Creative sambo-style knee bars with solid BJJ crossover.
The Bottom Line
You get inventive entries and solid finishing mechanics. It is great for expanding beyond standard BJJ paths. You will not find many gi lapel variations or rule breakdowns.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: curious leg lockers
Skip if: you dislike rolling entries
Tech focus: Rolling Kneebar, Inverted Kneebar, Sumi Gaeshi Kneebar
Biggest takeaway: Creativity raises entries
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What You'll Learn
A sambo and judo black belt, Koulikov blends creative entries with crisp breaking mechanics. You get both conventional and inverted knee bars plus rolling options and competition examples.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Kneebar
- Inverted Kneebar
- Rolling Kneebar
- Russian Cowboy
- Lat Bar
- Achilles Combo
- Saddle Connection
- Sumi Gaeshi Kneebar
- Mount Escape To Kneebar
Format & Level
- Instructional style: Technique Collection, System Based
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 1 hour and 13 minutes
- Volumes: 2
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I like how Vlad pairs breaking mechanics with entries so you do not chase loose grips.
Why Vlad Koulikov?
Vlad Koulikov is a BJJ and judo black belt with deep sambo roots. He is widely respected on r/bjj for leg locks and takedown cross-training.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Ongoing praise for Vlad's leg lock teaching across r/bjj.
- People cite his rolling kneebar from standing as a game-changer.
- Positive crossover for BJJ players wanting sambo mechanics.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some prefer BJJ-first terminology over sambo labels.
- A few think rolling entries are risky for beginners.
Smart Alternatives
- Sambo Academy: Kneebars – More drills and dual-control concepts. (Price: $79.00, 3 vols)
- The Total Kneebar Tutorial – Structured BJJ-first system. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols)
Sources & References
Official listing: View Knee Bar on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
