A deep review of Gordon Ryan’s original guard passing system – the 3-part formula built around the split squat position that covers every guard from closed to 50/50.
Last updated: March 2026
Systematically Attacking the Guard 1.0
Gordon Ryan’s 3-part guard passing formula: a complete A-to-B-to-C decision tree built around the split squat position.
- ⏰ 10+ hours
- 📅 Released Late 2018
- 🎯 Gordon Ryan
- 🥋 No-gi
- 🏆 8 volumes (6 technical + 2 narrated rolling)
- 💰 $197 retail
Note on versions: Gordon Ryan has since released Systematically Attacking the Guard 2.0 (toreandos, high steps, flanking passes), Body Lock Study (10 volumes on body lock passing), and 3.0: Inside Camping. The 1.0 covers different material than the sequels and still contains techniques Ryan uses in competition, but some approaches have been refined in later releases. This review covers the 1.0 specifically.
Product Details
| Full Title | Systematically Attacking The Guard With King Ryan – The 3 Part Formula |
| Instructor | Gordon Ryan |
| Runtime | 10+ hours across 8 volumes |
| Volumes | 8 (6 technical DVDs + 2 narrated rolling DVDs) |
| Release Date | Late 2018 / Early 2019 |
| Price | $197 retail (frequently discounted during BJJ Fanatics sales) |
| Format | No-gi; digital/streaming via BJJ Fanatics App; also sold as physical 8-DVD set |
| Where to Buy | BJJ Fanatics |
What Systematically Attacking the Guard 1.0 Teaches
Gordon Ryan’s guard passing system is built on a “3 Part Formula” – an A-to-B-to-C roadmap with a decision tree structure. If they do this, you do that. The system doesn’t rely on strength, speed, or athleticism. Instead, it centers on the split squat position as a launching pad for passing virtually any guard.
Ryan works through guards in logical order: closed guard first, then knee shield, half guard, half butterfly, open guards, and finally leg lock positions. DVD 6 alone covers 11 different guard positions. The final two volumes show narrated live rolling so you can see how the system connects in real sparring.
The core philosophy is positional. Ryan teaches you to reach the split squat position from various guards, then branch into passes based on your opponent’s reactions. This makes the system feel less like memorizing 200 techniques and more like learning one framework with many branches.
Volume-by-Volume Breakdown
This is a complete breakdown of what each DVD covers, including timestamps. The flowchart data below shows exactly what you get for your $197.
DVD 1 – Fundamentals and Closed Guard
- 00:00 – Intro and Overview (guard passing philosophy and principles)
- 08:24 – Closed Guard (opening and defeating closed guard)
- 29:24 – Rubber Guard (rubber guard defense and defeat)
- 32:10 – Establishing Inside Foot
- 37:00 – Rolling Kimura (rolling Kimura on seated opponent)
- 41:43 – Reverse De La Riva (dealing with RDLR)
- 1:09:00 – Split Squat (introduction of the split squat as the foundational position)
~70 minutes
DVD 2 – Knee Shield Destruction
- 00:00 – Split Squat continued (lasso guard from split squat, backstep variations)
- 31:38 – Low Knee Shield (~10 passing variations)
- 1:05:21 – High Knee Shield (cross shoulder post, D’arce choke finishes)
~70 minutes
DVD 3 – Half Guard Solutions
- 00:00 – Shutting Down Underhook From Half Guard
- 13:28 – Over Under (differentiated from Bernardo Faria’s approach)
- 29:17 – Deep Half Guard (passing strategies)
- 56:13 – Scorpion / Lock Down (lockdown escapes and Z guard solutions)
~60 minutes
DVD 4 – Half Butterfly Masterclass
- 00:00 – Half Butterfly (entire DVD dedicated to half-butterfly destruction using split squat methodology, guillotine submissions, cross shoulder post techniques)
Full volume dedicated to a single position
DVD 5 – Straight Hamstring and Body Lock Passing
- 00:00 – Straight Hamstring (straight hamstring passing)
- 56:24 – Body Lock (body lock passes, shin pin)
Full volume
DVD 6 – Open Guard, Leg Lock Positions and Toreando
- 00:00 – Body Lock (continued from DVD 5)
- 16:22 – Shin to Shin (passing shin-to-shin guard)
- 19:30 – Standard Ashi Garami (passing/escaping)
- 26:18 – X-Guard (passing X guard)
- 29:55 – Uchiro X-Guard (passing back X-Guard)
- 32:06 – Reverse X-Guard
- 42:31 – Outside Ashi Garami (escaping)
- 47:12 – 50/50 (passing/escaping 50/50)
- 57:15 – Cross Ashi Garami (escape and passing)
- 1:02:07 – Supine Guard (dealing with supine open guard)
- 1:06:17 – Toreando (toreando passing system)
~70 minutes – covers 11 different positions
DVDs 7 and 8 – Narrated Rolling
- Live rolling with full commentary showing the passing system in action
- Application against multiple training partners at Renzo Gracie’s NYC academy
- Breakdown of real-time decision-making using the 3-part formula
2 full volumes of live application
What Makes This Instructional Stand Out
- Split squat as a universal launching pad. The split squat position acts like an HQ from which you branch into passes against any guard. It gives you a single position to master rather than learning disconnected passes for each guard type.
- Decision tree structure. The “if they do this, then do that” framework turns guard passing from memorization into problem-solving. You learn to read and react rather than remembering sequences.
- DVD 6 is a position encyclopedia. Eleven different guard/leg lock positions covered in a single volume – from X guard to 50/50 to toreando. No other passing instructional covers this many positions in one place.
- Explicit differentiation from other systems. Ryan directly compares his over-under approach to Bernardo Faria’s on DVD 3. He tells you what he does differently and why. This kind of comparative teaching is rare.
- Narrated rolling makes it concrete. Two full DVDs of live sparring with commentary. You see the decision tree operating in real time, not just in drilling.
- From the greatest no-gi passer. Ryan had just won his first ADCC gold when this was filmed. His passing system would go on to dominate ADCC 2019 and 2022.
What Reviewers Say
“An 8 volume DVD set that pretty much covers everything in regard to passing the guard.”
BJJ World (colleric), 5/5 rating – January 2019“If you think about it, Gordon is like Danaher’s lab rat.”
BJJ World reviewer (colleric), on Ryan’s role in refining Danaher’s systemsJoshua Richards (JoshRichBJJ) had “mixed feelings” about this instructional due to “disorganization” in this earlier release. However, he acknowledged it contained a “goldmine of content” that greatly benefited him as a white belt.
Joshua Richards (JoshRichBJJ), via BJJEE articleBJJ World scores: Overall 5/5. Value for Money 5/5. Production quality noted as flawless. Teaching style described as thorough with extended chapters and concept-based rather than technique-specific.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What’s Great
- Covers virtually every guard position: closed, rubber, knee shield, half, half butterfly, open, RDLR, X-guard, 50/50, and more
- Split squat framework connects all the techniques into one system instead of isolated moves
- Decision-tree approach means you learn to read and react, not memorize sequences
- DVD 6 alone covers 11 positions – encyclopedic breadth
- Narrated rolling (DVDs 7-8) shows the system working in live sparring
- Ryan explicitly differentiates his over-under from Bernardo Faria’s approach
- 5/5 from BJJ World with perfect value-for-money rating
- Still widely considered the “guard passing bible” years after release
What’s Weak
- Partially superseded: Ryan released 2.0 (toreandos, high steps, flanking), Body Lock Study (10 volumes), and 3.0 (inside camping) with updated material
- Joshua Richards (JoshRichBJJ) noted “disorganization” compared to later, more polished Gordon Ryan releases
- 10+ hours is an enormous time commitment – Lucas Lepri covers guard passing in fewer hours with The Science of Guard Passing
- Heavy overlap with Ryan’s Guillotine set – if you own both, expect significant repetition
- DVDs 5-8 are less documented in reviews than DVDs 1-4, so you’re buying partly on trust
- Scope can be paralyzing for beginners who don’t yet have basic guard passing fundamentals
- $197 retail is premium pricing for content that’s been iterated upon
- No-gi only – limited applicability for gi practitioners
Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip
Buy Attacking the Guard 1.0 if you…
- Want a single comprehensive passing system that covers every guard you’ll face
- Prefer decision-tree learning over memorizing isolated techniques
- Are an intermediate to advanced no-gi grappler who understands basic passing concepts
- Want the foundational system that Ryan built all his later passing on
- Don’t own any Gordon Ryan guard passing instructionals yet (this is the best starting point)
- Want to understand the split squat position that Ryan uses in every competition
Skip Attacking the Guard 1.0 if you…
- Already own the 2.0 and Body Lock Study – the 1.0 has significant overlap
- Are a complete beginner who doesn’t know basic guard passing – try Danaher’s Go Further Faster: Guard Passing first
- Want specifically body lock passing – the Body Lock Study (10 volumes) goes much deeper than DVD 5 here
- Prefer shorter, more focused instructionals – Lachlan Giles covers body lock passing in fewer hours at a lower price
- Train primarily in the gi – this is entirely no-gi focused
- Want the most current version of Ryan’s passing – the 2.0 covers toreandos, high steps, and flanking passes that aren’t here
Related Gordon Ryan Instructionals
Attacking the Guard 1.0 is the first entry in Ryan’s guard passing series. Here’s how it connects to his other instructionals:
FAQ – Systematically Attacking the Guard 1.0
Is Systematically Attacking the Guard 1.0 still worth buying?
Yes, with a caveat. The 1.0 is still the most comprehensive single guard passing instructional available – it covers more positions than any competitor. BJJ World gave it 5/5. However, some material has been refined in the 2.0, Body Lock Study, and 3.0. If you don’t own any Gordon Ryan passing instructionals, the 1.0 is still the best starting point. If you already own the 2.0 and Body Lock Study, you can skip the 1.0.
What belt level do you need for Attacking the Guard 1.0?
Intermediate to advanced. You need to understand basic guard positions and passing concepts. A solid blue belt with competition experience or a purple belt will get the most value. Complete beginners will find the 10+ hours overwhelming. For beginners, try Danaher’s Go Further Faster: Guard Passing instead.
How does the 1.0 compare to the 2.0?
They cover different material. The 1.0 is built around the split squat position and covers closed guard, knee shield, half guard, half butterfly, body lock, and leg lock positions. The 2.0 focuses on toreandos, high step passes, and flanking passes. The 1.0 is more foundational; the 2.0 assumes you already understand the framework. Most people recommend buying the 1.0 first.
How long is Systematically Attacking the Guard 1.0?
Over 10 hours across 8 volumes. DVDs 1-6 cover technique (roughly 70 minutes each for DVDs 1-3 and 6, with DVDs 4-5 being full-length volumes on single topics). DVDs 7-8 are narrated rolling footage showing the system in live sparring.
What is the split squat position?
The split squat is the central launching position in Gordon Ryan’s passing system. It’s a stable, low stance that serves as a universal starting point from which you branch into passes against any guard. Think of it as an HQ position – you learn to reach split squat from various guards, then use decision trees to pass from there.
Does this work for gi training?
This instructional is designed entirely for no-gi. The split squat position, body lock passing, and leg lock position escapes all assume no-gi grips. The conceptual framework (decision trees, systematic progression through guards) translates to gi, but the specific techniques are no-gi focused. For gi guard passing, consider Lucas Lepri’s The Science of Guard Passing.
Is this better than John Danaher’s guard passing instructional?
They’re different. Gordon Ryan’s 1.0 is more encyclopedic – it covers more positions and gives you a broader toolkit. Danaher’s No Gi Guard Passing is more conceptual and linear, with a teaching style that builds from principles to application. Ryan’s approach is more practical and competition-focused. Many practitioners recommend owning both, but if you pick one, Ryan’s is the community’s most-recommended guard passing instructional.
Ready to Learn the Guard Passing Bible?
Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking the Guard 1.0 covers every guard position with a decision-tree system. 10+ hours, 8 volumes, from the greatest no-gi passer in history.
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