Key Takeaways
- A unique collaboration between two elite coaches — Malachy Friedman (3rd-degree BJJ black belt) and Greg Jackson (legendary MMA head coach) — focused on Dagestani-style top control
- Teaches the “Dagestani handcuffs” position and its variations: far arm control, leg rides, and the mechanical details of riding opponents into submission
- 2 volumes covering everything from spiral ride entries to back control, quarter mount, striking mechanics, and finishing sequences
- Strong emphasis on positional hierarchy, psychological pressure, and the “drowning” process that breaks opponents mentally before physically
- Rating: 8.5/10
DAGESTANI HANDCUFFS MALACHY FRIEDMAN & GREG JACKSON DVD
The Dagestani Handcuffs, Leg Rides and Mechanical Proficiency Malachy Friedman Greg Jackson instructional is not a typical BJJ instructional. This Dagestani Handcuffs Malachy Friedman Greg Jackson DVD brings together two distinct coaching perspectives to address one of the most dominant control systems in modern MMA.
Malachy Friedman, a Carlson Gracie lineage black belt who spent eight years at the Jackson Wink MMA Academy, teams up with Greg Jackson — the legendary coach behind champions like Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre — to break down the far arm Dagestani position, leg rides, and the ground-and-pound mechanics that have made Dagestani fighters fearsome in the grappling-heavy phases of MMA. This Dagestani Handcuffs Leg Rides review covers what makes this instructional unique and who will benefit from it.
Leg Rides and Mechanical Proficiency
The Dagestani style of top control has become one of the most talked-about grappling systems in combat sports. This Dagestani handcuffs instructional explains the system popularized by fighters from the Caucasus region — most notably Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
The approach emphasizes relentless pressure, leg rides, and what coaches now call “the Dagestani handcuffs” position. The far arm trap, combined with leg positioning that nullifies the opponent’s hips, creates a control system that is both suffocating and offense-generating. The leg ride system BJJ and wrestling practitioners will recognize from folkstyle wrestling is adapted here for MMA context.
Unlike traditional BJJ top pins that focus on maintaining position for points or submission setups, the Dagestani system is designed for ground-and-pound integration. The Malachy Friedman BJJ coaching perspective shines through in the mechanical details, while the Greg Jackson MMA coach experience provides the strategic framework. This instructional is among the first to systematically teach these positions as a complete system rather than as isolated techniques.
Malachy Friedman & Greg Jackson
Malachy Friedman is a 3rd-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Master Ricardo Liborio of the Carlson Gracie lineage. The Malachy Friedman BJJ background includes over 17 years of training and coaching, with eight years spent at the Jackson Wink MMA Academy.
He has been involved in BJJ and MMA since 2001 and spent over eight years training and coaching at the Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico — widely considered the premier MMA training camp in the world.
The Dagestani Handcuffs Friedman Greg Jackson collaboration brings together this specialized MMA grappling expertise with Jackson’s broader coaching philosophy. Friedman is also active on social media under the handle @maljitsu, where he shares MMA grappling breakdowns and technical content with over 160,000 followers.
Greg Jackson is a legendary figure in mixed martial arts. As the founder and head coach of Jackson Wink MMA, he has trained multiple UFC champions including Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Rashad Evans, and Carlos Condit. Jackson is known for his strategic approach to MMA, focusing on fight IQ, positional awareness, and adaptability.
Dagestani Handcuffs Malachy Friedman & Greg Jackson DVD Review
This is a strong recommendation for MMA grapplers and no-gi competitors who want to develop the kind of suffocating top control that defines the Dagestani school of fighting. It is a rare Dagestani handcuffs instructional that combines mechanical precision with high-level MMA strategy, making it a valuable addition to any grappler’s library.
Volume 1: Dagestani Entries and Positional Control
The first volume opens with an introduction by Greg Jackson setting the strategic context for the system. Friedman then launches into the far arm Dagestani position from the spiral ride — the foundational entry point for the entire system. The Dagestani Handcuffs Malachy Friedman Greg Jackson DVD emphasizes establishing the far arm trap while using the spiral ride to control hip movement and prevent escapes.
The striking sections are a standout feature. Rather than treating striking and grappling as separate phases, the volume shows how ground strikes complement positional control. Friedman demonstrates how to time strikes from rides to force reactions that open transitions, and how the psychological impact of ground-and-pound creates fatigue and panic in the bottom fighter.
The volume covers countering the opponent’s defense to the Dagestani position, including the transition from Dagestani to the “Islam” position — a tighter variant named after Islam Makhachev that combines chest-to-chest pressure with arm isolation from the opposite side. The arm trap finish from this position is clearly demonstrated, including what to do when you lose the arm but maintain body position.
The second half of Volume 1 focuses on entries from common top positions. The Joma leg ride to far arm Dagestani is particularly well-explained, showing how to convert a standard ride into the handcuff position. The quarter mount section covers what Friedman calls the “beatdown” position — the mechanics of striking from quarter mount while preventing the bottom fighter from turning in or regaining guard.
The transitions from quarter mount to “Mank control” (manipulating the far arm into a figure-four or chicken-wing position) set up the handcuff cleanly. Additional entries from diamond positioning and the high crotch round out the volume.
Volume 2: Back Control, Finishing, and Advanced Mechanics
Volume 2 opens with detailed instruction on wedging and body positioning — the mechanical fundamentals that make the system work. Friedman explains where to position your body relative to your opponent’s center of gravity and how small adjustments in angle dramatically affect control.
The back control transitions are a highlight. Friedman shows the transition from far arm Dagestani to rear naked choke, maintaining arm control throughout the transition so the opponent never has a window to escape. The sequence from back control back to far arm Dagestani — and then to the belly-down position — demonstrates the fluid nature of this system, where positions flow into each other rather than existing as isolated states.
The wrist control and hip management section addresses a common problem: opponents who try to wall-walk or stand to escape. Friedman shows how controlling the wrist and opening the hips prevents the bottom fighter from creating the space needed to stand.
The “Khamzat ride” — named after Khamzat Chimaev’s signature breakdown position — is broken down step by step, showing how to use the leg ride to break down posture and transition into the full Dagestani handcuffs. The Mank control to far arm ride section connects the arm trap system to the riding mechanics, creating a complete control loop.
The volume introduces the “Roundabout beatdown” position — a spinning attack that uses momentum to maintain control while landing strikes. Friedman also discusses the mental breaking process of “drowning” the opponent: the systematic application of pressure and strikes that overwhelms the opponent’s decision-making capacity.
The instructional closes with proper mount balance for striking, a false armbar setup that creates openings for ground strikes, and a bonus section on leg tie positions and heel peel escapes.
Dagestani-Style Control
This instructional is best studied in sections, with each new position drilled in live sparring before moving to the next progression. The leg ride entries require feel and timing that only develop through repetition. Start with the spiral ride and far arm trap — the foundational entry — and drill it until the hip positioning feels natural.
The striking integration is best practiced with a cooperative partner first, focusing on the mechanical connection between strike placement and positional control. The timing of strikes to force reactions is a learned skill that improves with positional sparring rounds starting from the Dagestani handcuff position.
For grapplers who train in an MMA context, this system can be incorporated directly into sparring. For pure BJJ practitioners, the positions are applicable in no-gi grappling — the far arm trap and leg rides are effective control positions even without strikes, and the transitions to back takes are directly transferable.
DAGESTANI HANDCUFFS MALACHY FRIEDMAN DVD DOWNLOAD
Who Is This For?
This instructional is ideal for MMA fighters and coaches looking to develop a systematic top control game. It is the best Dagestani handcuffs instructional available for anyone wanting to integrate the far arm Dagestani position into their grappling and ground-and-pound.
Wrestlers transitioning to MMA will find the leg ride mechanics familiar but the integration with striking and submissions new. BJJ practitioners who compete in no-gi or are interested in positional dominance will also benefit from the leg ride system BJJ applications.
It is less suited for pure gi players or grapplers who prefer bottom-oriented games. The system assumes top position and focuses on staying there while generating offense. Beginners without wrestling or top control experience may find the leg ride mechanics technically demanding.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
- Complete system, not a collection of moves: The far arm Dagestani position serves as a central hub, and every technique connects to it. This makes the system easier to learn and apply.
- Two coaching perspectives: Friedman’s grappling expertise and Jackson’s strategic MMA coaching create depth that a single-instructor instructional rarely achieves.
- Striking integration is rare and well-executed: Most grappling instructionals ignore ground-and-pound entirely. This one integrates it naturally, showing how strikes support position and vice versa.
- Excellent positional flow: Transitions between spiral ride, Dagestani, back control, and mount are smooth and well-sequenced, reflecting real fight dynamics rather than idealized drilling scenarios.
- Bonus leg tie material: The leg tie positioning section adds a layer of detail that advanced grapplers will appreciate.
Potential Drawbacks:
- Narrow audience: This is primarily an MMA top control instructional. BJJ-only players will still find value in the positional mechanics, but the ground-and-pound content won’t apply to their training.
- Leg ride mechanics require feel: The spiral ride and leg tie positions are technically demanding. Beginners may struggle without wrestling background or dedicated drilling time.
- 2-volume length feels brief: Given the breadth of the system, some sections — particularly the back control transitions — could have benefited from additional time and rolling footage.
Just Leg Rides & Handcuffs
Dagestani Handcuffs, Leg Rides and Mechanical Proficiency delivers a focused, well-structured system for one of the most dominant control approaches in modern MMA. The Dagestani Handcuffs Malachy Friedman Greg Jackson DVD collaboration is effective because they complement each other — Friedman providing the technical grappling detail and Jackson adding strategic context.
