A playful yet practical collection of lapel guards that frustrate stronger passers.
The Bottom Line
You will learn multiple lapel guards with shared control principles. You will get entries, sweeps, and chokes that force slow, sticky exchanges. You will not get a single rigid system only.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Tinkerers and technicians
Skip if: You need strict structure
Tech focus: Squid Guard, Worm Guard, Lapel Chokes
Biggest takeaway: Friction beats force
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
A curated toolkit of underused lapel guards across squid, worm, lapel half, and creative choke chains. Emphasis on using friction and entanglement to slow stronger opponents.
Good pick if you like variety with connective tissue.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Squid Guard
- Worm Guard
- Lapel Half Guard
- Riba Guard
- Gubber Guard
- Lapel Chokes
Format & Level
- Instructional style: Technique Collection, System Based
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: Gi
- Runtime: 2 hours and 6 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I like this as a second purchase once you have a base lapel, because it multiplies answers without boxing you into one tree.
Why Maksym Witkowski?
Maksym Witkowski is a black belt instructor known for creative lapel adaptations and pragmatic teaching focused on leverage over athleticism.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Fun lapel variations that catch experienced passers off guard.
- Great mix of back takes, sweeps, and submissions.
- Concepts help smaller players slow explosive opponents.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Less linear than a single-system course.
- Some positions feel situational without lapel discipline.
- Requires willingness to experiment across guards.
Smart Alternatives
- The Lapel Guard Blue Print – Choose if you want a more linear plan. (Price: $79.00)
- Mastering The Lapel Guard Vol. 4: Worm Guards – Pick for a focused worm lineage after sampling. (Price: $97.00)
Sources & References
Official listing: View Lapel Guards I Shamelessly Stole on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
