Turn closed guard into a tight, posture-breaking submission system.
The Bottom Line
You will learn how to build the falcon clamp, break posture, and cycle through triangles, armbars, and sweeps. You will see reliable answers when opponents try to peel the overhook, stand, or smash. You will not get a random move dump; it is a repeatable closed-guard plan that works in gi and no-gi.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Closed guard players
Skip if: You hate closed guard
Tech focus: Closed Guard, Overhook, Triangle, Armbar, Wrist Lock, Sweep
Biggest takeaway: Clamp first, then finish.
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What You'll Learn
Bouhey's signature falcon guard turns standard closed guard into a clamp that breaks posture and funnels opponents into triangles, armbars, and sweeps. The overhook-and-head-clamp structure is simple to learn and scales well from white to black belt. This set is the fastest way to add a high-percentage closed-guard plan if you currently stall in guard.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Closed Guard
- Overhook
- Triangle
- Armbar
- Wrist Lock
- Sweep
- Guillotine
- Omoplata
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 40 hours and 7 minutes
- Volumes: 1
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I ranked it first because it turns a static guard into a reliable submission engine with easy reactions to read.
Why Joel Bouhey?
Joel Bouhey is a black belt under Luis Heredia and head coach at Jiu-Jitsu 100 in Hawaii. He is known for inventing the falcon guard and for creative, efficient systems. Bouhey has competed on regional pro cards and teaches full time. His BJJ Fanatics catalog spans chokes, guillotines, triangles, and beginner defense. He emphasizes posture control, timing, and sequence rather than strength. Sources confirm he is a respected, detail-focused coach.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Users report falcon guard wrist locks catching partners who try to free the arm.
- Members say falcon guard helps freeze spazzy partners and drains their gas.
- One commenter trained with Bouhey in Maui and grabbed the falcon guard DVD immediately.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Focuses on closed guard, which some players avoid.
- Requires consistent overhook drilling to master entries.
- Less content on open guard or standing entries.
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Smart Alternatives
- Ultimate Flowchart – Drill sequences that include falcon entries and finishes. (Price: $47.00, 2 vols)
- Finding The Darce Choke Everywhere – Pairs well because falcon guard feeds the darce. (Price: $47.00, 2 vols)
- Just Chokes – Broader choke library from falcon and beyond. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View The Falcon Guard by Joel Bouhey on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
