A no-gi butterfly system with rules, heists, and sumi chains for ADCC-style success.
The Bottom Line
You learn how to create pressure from seated guard, then choose sumi or hip-heist based on reactions. The curriculum ties butterfly to ashi garami and wrestle-ups cleanly. If you want gi lapel detail, pick a different title.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: No-gi competitors
Skip if: You want gi grips
Tech focus: Sumi Gaeshi, Hip Heist, Arm Drag, Ashi Garami Entry, Double Kouchi, Wrestle Up, X Guard
Biggest takeaway: Pick direction, then commit.
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
Bodoni’s 8-part butterfly course leans no-gi and emphasizes pressure creation, directional off-balancing, and sumi gaeshi into leg entries or wrestle-ups. The product page shows eight volumes spanning kneeling and standing opponents, grip strategies, arm-drag chains, hip heists, and ashi-waza foot sweeps. It is structured like a modern curriculum with clear rules of engagement. Expect strong cross-links to cross ashi and back-side 50/50. If you compete under ADCC-style rules, the heist and wrestle-up sections are a highlight.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Sumi Gaeshi
- Hip Heist
- Arm Drag
- Ashi Garami Entry
- Snapdown
- Double Kouchi
- Chin Post
- Clamp
- X Guard Entry
- Wrestle Up
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 6 hours and 51 minutes
- Volumes: 8
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I like how Bodoni codifies push-pull and shoulder-hip rules to steer every exchange.
Why Giancarlo Bodoni?
Giancarlo Bodoni is a world-class competitor and ADCC champion known for systematic guard development across Ashi, X, and butterfly. He coaches at a premier no-gi room and releases structured 'Forging the Guard' series across positions. His teaching emphasizes rules, directionality, and clear decision nodes. BJJ Heroes documents his medal record and rapid rise in elite no-gi competition. He is one of the most reviewed instructors on r/bjj in recent years.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Frequently recommended with Wardzinski as the most actionable modern picks.
- Clear rules and directionality make the sweeps feel repeatable.
- Great integration of wrestle-ups and leg entries from butterfly.
- Production and organization praised in multiple threads.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Pricey compared to older classics.
- Some prefer Marcelo for gi and belt-grip options.
- A few find overlap with his Ashi/X-guard series.
- Eight volumes may be overkill for casual hobbyists.
Smart Alternatives
- Forging The Guard: Mastering The Foundations of X-Guard – Extends the butterfly to X-guard gameplan. (Price: $197.00)
- Forging The Guard: Mastering The Foundations of Ashi Garami – Pairs with butterfly to finish leg attacks. (Price: $197.00)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Forging The Guard: Mastering The Foundations of Butterfly Guard on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
