A wrestler-proof guillotine arsenal that finishes early and often.
The Bottom Line
You get gripping variations, positional entries, and built-in defenses. The focus is finishing mechanics that hold up when opponents scramble like wrestlers. It is a cost-effective headlock complement to any anti-shot plan.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Neck hunters
Skip if: Hate chokes
Tech focus: High Elbow, High Wrist, Arm In, Front Headlock, Snap Down
Biggest takeaway: Threaten necks to stop shots.
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What You'll Learn
Combs blends folkstyle experience with a lethal guillotine game. He shows high wrist, high elbow, arm-in options, defenses, and transitions from front headlock.
If a wrestler’s head dips, this series turns it into a finish or back take.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- High Wrist Guillotine
- High Elbow Guillotine
- Low Elbow Guillotine
- Front Headlock
- Snap Down
- Back Take
- Guillotine Defense
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I ranked it here because a confident guillotine changes how wrestlers shoot on you.
Why John Combs?
John Combs is a black belt under Amal Easton, former collegiate wrestler, and ADCC US Trials winner. BJJ Heroes documents his competitive pedigree. He is known for a high-percentage guillotine game in no-gi.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Community values guillotine mastery as a direct counter to shots.
- Fans note Combs’ wrestling background and ADCC Trials win.
- Praised for balancing offense and defense in one package.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some prefer systemic front headlock sets over choke-specific depth.
- A few discussions recommend other names for first guillotine course.
- Position entries are mostly no-gi focused.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- The Front Headlock System by John Danaher – More structured path through all headlock families. (Price: $197.00)
- Front Head Lock: Control, Submissions and Transitions by Kaynan Duarte – Modern competition examples and drills. (Price: $147.00, 8 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Mastering the Guillotine on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
