Key Takeaways
- A focused 3-volume kneebar masterclass from a BJJ black belt under Paulo Miyao and Luta Livre black belt with a reputation as one of the most dangerous leg attackers in the Northeast US
- Volume 1 is the heart of the system — 17 chapters on kneebar setups from half guard, quarter guard, and closed guard with entries from sweeps and back take baits
- Volume 2 covers kneebar entries from top position with troubleshooting for common defenses
- Volume 3 is exclusively Gi content, covering half guard, lasso, and troubleshooting against heavy cross faces and sit-back counters
- Rating: 8/10
KNEEBAR MASTERCLASS JARBEM PACHECO DVD DOWNLOAD
The kneebar sits in an interesting position in the leg lock hierarchy. It is less popular than the heel hook in No-Gi and less common than the straight ankle lock in the Gi. But the kneebar has one advantage over both: it attacks the knee joint directly, which makes it a true submission rather than a positional threat. BJJ and Luta Livre black belt Jarbem Pacheco — a Paulo Miyao black belt — has built a reputation as a kneebar specialist, and his Kneebar Masterclass Jarbem Pacheco DVD represents the culmination of that expertise.
Why Aren’t You Using Kneebars More?
Kneebars are often treated as secondary attacks in the leg lock game — a threat you go to when the heel hook fails or when the opponent defends their feet. Pacheco’s approach reverses this thinking. For him, the kneebar is the primary attack, and everything else flows from the threat of knee hyperextension.
This is a Luta Livre philosophy: Luta Livre historically emphasized straight leg attacks before 10th Planet and the DDS popularized heel hooks, and Pacheco’s system preserves that tradition. The system is built around the concept of controlling the opponent’s hip before attacking the knee.
A kneebar without hip control is a kneebar that the opponent can spin out of. Pacheco’s entries — through half guard, quarter guard, and closed guard — all prioritize immobilizing the hip first, then attacking the knee second. This makes his system fundamentally different from the “grab anything and rip” approach that characterizes many leg lock instructionals.
Coach Jarbem Ferreira Pacheco
Jarbem Ferreira Pacheco was born on May 20, 1983 in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He began training at age 18 in Luta Livre under Marcus Goes and Renato Ferreira. After moving to the United States, he received his Luta Livre black belt from Nicolas Renier and trained BJJ under Guilherme Correia and later Eduardo Santos, who promoted him to brown belt.
Pacheco was promoted to BJJ black belt in 2022 by Paulo Miyao, one of the most decorated guard players in the sport’s history. He is a Pan American No-Gi and Gi medalist, a World medalist, and a multiple-time IBJJF Open tournament winner. He has also served as a UFC cornerman.
Pacheco began teaching in El Paso, Texas in 2016 before relocating to New York in 2017, where he founded Jiu Livre Grappling. He is active on Reddit as /u/LutaLivreNY, where he shares technique breakdowns and engages with the BJJ community. His style blends Luta Livre’s straight-leg attack philosophy with modern BJJ guard work.
Detailed Kneebar Masterclass Jarbem Pacheco DVD Review
This kneebar half guard system covers entries from quarter guard kneebar setups as well as the Luta Livre Gi kneebar entries. Volume 1 alone justifies the price with 17 chapters of creative, practical kneebar entries. This is the definitive kneebar half guard system for grapplers who want to make the kneebar their primary attack.
Volume 1: Half Guard Kneebar System
Volume 1 is the largest and most detailed volume — 17 chapters covering kneebar entries from the half guard and its variations. Pacheco begins with half guard positioning and underhook setup, establishing the foundational control that makes every kneebar in the system work.
The “tricking your opponent” section is one of the most creative parts of the instructional. Rather than forcing the kneebar directly, Pacheco shows how to create false threats — fast sweeps, back take baits — that draw the opponent into defensive reactions that expose the knee. The prayer underhook is a clever variation that uses a prayer-style hand grip to maintain underhook control while creating the angle for the kneebar.
The calf crush and dog bar/belly lock/kneebar sequence show how Pacheco chains submissions. The calf crush forces the opponent to defend their foot, which opens the knee. Belly lock attacks the torso, and when the opponent defends that, the kneebar becomes available. This three-attack chain captures Pacheco’s philosophy of never attacking the kneebar in isolation.
The quarter guard sections are a real highlight. Quarter guard is an underused position that many grapplers treat as an inferior half guard. Pacheco shows how to use quarter guard specifically for kneebar entries — pulling quarter guard from open guard, setting up the kneebar from there, and finishing. This alone is worth the price for grapplers who find themselves in quarter guard and do not know what to do there.
Volume 2: Top Position Kneebar
Part 2 is way shorter — only 5 chapters — but covers a critical gap: kneebar entries from top position. Most kneebar instructionals focus on bottom entries, but Pacheco shows how to attack the kneebar when you are on top.
Top kneebar entries start with the opponent in quarter guard or half guard and Pacheco in a passing position. Rather than passing, Pacheco shifts to a kneebar attack using pressure and angle changes. The section on quarter guard from top covers how to set up the kneebar when the opponent has a knee shield.
The troubleshooting section is the standout. Pacheco covers what to do when the opponent sits back in response to the kneebar threat, when they back step to counter, and when they tripod up to defend. The “from a bad position” section shows how to recover the kneebar attempt when your initial entry has failed — a practical skill that most leg lock instructionals ignore.
Volume 3: Gi Kneebars
Volume 3 is exclusively Gi-focused. While the first two volumes work for both Gi and No-Gi, Volume 3 adds grip-specific entries that take advantage of the Gi fabric.
The Gi half guard entries use sleeve and collar grips to immobilize the opponent while attacking the knee. The lasso guard section is particularly valuable — Pacheco shows how to use the standard lasso grip to control the opponent’s sleeve while creating the angle for the kneebar. This is not a common combination, and it adds a new dimension to the lasso guard game.
The troubleshooting sections cover the two most common Gi-specific defenses: the heavy cross face and the sit back. When the opponent drives a cross face to shut down the kneebar threat, Pacheco shows grip adjustments that maintain control without exposing the neck. The sit back counter is critical for No-Gi players who also train in the Gi — the techniques transfer, but the grips change.
Going for Kneebars
The three-volume structure allows for focused study. Volume 1 is the primary volume — work through it first and drill the half guard entries until they become automatic. The quarter guard and closed guard entries in Volume 1 add depth once the half guard game is solid.
Volume 2 (top kneebar) can be studied alongside Volume 1, since the top entries cover positions that occur when opponents try to escape the bottom kneebar. Volume 3 is Gi-specific and can be studied separately depending on your training context.
The kneebar system works for both Gi and No-Gi, though Volume 3 is Gi-only. The entries in Volumes 1 and 2 transfer directly — half guard positioning, hip control, and the kneebar finishing mechanics are the same regardless of grips.
AVAILABLE HERE: KNEEBAR MASTERCLASS JARBEM PACHECO DVD
Who Is This For?
This instructional is ideal for intermediate to advanced grapplers (blue belt and above) who have a basic understanding of leg attacks and want to develop a specialized kneebar game. Gi and No-Gi grapplers both benefit, though the Gi player gets additional material in Volume 3.
It is particularly valuable for half guard players who want to add submission threats from their primary position. The half guard kneebar system in Volume 1 provides a complete attack plan from a position that many grapplers treat as purely defensive.
Luta Livre practitioners and grapplers interested in the Luta Livre tradition will find the kneebar philosophy — prioritizing straight leg attacks over heel hooks — both familiar and refreshing. Purple belts and above who already have a leg lock game will make the fastest progress with the advanced entries and troubleshooting.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
- Volume 1 is exceptionally thorough: 17 chapters covering half guard, quarter guard, closed guard, and open guard entries
- Quarter guard material is unique: Most BJJ instructionals ignore quarter guard — Pacheco turns it into a kneebar launching pad
- Troubleshooting is practical: The Volume 2 and Volume 3 troubleshooting sections cover real defensive reactions that most instructionals skip
- Three-attack chains: Pacheco rarely attacks the kneebar in isolation — he chains it with sweeps, calf crushes, and belly locks
- Gi and No-Gi coverage: Volumes 1-2 work for both, Volume 3 adds Gi-specific material
Potential Drawbacks:
- Volume 2 is thin: At 5 chapters, the top position volume feels underdeveloped compared to Volumes 1 and 3
- Volume 3 is exclusively Gi: No-Gi players get less value from the Gi volume, and Volume 2 is too short to compensate
- Assumes half guard familiarity: Beginners who cannot maintain basic half guard will need to develop that foundation first
Break Some Knees
The Kneebar Masterclass Jarbem Pacheco DVD delivers on its title — this is a masterclass in kneebar submissions from one of the most dedicated specialists in the game. The Kneebar Masterclass Jarbem Pacheco DVD covers the Jarbem Pacheco Luta Livre approach to leg attacks, with a Paulo Miyao black belt perspective that blends modern BJJ with classical catch-style submission hunting.
