A complete, pressure-first body lock system that turns leg pummeling into consistent passes.
The Bottom Line
You learn how to acquire, secure, and finish body locks from standing, kneeling, and supine guards. The progression covers concepts, entries, beating frames, and troubleshooting common counters like sumi gaeshi and underhooks. You will not get gi lapel-specific details or movement-heavy passing.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Pass-first no-gi players
Skip if: You want gi grips
Tech focus: Body Lock, Leg Pummeling, Knee Slice, Tight Waist, Two On One, Half Guard Pass, Elbow Pry
Biggest takeaway: Stages make pressure repeatable.
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What You'll Learn
Nick Rodriguez’s signature body lock blueprint shows entries from standing, kneeling, and supine guards, plus leg pummeling, securing two-on-ones, and finishing the pass. The six volumes progress from concepts to problems and quick solutions. You get tight-waist rides, knee-slice integrations, and back exposure chains.
It is aimed at no-gi players who want a repeatable, pressure-first pass that scales from hobbyists to competitors.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Body Lock
- Leg Pummeling
- Knee Slice
- Tight Waist
- Half Guard Pass
- Elbow Pry
- Two On One
- Diagonal Control
- Cross Step Entry
- Sprawl Method
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 5 hours and 19 minutes
- Volumes: 6
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I saw hobbyists adopt a reliable pass fast by drilling the two-on-one and knee-line beats before adding finishes.
Why Nick Rodriguez?
Nick Rodriguez is a no-gi heavyweight and B-Team co-founder. He won ADCC West Coast Trials in 2019 and took silver at the 2019 and 2022 ADCC World Championships. He also won EBI 20 Absolute and has multiple wins over top heavyweights. His game centers on wrestling entries, body lock passing, and back control under EBI overtime. BJJ Heroes and event reports document his rapid rise and results. He teaches in a concise, show-then-explain style.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Shows the move first from multiple angles, then details; easier to learn than long-winded sets.
- Cleaner and shorter than deep-dive alternatives; better for focus-challenged learners.
- He is the most successful elite body lock passer; proof from competition clips.
- Blueprint thread says the double leg to body lock game works well in certain matchups.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some prefer Lachlan Giles’s teaching clarity and organization for body lock passing.
- One user did not care for this instructional despite praising Nicky’s competition results.
- Critics say success can lean on size and athleticism if details are missed.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- The Body Lock Pass by Lachlan Giles – Great step-by-step body lock structure and value. (Price: $99.00, 6 vols, 2019)
- Systematically Attacking The Guard 2.0 by Gordon Ryan – High-step and body lock refinements at advanced depth. (Price: $349.00, 2022)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Rody Lock: The Nick Rodriguez Body Lock System on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
