A data-backed ranking of Rafael Lovato Jr instructionals on BJJ Fanatics, with r/bjj sentiment, use-cases, and purchase advice.
Pressure Passing and Top Game
Lovato's HQ-based system shows you how to smash modern guards with clear checkpoints, relentless pressure, and high-percentage finishes.
Timeless No Gi Headquarters Passing
A clean nogi HQ roadmap with squatting entries, shin staple pressure, and reliable finishes without cloth grips.
Timeless Half Guard Passing
Turn half guard top into your highest percentage pass with pressure, frames, and safe mount transitions.
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🥋 #1 Pressure Passing and Top Game by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Gi
Runtime: 5 hours and 12 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Checkpoints make pressure passing repeatable
Techniques: Headquarters, Knee Slice Pass, Side Smash, Shin Staple, Three Quarter Mount, Cross Choke, Pressure Passing
- Bernardo Faria Pressure Passing Encyclopedia – Simpler, low passing style many find easier to replicate.
- Lucas Lepri Guard Passing – Elite knee-cut and HQ style with crisp details.
- Paul Schreiner Precise Pressure Passing – Praised for body mechanics and clarity.
If you want a structured top game, this is Lovato’s most complete package. You get a repeatable path from headquarters to half guard, side smash, knee slice, mount, and finishes. It is gi-first, but the principles of pinning hips and controlling upper body carry across rule sets.
✅ Pros
- Gives you a stepwise framework instead of loose moves.
- Excellent details for side smash, shin staple, and mount transitions.
- Pairs pressure with real finishing sequences, not just pins.
⚠️ Cons
- Heavy use of gi grips limits direct nogi transfer.
- Some overlap with Lovato’s earlier pressure material exists.
- Shorter players may need tweaks for leverage on controls.
💡 I found the checkpoint framing makes live decision-making faster because you always know the next control to chase. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Timeless No Gi Headquarters Passing by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: System Based
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 49 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Squatting HQ works in modern nogi
Techniques: Headquarters, Shin Staple, Knee Slice Pass, Side Smash, Backstep, Leg Drag, Pressure Passing
- Andrew Wiltse Buzzsaw Passing – Fast-paced HQ-style sequences many find easy to apply.
- Lucas Lepri Nogi Passing – Elite knee slice mechanics that pair well with HQ.
You get a clear blueprint for nogi headquarters without relying on collars or sleeves. The structure helps you force half guard, attack knee slice, and shut down seated guards. If you live in nogi, this is the most relevant Lovato course.
✅ Pros
- Purpose-built for nogi with no collar dependence.
- Great for forcing half guard into knee slice or smash.
- Complements other HQ resources without bloating runtime.
⚠️ Cons
- Less depth than massive multi-volume encyclopedias.
- May repeat concepts from gi pressure sets.
- Body type questions persist for some athletes.
💡 I found the squatting HQ cues make it easier to balance pressure with leg entanglement safety. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 Timeless Half Guard Passing by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 42 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Force half guard to simplify passing
Techniques: Force Half Guard, Knee Shield Kill, Crossface Underhook, Knee Slice Pass, Backstep, Mount Transition, Pressure Passing
- Lachlan Giles Half Guard Passing – Very comprehensive conceptual coverage of half guard top.
- Lucas Lepri Half Guard Passing – Clean knee-cut mechanics from elite competition footage.
If you struggle with sticky knee shields and lock downs, this will help. The focus is control first, then pass. You will learn to force half guard from HQ and finish without scrambles.
✅ Pros
- Bridges HQ to half guard with clear triggers.
- Excellent troubleshooting for lockdown and knee shield battles.
- Transfers well to gi and nogi with minimal changes.
⚠️ Cons
- Grind-heavy pace may not suit dynamic passers.
- Overlap with other Lovato passing content exists.
- Less emphasis on outside footwork passing.
💡 I found forcing half guard removes decision overload and funnels opponents into predictable defenses. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Timeless Closed Guard by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 1 hour and 47 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Make closed guard relentlessly proactive
Techniques: Collar And Sleeve, Posture Breaks, Armbar, Cross Choke, Flower Sweep, Sit Up Sweep, Overhook Attacks
- Rafael Lovato Sr Timeless Closed Guard – Budget option with classic sequences and drills.
If your closed guard feels passive, this gives you structure. You learn posture breaks, collar-and-sleeve chains, and when to switch to overhook or side closed guard angles. It’s more gi-leaning, but the principles help nogi grips too.
✅ Pros
- Clear posture-breaking sequences and grip priorities.
- Links classic sweeps with submission threats.
- Fits well with HQ counters when opponents stand.
⚠️ Cons
- Gi emphasis may not fit pure nogi athletes.
- Less novel if you already play collar-and-sleeve.
- Not a huge deep-dive compared to giant encyclopedias.
💡 I liked how side closed guard entries create angles that open armbar and back takes with less strength. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Timeless Kimura by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 18 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Control shoulder line to finish
Techniques: Kimura Trap, Top Kimura, Guard Kimura, Shoulder Line Control, Hip Trap, Back Take, Armbar Linkage
- Vagner Rocha Kimura Funnels – Aggressive nogi-first kimura hunting sequences.
- Ryan Hall Open Elbow – Different framing that complements kimura control.
You learn how to control the shoulder line before yanking the finish. The course covers entries from mount, side control, half guard, and closed guard. It connects cleanly to armbars or back takes when opponents hide the arm.
✅ Pros
- High-percentage mechanics that suit gi and nogi.
- Great linkage to armbars and back takes on defenses.
- Clear positional heuristics for safe setup and finish.
⚠️ Cons
- Overlap if you own multiple kimura libraries.
- Less exhaustive theory than multi-set deep dives.
- Not leglock-counter heavy for modern nogi meta.
💡 I realized the finish gets easy once the shoulder line is isolated early. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Timeless Open Guard Foundations by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: Conceptual, Technique Collection
Best for: Beginner
Format: Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 44 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Priorities calm open guard chaos
Techniques: Romulo Guard, Two On One, Lo Guard, Shin To Shin, X Guard Entries, Wrestle Up, Grip Fighting
- Timeless Advanced Open Guard – Step up when foundations are dialed in.
This is a fundamentals primer for open guard. You get priorities for posture, distance, and grips to stop chaos. It sets up your path to advanced options and side butterfly attacks.
✅ Pros
- Easy-to-follow priorities for new guard players.
- Pairs well with side butterfly and HQ counters.
- Clear grip and distance heuristics.
⚠️ Cons
- Light on advanced inversion or leg entanglements.
- Gi-leaning examples may limit nogi carryover.
- Overlaps if your open guard is already robust.
💡 I think beginners need priorities more than variations; this delivers that filter. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 The Gripless Guard by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: Conceptual, Technique Collection, Drill Heavy
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 1 hour and 31 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Retention first, reattach second
Techniques: Guard Retention, Hook Frames, Seated Guard, Inversion Escapes, Inside Passing Defense, Outside Passing Defense, Re Attachment
- Timeless Open Guard Foundations – Offense-first foundations to complement defense.
Gripless Guard teaches you to survive and reset when opponents strip grips. It is retention- and reattachment-focused. Use it as a second layer under your main open guard.
✅ Pros
- Practical answers when you lose fabric grips.
- Improves survival into reset and re-attack opportunities.
- Pairs well with side butterfly and HQ counters.
⚠️ Cons
- Narrower scope with fewer finishes.
- Less community feedback than flagship sets.
- Price feels high for defense-heavy content.
💡 I like using this as a safety net before reattaching to my main guard. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #8 Timeless Sweeps and Submissions: The Side Butterfly Guard by Rafael Lovato Jr
Instructor: Rafael Lovato Jr
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 12 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Angle off to the blindside
Techniques: Side Butterfly, Two On One, Arm Drag, Wrestle Up, X Guard Entries, Back Take, Armbar
- Butterfly Guard Rediscovered (Wardzinski) – More comprehensive butterfly coverage.
Side butterfly gives you strong upper-body control without inverting. The set focuses on angle creation, two-on-one, and simple wrestle-ups. It is a targeted upgrade that slots into your open guard.
✅ Pros
- Easy to apply for immediate sweeps and back takes.
- Pairs naturally with open guard foundations and clamps.
- Good for older athletes avoiding extreme inversions.
⚠️ Cons
- Not a full-spectrum open guard course.
- Overlap with other butterfly content is possible.
- Less collar-specific detail for pure gi stylists.
💡 I saw how a small angle shift unlocks two-on-one control and easy wrestle-ups. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
How we ranked Lovato instructionals
We weighted r/bjj community reception the most, then judged system clarity and cohesion. We also considered applicability across gi/nogi, Lovato’s authority on the topic, and production quality. When sources conflicted, we leaned on consensus and recent threads. Ties went to sets with distinct approaches or more modern updates.
Gi or nogi: where to start?
If you train mostly gi, start with Pressure Passing and Top Game or Timeless Closed Guard. If you are nogi-centric, pick Timeless No Gi Headquarters Passing. For mixed training, add Timeless Half Guard Passing since it transfers well with minimal changes.
What is the Headquarters position?
Headquarters is a top player stance that pins a leg between yours while squatting to control hips, enabling knee slice, side smash, and forced half guard. Lovato popularized and systemized it as a checkpoint-based passing hub and continues to refine it for modern seated guards.
Who is Rafael Lovato Jr?
Lovato is a BJJ black belt under Carlos Machado, IBJJF World and No-Gi World champion, and former Bellator middleweight champion. He was the first non-Brazilian to win CBJJ Brazilian Nationals at black belt and later the absolute. His style blends classical pins with modern systems.
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