A data-backed ranking of Thomas Rozdzynski's BJJ Fanatics instructionals with r/bjj sentiment, who-each-course-fits, and the best alternatives.
Escapes Engineered For Guys Over 40
Get out from bad spots without athletic moves using a calm, concept-first escape system built for over-40 grapplers.
Be a Hammer Smash The Knees: Folding Pass
Use the folding pass to smash knees together, beat modern guards, and finish your pass with clear, repeatable steps.
Butterfly Hook: The Complete Guide
Build a reliable butterfly guard with crisp hooks, retention tricks, and high-percentage sweeps that connect to submissions.
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🥋 #1 Escapes Engineered For Guys Over 40 by Thomas Rozdzynski
Instructor: Thomas Rozdzynski
Style: Conceptual, System Based, Drill Heavy
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 29 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Defense becomes offense sooner.
Techniques: Frames, Hip Escape, Bridge And Roll, Reguard, Gift Wrap Counters, Mount Escape, Side Control Escape
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes (Danaher) – Broader fundamentals option if you want a longer curriculum.
- Fix Your Fundamentals: Escapes (Jared Welman) – Budget-friendly escape drills and concepts.
- Guard Retention Anthology (Lachlan Giles & Ariel Tabak) – Pairs well to prevent bad positions before they happen.
You will learn how to rebuild frames, create angles, and switch between re-guard and reversals from mount, side control, and half guard. You will not rely on explosive bridges or flexibility-dependent granbys. The course teaches triggers you can recognize under pressure so you escape earlier and safer.
✅ Pros
- Stepwise framework reduces panic and clarifies when to move.
- Covers mount, side control, and half guard without athletic prerequisites.
- Drills teach timing you can reproduce under pressure.
⚠️ Cons
- Attack chains are light; focus stays on survival and reversal.
- Athletic passers may still pin you without grip knowledge.
- Experienced competitors may want deeper nuance vs elite pressure.
💡 I found the staged triggers for rebuilding frames make defense predictable instead of reactive guesswork. Recommendation: Buy it now.
🥋 #2 Be a Hammer Smash The Knees: Folding Pass by Thomas Rozdzynski
Instructor: Thomas Rozdzynski
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Drill Heavy
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Both
Runtime: 1 hour and 53 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Pin the knees, finish deliberately.
Techniques: Folding Pass, Knee Pin, Weave Pass, Leg Drag, Back Step, Butterfly Solutions, Spider Stack
- Killing The Knee Shield Half Guard (Andre Galvao) – If knee shield is your main roadblock.
- Fundamentals of Pressure Passing (Bernardo Faria) – Classic pressure sequences to complement folding mechanics.
- Guard Retention Anthology (Giles/Tabak) – Learn what stops your pass and preempt it.
You will learn to pin the knees, win inside position, and chain to finishes against DLR, butterfly, half guard, spider, and SLX. You will not rely on speed passing or risky leaping cuts. The course shows how to connect drilling to live passing so your pressure builds without stalling.
✅ Pros
- Coverage across common modern guards keeps the system coherent.
- Finish positions are emphasized so you do not stall mid-pass.
- Footwork and hand placement cues are easy to remember.
⚠️ Cons
- Grip breaks vs elite lasso players require extra study.
- Pressure drilling can fatigue smaller training partners.
- Less emphasis on transitioning directly to submissions.
💡 I like how the course defines a finish hub so the fold becomes a pass, not a holding pattern. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #3 Butterfly Hook: The Complete Guide by Thomas Rozdzynski
Instructor: Thomas Rozdzynski
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Hooks win position and timing.
Techniques: Butterfly Guard, Hook Sweeps, Overhook Butterfly, Knee Tap Sweep, Collar Push Sweep, Guard Retention, Kimura
- Butterfly Guard Rediscovered 3.0 (Adam Wardzinski) – If you want a competition-focused butterfly blueprint.
- Around & Under: Guard Retention (Giles/Tabak) – Pair with retention to keep butterfly longer.
You will learn how to enter butterfly from common guards and keep your knees inside to blunt pressure. You will not rely on fast inversions or collar-only tricks. The system connects classic hook sweeps to overhook attacks so you always have a plan A and B.
✅ Pros
- Focus on hook quality and posture makes moves durable.
- Options for both classic and overhook butterflies increase versatility.
- Entries from closed and half lower the barrier to use.
⚠️ Cons
- Fewer leg entanglement transitions than meta players expect.
- Grip advice for no-gi is limited compared to gi sections.
- Some sweeps need time to develop timing against standers.
💡 I learned that the shoulder line and knee-inside rule keep butterfly alive against pressure passers. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #4 Gravity Is Your Friend: Sit Up Guard Sweeps by Thomas Rozdzynski
Instructor: Thomas Rozdzynski
Style: System Based, Conceptual, Drill Heavy
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Volumes: 3
Biggest takeaway: Angles beat posture consistently.
Techniques: Sit Up Guard, Collar Drag, Ankle Pick, Single Leg, Back Takes, Shin To Shin Entries, Lapel Control
- Closed Guard Systems (general alternatives) – If you prefer classic supine control over seated guards.
- Around & Under: Guard Retention (Giles/Tabak) – Helps you keep grips to enter sit-up safely.
You will learn entries from shin-to-shin and standard sleeves, plus collar drags to ankle picks and singles. You will not need inversions or berimbolos. The drills teach weight shifts so sweeps end on top with control rather than scrambles.
✅ Pros
- Builds a day-one seated guard that still scales.
- Integrates takedown-style finishes for clean tops.
- Weight-shift details make sweeps less strength dependent.
⚠️ Cons
- Relies on sleeve and lapel grips in gi sections.
- Less focus on no-gi collar-tie style hand fighting.
- Standers with strong posture can be stubborn early on.
💡 I like that every sweep has a plan to finish on top without a scramble. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #5 Never Climb Again: Backtakes for Guys Over 40 by Thomas Rozdzynski
Instructor: Thomas Rozdzynski
Style: System Based, Conceptual
Best for: All Levels
Format: Both
Runtime: 2 hours and 22 minutes
Volumes: 4
Biggest takeaway: Hooks first, then finish.
Techniques: Gift Wrap, Seat Belt, Lapel Seatbelt, Closed Guard Drags, Half Guard Drags, Bicep Wrap Choke, Collar Drag
- Lights Out Back Attacks (Frank Rosenthal) – Leg-pummel heavy nogi perspective to complement patient hooks.
- Seatbelt Back System (general alternatives) – For athletes who want faster back exposure paths.
You will learn hooks-first exposure using gift wrap, seat belt grips, and lapel or sleeve drags. You will not need high climbs, inversions, or wrestling-level explosiveness. The structure moves from closed and half to side and mount so you can apply it across positions.
✅ Pros
- Patient entries reduce scramble risk for sore backs and necks.
- Transitions map cleanly from guard to the back.
- Includes submission counters when back takes are defended.
⚠️ Cons
- Collar-focused details are less useful in no-gi.
- Competitors may want more leg-pummel exposure routes.
- Requires grip discipline to avoid stalling in guard.
💡 I like that the system reframes back takes as pulling them onto you instead of climbing onto them. Recommendation: Wait for daily deal.
🥋 #6 Wrap Them Up Slow Them Down: Guard Attacks by Thomas Rozdzynski
Instructor: Thomas Rozdzynski
Style: System Based, Technique Collection
Best for: Intermediate
Format: Gi
Runtime: 1 hour and 58 minutes
Volumes: 6
Biggest takeaway: Posture control precedes submissions.
Techniques: Lapel Guard, Lapel Wraps, Loop Choke, Baseball Choke, Kimura, Omoplata, Scissor Sweep
- Lapel Encyclopedia (Keenan Cornelius) – If you want broader lapel coverage and competition footage.
- Closed Guard Basics (general alternatives) – If you want fewer wraps and more posture breaking.
You will learn back, neck, arm, and inside wraps and how they lead to chokes, armlocks, and sweeps. You will not find no-gi options or fast, stand-up oriented guards. The sequencing section shows how to progress from control to finish without rushing.
✅ Pros
- Clear wrap categories help pick the right attack fast.
- Posture control slows younger or faster opponents.
- Deep submission list from each wrap type.
⚠️ Cons
- No-gi translation is limited.
- Grip-heavy play may tire hands and fingers.
- Some gyms discourage lapel dependency.
💡 I realized lapel wraps are best used as posture traps, not just tricks for quick chokes. Recommendation: Skip.
How we ranked Thomas Rozdzynski instructionals
We weighted community reception from r/bjj the most, then judged clarity and cohesion of each system. Applicability for older and hobbyist players mattered more than niche, athletic solutions. Instructor authority and teaching pace were next, followed by production quality. When topics overlapped, we prioritized distinctiveness: a single folding-pass blueprint can beat a broad but scattered move dump.
Gi, no-gi, and older-grappler fit
Escapes, folding pass, butterfly, and sit-up guard translate to both gi and no-gi, though grip specifics may differ. 'Wrap Them Up' is gi-only because it depends on lapels. Over-40 players generally benefit from calm posture, frames, and hooks-first back exposure over inverting or explosive climbs.
Which should you start with?
If you often get pinned, start with 'Escapes Engineered'. If passing stalls, pick 'Be a Hammer'. Rebuilding open guard? Go 'Butterfly Hook' or 'Gravity'. If you compete mainly in the gi and like closed guard, 'Wrap Them Up' suits you; otherwise, save it for later.
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