Top 13 Marcelo Garcia Instructionals: A Complete Review

Marcelo Garcia, the original giant slayer, has gained worldwide recognition for his accomplishments. Many people are interested to learn from him for his unique and hyper effective style. Therefore we will review Marcelo Garcia instructionals, starting with his background, what he’s known for, and his teaching style.


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Who is Marcelo Garcia?

Marcelo Garcia, also known as “Marcelinho,” is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Fabio Gurgel. Born in Formiga, Brazil, on January 17, 1983, Garcia has become one of the most dominant and respected grapplers in the history of the sport. He has won the ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Championship five times and has earned numerous titles in the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) World Championships.

What is Marcelo Garcia Known For?

Marcelo Garcia is best known for his submission oriented ground game, particularly his mastery of the guillotine and north south choke. His incredible ability to sweep and submit opponents from these positions has made him a standout competitor. Some of his signature techniques include:

  1. Butterfly Guard Sweep
  2. X-Guard Sweep
  3. Guillotine Choke
  4. North-South Choke
  5. Arm drags
  6. Back takes
  7. Rear Naked Choke

Marcelo Garcia’s Teaching Style

Marcelo Garcia’s teaching style can be characterized by its simplicity, efficiency, and attention to detail. He focuses on practical, high-percentage techniques that can be used in both gi and no-gi situations. And being a smaller man himself, he pays particular attention to how you can make techniques work against bigger opponents. He’s a proficient teacher, often employing a show-don’t-tell approach to his unique techniques.

Marcelo Garcia Instructional catalog

Marcelo Garcia has many instructionals about his signature techniques. His full catalog on BJJ Fanatics consists of:

My personal Marcelo Garcia instructionals review

Marcelo Garcia’s instructionals are truly a treasure for any grappling enthusiast. I love Marcelo’s unique style of grappling, focusing on minimal effort and maximum result, that he developed as a smaller man. His instructionals are well-structured, with clear explanations and detailed demonstrations, making it easy for students to understand and follow along.

However, one aspect that I find challenging is the feeling that I can’t replicate Marcelo’s techniques, because he just has an incredible skill level. For instance, when I was learning the north-south choke,I was doing everything he says, but it’s not working yet. In the video I can see that it works so easily when he does it, that it’s just confusing why I struggle with it so much. But of course, some things simply take time and more practice.

Also read: Essential Guide to BJJ Instructionals in 2023

Frequently asked questions

Q: What are some of Marcelo Garcia’s notable achievements in BJJ?

A: Marcelo Garcia has won multiple world championships in BJJ, including five gold medals in the IBJJF World Championships, as well as four gold medals in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.

Q: What is Marcelo Garcia’s grappling style?

A: Marcelo Garcia’s grappling style is characterized by his exceptional guard play, particularly his butterfly guard, which he used to great effect throughout his career. He also has a very dynamic and aggressive style, always looking for opportunities to attack and finish his opponents.

Q: Where does Marcelo Garcia teach BJJ?

A: Marcelo Garcia currently teaches at his own academy, called the Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu Academy, which is located in New York City.

Q: What is Marcelo Garcia doing now?

A: Marcelo Garcia retired from competition in 2018 and is now focused on coaching and running his academy in New York City. He also occasionally teaches seminars and workshops around the world.

2 thoughts on “Top 13 Marcelo Garcia Instructionals: A Complete Review”

    1. I assume you’re talking about John Danaher? It depends a lot on your taste.
      John Danaher is very detailed, and he repeats himself a lot to make sure you remember the key points. But that makes his instructionals super slow to watch. He’s also a very thinking, cerebral instructor.
      Marcelo’s a much more bodily instructor, he likes to show things a lot. And his techniques and systems are much simpler, which arguably makes them easier to learn.
      So do you learn more eaily by watching, or listening? And do you prefer detailed and big systems, or simpler systems? That should help you choose.

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