A complete no-gi passing roadmap from first contact to chest-to-chest control.
The Bottom Line
You get a unified plan that links toreando footwork, pommel passing, body locks and half guard progressions. The emphasis on control between the knees and stable finishes helps you keep passes. Expect a talk-heavy style, but the sequencing makes live application straightforward.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: No-gi passers and competitors
Skip if: You dislike long lectures
Tech focus: Body Lock, Toreando, Knee Cut, Leg Drag, Half Guard Pass, Grip Fighting, Stabilization
Biggest takeaway: Pass to stable chest-to-chest.
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What You'll Learn
Danaher’s modern passing blueprint connects footwork, pommel passing, body locks and half guard sequences into one plan. It emphasizes chest-to-chest stabilization and predictable orders of operation.
The result is a clear path for no-gi dominance that suits hobbyists and competitors.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Body Lock
- Toreando
- Knee Cut
- Leg Drag
- Pommel Passing
- Half Guard Pass
- Closed Guard Openings
- Grip Fighting
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 12 hours and 15 minutes
- Volumes: 8
- Released: 2021
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I found that learning the footwork before pressure phases dramatically reduced stalls against seated guards.
Why John Danaher?
John Danaher is a Renzo Gracie black belt and one of the most influential coaches in modern grappling. He is known for systematic instruction and for coaching champions like Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon and Georges St-Pierre. Danaher now leads New Wave Jiu Jitsu in Austin. His teaching style prioritizes conceptual clarity and stepwise sequencing. He popularized system-based approaches to leg locks, back attacks and guard passing.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Body lock and half guard chapters quickly improved results for many.
- Clear structure from footwork to chest-to-chest control felt cohesive.
- Concept-first teaching made the roadmap easy to remember under pressure.
- Worth it for depth on body locks and toreando details.
- More succinct than Enter the System while staying thorough.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Talk-heavy delivery and runtime can feel slow for some.
- An hour of torreando footwork felt excessive to a few viewers.
- Overlaps with other Danaher passing sets created duplication.
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Smart Alternatives
- The Fastest Way: To Become an Effective Guard Passer (No Gi) – A quicker, more digestible passing plan. (Price: $197.00, 8 vols, 2023)
- Half Guard Passing and Dynamic Pins (Go Further Faster) – Focused solutions when opponents force half guard. (Price: $197.00, 8 vols, 2021)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
