Best Roger Gracie Instructionals on BJJ Fanatics

Roger’s closed guard breaks posture, attacks the collar, and finishes with the cross collar choke – explained in more detail here than any other instructional ever made.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~2 hours across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Closed Guard

What It Covers

Four volumes covering chokes (cross collar, lapel variations), armlocks (wrist to shoulder, straight and bent), sweeps (scissor, hook, lumberjack with kneebar setup, Roger’s signature sweep, omoplata sweep), and combination attacks that chain everything together. The cross collar choke alone gets 15+ minutes of instruction in Part 1.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Roger spends 15 minutes on the cross collar choke with more finishing detail than any other closed guard DVD
• Part 3 covers 30 minutes of sweeps including the rarely-taught lumberjack sweep with kneebar setup
• Part 4 chains submissions and sweeps into combination attacks using lapel control
• Zero filler – only techniques Roger used in competition against world-class opponents

What the Community Says

“Roger explains more about [the cross collar choke] in 15 minutes of this instructional than all other BJJ DVDs do put together.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (9.5/10)

“To learn how to execute a technique the way Roger does it, you know it is about as effective a way to do that technique as it can possibly be.”

Seymour Yang (Meerkatsu), BJJ black belt reviewer

“I really can’t stand the idea of 1 hour repetition for 1 technique, im talking about Danaher. On the other hand, Roger has one of the best if not the best closed guard and he is quite good as a teacher.”

u/manytu, r/bjj (12 pts)

Weakness

Gi only with no no-gi adaptations. If you train no-gi, John Danaher’s Closed Guard: Go Further Faster ($197) covers both gi concepts and no-gi contingencies in 8+ hours. Roger also does not address the Sao Paulo pass from closed guard in this set (he covers it in his Guard Passing instructional instead). As u/whiteknight521 noted on r/bjj: “Very little of his instructional material covers the biggest hard counter to closed guard, which is the Sao Paulo pass.” The ~2 hour runtime is modest compared to Danaher’s depth, though the trade-off is zero wasted time. Ognen Dzabirski compared it favorably to Ffion Davies and Henry Akins as a closed guard resource.

My Recommendation

Best for: Any gi player who wants a tight, no-nonsense closed guard built on the cross collar choke and high-percentage sweeps.

Avoid if: You train exclusively no-gi or already own Danaher’s GFF Closed Guard and want more variety rather than refinement.

Pairs with: Roger Gracie Mount System – the closed guard feeds directly into mount transitions where the cross collar choke finishes.

The only Roger Gracie instructional with a perfect 10/10 rating from BJJ World. This teaches passing philosophy – not just passes.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 1h 43m across 3 volumes (each 30+ minutes)
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Guard Passing

What It Covers

Part 1 explains pressure passing philosophy and body positioning before any specific technique, then demonstrates knee shield solutions transitioning to half guard and recovery prevention. Part 2 covers leg weaving and pinning mechanics, using half guard as the primary example, with pressure direction, recovery counters, the destination position (mount), and smash pass alternatives against knee shield. Part 3 features Roger’s closed guard pass: a progression from knee insertion to a spine-twisting pass, plus a standing variation and the Sao Paulo pass.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Opens with foundational pressure concepts before any specific technique – you learn the “why” behind passing
• Covers realistic guard scenarios: knee shield, half guard, closed guard, leg weave positions
• Each chapter is 30+ minutes deep, giving real depth rather than surface-level overviews
• Roger explains his thinking process alongside demonstrations, teaching decision-making

What the Community Says

“One of the ‘new breeds’ of instructionals that transcend techniques. By far one of the best that ever stepped on the mats.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (10/10)

“Plan A is sort of a draping version of a leg weave. You use your torso to flatten the top leg so the guys legs are parallel. Be like an angry pile of wet sand.”

u/Phil_T_McNasty, r/bjj (6 pts)

Weakness

No coverage of modern lapel guard or leg lock integration during passing. Danaher’s Passing the Guard: Go Further Faster covers more guard types and includes contingency trees for modern guards. Roger’s approach is narrower but arguably more immediately applicable for gi practitioners.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi competitors who want a pressure passing framework that applies to any guard scenario.

Avoid if: You face primarily lapel guard or modern leg entanglement players who require specific counter-strategies.

Pairs with: Roger Gracie Side Control System – you pass the guard and land in side control, where Roger’s pin-to-submission system takes over.

The exact mount system that produced 13 cross collar choke submissions against the best grapplers on earth. Roger spends 15 minutes on control concepts before showing a single submission.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 1h 39m across 3 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Mount

What It Covers

Volume 1 opens with 15 minutes of mount control and positioning concepts: low mount to high mount transitions, grip tactics, and re-guard prevention. Volume 2 covers arm isolation and bent/straight armlocks. Volume 3 dedicates 20 minutes to the cross collar choke, plus the Ezekiel choke as an alternative.

What Makes It Stand Out

• 15-minute opening chapter on control concepts before any submissions – teaches you to stabilize mount first
• Cross collar choke gets 20 minutes of detail: first hand placement fully palm up to ceiling, forearm on sternum, wrist curl that creates chest pressure and collar tightening simultaneously (per u/Sir-Tapsalot on r/bjj)
• Low-to-high mount progressions make escapes progressively harder for your opponent
• Frame-breaking methodology shows how to clear arms systematically without losing base

What the Community Says

“[This] will teach you more about the position than 15 months of training.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (9.5/10 bundle rating)

“The most game-changing lesson I’ve ever had. Completely changed my mount. Absolutely key detail: watch his feet.”

u/gabdullah, r/bjj (4 pts)

“I’ve been to two Roger seminars. He went over ‘basic’ moves in such great detail that 3 moves we already knew took over 2 hours. He showed a way to keep the mount that I don’t use because it honestly feels unfair on bottom guy.”

u/killerrrrrrrr, r/bjj (7 pts)

Weakness

Gi grips and lapel control only. Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking From Top Pins: Mount ($197) covers no-gi mount with extensive live rolling footage in 8+ hours. Roger’s 1h 39m is dense but limited. As u/P-Two put it on r/bjj: “Roger is an absolute specimen of a human and anything he says about positional dominance needs to be taken with that understanding.” Lighter athletes may find some of the pressure-based retention harder to replicate, though the grip sequences and frame-breaking concepts are body-type neutral.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi grapplers who want to build an unshakeable mount with a clear path from control to submission.

Avoid if: You train exclusively no-gi or want exhaustive coverage of mount escapes and counters to modern defense.

Pairs with: Roger Gracie Side Control System – Roger’s side control transitions lead directly into mount.

Pin first, submit second. Roger’s 4-volume side control system teaches the control mechanics that make submissions inevitable rather than desperate.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~2h 9m across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Side Control

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers control: classic side control vs. the 100 Kilos variation, arm placement, hip positioning, pressure distribution, and using the Kimura grip to maintain position. Volume 2 teaches chokes: paper cutter choke, lapel choke, baseball bat choke, plus wrist locks and mount transitions. Volumes 3-4 introduce “side control bully” concepts, sequential attack patterns where defense to one submission opens the next, back exposure transitions to force turtle, triangle choke setups from isolated limbs, and safe transitions to mount without risking position.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Clear 4-volume progression: control > chokes > sequences > transitions mirrors how you actually use side control
• Kimura grip as a positional tool (not just a submission) for maintaining side control
• Paper cutter choke and lapel choke details from the most dominant pinner in competition history
• Volume 4’s transition system moves forward to mount/back without gambling position

What the Community Says

“The Side and Mount System Roger Gracie DVD Bundle is as close as you’ll ever get to grappling like Roger Gracie.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (9.5/10 bundle rating)

“I love his side control instructional.”

u/SharpGame83, r/bjj (4 pts)

“All details make sense and he actually explains the logical reason behind them. One of my jiu jitsu pet peeves is ‘details for the sake of details’.”

u/reputationEK, r/bjj (13 pts)

Weakness

No no-gi adaptations. Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking From Top Pins: Side Control & North-South provides deep no-gi coverage with live competition footage. Roger’s traditional approach also lacks counters to modern guard recovery techniques (berimbolos, inversions) that competition players face.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi grapplers who want to develop crushing side control with reliable submission chains.

Avoid if: You need no-gi side control or face opponents who use modern recovery (inversions, leg entanglements from bottom side control).

Pairs with: Roger Gracie Mount System – side control transitions lead to mount, and the Side/Mount Bundle saves money on both.

Roger’s half guard is built on underhook timing and pressure management. This teaches you to slow opponents down and work methodically from a position many people rush through.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 1h 29m across 3 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Half Guard (Bottom)

What It Covers

Three volumes covering underhook series (primary focus), deep half guard sweeps, Kimura combinations with sweeps, kneebar finish, loop choke from bottom half guard, whizzer counters, and back takes from various half guard positions. Roger takes an attack-first approach: when a sweep fails, he immediately transitions to back take attempts rather than resetting. The system emphasizes arm placement, limb trapping, and control strategies post-sweep.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Underhook timing from a 10x world champion – the detail that changes half guard from survival to offense
• Diverse attack options: sweeps, submissions, and back takes from one position
• Connects with the closed guard material – both build on Roger’s grip-fighting philosophy
• Simple enough for white belts, refined enough for black belts

What the Community Says

“Roger kept it simple in his legendary BJJ performances. The closed guard and half guard are just as – or even more – effective. Guard tactics are what make guards work, not the positional details themselves.”

Ognen Dzabirski, BJJ World (9/10 Guard System Bundle)

“He doesn’t drown you with techniques. He shows like a handful of things on every instructional and he teaches them well. I strongly prefer his style to Danaher’s.”

r/bjj user on Roger vs. Danaher

Weakness

At 1h 29m, this is the shortest Roger Gracie instructional. Bernardo Faria’s Battle Tested Half Guard is significantly longer and goes deeper into the deep half position specifically. Lachlan Giles covers half guard with modern leg lock integrations that Roger omits entirely. No dedicated deep half specialist content compared to what Ryan Hall or Jeff Glover offer. The GrappleDB community has not rated this individually, though the Guard System Bundle (Closed + Half together) scored 8.7/10.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi practitioners who want a fundamentals-first half guard built on underhooks and sweeps.

Avoid if: You want deep half guard specialization or need leg lock entries from half guard.

Pairs with: Roger Gracie Closed Guard System – or save money with the Guard System Bundle that packages both.

Roger’s approach to breaking down the turtle with clock chokes, crucifix entries, and systematic back takes. Useful but not essential unless opponents regularly turtle against your passes.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 1h 53m across 3 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Turtle Attacks

What It Covers

DVD 1 (30 min) covers positional control and turtle pressure concepts, the clock choke, crucifix transition, and reverse omoplata submission. DVD 2 (40+ min) teaches head control rolling techniques, forced side control transitions, back takes with first and second hook placement, and turtle position maintenance. DVD 3 (40+ min) covers reactive follow-up movements, guard recovery prevention, gap creation, and armlock entries.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Clock choke and crucifix chain attacks are classic, high-percentage finishes
• Integrates smoothly with the side control and guard passing systems
• Competition-tested techniques from a 10x world champion
• Safe attacking methods that keep you in position if the finish fails

What the Community Says

“Oh, they did see it coming but they couldn’t do anything about it.”

Filip Zanki, BJJ World (7/10)

“Something simple, something that is not flashy, something considered to be fundamental.”

Filip Zanki, BJJ World (7/10)

Weakness

BJJ World rated this 7/10 (technical quality: 10/10, content quality: 6/10). Filip Zanki was blunt: “The modern turtle game is basically bulletproof to all the bullets that Roger depicts. Will only work against people that have no idea how to play a solid BJJ turtle.” The techniques are executed flawlessly, but they are less effective against modern turtle defense specialists. Eduardo Telles offers more creative and current turtle work. At $127 (not $149 like the other sets), it is the cheapest Roger instructional, but Filip Zanki recommends exploring Roger’s other systems first.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi grapplers who frequently encounter turtle and want reliable choke and back take chains.

Avoid if: You face modern turtle defense regularly or train no-gi. Wait for a BJJ Fanatics daily deal to reduce the price.

Pairs with: Roger Gracie Guard Passing System – opponents often turtle after a failed guard, and this system picks up where passing ends.