variations). Part 4 teaches full X guard sweep details, over-under passing, side control escapes, and hook sweeps.

What Makes It Stand Out

• BJJ World (Ognen Dzabirski) 9.5/10 – “I’d enjoy seeing more often” this multi-instructor format
• 100% of proceeds go directly to Marcelo Garcia’s fight against cancer
• Unique perspective: see how 8 black belts interpret and teach Marcelo’s techniques differently
• Covers a wide range of techniques (north-south choke, SLX, guillotines, passing, X guard) in a condensed format

What the Community Says

“I’d enjoy seeing more often” this multi-instructor format.

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (9.5/10)

Weakness

At ~2 hours, this is a sampler rather than a deep system – you get breadth across many techniques but limited depth on each. If you want deep coverage of any specific topic (north-south choke, X guard, passing), the dedicated Marcelo instructionals go much deeper. The multiple-instructor format means varying teaching quality, and some students may prefer one instructor’s explanation over another. Paul Schreiner’s own instructionals on BJJ Fanatics cover similar material with more depth from a single, consistent teaching voice.

My Recommendation

Best for: Anyone who wants to support Marcelo’s cancer fight while getting a taste of MGA’s teaching across multiple positions. Also great for existing Marcelo students who want to see how his black belts interpret the techniques differently.

Avoid if: You want deep coverage of any single topic (buy the dedicated instructional instead), you prefer a single instructor’s consistent teaching style, or you already own multiple Marcelo titles covering the same ground.

Pairs with: The Complete North-South Choke for deeper north-south study, or The Marcelo X Guard for comprehensive X guard instruction.

Cheaper alternative: At $77-$97, this is already one of Marcelo’s most affordable titles.

A newer take on Marcelo’s butterfly guard with a focus on the seated guard concept and connections to single leg X and X guard. Covers upright butterfly guard posture, 2-on-1 grips, distance management, and grip fighting from seated position. Pairs well with the X Guard instructional for a complete bottom game.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2023
• 🥋 No-Gi / Mixed
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Butterfly Guard / Seated Guard

What It Covers

Upright butterfly guard with detailed posture cues. 2-on-1 grip setups and distance management from seated position. Connections to single leg X and full X guard for a seamless transition game. Grip fighting from seated position including breaking grips and re-establishing control. Marcelo’s signature butterfly guard offenses updated for modern grappling.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Stronger connections to X guard and SLX than the Complete Butterfly Guard, creating a more connected system
• Newer production with updated techniques for modern no-gi grappling
• 2-on-1 grip emphasis connects directly to the 2 on 1 Control instructional for deeper grip study
• Clean coaching that translates directly to sparring according to community feedback

What the Community Says

“Classic butterfly blueprint with durable concepts. Great for learning upright posture and the underhook clamp.”

r/bjj community

“Strong connections into X guard and back takes, clean coaching that translates to sparring.”

Community review

Weakness

Significant overlap with The Complete Butterfly Guard – if you own that title, you may find 60-70% of this material familiar. The Complete Butterfly Guard is more comprehensive as a standalone system. Adam Wardzinski and Marcelo Gomes both offer butterfly guard instructionals with more recent competition results backing the techniques. This is a newer packaging of butterfly sequences rather than entirely new content.

My Recommendation

Best for: Practitioners who specifically want to connect their butterfly guard to X guard and SLX transitions. Also good for those who found the Complete Butterfly Guard lacking in seated guard details.

Avoid if: You already own The Complete Butterfly Guard (major overlap), you want the most comprehensive butterfly system (the Complete version is better for that), or you want competition-current butterfly material (Adam Wardzinski).

Pairs with: The Marcelo X Guard for the full seated-to-X-guard pipeline, or 2 on 1 Control No Gi for the grip system that feeds these guard entries.

BJJ World described it as “just what the doctor ordered” for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Four volumes covering guillotine counters to takedowns, butterfly guard guillotine setups, side control and turtle guillotines, and escape techniques. Includes the Marcelotine, low elbow guillotine, ten-finger grip, and arm-in variations.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 Gi and No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Submissions / Guillotines

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers guillotine counters to single and double-leg takedowns across 9 chapters. Volume 2 teaches butterfly guard guillotine setups and defenses. Volume 3 covers side control and turtle position guillotines. Volume 4 teaches escape techniques from various positions where the guillotine attempt fails.

Key techniques include the Marcelotine (signature variation), low elbow guillotine, ten-finger grip variations, arm-in guillotine variations, and setups from standing, guard, and top positions.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Covers ALL guillotine types broadly – Marcelotine, low elbow, ten-finger, arm-in – not just one variation
• Volume 1 (guillotine counters to takedowns) addresses a high-frequency scenario in both competition and training
• BJJ World praised the breadth: “so many variations that you might even get lost at some point”
• Escape techniques (Volume 4) cover what to do when your guillotine attempt fails – rarely taught elsewhere

What the Community Says

“Just what the doctor ordered” for both beginners and experienced practitioners.

BJJ World

Weakness

Some content was reportedly sourced directly from MG In Action footage rather than being newly filmed material. Reddit users called this “REALLY disappointing” and “egregious they are not straight up about it.” If you had an MG In Action subscription, you may have already seen portions of this content. The Marcelotine instructional is newer, more focused, and has better production quality for Marcelo’s signature guillotine variation specifically. Craig Jones and Josh Hinger both offer guillotine instructionals with more recent competition proof.

My Recommendation

Best for: Practitioners who want broad guillotine coverage across all positions and all major variations in one package. Strong for those who use takedown defense as a primary guillotine entry.

Avoid if: You previously subscribed to MG In Action (some content reportedly reused), you only want the Marcelotine specifically (get The Marcelotine instead), or you want competition-current guillotine instruction (Craig Jones).

Pairs with: The Complete Butterfly Guard for butterfly guard setups into guillotines, or The Marcelotine for deeper study of his signature variation.

A complementary grip system covering how to secure and control the 2-on-1, then launch attacks from it: double legs, single legs, butterfly sweeps, single leg X entries, ankle picks, and back takes. Connects directly to Marcelo’s butterfly guard and X guard systems.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Grips / Guard Entries

What It Covers

Covers securing the 2-on-1 grip and controlling it against common defensive reactions. Top attacks from 2-on-1: double legs, single legs. Bottom attacks: wrestling sweeps, butterfly sweeps, ankle picks, and back takes. Single leg X entries from 2-on-1 control. Combining the 2-on-1 with butterfly guard for integrated sweeping and attacking.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Fills the grip-fighting gap that many butterfly and X guard players struggle with
• Teaches how to enter X guard from real positions and finish with reliable sweeps
• Connects directly to Marcelo’s butterfly and X guard instructionals for a complete system
• Wrestling-influenced grip work that translates to both standing and guard situations

What the Community Says

“Great complementary grip system for x-guard entries.”

Community review

Weakness

This is a supplementary title, not a standalone system. On its own, 2-on-1 control is a narrow topic. You’ll get the most value by pairing it with the butterfly guard or X guard instructionals. Danaher covers grip fighting concepts within his broader systems (like Guard Retention: Go Further Faster) without needing a separate purchase. At full price, paying $149 for grip-fighting instruction alone is steep compared to courses that cover it as part of a larger system.

My Recommendation

Best for: Practitioners who already play butterfly guard or X guard and want to improve their initial engagement and grip fighting. Also strong for wrestlers who use 2-on-1 in standing and want to extend it to guard work.

Avoid if: You don’t already play butterfly or X guard (this won’t help much on its own), you want a standalone system rather than a supplement, or you can already secure your preferred grips consistently.

Pairs with: The Marcelo X Guard for the sweeps and attacks these grips set up, or The Marcelo Guard which emphasizes the same 2-on-1 concepts in context.

Part of the Complete Bundle (rated 10/10 by BJJ World). A clean no-gi passing blueprint covering back-steps, knee cuts, X passes, De la Riva passing, half guard passing, closed guard passing, X guard counters, underhook-based passing, and inverted guard solutions.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~4.5 hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 Intermediate to Advanced
• 🕸 Guard Passing / Top Game

What It Covers

Battle-tested guard passes using back-steps, knee cuts, and X passes. De la Riva passing sequences. Half guard passing with pressure and movement options. Closed guard passing for no-gi situations. X guard counter strategies from the passer’s perspective. Underhook-based passing for controlling the engagement. Inverted guard solutions for dealing with flexible, active guard players.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Part of the 10/10-rated Complete Bundle by BJJ World
• Battle-tested passes from a 4x ADCC champion who regularly had to pass world-class guards
• X guard counter strategies are particularly valuable given how common X guard has become
• Clean, no-nonsense passing instruction that translates directly to competition

What the Community Says

“A clean no-gi passing blueprint with battle-tested sequences and counters.”

BJJ World (part of 10/10 bundle review)

Weakness

Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking Guard is the dominant no-gi passing instructional, backed by the most dominant ADCC passing record in history. Danaher’s Guard Passing: Go Further Faster provides more conceptual depth from Marcelo’s own connection. This course hasn’t received a dedicated standalone review, only coverage as part of the bundle. Marcelo’s competitive peak was 2003-2011, and guard passing has evolved significantly since then.

My Recommendation

Best for: Students already invested in Marcelo’s system who want his passing approach to complement their guard game. Also strong as part of the Complete Bundle for a unified no-gi system.

Avoid if: You want the most current and comprehensive no-gi passing system (Gordon Ryan), you prefer conceptual passing instruction (Danaher’s GFF), or you only want passing instruction without buying the bundle.

Pairs with: The Complete Side Control System for what to do after you pass, or the Complete Bundle for the full system.

Part of the Complete Bundle (rated 10/10 by BJJ World). Covers mount entries, arm trapping, breaking frames, stopping escapes, preventing rollaways, back mount threats, and submissions including north-south choke, armbar, and monoplata. Emphasizes turning defensive reactions into traps.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~3+ hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Mount / Top Control

What It Covers

Entry techniques for reaching mount from side control and other positions. Arm trapping to expose submissions. Breaking down frames and stopping mount escapes. Turning defensive movements into traps (opponent escapes become submission setups). Preventing rollaways. Back mount threats when the opponent turns. Submissions: north-south choke from mount transitions, armbar, and monoplata. Mount retention and escape prevention strategies.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Part of the 10/10-rated Complete Bundle
• Emphasis on turning escape attempts into traps creates a psychological advantage
• Natural follow-up from side control, connecting to the north-south choke system
• Practical progressions into mount and north-south finishes

What the Community Says

“Natural follow-up once you arrive at mount. Emphasizes transitions that trap arms before chasing the choke or armbar.”

Community review

Weakness

Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking from Mount is the most comprehensive mount instructional on the market, backed by the most dominant no-gi competitor in history. Danaher covers mount in his Pins and Escapes GFF series with more conceptual depth. This title is primarily reviewed as part of the bundle rather than standalone, making independent quality assessment harder. Roger Gracie’s mount system is the gold standard for gi practitioners.

My Recommendation

Best for: Students building the complete Marcelo system who need mount instruction to connect their side control to submissions. Best purchased as part of the Complete Bundle rather than individually.

Avoid if: You want the definitive mount instructional (Gordon Ryan for no-gi, Roger Gracie for gi), or you’d rather invest in Marcelo’s stronger titles (north-south choke, butterfly guard) first.

Pairs with: The Complete Side Control System for the side-control-to-mount pipeline, or The Complete North-South Choke for submissions from the transitions mount creates.

Part of the Complete Bundle (rated 10/10 by BJJ World). Covers upper body control, elbow control, breaking through frames, countering escapes, knee-on-belly techniques, armbar variations (MG armbar, far armbar, near armbar), mount transitions, and north-south choke applications from side control.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~2.5 hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Side Control / Top Control

What It Covers

Upper body control and elbow control for maintaining side control against active opponents. Breaking through frames and countering common escape attempts. Knee-on-belly techniques and counters. Various armbar variations: the MG armbar, far armbar, and near armbar. Mount transitions from side control. Back position transitions when the opponent turns. North-south choke applications directly from side control.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Part of the 10/10-rated Complete Bundle
• Teaches how to dominate bigger opponents from side control through positioning rather than weight
• Direct connection to the north-south choke system makes this a natural companion piece
• Multiple armbar variations (MG armbar, far armbar, near armbar) provide diverse finishing options

What the Community Says

“Teaches how to dominate bigger opponents from side control.”

BJJ World (part of 10/10 bundle review)

Weakness

At ~2.5 hours, this is one of Marcelo’s shorter instructionals. Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking from Side Control is the most comprehensive side control instructional available. Danaher covers side control extensively in his Pins series. Bernardo Faria’s side control material has more competition proof for pressure-based top control. Best purchased as part of the bundle rather than at full individual price.

My Recommendation

Best for: Students building the complete Marcelo system who want his approach to side control domination. Pairs naturally with the north-south choke for a complete side-control-to-finish system.

Avoid if: You want comprehensive side control instruction (Gordon Ryan is more thorough), you prefer pressure-based top play (Bernardo Faria), or you’d rather buy this as part of the bundle for better value.

Pairs with: The Complete North-South Choke for the primary submission from this position, or the Complete Bundle for the full system.

Part of the Complete Bundle (rated 10/10 by BJJ World). Covers crucifix entries from top, bottom, standing, and in transition. Kneeling crucifix techniques, RNC finishes, short chokes, one-arm chokes, bottom crucifix variations, seatbelt controls, and countering opponent rolls and slams. Marcelo explains his preference for crucifix over traditional back control.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~3 hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Crucifix / Back Attacks

What It Covers

Entries from top, bottom, standing, and in transition to the crucifix position. Kneeling crucifix techniques. RNC finishes from crucifix, short chokes, and one-arm chokes. Bottom crucifix variations. Seatbelt controls and grip management. Countering opponent rolls and slam attempts. Marcelo’s unique variation where he removes one arm from the equation.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Part of the 10/10-rated Complete Bundle
• “Great for grapplers of all ages, no special speed or flexibility needed” per community feedback
• Marcelo’s own crucifix variation (removing one arm from the equation) is unique to his system
• Entries from all positions (top, bottom, standing, transition) make the crucifix accessible regardless of your game

What the Community Says

“Great for grapplers of all ages, no special speed or flexibility needed.”

Community review (part of bundle feedback)

Weakness

The crucifix is a niche position with a smaller audience than butterfly guard, back attacks, or submissions. Alexandre Vieira’s crucifix system has more competition pedigree specifically for the crucifix position. This overlaps with the crucifix section in the Gi Back Attack System (Part 2). Best value is as part of the Complete Bundle rather than a standalone purchase at full price.

My Recommendation

Best for: Grapplers who frequently reach back control and want an alternative finishing position. Particularly good for older practitioners since it requires no special athleticism.

Avoid if: You already own the Gi Back Attack System (crucifix coverage in Part 2), you want the most competition-proven crucifix instruction (Alexandre Vieira), or you’d rather invest in Marcelo’s higher-impact titles first.

Pairs with: MG Back Attack System 2.0 for traditional back attacks alongside the crucifix, or the Complete Bundle for the full system.

A broad overview of counter-offense covering how to deal with aggression, launch counter attacks, escape, grip fight, and use fundamental positioning. Draws on single leg X, guillotine, and butterfly guard. Better suited as a general overview than a deep mastery tool for any single position.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 No-Gi / Mixed
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Counter-Offense / General

What It Covers

Dealing with aggression and launching counter offense. Escaping from bad positions using offensive transitions. Grip fighting and fundamental positioning. Counter offense strategies using single leg X, guillotine, and butterfly guard. A broad manual for handling aggressive opponents who pressure hard and don’t give you space to work.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Addresses a common problem: what to do when your opponent is more aggressive and you’re constantly defending
• Draws on Marcelo’s signature positions (butterfly, guillotine, SLX) in a counter-attacking context
• Useful conceptual framework for turning defense into offense

What the Community Says

“Offers a broad tour but sacrifices depth.”

Community review

Weakness

Community feedback consistently notes this title offers breadth but sacrifices depth. If you want deep coverage of any position mentioned (butterfly, guillotine, SLX), the dedicated instructionals for each are far superior. Danaher’s defensive systems are more methodical. Gordon Ryan’s Pillars of Defense covers defensive concepts with elite competition proof. At full price, you’re paying $149 for what amounts to a sampler of techniques covered more thoroughly in Marcelo’s other titles.

My Recommendation

Best for: Practitioners who want a general conceptual overview of counter-attacking from Marcelo’s perspective. Could serve as an introduction to his system before investing in position-specific titles.

Avoid if: You want depth on any specific topic (buy the dedicated instructional), you already own multiple Marcelo titles covering butterfly/guillotine/SLX, or you prefer a more systematic defensive approach (Danaher, Gordon Ryan).

Pairs with: The Complete Butterfly Guard for deep butterfly study, or The Marcelotine for deep guillotine study – both positions featured prominently in this title.

BJJ World called this “the best of the bunch Marcelo has out so far.” Four volumes covering spinning back takes, jumping back takes (including “The Giant Killer” vs larger opponents), RNC finishing sequences (grip fighting, arm traps, the “Pez setup”), and dynamic back mount retention using barrel rolls, cartwheels, and bridge-overs.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 Intermediate to Advanced
• 🕸 Back Attacks / Back Control

What It Covers

Part 1 covers back takes: spinning back takes from single leg escapes, back takes from sprawls, turtle, scarf holds, and leg lock escape counters. Part 2 teaches jumping back takes: dozen sequences of jumping entries, all-fours opponents, unbalancing drills, body lock variations, and “The Giant Killer” (jumping back take vs larger opponents).

Part 3 covers finishing sequences: back control recovery, RNC variations including grip fighting, arm traps, wrist-wiggling, and “the Pez setup,” plus Gable grip finishes. Part 4 focuses on back mount retention: barrel rolls, cartwheels, bridge-overs, and dynamic retention that follows the opponent’s movement rather than relying on static control.

What Makes It Stand Out

• BJJ World: “his back attacks instructional is the best of the bunch Marcelo has out so far”
• “The Giant Killer” jumping back take is specifically designed for smaller grapplers vs larger opponents
• “The Pez setup” for RNC is a unique finishing detail not taught elsewhere
• Dynamic retention approach (following movement vs static control) mirrors how Marcelo actually holds the back in competition

What the Community Says

“His back attacks instructional is the best of the bunch Marcelo has out so far.”

BJJ World

Weakness

This has been superseded by the MG Back Attack System 2.0, which includes never-before-seen techniques and updated approaches. If you’re choosing between the two, the 2.0 version is the better purchase. The gi version (rated 9/10 by BJJ World) is better for gi practitioners. Three overlapping back attack titles creates real confusion about which to buy – Marcelo and BJJ Fanatics could have structured this more clearly.

My Recommendation

Best for: Only recommended if you find it at a steep discount during a BJJ Fanatics sale. The 2.0 version supersedes this for no-gi, and the gi version is better for gi training.

Avoid if: You plan to buy the 2.0 version (this is the older, less complete version), you train in the gi (get the gi version rated 9/10), or you want to avoid buying a superseded product.

Pairs with: Consider MG Back Attack System 2.0 instead of this title, or the gi version if you train in the gi.