Looking for a way to stop getting choked out every time someone grabs your neck? Gordon Ryan’s “Pillars of Defense: Guillotines” might just save your trachea. This comprehensive instructional breaks down everything you need to know about surviving and escaping one of BJJ’s most dangerous submissions.
Check it out on BJJ Fanatics here.
What’s It All About?
Gordon Ryan, the undisputed king of No-Gi grappling, brings his systematic approach to solving one of BJJ’s most common problems: getting caught in guillotines. This 8-volume instructional is a deep dive into the art of not getting choked when someone grabs your neck—something we all need help with occasionally (or in my case, constantly).
The instructional focuses on a complete defensive framework, covering everything from fundamental hand positions to specific escapes from every major position. What makes this unique is Gordon’s methodical approach to turning defense into offense—you’ll not only learn how to survive, but how to counter-attack and improve your position.
Detailed Breakdown: What You Get
This instructional spans 8 comprehensive volumes, structured in Gordon’s trademark systematic fashion:
Volume 1: Fundamentals of Guillotine Defense
- Introduction to the defensive framework
- Proper defensive hand positions that prevent the choke from tightening
- Theoretical principles behind effective guillotine defense
- Initial escape sequences
What impressed me immediately was Gordon’s attention to detail with hand positioning. Most instructionals skim over these fundamentals, but Gordon spends significant time explaining exactly where your hands should be and why—information that immediately improved my defense.
Volume 2-6: Position-Specific Defenses
Gordon breaks down escapes from every major position:
- Volume 2: Defense from open guard
- Volume 3: Defense from half guard
- Volume 4: Defense from open guard bottom
- Volume 5: Defense from bottom side control and mount
- Volume 6: Escapes from front headlock
Each volume includes both early and late-stage defenses, giving you options regardless of how deep your opponent has secured the choke.
Volumes 7-8: Live Application
The final two volumes feature rolling sessions with commentary, showing how these techniques work against active resistance. This is where the instructional really shines—seeing Gordon apply these concepts in real-time makes the abstract principles concrete.
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My Personal Experience
As someone who has been caught in more guillotines than I care to admit, this instructional was a game-changer. Within a week of studying Volume 1, I noticed a significant improvement in my ability to prevent guillotines from being secured in the first place.
The most valuable concept I took away was Gordon’s emphasis on proactive defense. Rather than waiting until you’re deep in trouble, he teaches you to recognize and address threats early. His hand-fighting details alone were worth the price of admission.
What really sets this instructional apart is how Gordon connects defensive movements to offensive opportunities. You’re not just learning to survive; you’re learning to counter-attack and advance your position—turning a bad situation into an advantageous one.
Pros & Cons
What I Loved
- Incredibly detailed breakdown of hand positions and preventative measures
- Systematic approach covering escapes from every major position
- Clear explanation of the mechanical principles behind effective defense
- Practical application through rolling footage
- Techniques work regardless of your physical attributes
Potential Drawbacks
- At $349, it’s on the pricier side of BJJ instructionals
- The comprehensive nature means it’s lengthy—over 8 hours of content
- Some concepts require a decent foundation in BJJ to fully appreciate
- Gordon’s methodical teaching style might feel slow if you’re used to faster-paced instructionals
Who Is This Instructional For?
This instructional claims to be for all levels, but I’d say it’s most valuable for:
- Intermediate to advanced practitioners who already understand basic positional concepts
- Competitors looking to shore up their guillotine defense against high-level opponents
- Coaches who want to develop a systematic approach to teaching guillotine defense
- Smaller grapplers who frequently find themselves fighting out of guillotine attempts
Beginners can certainly benefit from the fundamental principles, but might find the sheer volume of information overwhelming. I’d recommend focusing on Volumes 1 and 7-8 if you’re just starting out.
Final Verdict
Gordon Ryan’s “Pillars of Defense: Guillotines” is easily one of the most comprehensive defensive instructionals I’ve studied. While the price point is high ($349), the value delivered makes it worth the investment if guillotine defense is a weak point in your game.
What sets this apart from other defensive instructionals is the systematic nature and the emphasis on turning defense into offense. You’re not just learning to survive; you’re learning to thrive from defensive positions.
If you’re tired of tapping to guillotines or want to add solid defensive principles to your coaching toolkit, get Gordon’s instructional here. Your neck will thank you.
And if you’re a fan of systematic instruction, don’t miss my breakdown of Craig Jones’ best instructionals here for more game-changing No-Gi content.
