Master safe reaping so leg attacks open up without risking your knee.
The Bottom Line
This course explains leg positions that control the knee line and expose heels. The counters to backsteps and common escapes keep you in control. If reaping is illegal in your comps, consider 50/50 and outside ashi first.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Leg-lock students
Skip if: Reaping is illegal
Tech focus: Reap, Diagonal Ashi, Shoelace Reap, Z Lock, Backstep Counters, Knee Line Control, Heel Hook Mechanics
Biggest takeaway: Control the knee line first.
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
Six volumes that make reaping mechanics safe and effective. Learn leg positioning, finishes, and how to counter backsteps while protecting your own knee line.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Reap
- Diagonal Ashi
- Shoelace Reap
- Z Lock
- Backstep Counters
- Knee Line Control
- Heel Hook Mechanics
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 1 hour and 22 minutes
- Volumes: 6
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I think learning reaping defense first made my offense less risky.
Why Jason Rau?
Rau is known for leg entanglement clarity. This set focuses on reaping angles, knee line, and finish direction to stay safe while attacking.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Valued as a focused deep dive on reaping mechanics.
- The defense and counter sections are cited as practical in sparring.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- If your ruleset bans reaping, much of the set is unusable.
- Usual advice on BJJ Fanatics pricing: buy during discounts.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- Dynamic No Gi 50/50 by Jason Rau – Pairs well for heel exposure finishes. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols)
- Outside Ashi Reloaded by Jason Rau – Adds outside-entry dilemmas to your reaping threats. (Price: $127.00, 4 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Understanding The Reap on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
