No Gi Essentials by Roy Dean – In-Depth Review

A clear no-gi starter kit that stays useful as you progress.

The Bottom Line

You learn essential no-gi movements, positional aims, and core passes. Real sparring clips show application, which helps retention. If you want one no-gi primer, this is a safe pick.

⚡️ Quick facts

Best for: New no-gi learners

Skip if: You want niche depth

Tech focus: Pin Escapes, Guard Passing, Closed Guard, Takedowns, Submissions

Biggest takeaway: Confident no-gi fundamentals

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What You'll Learn

A beginner-friendly no-gi primer that starts with essential movements, grips, and escapes, then scales into live examples and more advanced sequences. It aims to make taking off the gi less confusing.

Primary Techniques You'll Drill

  • Pin Escapes
  • Guard Passing
  • Closed Guard
  • Takedowns
  • Submissions
  • Grip Fighting

Format & Level

  • Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
  • Skill level: All Levels
  • Format: No-Gi
  • Volumes: 3

Should You Buy It?

Wait for daily deal. I see no-gi beginners improve when they pair core escapes and stand-ups with one reliable passing route.

Why Roy Dean?

Roy Dean is a veteran educator with cross-discipline black belts who communicates no-gi fundamentals with clarity. His production layers examples and commentary to build understanding beyond rote moves.

Community feedback

Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.

😍 Why People Love It

  • Consistently praised as a strong no-gi intro with clear production.
  • Grows with you; remains relevant beyond the first months.
  • Often recommended as a first no-gi instructional for white belts.
  • Good price-to-value compared to big-name catalogs.

🤔 Common Criticisms

  • Some content feels advanced for absolute beginners.
  • A few users prefer targeted deep dives instead of broad primers.
  • Older release aesthetics and meta references show their age.

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Sources & References

Video Breakdowns

Official listing: View No Gi Essentials on BJJ Fanatics

Additional References

Your next step

You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.

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