Key Takeaways
- A condensed, fast-paced version of Brian Glick’s acclaimed Under Pressure system, designed for busy grapplers who want the core concepts without the time commitment
- Built around Glick’s Clamp System, which provides a framework for guard retention, recovery from bad positions, and launching attacks from the guard
- Covers proactive entries from closed guard and half guard, reactive recoveries from every major passing position, and a submission series
- Single volume with 30 chapters — compact but information-dense, ideal for study and review
- Rating: 7.5/10
ATTACKING FROM THE GUARD BRIAN GLICK DVD FULL DOWNLOAD
Brian Glick’s Under Pressure series has become a go-to resource for grapplers looking to develop a reliable guard retention and recovery game. The Under Pressure Brian Glick instructional distills that comprehensive system into a streamlined, no-filler format. Instead of long-form explanations, each technique gets straight to the point, making it easier to study, review, and immediately apply on the mats.
In this Fast Track BJJ review, we break down what you get, how the clamp system BJJ framework works, and who will benefit most from this approach. The Under Pressure Brian Glick volume is designed specifically for busy grapplers who want maximum value in minimum time.
How Long Can You Stay in Guard?
Guard retention is one of the most fundamental skills in modern Jiu-Jitsu, yet it remains one of the hardest to teach systematically. Many grapplers learn retention the hard way — by getting passed and figuring out what went wrong in hindsight. A conceptual framework changes that.
Instead of a grab bag of escapes and frames, a system like Glick’s Clamp approach gives you decision points at every stage: entry, engagement, recovery, and counterattack. The Under Pressure Brian Glick format strips away the padding and leaves the architecture intact. That makes it especially valuable for grapplers who already have some guard experience and need a condensed reference they can revisit between training sessions.
For beginners, the pace may feel brisk, but the concepts are explained clearly enough to follow. The Under Pressure Brian Glick approach is closer to an executive summary of a larger system than a standalone deep dive.
The Grappling Genius of Brian Glick
Brian Glick is a black belt under John Danaher and has spent over two decades training under one of the most respected instructors in the sport. His path into BJJ was anything but conventional — he walked into his first class nervous and unsure, lacking an athletic background, and was told by his instructor that he should probably find another activity.
He kept showing up. Training in one of the roughest environments imaginable, surrounded by cops, criminals, bouncers, and professional fighters, Glick learned that strength isn’t about size or aggression but about clarity, patience, and solving problems under pressure.
Today, he runs 555 Jiu-Jitsu in New York and is one of the top-selling instructors on BJJ Fanatics. His instructional reputation has attracted praise from Grappling luminaries like Gordon Ryan and Nicholas Meregali, as well as Judo Olympian Shintaro Higashi. The Brian Glick guard retention DVD catalog has grown to include multiple volumes, and this Under Pressure Brian Glick entry represents the most accessible entry point in his guard system.
Glick’s teaching style mirrors Danaher’s conceptual approach, breaking complex positions into repeatable frameworks that students can drill and apply regardless of body type or athletic ability.
Attacking From the Guard Brian Glick DVD Review
This is a strong recommendation for anyone who wants a guard retention system they can learn, drill, and apply without wading through hours of content. If you are already familiar with Glick’s other instructionals, this Under Pressure Brian Glick review should help you decide whether the condensed format matches your study style.
Volume 1
The single volume opens with an executive summary and a breakdown of clamp essentials — the core conceptual framework that ties the entire system together. Glick defines the clamp as a connection point between your arms and your opponent’s body that allows you to control distance, neutralize pressure, and create attack angles. This is the heart of the Under Pressure Brian Glick system: every technique flows from this central concept.
The proactive entries section begins with closed guard. Glick covers the double biceps grip, a 2-on-1 wrist control, an Americana-style wrist attack, the hip heist, and a cross elbow bar. Each entry is presented as a way to enter the clamp before your opponent establishes passing pressure. The half guard entries follow with three variations: knee elbow to clamp, knee shield to clamp, and the knee lever. These are particularly valuable for grapplers who spend time in half guard and need reliable transitions into the clamp system.
The reactive entries section is the longest and most detailed part of the volume. It covers recovery from the worst possible positions — bottom pins. Starting from mount, Glick shows knee elbow and kipping escapes.
Escaping has Glick going over sit-throughs and frames. Each escape is framed as a path back to the clamp position, not just a scramble to survive. This section demonstrates the real value of his system: it is not about muscling out of bad positions but using structural connections to rebuild your guard.
The specific pass defense section addresses the most common passing styles. Glick covers leg weave and windmill defense, and two versions of knee cut defense — fast and collar tie. The body lock section is particularly strong, broken into early, mid, and late responses. This tiered approach gives you options at every stage of the pass, so you are never left without a plan.
The volume closes with a submission series from the clamp. Glick connects guard retention directly to offensive opportunities: triangles, straight arm attacks, Kimuras, as well as Juji Gatame finishes and Omoplatas.
Practical Application
The format is designed for easy integration into a regular training schedule. Each chapter runs between 30 seconds and two minutes, which makes the instructional ideal for focused study sessions before class. You can pick a single topic — say, body lock defense — watch the relevant chapters, and drill them that same session.
The Under Pressure Brian Glick volume is structured so you can revisit specific sections repeatedly without having to scrub through long videos. This review confirms that the format works well for grapplers with limited time who still want to develop a systematic guard game.
The condensed format also works well as a refresher for grapplers who already own Glick’s full-length Under Pressure instructional. The Fast Track version distills the system to its essential moves and concepts, making it easier to review without rewatching hours of content.
For newer grapplers, the pace is manageable as long as you take it one section at a time. The clamp system BJJ framework is intuitive enough to apply after a few viewings, but the reactive entries from bottom pins will require dedicated drilling time to become automatic.
GRAB IT NOW: ATTACKING FROM THE GUARD BRIAN GLICK DVD
Who Is This For?
This instructional is best suited for intermediate grapplers — blue belts and above — who have some guard experience and want a systematic retention framework. It is also excellent for purple and brown belts looking to fill gaps in their guard recovery game, especially against pressure passing.
The condensed format makes it a strong choice for grapplers with limited study time. If you prefer long-form, deeply detailed instructionals with hours of rolling footage, you may find the Fast Track approach too brief. Pure Gi specialists should note that the concepts are largely No-Gi applicable, though the clamp framework translates well to gi gripping.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros
- Concept-driven, not move-collection: The clamp framework connects every technique into a unified system rather than a random list of escapes. This makes retention and application faster.
- Tiered responses: The early-mid-late breakdown for body lock and other passes gives you options at every stage, not just a single “do this” solution.
- Excellent pass-specific coverage: Leg weave, windmill, split squat, knee cut, and body lock are all addressed individually, so you’re not left guessing how to adapt generic advice.
- Smooth transitions to offense: The submission series is not tacked on at the end — it flows naturally from clamp entries, showing how guard retention becomes guard attack.
- Great value at the price point: At a sale price well under $30, this delivers a full guard system for a fraction of the cost of multi-volume instructionals.
Potential Drawbacks
- Single volume may feel brief: Advanced grapplers who want deep dives with rolling analysis and troubleshooting may prefer the full-length Under Pressure instructional.
- Pace assumes some familiarity: Absolute beginners may find the speed too fast for first-time learning, particularly in the reactive entries section.
- Focused on guard retention from bottom: If your main problem is maintaining guard against standing passers, this covers that ground well, but it won’t address guard pulling or open guard entry strategy.
Guarding Against Pressure
The Under Pressure – Retention, Recovery and Attacking From the Guard Brian Glick DVD delivers exactly what it promises: a lean, focused version of Brian Glick’s guard retention system that fits into a busy grappler’s study routine. The instructional provides the clamp framework as a clear conceptual anchor, and the progression from proactive entries through reactive recoveries to submissions is well-sequenced.
