Gi-first guard tactics from a 10-time champ to off-balance heavier players safely.
The Bottom Line
You get practical butterfly-to-x chains that keep weight off you and create reliable sweeps. Malfacine explains entries, timing, and transitions so you can wrestle up or finish. It is gi-centered; no-gi rooms should pair it with a no-gi butterfly or SLX course.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Gi players under pressure
Skip if: Strictly no-gi
Tech focus: Butterfly Guard, Single Leg X, X Guard, Arm Drag, Back Takes, Leg Drag, Collar Drag
Biggest takeaway: Use distance, not strength.
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What You'll Learn
This is a smaller champion’s blueprint for making bigger people carry your weight from guard. You get butterfly-to-single-leg-x sequences, collar drags, x-guard back takes, and smart distance control. If you want concrete gi tactics with proven results at the highest level, start here.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Butterfly Guard
- Single Leg X
- X Guard
- Collar Drag
- Balloon Sweep
- Arm Drag
- Leg Drag
- Back Takes
- Grip Fighting
- Distance Management
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Gi
- Runtime: 2 hours and 52 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I learned to treat butterfly as a hub for SLX and x-guard so bigger opponents never settle weight on my ribs.
Why Bruno Malfacine?
Bruno Malfacine is a 10-time IBJJF world champion at roosterweight, famed for sweeping and submitting larger opponents. He teaches with crisp detail and simple language. Expect distance-based guards, dominant angles, and intelligent grip usage. His approach emphasizes kuzushi to avoid strength battles. Ideal for smaller gi athletes.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Small-guy perspective that scales to hobbyists.
- Butterfly and x-guard chains are practical under pressure.
- Teaching is clear; seminar feedback is very positive.
- Great for learning to keep weight off your torso.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Gi grips limit transfer to strict no-gi rooms.
- Fast pace; some sections assume strong basics.
- Expensive compared with shorter niche sets.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- Butterfly Guard Rediscovered 3.0 – A modern butterfly system that also helps smaller players. (Price: $149.00)
- The No Gi Butterfly Guard Rediscovered – No-gi option if your room is mostly rashguards. (Price: $79.00)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View How To Beat Bigger Guys: Guard by Bruno Malfacine on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
