Turn front headlock hand fights into guillotines, back takes, and points.
The Bottom Line
This course teaches you to secure, keep, and weaponize the front headlock. You will learn standing and seated entries, high-wrist mechanics, and when to convert to back exposure. It skips fluff and builds a reliable chain from control to strangles and go-behinds.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Front headlock-focused
Skip if: You only train gi
Tech focus: Front Headlock, Guillotine, Darce, Anaconda, Snap Downs, Back Takes, Go Behind
Biggest takeaway: Control before strangles
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
Bodoni turns the front headlock into a full scoring-and-finishing system. You get structured entries from standing and seated, hand-fighting sequences to secure a high-wrist, and clear routes to guillotine, darce, anaconda, and go-behinds.
The 8-volume layout builds from control to strangles and conversions to the back, matching how modern no-gi matches actually flow.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Front Headlock
- Guillotine
- Darce
- Anaconda
- Snap Downs
- Go Behind
- Back Takes
- High Wrist Guillotine
- Uchi Mata
- Kouchi Gari
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 7 hours and 46 minutes
- Volumes: 8
- Released: 2022
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I saw the hand-fighting sequences clarify when to switch guillotine variations.
Why Giancarlo Bodoni?
Giancarlo Bodoni is a black belt under Lucas Lepri and trains at New Wave under John Danaher. He won ADCC 2022 at -88 kg with three straight submissions. He is known for high-efficiency back attacks and a systematic no-gi approach. He has podiums at major IBJJF no-gi events and frequent super-fight wins. His teaching emphasizes mechanics first, then sequencing.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Helped me add practical front headlock entries and finishes quickly
- More modern and polished than older front headlock material
- Standing and seated entries connect cleanly to back takes
- Great system structure rather than a move dump
- Clear hand fighting details to actually win guillotine battles
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Eight volumes feels long to work through
- Some still prefer Danaher for deeper conceptual depth
- Would like rolling footage to see timing live
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- Enter the System: Front Headlocks by John Danaher – More encyclopedic depth if you want philosophy first.
- Hinger Head and Arm Guillotine – Great arm-in guillotine details if that is your A game.
- Craig Jones Anti-Wrestling Equation – Pairs well for snap-downs and counter-wrestling sequences.
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Essential Connections: Chest To Back – In Front of the Elbows on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
