A fundamentals-first curriculum that fixes posture, retention, and basic finishes without overwhelming you.
The Bottom Line
You get a class-like progression for posture, control, and core finishes. It is beginner-friendly and pragmatic. It is less deep on advanced dilemmas.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Newer blue and below
Skip if: You want advanced dilemmas
Tech focus: Knee Elbow Counter, Arm Triangle, Remount
Biggest takeaway: Posture beats scrambles
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What You'll Learn
Thornton’s curriculum teaches posture, killing frames, knee-elbow counters, and finishing sequences in 15 lessons. It is structured for quick wins and retention.
Seminar-style filming; clear fundamentals.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Posture In Mount
- Frame Kills
- Knee Elbow Counter
- Arm Triangle
- Armbar
- Remount
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual, Drill Heavy
- Skill level: Beginner
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 2 hours and 47 minutes
- Volumes: 3
- Released: 2019
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I saw repeated reports of quick improvements from applying posture and frame-kill lessons alone.
Why Matt Thornton?
SBG founder Matt Thornton is known for principle-driven teaching and clear conceptual explanations.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Great fundamentals and clear why-behind-the-how explanations.
- Transformed mount for many white-to-purple belts quickly.
- Structured as a class curriculum; easy to follow.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Seminar-style audio pops can distract in places.
- Less advanced dilemma work than New Wave.
- Production feels basic compared to studio-shot sets.
Smart Alternatives
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: Mounted Pin Attacks – The 4×4 Mount System – More advanced dilemmas and integrations. (Price: $197.00, 8 vols, 2022)
- Mount Dominance – No-gi spiderweb and punch choke options. (Price: $127.00, 6 vols)
- The Complete MG Mount System – Simple, coach-friendly alternative. (Price: $149.00)
Sources & References
Official listing: View Mastering The Mount on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
