A data-backed ranking of the best submission escape instructionals on BJJ Fanatics, based on r/bjj sentiment, structure, and applicability. Includes who each course is for and smart alternatives.
Exit The System
Tonon gives you early to late submission escapes with counters you can trust under pressure.
New Wave Jiu Jitsu: A New Philosophy Of Submissions Escapes
Learn the mechanics behind each submission so your escapes become inevitable and systemic.
Edging Your Way Out Of Danger: Submission Escapes
Craig teaches simple defensive sequences that hold up when opponents squeeze hard.
📋 Jump to a review (Click to expand)
🥋 #1 Exit The System by Garry Tonon
Instructor: Garry Tonon
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 5 hours and 33 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Escape into immediate offense.
Techniques: Armbar Escape, Triangle Escape, Guillotine Defense, Kimura Escape, Heel Hook Defense, Toehold Escape, Kneebar Escape
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: A New Philosophy Of Submissions Escapes – Deeper detail and leg-lock defense emphasis.
- Edging Your Way Out Of Danger: Submission Escapes – More fundamental structure that beginners digest quickly.
- Submission Escapes – Budget-friendly set that still covers the essentials.
You learn layered defense for the highest-percentage submissions and how to chain escapes into offense. The focus is no-gi with practical counters you can apply in live rounds. You will not get finishing mechanics or much gi-specific detail.
✅ Pros
- System shows prevention, early, and late-stage answers with re-attacks.
- Clear pedagogy and tight pacing help you retain and drill fast.
- Broad submission coverage including modern leg entanglements.
⚠️ Cons
- Little attention to finishing mechanics beyond counters.
- Ruleset limitations if your gym forbids certain leg locks.
- Price is high relative to shorter beginner sets.
💡 I improved fastest when I treated every escape as a gateway to a counter, which this course makes second nature. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 New Wave Jiu Jitsu: A New Philosophy Of Submissions Escapes by John Danaher
Instructor: John Danaher
Style: Conceptual, System Based
Best for: Advanced
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 12 hours and 6 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Know the mechanism; kill it.
Techniques: Guillotine Defense, Armbar Escape, Triangle Escape, Kimura Escape, Heel Hook Defense, 50/50 Defense, Cross Ashi Defense
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster – Positional survival foundation before sub-defense depth.
- Exit The System – More concise, wider sub coverage with counters.
- Fundamentals of BJJ Escapes (Gi & No Gi) – Beginner-friendly breadth at a lower price.
You learn why submissions work, then use that knowledge to nullify chokes and joint locks. The heel-hook defense material is especially extensive and current. You will not get broad coverage of every submission or quick, minimalist pacing.
✅ Pros
- Mechanics-first teaching builds durable, transferable defense.
- Counter-attacks are integrated to flip defense into offense.
- Modern leg-entanglement defense taught with rare clarity.
⚠️ Cons
- Pacing is slow; long conceptual segments may drag.
- Narrower submission list than some competitors.
- Requires patience and note-taking to implement fully.
💡 I retained more by mapping each escape to the exact failure point of the submission, which this course makes explicit. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 Edging Your Way Out Of Danger: Submission Escapes by Craig Jones
Instructor: Craig Jones
Style: Technique Collection, Conceptual
Best for: Beginner
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 2 hours and 52 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Keep defenses simple and reliable.
Techniques: Front Headlock Defense, Guillotine Defense, Triangle Escape, Armbar Escape, Arm Triangle Defense, Kimura Escape
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: A New Philosophy Of Submissions Escapes – More depth for advanced learners.
- Submission Escapes – Lower cost and straightforward drills.
You learn clean, memorable escapes for the most common submissions. The headlock and guillotine material is especially actionable. You will not get the exhaustive mechanics or sheer depth of larger systems.
✅ Pros
- Fundamental cues are easy to recall under pressure.
- Front headlock and guillotine sections are standout.
- Footage-driven examples help timing and confidence.
⚠️ Cons
- Not as comprehensive as Danaher or Tonon.
- Some content may feel basic for advanced players.
- Pricey given the fundamental scope.
💡 I saw white and blue belts implement these sequences cleanly within a week, which is rare with escape material. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Submission Escapes by Tom DeBlass
Instructor: Tom DeBlass
Style: Technique Collection
Best for: All Levels
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 58 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Simple works when stressed.
Techniques: Body Triangle Escape, Omoplata Escape, Triangle Escape, Armbar Escape, Leglock Escape, Guillotine Defense
- Exit The System – More comprehensive and counter-focused.
- Breaking The Triangle: Escapes, Counters & Sneaky Submissions – Triangle-specific deep dive if that is your main problem.
You learn simple, reliable ways out of common submissions without a big time investment. The material leans no-gi but carries to gi easily. You will not get the depth of a multi-volume system.
✅ Pros
- Low-cost entry to submission defense training.
- Clear demonstrations and pacing suit newer students.
- Covers the most common subs you will face.
⚠️ Cons
- Shallower coverage than premium systems.
- Primarily no-gi examples may not fit all contexts.
- Limited conceptual framing beyond steps.
💡 I have seen white belts hit the body-triangle escape within a session after watching this. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys: Submission Escapes by Bernardo Faria
Instructor: Bernardo Faria
Style: System Based
Best for: Beginner
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 41 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Safety-first frames still work.
Techniques: Triangle Escape, Omoplata Escape, Americana Escape, Armbar Escape, Rnc Defense, Bow And Arrow Defense, Kimura Escape
- Escapes from Everywhere – Cheaper positional and submission defense mix.
- Fundamentals of BJJ Escapes (Gi & No Gi) – Broader foundation for new students.
You learn submission escapes with emphasis on safety, posture, and pacing for masters athletes. The demonstrations are clear and forgiving on the body. You will not get cutting-edge, competition-focused micro-detail.
✅ Pros
- Addresses common mobility limits and injury risk.
- Calm, structured teaching reduces panic under pressure.
- Covers upper and lower body attacks from key pins.
⚠️ Cons
- Premium price versus fundamentals alternatives.
- Pacing can feel slow to experienced students.
- Less depth for advanced rule-specific nuances.
💡 I recommend this to older white and blue belts who need escapes that do not aggravate nagging injuries. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Escapes (Gi & No Gi) by Lachlan Giles
Instructor: Lachlan Giles
Style: System Based, Footage Breakdown
Best for: Beginner
Format: Both
Runtime: 7 hours and 57 minutes
Volumes: 8
Biggest takeaway: Escapes by decision tree.
Techniques: Mount Escape, Side Control Escape, Back Escape, Front Headlock Defense, Arm Triangle Defense, Triangle Escape
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: A New Philosophy Of Submissions Escapes – Depth when fundamentals stop working.
- Edging Your Way Out Of Danger: Submission Escapes – Fundamental submission defense with simple cues.
You learn decision trees for escaping mount, side control, back, and the front headlock. It is concise and beginner-friendly with narrated live rounds. You will not get exhaustive submission-specific depth.
✅ Pros
- Structured paths prevent panic and stalling.
- Live-rolling voiceover cements timing cues.
- Lower price for a large, useful foundation.
⚠️ Cons
- Not focused solely on submission escapes.
- Lighter detail for edge-case problems.
- Advanced competitors may prefer deeper systems.
💡 I have seen the narrated rolling segments accelerate timing for newer students more than static demos alone. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #7 Basic BJJ Submissions Escapes by Bill Cooper
Instructor: Bill Cooper
Style: Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: No-Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 27 minutes
Biggest takeaway: Counter as you exit.
Techniques: Armbar Escape, Triangle Escape, Kimura Escape, Guillotine Defense, Omoplata Escape, Kneebar Escape
- Submission Escapes – Similar price with clearer structure.
- Exit The System – Comprehensive step up when budget allows.
You learn basic escapes and immediate re-attacks from a veteran competitor. It is affordable and practical for intermediate students. You will not get modern leg-lock depth or polished production.
✅ Pros
- Very low price for an escapes-focused set.
- Counter-minded sequences encourage offense after defense.
- Good supplemental resource if you already have basics.
⚠️ Cons
- Dated presentation and organization.
- Limited coverage of current entanglement meta.
- Less cohesive than modern system-based courses.
💡 I see this as a stepping stone for students who want escapes and re-attacks without a big spend. Recommendation: Skip.
How we ranked these submission-escape instructionals
We weighted r/bjj community feedback most (~40 percent), then system clarity (~20 percent), applicability by level and ruleset (~15 percent), instructor authority (~15 percent), and production quality (~10 percent). When opinions conflicted, we favored consistent themes across multiple threads and prioritized recent comments. Tie-breakers were recency and distinctiveness of approach. If we could not verify a claim, we did not use it.
Should you start with positional or submission escapes?
If you are new, build positional escapes first so you spend less time in danger. Then layer submission escapes that plug the specific threats you face most. A practical sequence is: positional escapes for mount/side/back, front headlock defense, then targeted submission escapes for armbars, triangles, guillotines, kimuras, and leg locks. Use your ruleset to guide priorities.
How to train submission escapes safely
Set ranges: early prevention, mid-stage frames, late survival. Use progressive resistance and time-limited rounds starting in the submission. Agree on tap signals and ramp pressure slowly, especially with neck cranks and heel hooks. Pair every escape with a safe disengage option and a single counter-attack. Track success by escapes per round and how often you regain guard or top.
💙 Was this article helpful?
Share it with your training partners!
