An underused guard turned into a reliable sweep-and-back system.
The Bottom Line
You learn how to enter octopus from half guard without getting crossfaced. The course shows back takes, hip-bump chains, and clean transitions into butterfly. You will not get random tricks; you will get a structured pathway that surprises opponents and scales to no-gi with grip tweaks.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Half guard players
Skip if: Hate underhooks
Tech focus: Octopus Guard, Half Guard Entries, Hip Bump Sweep, Back Takes, Dogfight
Biggest takeaway: Octopus thrives when opponents pressure.
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What You'll Learn
Octopus guard is underused and misunderstood. Wardzinski shows how to build it off half guard and connect it to back takes, hip-bump chains, and butterfly follow-ups.
If you want a surprise weapon that still fits a fundamentals-first game, this gives you a complete plan with entries, controls, and predictable reactions.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Octopus Guard
- Half Guard Entries
- Hip Bump Sweep
- Back Takes
- Dogfight
- Butterfly Transitions
- Counter Passing
- Turtle Attacks
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 2 hours and 16 minutes
- Volumes: 5
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I found octopus entry timing easiest after forcing the passer to commit a crossface or knee cut.
Why Adam Wardzinski?
Adam Wardzinski is a black belt under Alan Finfou known for butterfly guard mastery and pressure passing. He is a two-time IBJJF world champion and 2025 Grand Slam winner. His teaching emphasizes structure and predictable reactions. Octopus guard features prominently in his competitive wins. He regularly publishes technique clips and breakdowns on social media and YouTube.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Posters say it works well for smaller players when framed and angled right.
- Multiple threads recommend Wardzinski when asking about octopus guard resources.
- People note it functions in gi and no-gi if you adjust grips.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- One buyer expected bottom-side octopus; course focuses mainly from half guard entries.
- Grip choices differ from other sets, which can feel unfamiliar at first.
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Smart Alternatives
- Knee Lever John Wayne Sweep Engineering – Pairs well because dogfight and octopus flow into knee lever dilemmas. (Price: $127.00, 4 vols)
- Closed Guard Reintroduced – Another classic-guard update with tight control focus. (Price: $127.00, 6 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Octopus Guard Engineering by Adam Wardzinski on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
