A judo-influenced kata gatame toolkit from mount, side, and back with simple finishes.
The Bottom Line
You get classic pins into high-percentage finishes. The structure favors positional control over fancy grips. You will not find deep front headlock chains here.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Coaches who love fundamentals
Skip if: You want front headlock focus
Tech focus: Arm Triangle, Underhook Control, Von Flue
Biggest takeaway: Underhook control to finish
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What You'll Learn
Marco Aurelio offers a judo-flavored kata gatame curriculum: mount, side, back, half-guard passes to mount, butterfly guard use, and Von Flue and armbar transitions. Defensive reactions and underhook control are explained, plus takedown-to-gatame sequences. Good if you like classic pins and direct submission chains (price shown on product page).
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Arm Triangle
- Kata Gatame
- Von Flue
- Armbar
- Half Guard Pass
- Butterfly Guard
- Underhook Control
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 1 hour and 29 minutes
- Volumes: 3
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I like how the underhook side-control lessons make locking the choke feel inevitable.
Why Marco Aurelio?
Marco Aurelio is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with strong judo influence and coaching pedigree, emphasizing pressure pins and simple submission chains.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Judoka-style mechanics help hobbyists finish without huge squeeze.
- People like that it covers turtle breaks to gatame.
- Clear underhook-based side control control translates to many games.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Less front headlock content than modern sets.
- Production is straightforward; not flashy.
- Some prefer more competition footage or sparring clips.
Smart Alternatives
- Mastering The Head and Arm – Another classic approach with escapes and kesa usage. (Price: $79.00, 3 vols)
- Off With Their Head: The Arm Triangle – Heavier pressure if you like MMA-oriented control. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols, 2020)
Sources & References
Official listing: View The Kata Gatame on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
