Use lapels to immobilize posture, chain attacks, and slow faster opponents from closed guard.
The Bottom Line
You will learn back, neck, arm, and inside wraps and how they lead to chokes, armlocks, and sweeps. You will not find no-gi options or fast, stand-up oriented guards. The sequencing section shows how to progress from control to finish without rushing.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Gi-first closed guard players
Skip if: You train mostly no-gi
Tech focus: Lapel Guard, Lapel Wraps, Loop Choke, Baseball Choke, Kimura, Omoplata, Scissor Sweep
Biggest takeaway: Posture control precedes submissions.
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
A lapel-control closed-guard system that ties the opponent up to slow pace and create chokes, armlocks, and sweeps. You learn back wrap, neck wrap, arm wrap, inside wrap, and sequencing.
Great for gi players who want posture control and methodical attacks from bottom.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Lapel Guard
- Lapel Wraps
- Loop Choke
- Baseball Choke
- Ezekiel
- Kimura
- Omoplata
- Scissor Sweep
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: Gi
- Runtime: 1 hour and 58 minutes
- Volumes: 6
Should You Buy It?
Skip. I realized lapel wraps are best used as posture traps, not just tricks for quick chokes.
Why Thomas Rozdzynski?
Thomas is a veteran coach who teaches closed-guard structure and posture control. This course reflects his preference for methodical progressions that work for hobbyists.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Lapel wraps are praised for posture control that forces predictable reactions.
- Closed-guard players like how wraps chain into armlocks and triangles.
- Teaching the wrap types clarifies when to attack versus sweep.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Many threads dislike lapel guards as fussy or 'cheap' and not for no-gi.
- Some feel lapel grips slow development in modern, no-gi dominant gyms.
Smart Alternatives
- Lapel Encyclopedia (Keenan Cornelius) – If you want broader lapel coverage and competition footage.
- Closed Guard Basics (general alternatives) – If you want fewer wraps and more posture breaking.
Sources & References
Official listing: View Wrap Them Up Slow Them Down: Guard Attacks on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
