Danaher Pin & Turtle Escapes (GFF) – In-Depth Review

The deepest beginner-friendly escape framework from the Go Further Faster series.

The Bottom Line

You get a principles-first blueprint for surviving and escaping common pins and turtle. Emphasis is on body alignment, frames, and reproducible movements in gi and no-gi. It is long and lecture heavy, but blue belts who commit gain a foundation that upgrades every position.

⚡️ Quick facts

Best for: Detail-oriented blue belts

Skip if: You dislike long lectures

Tech focus: Mount Escapes, Side Control Escapes, Turtle Escapes, Pin Frames, Hip Heist, Underhook Series, Head Arm Defense

Biggest takeaway: Escapes are priority one

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What You'll Learn

Blue belts plateau if they cannot escape consistently. This set is the most detailed framework for pin and turtle survival many students will ever study.

It is dense, methodical, and designed to build reliable mechanics that work in gi and no-gi. If you can handle the lecture style, the payoff is major control of bad positions.

Primary Techniques You'll Drill

  • Mount Escapes
  • Side Control Escapes
  • Turtle Escapes
  • Pin Frames
  • Hip Heist
  • Underhook Series
  • Head Arm Defense
  • Fundamentals

Format & Level

  • Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
  • Skill level: All Levels
  • Format: Both
  • Runtime: 11 hours and 57 minutes

Should You Buy It?

Buy it now. I see blue belts jump levels when escapes become automatic and they stop burning energy in bad pins.

Why John Danaher?

John Danaher is one of the most influential BJJ coaches of the modern era. His Go Further Faster series targets core fundamentals to shorten the learning curve. He is known for systematic thinking, language precision, and reproducible progressions. While verbose, his frameworks have shaped champions and everyday practitioners alike.

Community feedback

Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.

😍 Why People Love It

  • Most detailed beginner-friendly escape framework available.
  • Works in both gi and no-gi with consistent mechanics.
  • Clear priorities make escaping feel systematic.

🤔 Common Criticisms

  • Lecture style is long and can be hard to follow.
  • Expensive compared to other escapes sets.

Smart Alternatives

Sources & References

Official listing: View Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes: Go Further Faster on BJJ Fanatics

Additional References

Your next step

You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.

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