Key Takeaways
- A 3-volume half guard system designed specifically for grapplers over 40 who need efficient, low-impact techniques
- Covers the Half Guard, Single Leg Half Guard, and Deep Half Guard with emphasis on timing over athleticism
- Bernardo Faria — a 5x IBJJF world champion known for his pressure-based, low-athleticism game — is the perfect instructor for this material
- Includes the classic Faria Sweep, Waiter Sweep, Old School Sweep, Wheel Sweep, and Miragaia series
- Ideal for older grapplers who want to maintain a high-level game without relying on speed or explosive movement
- Rating: 8/10
DOWNLOAD THE HALF GUARD SYSTEM BERNARDO FARIA DVD
Half guard is the great equalizer in Jiu-Jitsu. It’s the position where timing, weight placement, and a few reliable techniques can overcome speed, flexibility, and youth. The Fast Track BJJ: Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys – Half Guard System Bernardo Faria DVD is built on exactly this premise.
Across three volumes, Faria — a 5x IBJJF world champion who never relied on athleticism to win — teaches a complete half guard system designed for grapplers who need maximum results with minimum physical wear and tear. From the basic Half Guard to Single Leg Half Guard and Deep Half Guard, this instructional is a masterclass in efficiency.
Jiu-Jitsu for Old Guys
The half guard is one of the most important positions for older grapplers. It allows you to control distance, manage the opponent’s weight, and create sweeps and submissions without the athletic demands of open guard retention or complex inversions.
As grapplers age past 40, the body naturally loses speed and explosive power. What doesn’t diminish — with proper training — is the ability to read weight shifts, apply strategic pressure, and chain reliable techniques together. Half guard rewards exactly these skills.
A well-developed half guard game allows older practitioners to neutralize younger, faster opponents by denying them the space and angles they need to use their athleticism. The position is also naturally energy-efficient — once you’ve established an underhook and managed the distance, you can dictate the pace of the exchange.
Bernardo Faria
Bernardo Faria is one of the most accomplished grapplers of his generation and a living legend of the half guard position. Born January 20, 1987, in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, Faria earned his black belt under Ricardo Marques in 2008 and went on to become a 5x IBJJF World Champion, winning titles in 2010, 2011 (double gold with the absolute), 2012 (double gold), 2013, 2014 (double gold), and 2015 (double gold).
He has also won multiple Pan American, European, and Brazilian National titles. In 2015, he was ranked the #1 overall IBJJF athlete and was later inducted into the IBJJF Hall of Fame in 2022. Faria is famous for competing as a heavier grappler who relied on pressure, timing, and strategic half guard work rather than athleticism — making him the perfect instructor for older practitioners.
Of course, you all know Bernardo best as the co-founder of BJJ Fanatics and perhaps for running his own academy in Bedford, Massachusetts, under the Alliance Jiu Jitsu banner.
The Complete Half Guard System Bernardo Faria DVD Review
The 3-volume structure of the Half Guard System Bernardo Faria DVD takes you from the foundational half guard through single leg and deep half entries, with Faria’s signature sweeps and the Plan B sequences that every grappler needs when the first attack fails. As a 5x world champion who built his game on efficiency rather than athleticism, Faria’s credibility for this material is unmatched.
Volume 1: Half Guard
Volume 1 of the Half Guard System Bernardo Faria DVD establishes the foundational half guard system. Faria starts with the Half Guard Underhook, the most common and highest-percentage entry, covering how to secure the underhook, manage the opponent’s crossface, and create space for sweeps.
He teaches the Knee Shield as an alternative configuration for when the opponent is pressuring forward. The Old School Sweep is broken down in detail, connected to his Waiter Sweep — one of Faria’s signature techniques.
The Plan B Underhook sequence covers what to do when your primary sweep fails, ensuring you’re always cycling to the next attack rather than resetting. The volume also covers the Kimura trap from half guard, and finishes with the Faria sweep — the technique that bears his name and has been used successfully at the highest levels of competition.
Volume 2: Single Leg Half Guard
Next up, Breanrdo shifts to the Single Leg Half Guard, a position where you trap one of the opponent’s legs while in half gaurd. This position is particularly valuable for older grapplers because it dramatically limits the opponent’s mobility.
Faria covers how to enter the single leg half guard, establish the underhook, and sweep from the position using the Old School Sweep and Wheel Sweep variations. Back takes from this guard are a high-percentage option that rewards precise timing over explosive movement.
The volume also covers the kneebar (Dogbar) entry, and pivots back to the Plan B sequence when the initial sweep is countered, along with a few additional surprise attacks. A Smash Pass defense rounds out the volume, giving practitioners a complete toolkit for the position.
Volume 3: Deep Half
The third and final part is all about the Deep Half Guard — the most specialized and arguably most effective half guard variation for neutralizing larger, stronger opponents. IT’s also one of Faria’s favourites.
Faria teaches the entry from the basic Deep Half Guard position, with a few sweeps, including the Underhook, Godoi and Waiter sweep.
A Deep Half to Single Leg X transition is a crucial bridge between half guard and the modern leg lock game. The volume also includes the Deep Half Plan B (scrambling to dogfight), the Miragaia series (a set of powerful sweeps named after the dinosaur, reflecting the position’s distinctive profile), and the Fat Man Roll, a classic escape that Faria has popularized more than anyone.
Learning From This DVD
This Bernardo Faria instructional is designed with the older practitioner in mind, but the recommended approach benefits grapplers of any age. Start with Volume 1 and pick two sweeps — the Old School Sweep and the Faria Sweep — to drill until they feel automatic.
These two techniques alone will carry you through most half guard exchanges against opponents your size. Once the basic sweeps are reliable, move to Volume 2 of the Half Guard System Bernardo Faria DVD for the Single Leg Half Guard entries, which add another layer of control.
Volume 3’s Deep Half Guard material is best explored once you’ve developed sensitivity to weight shifts in the first two volumes. Drilling half guard sweeps from a slow, controlled pace is more productive than high-intensity positional sparring — the goal is to feel the weight shift, not to force the technique.
FAST TRACK BJJ: HALF GUARD SYSTEM BERNARDO FARIA DVD HERE
Who Is This For?
This instructional is designed for grapplers over 40, but it’s valuable for anyone who wants an efficient, low-athleticism half guard game.
White and blue belts will benefit most from Volume 1’s foundational sweeps, building a reliable half guard from scratch. Purple belts and above will find the Single Leg Half Guard and Deep Half Guard volumes add depth to their existing game.
The primary audience is Gi grapplers — all of the grips and techniques assume the Gi — but No-Gi practitioners can adapt the underhook and single leg entries.
Competitors who compete in weight classes where they’re often the smaller or older grappler will find the most immediate application.
Hobbyists who train 2-3 times per week and want a sustainable game that doesn’t rely on peak athleticism will find this instructional invaluable.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
- Authored by a multi-time world champion whose game is built on efficiency, not athleticism — ideal credibility for the target audience
- The Faria Sweep, Waiter Sweep, and Miragaia series are proven at the highest level of competition
- Systematic progression from basic half guard through deep half guard creates a clear learning path
- The “Plan B” sections in each volume ensure you’re never stuck when one technique fails
- Designed specifically for grapplers over 40, addressing the energy and recovery constraints older athletes face
Potential Drawbacks:
- Heavily Gi-focused; many grips (pant grip, lapel, belt) are not available in No-Gi
- Grapplers under 30 may find the pacing too deliberate and may prefer faster, more dynamic half guard approaches
- Practitioners who already have a developed deep half guard game may find Volume 3’s material overlaps with Faria’s previous deep half guard instructionals
Fast Track BJJ
Fast Track BJJ: Jiu Jitsu for Old Guys – Half Guard System Bernardo Faria DVD delivers exactly what older grapplers need — a complete half guard system that rewards timing, pressure, and technique over speed and athleticism. For any grappler over 40 looking to maintain a competitive half guard game without punishing their body, this is a must-own instructional.
