We analyzed community feedback and first-hand sources to rank the most useful Priit Mihkelson instructionals for defensive BJJ across guard retention, turtle, back escapes, and late-stage submission defense.
Running Man & The Baby Bridge: Essential Postures To Keep You Safe
Build a connected escape cycle that keeps you safe and lets you re-guard under real pressure.
Sideways Open Guard
A structured side-on open guard that stifles modern passing and sets up wrestle-ups.
(Re)Back Takes, Escapes, Survival & Prevention
A modern, prevention-first back defense system with answers to hooks, chokes, and body triangles.
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🥋 #1 Running Man & The Baby Bridge: Essential Postures To Keep You Safe by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Connect escapes into cycles
Techniques: Running Man, Baby Bridge, Reguard
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster by John Danaher – Highly structured pin and turtle escape alternative.
- The Turtle Guard Revisited by Eduardo Telles – Classic turtle offense approach for contrast.
- Guard Retention Anthology: Through The Legs and Close Range – Alternative guard retention model to compare with.
You learn a complete defensive cycle from side control. You will connect running man, hawking, turtle, and the baby bridge. You will not learn flashy submissions here.
✅ Pros
- Teaches a cohesive escape system that scales.
- Concepts translate to gi and no-gi immediately.
- Explains transitions between positions very clearly.
⚠️ Cons
- Offense is secondary and lightly covered.
- Requires mat time to internalize timing.
- Some drills feel repetitive without a partner.
💡 I would start here because it gives you the decision tree that the rest of Priit's material plugs into. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Sideways Open Guard by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 6 hours and 35 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Angles beat speed
Techniques: Sideways Open Guard, Wrestle Up, Framing
- Guard Retention Anthology: Around and Under – Different but respected retention framework to compare.
- No Gi Open Guard Volume 1: K Guard – Modern no-gi guard entries to pair with it.
You learn a pressure-forward, side-on guard with clear frames. You will stop fast passing and create wrestle-up opportunities. You will not get a move-dump of random guards.
✅ Pros
- Eight-volume depth with logical progressions.
- Pairs well with grilled chicken fundamentals.
- Strong answers to leg drags and toreandos.
⚠️ Cons
- Less submission focus than some expect.
- Requires reps to calibrate angles and pressure.
- Eight volumes can feel long for casual learners.
💡 I find this is the cleanest way to pressure forward from supine without getting speed-passed. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #3 (Re)Back Takes, Escapes, Survival & Prevention by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 49 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Prevention beats escape
Techniques: Hook Clearing, Body Triangle Escape, Choke Defense
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster by John Danaher – Highly structured back escape fundamentals alternative.
- The Naked Turtle by Eduardo Telles – No-gi turtle and back survival contrast.
You learn how to stop back takes early and escape safely. You will address hooks, body triangles, and late-stage scenarios. You will not get a submission-focused curriculum.
✅ Pros
- Prevention-first lens reduces time spent in danger.
- Body-triangle answers are practical and specific.
- Integrates cleanly with baby bridge and turtle.
⚠️ Cons
- Late-stage ideas can be risky if mistimed.
- Intermediate baseline helps for best results.
- Less material on offensive follow-ups.
💡 I like how it reframes back defense as controlling the hook and seatbelt battles before they escalate. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Protecting & Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 38 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Safety enables offense
Techniques: Turtle, Standing Up, Reguard
- The Turtle Guard Revisited by Eduardo Telles – Offense-centric turtle lineage to compare ideas.
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster – Fundamental escapes that pair with turtle entries.
You learn a defensive-first turtle with clear hand fighting and posture rules. You will stand up, re-guard, or counter safely. You will not get a pure submission encyclopedia.
✅ Pros
- Clarifies hand fighting and hook prevention.
- Shows safe transitions from turtle to offense.
- Easy to integrate with running man cycles.
⚠️ Cons
- Less finishing detail than specialist turtle systems.
- Learning posture takes patience and trust.
- Some gyms prefer different turtle philosophies.
💡 I use these turtle checks to stop chokes first, then move without panic. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 The Grilled Chicken Guard Retention System by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 14 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Structure beats speed
Techniques: Grilled Chicken, Leg Drag Defense, Knee Cut Defense
- Guard Retention Anthology: Through The Legs and Close Range – A thorough, different lens on retention.
- Around and Under: Guard Retention Anthology – Complementary angles and entries.
You learn posture and timing to stop common passes. You will build a repeatable structure under pressure. You will not get flashy sweeps or submissions here.
✅ Pros
- Accessible to less-flexible bodies.
- Concepts apply in gi and no-gi equally.
- Pairs well with Sideways Open Guard.
⚠️ Cons
- Less offense than some expect.
- Early production compared to newer releases.
- Some redundancy if you own Sideways Open Guard.
💡 I still reference this to calibrate posture and timing before drilling newer guard material. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 The Sitting Turtle by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Hooks are optional
Techniques: Panda, Sitting Turtle, Regain Guard
- The Turtle Guard Revisited by Eduardo Telles – Classic turtle pathways for offense.
You learn a sitting turtle structure that blunts hooks and strangles. You will connect to re-guards and stand-ups. You will not find submission chains here.
✅ Pros
- Great add-on to running man package.
- Clear answers to common back attacks.
- Simple solo checkpoints you can drill.
⚠️ Cons
- Offense requires separate study.
- Early reps feel awkward for some.
- Less detail for lapel-based threats.
💡 I like it for building confidence to expose the back safely and recover positions. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 Reverse and Regular Hitchhiker Armbar Escape by Priit Mihkelson
Instructor: Priit Mihkelson
Style: Conceptual, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 37 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Reverse path exists
Techniques: Reverse Hitchhiker, Hitchhiker, Baby Bridge
- Countering a Hitchhiker by Gordon Ryan (video reference) – Shows common counters you must anticipate.
You learn classic and reverse hitchhiker mechanics with structure cues. You will troubleshoot late-stage armbars more confidently. You will not get a full submission escape library beyond armbars.
✅ Pros
- Clear reasoning for reverse direction escapes.
- Includes converting escapes to top position.
- Pairs well with back and turtle series.
⚠️ Cons
- Narrow scope means less overall system impact.
- Late-stage choices are unforgiving if timed poorly.
- Some gyms dislike hitchhiker reliance.
💡 I like keeping this in my back pocket for late armbars when standard defenses stall. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
Which Priit course should you start with?
If you want immediate survival skills, start with Running Man & Baby Bridge. If guard passing speed is your nemesis, Sideways Open Guard is next. If your back gets taken often, pick the newer (Re)Back Takes before the older Back Escapes. Coaches building a curriculum should add Protecting & Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle for consistent hand-fighting rules and stand-up options. For a specialized hole like armbars, the Reverse Hitchhiker course is a targeted fix.
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