A hands-on review of Craig Jones’ front headlock and wrestling adaptation system, with training notes from applying it on the mat against wrestlers and jiu-jitsu players.
Last updated: March 2026
The Anti-Wrestling Equation
Craig Jones builds a new “wrestle-jitsu” system: front headlock entries from every position, turtle attacks, rear body lock takedowns, and back attack finishes.
- ⏰ 6 hours 59 minutes
- 📅 Released 2023
- 🎯 Craig Jones
- 🥋 No-Gi
- 📚 8 Volumes
- 🏆 Intermediate to Advanced
What’s the Anti-Wrestling Equation About?
It’s about wrestle-jitsu. Let me explain what I mean.
The name of this instructional is bad because it’s honestly more about wrestling than anti-wrestling. There is definitely a lot of anti-wrestling in here (“wrestlers do this, and you should counter them like that”, etc.). But the majority is about stealing wrestling moves and using them for jiu-jitsu purposes.
In fact this instructional goes further than stealing moves. Craig Jones basically builds a new style of grappling that adapts many moves from both jiu-jitsu and wrestling, with the goal to take people down, keep them down and submit them. Some of the questions that Craig answers while building this system are:
- What are the differences between wrestling and jiu-jitsu?
- Why are some moves very popular in one sport, but rarely seen in the other, even though they’re legal in both?
- Which wrestling-inspired moves are must-haves in modern grappling? (Spoiler: wrist rides, spiral rides, power nelsons, elbow passes, and many others.)
- Which wrestling moves don’t work in BJJ because they can be countered in many ways?
- Which old-school BJJ moves don’t work if people try to stand back up? (Spoiler: all the back takes from turtle that you know.)
- How can we systematically take down athletic people that don’t want to accept bottom position, in a low-effort way that leads to submission opportunities?
Also read: Top 10 Best Craig Jones Instructionals (& 6 to Avoid)
Volume-by-Volume Breakdown (8 Volumes, 6h59m)
Volume 1: Standing & Seated Entries to Front Headlock
- Hand positioning and snap direction for standing entries
- Russian tie variations
- Seated entries against low and high posture opponents
- Hip snap technique
- Sumi gaeshi from front headlock
Volume 2: Top Position Entries to Front Headlock
- Down block entries from knee cut and toreando pass
- Standing front headlock introductions
- Elbow pass double applications
- Kosoto go-behind techniques
- Why wrestling vs. jiu-jitsu front headlock positioning differs
Volume 3: Four-Point Position Attacks
- Seated anaconda choke
- Kata gatame (arm triangle) from front headlock
- Ankle pick variations (straight and cross)
- Backtake entries from front headlock
- Misdirection techniques to create openings
Volume 4: Turtle Position Fundamentals
- Wrestling vs. jiu-jitsu positioning strategy differences
- Knee block, arm drag, and arm trap go-behinds
- Maki komi / Peterson roll applications
- Crucifix backtake techniques
Volume 5: Submission Finishes
- Anaconda choke variations and finishing details
- Anaconda to backtake transitions
- Peruvian necktie technique
- D’Arce choke entries and finishing
- Submission chains from front headlock
Volume 6: Rear Body Lock System
- Kosoto throw from rear body lock
- De ashi harai (foot sweep) from body lock
- Tai otoshi from body lock
- Single crab takedown
- Multiple lift variations and takedown chains
Volume 7: Four-Point & Turtle Maintenance
- Mat return techniques (putting opponent back down after they stand)
- Escape prevention strategies
- Knee slide, foot slide, and long hook back-taking entries
- Claw grip techniques for maintaining control
Volume 8: Back Attack Mastery
- Rear naked strangle finishing from multiple angles
- Garrote (cross-collar choke) technique
- Ushiro sankaku (rear triangle) techniques
- Grip break strategies against defenders
- Body triangle control and turning escape prevention
The Differences Between Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu
More than anything else this instructional is about the differences between wrestling and jiu-jitsu. What works in one but not the other, and why?
Craig has dozens of interesting insights. Here are some that stand out to me:
- Slams are unlikely in jiu-jitsu. For many reasons. Wrestlers like them because they score 5 points. But in jiu-jitsu they’re too risky. To slam someone, you have to step your legs close. This exposes you to rolling leg attacks and to a counter throw (tani otoshi). Nobody does tani otoshi in wrestling because your own back hits the floor first, which loses points in wrestling.
- The deashi is super effective in jiu-jitsu. The deashi is the foot sweep from the rear body lock that Gordon Ryan uses a lot. It’s super effective because in jiu-jitsu when people get into a disadvantageous position, they try to run off the mat to get a reset. This move almost doesn’t happen in wrestling because there you actually give points to your opponent if you run off the mat.
- The Anaconda choke works better against wrestlers. The anaconda choke is pretty hard to set up in jiu-jitsu, especially from turtle, because jiu-jitsu guys are wide on their elbows. But wrestlers often post on their hands, with their hands close together to build height. This puts their shoulders much closer to their neck, which makes the Anaconda choke a super strong option.
- Jiu-jitsu guys aren’t athletic. Oof, this one hurts a little. But it’s important. Basically, because we all practice “the gentle way”, none of us ever try athletic escapes. The problem with this is that none of us ever learn to prevent and counter athletic escapes either. So when we finally face an athletic person (typically someone from wrestling or MMA), we have a lot of problems.
How to Wrestle in Jiu-Jitsu
A huge part of this instructional is actually about wrestling, not anti-wrestling. (This is a common theme with Craig Jones: his instructionals often cover the exact opposite of what the name is.)
This is actually one of the best wrestling instructionals I ever watched. I watch a lot of “wrestling for BJJ” videos and instructionals, but in my experience it’s usually a wrestler that tries to select the wrestling techniques that best fit into jiu-jitsu, rather than actually adapting the techniques to jiu-jitsu.
Craig here basically shows a wrestle-jitsu game that he built from the ground up, based on his experience in training with wrestlers like Nicky Rodriguez for ADCC. It’s really much better than any other “wrestling for jiu-jitsu” course I ever watched.
Rear Body Lock Offense
Many techniques to take someone down from the rear body lock. In my experience the knee block kosoto works 100% of the time against pure jiu-jitsu guys. This gets people to put their hands to the mat, putting them in a 4 point position.
How to Break Down a 4 Point from the Back
The key is to not let the hands and feet come close to each other. That’s why you have to put shoulder pressure into the shoulders and use your knee to block their leg from coming closer. To force them down, you step on their near foot and yank their hips towards you. This puts them either to a hip or to turtle.
How to Break Down a Turtle
Stay behind the arms (don’t get a seatbelt yet). Get a wrist ride and a crab hook to prevent them from building a base. Get a hip grip and pull him to a hip. You’re allowed to let the wrist grip go if you need to. Once you get him to a hip you can take a seatbelt and look to take the back in various ways.
How to Finish from the Back
It’s nice that this part is in here because the whole instructional leads you to taking the back, and Craig actually doesn’t teach his back attack system anywhere else. I think Craig’s system is pretty similar to how most other guys do it nowadays (especially Danaher and his students), but I still picked up a few new things. For example, to finish the strangle when you’re on the underhook side, Craig uses a cool mini kimura with his underhook arm to sit his opponent up, which creates space to get your secondary arm deep behind the head.
What Makes The Anti-Wrestling Equation Stand Out
- Most comprehensive front headlock system available. Craig covers front headlock entries from every position: standing, guard passing, turtle, seated. No other instructional on BJJ Fanatics covers the front headlock this completely.
- The “wrestle-jitsu” approach is unique. Instead of a wrestler teaching wrestling, Craig (a BJJ specialist) adapts wrestling to BJJ. He explains why each wrestling move works or fails in a submission grappling context, which helps you understand the underlying principles.
- Developed through ADCC prep with real wrestlers. Craig built this system training with Nicky Rodriguez and other wrestlers at B-Team. The techniques are tested against D1-level grapplers, not just compliant training partners.
- Complete pathway from standing to finish. The 8 volumes flow as one system: entries (vols 1-2), attacks from front headlock and turtle (vols 3-5), rear body lock takedowns (vol 6), maintaining top/turtle control (vol 7), back attack finishes (vol 8). You’re not learning isolated moves.
- Back attack system included. Craig doesn’t teach his back attacks anywhere else. Volumes 7-8 cover mat returns, escape prevention, and RNC finishing details you won’t find in his other instructionals.
My Experience with This Instructional
My experience with the Anti-Wrestling Equation is extremely positive.
First of all, because I’m a martial arts nerd, and I love hearing about the differences between jiu-jitsu and wrestling. Literally every section Craig explains something like “this is why they do this in wrestling, but it doesn’t work in jiu-jitsu” or the other way around.
Ok I’ll share one more example that I like. Wrestlers often defend the rear body lock by leaning back hard and squatting down to clear the body lock. But in jiu-jitsu if you did this, the other guy would literally just sit down and put his crab hooks in and take your back. That’s why in jiu-jitsu we can’t squat down from the rear body lock.
Second of all, the techniques work super well for me. The wrestling techniques in the open work well. The system for breaking someone down from a rear body lock to a 4 point to a turtle to a hip to a back take… It’s super easy to do, costs very little effort, I love it. (Keep in mind that I don’t typically roll with super high level wrestlers, in which case it’s probably a lot harder.)
What Other Grapplers Say
“The technique works because it takes advantage of a wrestler’s inclination to shoot and often feel safe in the turtle position.”
Grappling Insider (on Craig’s anaconda choke system)“Craig Jones basically builds a new style of grappling that adapts many moves from both jiu-jitsu and wrestling, with the goal to take people down, keep them down and submit them.”
BJJMore review“This is one of the best wrestling instructionals I ever watched. It’s really much better than any other ‘wrestling for jiu-jitsu’ course I ever watched.”
BJJMore reviewMy Verdict
This has by far been the most beneficial instructional for my standup I ever watched. And I watched many.
✅ What’s Great
- Paradigm-shifting “wrestle-jitsu” approach that fuses wrestling and BJJ intelligently
- Comprehensive front headlock coverage from every position (standing, passing, turtle, seated)
- The rear body lock to 4-point to turtle to back take chain works immediately
- Craig explains WHY techniques work in BJJ vs. wrestling, not just how
- Includes back attack system that Craig doesn’t teach elsewhere
- 7 hours of content for $197 (often 40-50% off on BJJ Fanatics sales)
❌ What Could Be Better
- Misleading title: most content is offensive wrestling-for-BJJ, not defensive anti-wrestling. If you want sprawl-and-brawl defense, this isn’t it
- At 7 hours across 8 volumes, this is Craig’s longest instructional and less concise than his usual style
- Advanced material that assumes foundational grappling knowledge. Fresh white belts will struggle
- Volumes 6-8 (rear body lock, turtle maintenance, back attacks) are somewhat tangential to the “anti-wrestling” premise
- No BJJ World review available, so less independent validation than Power Ride or Z Guard
- Some overlap with Power Bottom (turtle work appears in both)
Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip
✅ Buy If You…
- Want to improve your standup and takedowns – despite the “anti-wrestling” name, the majority of this instructional teaches you wrestling adapted for BJJ
- Want to counter wrestlers – Craig shows how to exploit their movement patterns and the holes in their defensive postures
- Are a wrestler transitioning to BJJ – Craig explains which of your wrestling habits help and which hurt in a submission grappling context
- Want a complete front headlock system – this is the most thorough front headlock instructional on BJJ Fanatics
- Train no-gi – the entire system is built for no-gi grappling and ADCC-style competition
❌ Skip If You…
- Only want defensive wrestling (sprawls, pummeling) – the title implies defense but most content is offensive
- Are a complete beginner – you need basic grappling fundamentals first
- Primarily train gi – the system assumes no-gi grips and positioning
- Want a short, focused instructional – at 7 hours, this is Craig’s longest. Consider Andrew Wiltse’s Headlock/Bodylock System for a more focused front headlock approach from a D1 wrestler’s perspective
- Already own Power Bottom – there’s some turtle work overlap between the two
How It Compares to Alternatives
| Instructional | Focus | Length | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Wrestling Equation (Craig Jones) | Front headlock + wrestling adaptation for BJJ | ~7 hours | Complete wrestle-jitsu system |
| Headlock/Bodylock System (Andrew Wiltse) | Front headlock from a D1 wrestler’s perspective | Shorter | Focused front headlock finishes |
| Feet to Floor (John Danaher) | Comprehensive standing/takedown system | Much longer | Systematic/conceptual approach |
| Wrestling for BJJ (Bernardo Faria) | Traditional wrestling for BJJ approach | Medium | Beginners wanting wrestling basics |
| Power Bottom (Craig Jones) | Guard and bottom game | ~4 hours | Companion to Anti-Wrestling (covers guard) |
Related Craig Jones Instructionals
The Anti-Wrestling Equation is part of Craig’s “wrestle-jitsu” system. For the complete picture, consider these companion instructionals:
FAQ: The Anti-Wrestling Equation
What is The Anti-Wrestling Equation about?
Despite the name, The Anti-Wrestling Equation is primarily about adapting wrestling techniques for use in BJJ and submission grappling. Craig Jones builds a “wrestle-jitsu” system covering front headlock entries from every position, turtle attacks (anaconda, D’Arce, Peruvian necktie), rear body lock takedowns, and a complete back attack finishing system. It includes both offensive wrestling-for-BJJ and some defensive counters to common wrestling patterns.
Is Anti-Wrestling Equation good for beginners?
Not ideal for complete beginners. The material assumes you have foundational grappling knowledge and some familiarity with positions like front headlock, turtle, and rear body lock. Blue belts and above will get the most value. If you’re a white belt, work on fundamentals first and come back to this once you have a basic passing and top game.
How long is The Anti-Wrestling Equation?
6 hours and 59 minutes across 8 volumes. This makes it Craig Jones’ longest instructional. Volumes 1-5 cover front headlock entries and submissions, Volume 6 covers rear body lock takedowns, and Volumes 7-8 cover turtle maintenance and back attack finishes.
Does Anti-Wrestling Equation work against wrestlers?
Yes, but not in the way you might expect from the title. Rather than teaching defensive wrestling (sprawling, pummeling), Craig teaches you to exploit specific wrestling habits. For example, wrestlers tend to post on their hands in turtle (making anacondas easier) and try to stand up explosively (which Craig’s mat return system counters). Craig developed this system training with D1-level wrestlers like Nicky Rodriguez at B-Team for ADCC preparation.
Anti-Wrestling Equation vs Power Bottom – which should I get?
They cover different halves of the game. Anti-Wrestling Equation covers standing, front headlock, turtle attacks, rear body lock, and back attacks. Power Bottom covers guard and bottom game. If you want to improve your standup and top game against athletic grapplers, get Anti-Wrestling. If you want to improve your guard, get Power Bottom. Ideally, get both – Craig designed them as companion pieces in his wrestle-jitsu system.
Is it worth $197?
At full price, $197 for 7 hours of content is reasonable but not a bargain. However, BJJ Fanatics regularly runs 40-50% off sales, which brings it to the $100-120 range. At that price, it’s excellent value for anyone who wants a complete wrestling-for-BJJ system. If budget is tight, wait for a sale or consider Bernardo Faria’s Wrestling for BJJ as a more affordable entry point.
Ready to Build Your Wrestle-Jitsu Game?
The Anti-Wrestling Equation gave me the most useful standup system I’ve found in any instructional. If you want to take people down, keep them down, and submit them, this is the system.
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