A practical no-gi closed guard roadmap that turns clamps into sweeps, back takes, and quick finishes.
The Bottom Line
You learn when to clamp, when to open, and how to off-balance without extreme flexibility. The material favors arm drags, wrestle-ups, and body-lock entries that translate to live rounds. If you want easy-to-grasp paths from closed guard to the back or mount, this is the most community-validated Roberto option.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Closed-guard players
Skip if: You hate guard work
Tech focus: Closed Guard, Arm Drag, Wrestle Up, Kimura, Triangle, Armbar, Back Takes
Biggest takeaway: Clamp, off-balance, then finish.
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What You'll Learn
Roberto packages his trademark no-gi closed guard into a coherent 'yin-yang' concept: clamp to control, open to attack. You cycle between tight control and dynamic off-balancing.
Expect practical sweeps, back takes, and submissions that do not rely on extreme flexibility. The series leans into arm drags, wrestle-ups, and body-lock entries that mirror his competition style.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Closed Guard
- Arm Drag
- Wrestle Up
- Kimura
- Triangle
- Armbar
- Pendulum Sweep
- Back Takes
- Body Lock Takedown
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Volumes: 3
- Released: 2020
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I found the yin-yang framing helps you decide when to squeeze and when to chase angles, which stops closed guard from becoming a stalling shell.
Why Roberto Jimenez?
Roberto Jimenez is an Ecuadorian-American black belt under his father Raul Jimenez. He is known for a relentlessly offensive style and elite back-taking ability. As a colored belt he submitted all opponents to take double gold at Worlds. He has continued winning at the highest levels in both gi and no-gi. His closed guard has become a signature weapon in no-gi super fights. BJJ Heroes ranks him among the most exciting modern competitors for submission-oriented tactics.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Praised as a strong no-gi closed guard that avoids flexibility-heavy tricks.
- Users highlight usable arm-drag chains and easy wrestle-up paths.
- Back-take options from closed guard feel immediate and repeatable.
- Good mix of control concepts and actionable sweeps for mid belts.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some felt the inverted and tornado-style sequences were impractical for many.
- A few wanted more structured drilling progressions and troubleshooting.
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Smart Alternatives
- Side Closed Guard Attacks by Xande Ribeiro – Classic closed-guard system with crisp structure and back-take links. (Price: $79.00, 3 vols)
- Effective Closed Guard Sweeps by Marcos Tinoco – Sweep-focused curriculum if you want simpler, repeatable entries.
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Closed Guard Yin Yang Series on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
