Key Takeaways
- A detailed four-part system for the dogfight position — entries, ground work, the Yazdani series, and overhook attacks
- Dogfight Tactics Mike Rakshan DVD goes over both standing and ground entries, making it useful from takedown attempts and half guard
- Includes advanced techniques like the Yazdani shuck and hook series, cartwheels, D’Arce setups, and rolling submissions
- Best suited for intermediate to advanced No-Gi grapplers who want a complete dogfight game
- Rating: 8/10
DOGFIGHT TACTICS MIKE RAKSHAN DVD FULL DOWNLOAD
The dogfight position is one of the most dynamic and decisive positions in No-Gi grappling. It sits at the intersection of wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu — the moment where a takedown attempt, a guard pass, or a scramble can swing either way. The Iranian Dogfight Tactics Mike Rakshan DVD turns this chaotic position into a structured system.
Across four parts, Rakshan breaks down standing entries, ground entries, the devastating Yazdani series, and a full overhook attack system, giving grapplers a complete toolkit for winning the dogfight on their terms. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the dogfight without a clear plan, this Mike Rakshan dogfight instructional provides one.
Scrambling Like a Wrestler
The dogfight position typically arises when you have an underhook, and your opponent is on their side, often from a failed takedown or a half guard exchange. It’s a transitional position that rewards decisiveness — hesitation allows the opponent to re-establish frames or reverse the position.
Historically, Iranian and Eastern European wrestlers have dominated this area, using aggressive hip positioning and upper body controls to create takedown and back-take opportunities. In BJJ, the dogfight has become increasingly important with the rise of wrestling-heavy bottom games and the ADCC ruleset, which rewards takedowns and top pressure.
A well-developed dogfight game allows you to chain takedowns, back takes, and submissions from a single starting position, making your offense unpredictable and difficult to shut down.
Mike Rakshan: The Sultan of Strangles
Mike Rakshan is a brown belt under Jake Shields and a student of John Danaher at the Renzo Gracie Academy, where he has trained for over seven years. He has coached multiple ADCC champions and built an extensive competitive resume that includes an IBJJF World Championships silver medalist finish, IBJJF Pan American silver medalist, ADCC Open champion, and multiple Grappling Industries titles.
Rakshan specializes in No-Gi grappling with a heavy wrestling influence, drawing from the Iranian wrestling tactics that give this instructional its name. His background bridging elite-level BJJ competition with wrestling-based approaches makes him a credible instructor for the dogfight position.
Detailed Dogfight Tactics Mike Rakshan DVD Review
Rakshan’s credentials as a brown belt under Jake Shields and his ADCC-level competitive experience give the instruction real authority. For any No-Gi grappler looking to develop a complete dogfight game with wrestling-based attacks, this is a strong addition to any grappler’s library.
Part 1: Entries
Part 1 covers standing entries into the dogfight. Rakshan starts with the ADCC half guard and quarter guard, two positions that commonly feed into the dogfight during standup exchanges. He teaches the Marcelo Garcia arm drag as a primary entry, followed by the slap hand underhook, coming up from a shot, and the palms-facing-out entry.
The section also covers entries from a failed arm drag and a failed single leg — critical recovery options when your initial attack doesn’t land cleanly. The bottom front headlock, club, knee pick, cow catcher, and high crotch entries round out a comprehensive toolkit for initiating the dogfight from virtually any standing position.
Part 2: Ground Entries
Part 2 shifts to entries from the ground, starting with the classic old school sweep and knee lever — two fundamental transitions from half guard. Rakshan then breaks down underhook positioning in detail, covering near side, far side, tight waist, and low underhook variations.
The roll under sequence is particularly well-developed: he teaches the far side knee block roll under, the near side roll under, a counter to the roll under, and even a counter to the counter — giving you a multi-layered attack chain.
The section closes with the pinch headlock to pin, arm crunch to back take, and the superman shuck, providing pathways from ground entries directly into dominant positions.
Part 3: Yazdani Series
Part 3 is the heart of the instructional. The Yazdani series — named after Iranian wrestling legend Reza Yazdani — is a sequence of attacks from the dogfight that uses upper body shucks and hip control to break the opponent’s base. Rakshan teaches the Yazdani shuck, the far side hook, and the twister as primary finishes.
He then covers the near side single leg and the leg shelf from the Yazdani position, giving you options whether the opponent is posting or folding. The tight waist section is particularly valuable: he shows how to attack from the tight waist, how to defeat the limp arm defense, and how to transition from tight waist to bodylock for back takes. Low underhook entries to near side and far side singles complete a comprehensive attack sequence.
Part 4: Overhook
Part 4 explores overhook-based attacks from the dogfight. Rakshan covers standing entries with overhooks, uchi mata entries, the power overhook, Harai Ogoshi, and the overhook bum rush — all Judo-derived techniques adapted for No-Gi. The overhook cartwheel sequence is broken down for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, making a flashy technique accessible at different skill stages.
The dogfight triangle is similarly tiered, showing how to finish from the same entry at different levels of proficiency. Rakshan also teaches the overhook belly down armbar (with a contingency for when the opponent rolls), kani basami (scissor takedown), and rolling submissions including the rolling kneebar and rolling Double Trouble from the dogfight.
Learning to Wrestle From the Dogfight
This instructional covers a lot of ground across four parts, but the modular structure makes it easy to focus on what’s most relevant to your game. The recommended approach is to start with either Part 2 (ground entries) or Part 3 (Yazdani series), depending on whether you mostly encounter the dogfight from half guard or from takedown exchanges.
Drill one chain of 2-3 connected techniques per week before attempting them in positional sparring. The Yazdani series in Part 3 is the most immediately impactful for most grapplers — the shuck and hook sequence works at all levels and requires minimal setup. Expect 6-8 weeks to integrate the core material into rolling.
GET IT HERE: THE DOGFIGHT TACTICS MIKE RAKSHAN DVD
Who Is This For?
This instructional is best suited for intermediate to advanced No-Gi grapplers who already have a working understanding of half guard positions and takedown exchanges. The material assumes familiarity with underhook positioning and basic wrestling concepts.
Purple belts and above will extract the most value, particularly from the Yazdani series and overhook cartwheels. White and blue belts can still benefit from Parts 1 and 2 (entries and ground entries) but may find the overhook and rolling submission sections too advanced for their current level.
Competitors preparing for ADCC or sub-only events will find the most immediate application, while hobbyists who enjoy creative and well-structured positional systems will appreciate the depth.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
- Comprehensive coverage of the dogfight from every angle — standing entries, ground entries, and advanced attacks
- The Yazdani series alone is worth the price of admission; it’s a system you won’t find in most BJJ instructionals
- Tiered instruction on advanced techniques (cartwheels, triangles, belly down armbars) makes them accessible at different levels
- Strong connection between wrestling and BJJ, filling a gap that most pure BJJ instructionals leave open
- Detailed underhook and tight waist positioning breakdown that’s immediately applicable in sparring
Potential Drawbacks:
- Primarily focused on No-Gi; Gi players will find the grips and positions less directly applicable
- The overhook section (Part 4) assumes some familiarity with Judo concepts that not all BJJ players will have
- The four-part format covers a lot of material, and casual practitioners may find the density overwhelming compared to simpler dogfight instructionals
The Fight of The Dog
This Iranian Dogfight Tactics Mike Rakshan DVD is a well-structured, thoroughly taught system for one of the most important transition positions in modern No-Gi grappling. The 4-part format covers entries from standing and ground positions, the innovative Yazdani attack series, and a complete overhook system that connects wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu seamlessly.
