Use collar grips to break posture and funnel to triangles, kimuras, and sweeps.
The Bottom Line
You will control posture and create predictable reactions. You will attack triangles and kimuras from safe overhooks and collars. You will not rely on flexibility-heavy guards.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Closed-guard lovers
Skip if: You want day-one basics
Tech focus: Irish Collar, Triangle, Kimura
Biggest takeaway: Collar grips drive triangles
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What You'll Learn
A six-volume control-first guard system centered on Melanson’s Irish Collar grips. The curriculum funnels to triangles, kimuras, and his Boston Handshake series. It suits players who like overhooks, posture-breaking, and chained submissions from closed and half-guard variations.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Irish Collar
- Kimura
- Triangle
- Boston Handshake
- Wrist Ride
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 3 hours and 5 minutes
- Volumes: 6
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I found collar grips make stubborn posture battles winnable without muscling.
Why Neil Melanson?
Melanson blends Hayastan and catch details to build posture-breaking guards with finishing options.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Shoulder-pin and Neil Knot concepts integrate well with this guard.
- Triangle chains from collar control convert stalled positions.
- Great for control-oriented closed-guard players without extreme flexibility.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some advise avoiding Melanson guard sets if you want ultra-structured basics.
- Body-type dependence reported by a few posters.
- Chaining steps can feel long without consistent drilling.
Smart Alternatives
- The Shoulder Pin Guard System – Budget on-ramp to similar control mechanics. (Price: $39.50, 4 vols)
- The Science of Filthy Triangles – Adds finishing depth to collar triangle funnels. (Price: $127.00, 8 vols)
Sources & References
Official listing: View The Irish Collar on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
