A tough, practical closed guard that breaks posture and flows into overhook triangles, kimuras, and hip bumps without fancy grips.
The Bottom Line
You will learn to create pressure, break posture, and attack with direct submissions and sweeps. DeBlass shows stack and knee-up counters that plague lower belts. You will not get deep theory or gi collar chains.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: No-gi basics you can trust
Skip if: You dislike old-school pacing
Tech focus: Overhook Triangle, Kimura, Hip Bump, High Guard Back Take
Biggest takeaway: Posture breaks drive everything.
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What You'll Learn
DeBlass builds a no-gi friendly closed guard with posture breaks into overhook triangles, kimuras, hip bumps, and back takes, plus stack and knee-up counters. Emphasis on simplicity and toughness.
Good pairing with his guard recovery material.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Overhook Triangle
- Kimura
- Hip Bump
- High Guard Back Take
- Knee Trap Sweep
- X Guard Entry
- Ashi Entry
- Double Ankle Pick
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 2 hours and 18 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I like this as a pragmatic no-gi primer before moving to more complex systems.
Why Tom DeBlass?
Tom DeBlass is a black belt under Ricardo Almeida and veteran coach of athletes like Garry Tonon. He emphasizes simple, high-percentage solutions. His closed guard favors overhooks and posture breaking. The set includes practical answers to common passes. It suits all levels, especially no-gi rooms. Expect straightforward teaching.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Fantastic coach and solid instructionals overall.
- Many own his closed guard set and recommend it.
- Short and direct; techniques are easy to implement.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some dislike his persona and online controversies.
- Advanced players may want more conceptual depth.
- Production feels dated next to newer releases.
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Smart Alternatives
- The Closed Guard by Bernardo Faria – Beginner-friendly gi fundamentals. (Price: $97.00, 4 vols)
- Next Generation Closed Guard by Mica Galvao – Modern gi-based overhook and sweep chains. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Closed Guard Domination on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
