Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD Review [2025]

Key Takeaways

A 4-volume No-Gi DVD on playing a submission-heavy closed guard game.
It delivers several different closed-guard variations, offering sweep, submission, and back attacks from each.
Places lots of emphasis on principles such as posture breaking, hand fighting, and chaining attacks.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

CLOSET CLOSED GUARD CRAIG JONES DVD HERE:

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Craig Jones has another new guard to promote, but exactly what is new about it remains to be seen. If you’re interested in the contents of the Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD, we did our best to deliver an inside scoop on what this instructional delivers.

Before you move on with the full review, let’s manage expectations. Will you learn something new? Sure! Will it be something nobody in the BJJ world apart from Craig has ever thought of, or done? Absolutely not. Wil you emerge on the other side of this DVD with a better closed-guard game? Yes, and then some. On to the review now.

Closet Guard?

What is this craziness now? Will it be as good as some of Craig Jones’ other brainfarts, or as bad as some of Craig Jones’ other brainfarts? With Craig, you never really know what you’re in for. This time around, it is just wordplay in terms of originality, but the entire system is right up there with his best work, in terms of effectiveness.

Craig’s closet guard is just a re-take on the classic closed guard – legs wrapped around the waist, arms doing other things to break posture and set up attacks. You know, just like in your very first class.

If you’re expecting the closed guard to end all closed guards, different than any other version, you’re in for a disappointment, However, if you are expecting a quick and effective way out of the closet via sweeps, submissions, and back takes, than the Craig Jones Closed Guard DVD is your ticket out.

Another Craig Jones Moment of Brilliance

Craig already has some catchphrases that are etched into the very essence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To shorten the suspense his Closet Guard is not even in the same universe as “Just Stand Up” or some of his other recognizable stuff.

That said, as far as actual BJJ goes, the Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD is a very useful instructional, providing a very effective way of setting up a closed guard game. I am not sure if you remember (or know at all) but Craig was a prolific guard player (closed and Z-guard) before he became famous for leg locks, which was before he turned into the most known troll in Jiu-Jitsu.

In short, Craig has spent more time hunting for triangles in the closed guard than he has in Ashi, fighting women, or digging up mysterious guys to give him millions of dollars to put on crazy events and dress the likes. All in all, this instructional is arguably one of Craig’s best in terms of its technical worth.

Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD Review

The Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD has four volumes of No-Gi instructions on playing several different closed guard variations. Over the course of three and a half hours, Craig offers different ways to get sweeps and submissions, very successfully linking them all together into an easy system:

Part 1 – Must-Know Subs & Hand Fighting

Craig starts the instructional by explaining the Closet guard concept – it’s just a phrase that places the closed guard as your first position because ‘everyone starts in the closet’. Otherwise, it’s just plain old closed guar,d with a submission-heavy focus and a few game-changing details.

In the first part of the Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD hand fighting gets a lot of attention setting the stage for a few (more precisely 3) must-know submissions that Craig spends a lot of time on.

He then launches into a deeper explanation of one of them, the Omoplata, offering a mini-system with entries, finishes, sweeping, and follow-ups.

Part 2 – Triangle & Armbar Chains

In part two of the Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD Craig delivers a lot of information on triangles, so if you’re a triangle nut like me, you’re really going to enjoy this volume. It’s not just setups and finishing triangles but also details on troubleshooting and a way to connect them into submission chains with armbars, and not just a flash combo.

I love that the armbars that Craig shows here start in the closed guard, but all the finishing is done from the top – the only way to do them, in my opinion. Anti-stacking info also features here, solving the biggest problem you might run into when looking for armbar-triangle combos from the guard.

Part 3 – Overhook Closet Guard

The best possible version of the closed (okay, closet) guard is the one featuring an overhook. Unless you’re camping out in Williams Guard, the overhook should be your go-to. This part of the Craig Jones Closet Guard explains why, in the off-chance, you don’t already know.

Craig begins with posture break strategies, following up with key overhook attacks that come back to the three must-know subs. Two, out of the three, feature in this part, as Craig offers a new connection, this time between the Omoplata and the Triangle, off the overhook control position.

Part 4 – Arm Across Attacks

Arm across means armbars. This final part of the Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD once again demonstrates that he is true, but also offers a few more different avenues of attack in addition to armbars.

Craig uses the arm across position to launch into a side-guard-type position, which allows him to sweep as well as set up armbars, and even open up back attacks. Lots of armbars appear in this portion, once again linked to the triangle, and through it, everything else covered in this instructional.

Thinking Outside the Closed Guard

If you’re aiming to use the Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD to improve your closed guard, you can expect great results, fast. However, have you asked yourself what your closed-guard goals are?

You see, context matters, and the end goal of playing closed guard (or any other guard, for that matter) is to get out of the closed guard in a way that places you in a dominant top position, or in a position to finish a joint lock or a choke.

It is a general way of looking at things, yes, but when you begin thinking about the guard in this way, rather than as a guaranteed position that will deliver specific sequences of moves, you’ll find that you’ll have a lot more success with it. In other words, know what’s on the other side of the closet when you’re dead-set on getting out of it!

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Get in the Closet (Guard)!

Time to get in the closet for a bit, and figure out how to set everything up so that your exit from it is going to be unforgettable. This, I think, is the analogy that caring was after with the Closet Closed Guard Craig Jones DVD. He might have missed the mark in terms of making this one crazy memorable, but he did deliver a super-effective way of organizing your closed guard.

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Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD Review [2025]

Ognen Dzabirski

Key Takeaways

Gi instructional with four volumes that emphasize the connection between guards and back takes.
Offers guard retention concepts, Berimobolos, and pass counters that lead to back takes.
Provides back-taking systems from different guards including the DLR, Xanadu, X-Guard, and others.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 8 out of 10.

XANADU BACK TAKES LEVI JONES-LEARY DVD GET HERE

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Some people in the BJJ world really do blow my mind with the way they present material that we’ve all been working on for decades, but never really managed to present (or comprehend) it as concisely as they do. The last one to do so is Levi Jones-Leary and his very interesting approach to emphasizing the guard-back mount connection.

The Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD is a useful resource for those considering themselves backmount experts, but also for those suffering from these same ‘experts” and even those hoping to achieve this expertise one day. In short, it offers a perspective on back-taking that you had no idea ran so deep in BJJ.

What Are BJJ Camping Tactics?

The term ‘camping’ is becoming more and more prevalent these days in BJJ. For those not familiar with META tactics for FPS games, let me elaborate – camping referees to the patient waiting in a safe spot for your opponent to allow you to deliver the finishing blow (in the case of BJJ, a submission).

There are not many safe camping options in Jiu-Jitsu, and the best one you can get is the back mount. There are next to no submission dangers (I’m not even going to entertain the thought of the ‘crossed foot lock’), people tend to have a hard time getting out of it, and it is only a question of time when you’ll get the finish.

Lots of high-level grapplers are employing camping tactics lately. Apart from the back, you can also opt for the mount, or some passing or guarded positions, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous. For those looking for the risk-free version, the Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD is your best bet.

Unity Jiu-Jitsu Competitor Levi Jones-Leary

Levi Jones-Leary is a black belt in BJJ under the legendary Murilo Santana. So far, he has a few big titles to his name, including the IBJJF Euros, the Pan Ams, and winning the ADCC trials in 2024. We never got to see him in the ADCC, as he chose CJI instead, where he lost to -88kg champion Kade Ruotolo.

Levi has been training for a long time, with his first introduction to BJJ dating back to his teenage days, when he first discovered MMA. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Jones-Leary entered combat sports with an already impressive set of athletic abilities he’d developed competing in track and field.

MMA didn’t quite keep the attention of Levi, but BJJ did, as he found his first base in teh Garage Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Sydney. Competing as much as he could, Levi perfected his trade with Cobrinha whenever he was in the US, eventually ending up in Unity Jiu-Jitsu in 2015.

Murilo gave Levi Jones-Leary his black belt in 2018 after he won just about everything at brown belt and proved he could easily hang with the best in the world. A huge fan of the Miayos, Levi made the back his go-to position from his early competitive days, resulting in a wealth of knowledge in the position, which is on display in the Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD

Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD Review

The four-volume Levi Jones-Leary Xanadu Back Takes DVD really does a deep dive into the way you can use different guards to set up back exposure and conquer the back mount in the Gi. It takes Jones-Leary just over 2 hours to present all his thoughts on the subject:

Part 1 – Guard Retention Back Takes

The angle that the Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD provides is an unusual one, as it looks into back-taking from the perspective of playing guard. Usually, DVDs focus on one or the other, but overall Levi manages to pull this one off.

First up are his concepts of guard retention and how you can use a defensive mindset (of sorts) to set up seamless transitions to the back. Levi uses retention tactics that actually expose the back, resulting in pass counters that put you on the opponent’s back without them realizing what you’re trying to do.

He covers passing threats like knee slice passes, double under, and the Тorreando, which means he covered three out of four possible passing directions with direct examples.

Part 2 – Otisde Open Guard Entries

Part two of the reminds me of the early back-taking game by Atos competitors and the Estima brothers. This portion of the Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD goes over back taking from the De la Riva, something we don’t see as much these days, as a result of the inside guard dominance because of leg locks.

Jones-Leary offers several interesting DLR concepts that include exploding the back either via sweep threats or submissions like the Omoplata. He includes options against standing and kneeling opponents, focusing a lot on demonstrating the perfect angles for back attacks.

Part 3 – Berimbolos

I already said that Levi Jones-Leary is a big admirer of the Miyao brothers. Paired with the type of game played at Unity, the Beribmolo was bound to appear in the Levi Jones-Leary Back Takes DVD.

In its own dedicated volume, the Berimbolo is first introduced through some basic inverting motion, followed by an unusual endpoint – the mount. This serves as the optimal stage to launch a series of back takes in different directions, including top position setups featuring leg drags, which we often see in conjunction with Berimbolos.

The double pull X-Guard helps introduce a different dimension to open guard back takes, building on the Berimbolo options by addressing a level-changing opponent, and exploiting their innate weaknesses.

Part 4 – Xanadu Guard Crucifix Setups

As we reach teh final part of the Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD, Levi goes over his signature Xanadu guard, and all the ways you can use it to get back. The guard retention concepts still apply, but the starting guard and ending position are a bit different here.

Much to my pleasure, back control of choice for ending this instructional is the crucifix, and Jones-Leary offers some very innovative ways of getting to this super-versatile position against standing and kneeling opponents alike.

The Back Mount – Guard Connection

What are your attacking options from guards? Most people would immediately say submissions and sweeps, and those people would not be wrong. However, that is not the complete answer.

Back takes are neither sweeps nor deliver an immediate submission reward. They are, however, a great way of getting 4 points, and are just as readily (kind of) available from most guards as sweeps and submissions are. The best part is that these tend to be easier to hide from your opponent, and thus, much more effective due to the surprise factor.

The original perspective on the back takes offered in the Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD is one we should pay a lot more attention to when developing our game plans. Guards, coming on so many different forms, offer a lot more different directions to the back than any top position does. Just some food for thought as you start to implement what you’ve learned from Levi’s DVD.

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The Xanadu Effect

Levi Jones-Leary demonstrated that you can become so good at getting the back from guards, that you can end up naming your own guard and use it to confuse people. However, even though this is covered in the Xanadu Back Takes Levi Jones-Leary DVD, this instructional offers the big picture as well, connecting all the key dots between guarded positions and the back mount.

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Craig Jones and Zuckerberg – Unlikely BJJ Training Session Sparks Mixed Reactions

Filip Zanki

Craig Jones has found himself at the center of controversy (again) after posting training photos alongside tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg. Craig Jones and Zuckerberg caught everyone’s attention, with the official CJI financial benefactor still a matter of speculation.
The Australian grappling sensation, renowned for his skill on the mats as well as his outspoken personality, has inadvertently sparked intense debate within the global BJJ community.

Craig Jones, the most popular troll in BJJ, but also one of the most skillful grapplers and the man behind the highest-paying pro grappling event in history, recently shared images of himself training with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his Instagram account.

Zuckerberg, who made headlines for receiving his BJJ blue belt and was touted as contemplating a super fight with Elon Musk after winning a BJJ tournament recently, has increasingly become associated with the martial arts, drawing both curiosity and skepticism from longtime practitioners.

The photos quickly went viral, drawing attention from both fans and critics. While some viewed the training session as a positive step toward mainstream exposure for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, others were far less welcoming, accusing Jones of aligning himself with Zuckerberg for potential personal gain or increased exposure.

Craig Jones and Zuckerberg Training Session Surrounded by Buzz

Reactions to Jones’ association with Zuckerberg have been notably divided. On platforms like Instagram and Twitter, many BJJ enthusiasts and fans voiced their disapproval vehemently.

Critical comments filled social media threads, with detractors labeling the partnership as “pathetic” and accusing Jones of seeking publicity. Critics questioned the authenticity of Zuckerberg’s commitment to BJJ, speculating that his interest might be more about personal branding than genuine passion for martial arts.

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“Thanks @zuck for always having my back”

– Craig Jones on training with Zuck

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A particularly controversial viewpoint circulating among skeptics suggests that Jones may be pursuing personal or financial benefits by associating closely with Zuckerberg. Several comments sarcastically hinted that Jones might be looking for funding opportunities for his own projects or ventures within the grappling industry:

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– “Pathetic how BJJ stars bend the knee for a quick buck” –

– “CJI 3, 4, 5, 6 confirmed” –

– “First craig L” –

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Jones, however, has yet to directly address these criticisms publicly. Known for his humorous yet provocative presence in the grappling community, the Australian competitor seems unbothered, continuing to focus on his training and professional development.

Zuckerberg’s Genuine Interest in BJJ?

Mark Zuckerberg’s journey into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began earnestly, marked by his promotion to blue belt and his recent impressive competitive performance.

Despite his consistent public displays of dedication—participating in competitions and regularly attending training sessions—his involvement continues to be met with some scrutiny from the broader martial arts community.

His recent training session with Craig Jones only amplifies the discussion surrounding his intentions and dedication.

Craig Jones: A Polarizing Figure

Craig Jones is no stranger to controversy within the grappling world. The Australian grappler, famous for his submission-oriented style and charismatic, sometimes brash demeanor, has always managed to attract attention both on and off the mats.

With all eyes don’t he second CJI edition, which is again promising millions of dollars in prize money, this time to be divided between a team of winners that also includes a selection of New Wave Jiu-Jitsu athletes, Craig has been milking the spotlight as much as possible lately.

Whether Craig Jones and Zuckerberg only shared a training session or had a ‘business meeting’ on the mats, Craig made sure everyone was aware. The biggest troll in BJJ is definitely enjoying his time in the spotlight, but as long as he’s making it worth it for pro grapplers, do we really care what his true intentions are?

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A post shared by Craig Jones (@craigjonesbjj)

Has Zuck Got Craig’s Back In More Ways Than One?

The encounter between Craig Jones and Mark Zuckerberg signifies a potential turning point for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s visibility and integration into mainstream culture. Whether driven by genuine interest, strategic networking, or simple curiosity, the involvement of prominent individuals such as Zuckerberg undoubtedly elevates the sport’s profile.

As Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to grow in popularity, grappling fans and athletes alike will inevitably face more such moments of controversy and discussion. While reactions may be divided, this latest episode illustrates vividly how rapidly the sport’s landscape is evolving, fueled by intersections between traditional martial arts communities and broader societal trends.

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No-Gi Grapplers Guide To Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD Review [2025]

Ognen Dzabirski

Key Takeaways

A very detailed, 8-part No-Gi instructional that completely deconstructs the front headlock for No-Gi grappling.
Features standing, transitioning, top and bottom attacks, including catch wrestling-inspired submissions.
Covers counters, re-counters and transitions, as well as a host of different entries and grips configurations.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

NO-GI FRONT HEADLOCK JOEL BANE DVD GET HERE

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If you want to learn a wrestling move, go to wrestlers. If you want to submit people using wrestling moves, go to catch wrestlers. if you want to learn everything about the front headlock from a BJJ black belt, who is also a catch wrestler and Luta Livre expert, then pick up the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD.

Simple, right? Go straight to the source when you want to figure things out but keep in mind that you’re trying to learn how to do stuff for BJJ, not for their original sports or martial arts. Not many coaches can transcend this border when they teach, but luckily, Joel is not one of them.

Grapplers Guide To Front Headlock

I use the front headlock in both Gi and No-Gi and find it to work incredibly well. Honestly, in No-Gi it is more of a must-use than a choice, given the lack of attachment points in the neck and shoulders area.

For the most part, people tend to find the front headlock intuitive, at least when it comes to controlling. This is open reason why I like to teach it to everyone in my gym, including in kids’ classes.

The problems people tend to have with it are when they try to get some attack going for the position. It may be a takedown, a direct submission (usually a choke), or a transition to the back or top-side control. What I’ve identified as the number one issue is that people forget what makes the front headlock work as they attempt to get to something else, effectively letting go of their controlling position.

Luckily, the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD addresses this concern and not just in one or two chapters. Control is the focus throughout it, and all three transitions are done with the headlock either having served its purpose completely or with a fallback option to get back into it.

‘Kru’ Joel Bane

The tile of Khru is not usually associated with grapplers, but you’d be surprised at how many great grappling minds actually despise the classic BJJ lineage and terms like ‘professor’. It is safe to say that Joel Bane is one of those brilliant people with a fight intelligence that can solve any puzzle.

In this particular instance, the puzzle is the front headlock, and the solutions come in the super-comprehensive No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD. The man of the moment, Joel, is a 3rd-degree black belt in BJJ under Rigan Machado, 5-th degree black belt in Luta Livre under Hugo Duarte, catch wrestling coach certified by Billy Robinson, boxing coach, and 13th Khan/Senior Kru ranked in Muay Thai.

Joel has also spent time training with CSW founder Erik Paulson and is currently the man at the helm of one of the best no-nonsense grappling and MMA gyms in the world – Snake Pit USA. Bane is also no stranger to putting together meaningful instructionals, as he is a full-time coach who is constantly innovating.

No-Gi Grapplers Guide To Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD Review

The No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD is a long one, consisting of 10 volumes, each lasting a considerable amount of time. All the instructions are delivered in No-Gi, amounting to a total of just over 8 hours of material.

Part 1 – Concepts

The headlock is as old as grappling and has so many options, that you could dedicate a whole year to studying nothing but it, and you’ll still have lots left to figure out. Luckily, you can cut through most of the needless stuff with the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD.

He starts off with essential concepts, talking about the highest percentage of positions that allow you to get to a front headlock with a high degree of certainty. Russian ties, inside ties, collar ties, and forcing sprawls all feature here, rounded off by an in-depth underhook and overhook overview.

Part 2 – Standing Submissions

Not something seen in BJJ often, especially in No-Gi. Hwoever, after seeing Jon Jones pull it off, many people went on trying to choke folks from standing, and several of the moves covered in this part of the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD might actually work in that regard.

Bane’s take on standing headlock submissions includes guillotine variations featuring the S-grip and power-punch guillotine. A few crank-choke options also follow, which I guess fall under the sanding submissions umbrella as long as you get a tap. The Tie Bar strangle, demonstrated toward the end, is a legit one I am itching to try out.

Part 3 – Front Headlock Takedowns

Venturing back into more familiar territory, Joel focuses on taking the fight to the ground in the third portion of the Joel Bane Front Headlock DVD. While refers to his Snake Pit drag-down system as the Front Headlock Salto, it is not at all athletically demanding, nor dangerous to your opponent.

Direct, rapid-fire, and submission chain FHL Salto options provide you with a different approach to taking people down with a front headlock. A few more neck cranks, and a neat cowcatcher, which is one of my favorite FHL moves, conclude this part of the DVD.

Part 4 – Snapdowns and Rolling Attacks

Those enjoying gator-roll style moves will really enjoy this volume of the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD. The focus is on a wrestling classic that’s very underutilized in BJJ – the cement mixer. It works, it scares the stuffing out of your opponents, and it’s fairly easy to master in a short amount of time.

Snapdowns also feature here, and I consider them to be the hardest straightforward thing you can do from a front headlock position. Bane’s mixed grappling background provides him with a great perspective on it, and he makes it simple, showing you how to directly go into a bunch of ground attacks, ranging from cement mixers to leg scissor chokes.

Part 5 – Leg Locks

No way a No-Gi, catch-wrestling-inspired instructional with a Luta Livre coach is not going to include leg locks. While they are not as plentiful as I expected, there is more than enough to provide versatility to your arsenal.

For the most part, this volume of the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD involves single leg transitions from an initial front headlock, that later leads to leg locks. Snake Pit’s signature W.A.R. system featuring throws and submissions makes its first appearance in this volume as well.

DIRECT ACCESS: FRONT HEADLOCK JOEL BANE DVD

Part 6 – Head and Arm System (W.A.R.)

Speaking of W.A.R., part six of the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD is all about it. In over an hour, Joel covers plenty of different finishes that feature in the system, such as armbars, Kimuras (called by their old-school name ‘double wristlock’), and chokes.

The head and arm control provides the headlock element to the W.A.R. making it easy to apply stuff such as the Scythe armbar, Half Alch, Cowcatcher, and the Cement Mixer. it’s all coming together now.

Part 7 – Nelsons & Cow Catchers

Moving to bottom control, and essentially pinning by using the front headlock, Joel offers a few more cowcatcher options in this part of the instructional. He reinforces them with some strong and not-too-legal Nelson options as well, but you already know that this is not an IBJJF-friendly DVD.

I enjoyed the gut-wrench mat return, but I also have a strong affinity towards all the gator rolls, nelsons, and cowcatcher variations on display in this volume. Toward the end, Joel also covers how to finish the ten-finger guillotine and how to combine it with the bulldog choke.

Part 8 – Guillotine Options

Guillotine galore is the name of the game in the eighth part of the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD. Building on the ten-finger guillotine finish from the previous volume, Joel launches into other guillotine variations such as the slide-in, the crazy 3/4 hamstring guillotine, and the Chancery neck crank.

This portion also contains guillotine escape counters, helping you figure out how to still keep attacking with the front headlock even when people manage to stove off, or even fully escape your guillotine threat.

Part 9 – FHL Counters

After spending the better part of this instructional covering how to torture people from the front headlock position, just before he wraps things up, Joel explores some of the most effective counters you can execute against it. As expected, most of the moves in this part are rooted in wrestling and catch wrestling rather than traditional BJJ.

Sit outs, hip switches, knee taps, tilts and bridging all feature in this part of the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD. The best part is that each counter ends with you in a position already covered, such as the bulldog choke or some of the many cranks.

Part 10 – Transitions

As we get to the end of what was the longest instructional I’ve seen so far 9at least in terms of volumes), the focus is on moving in and out of the front headlock. The final set of instructions in the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD covers transitions to and from the back, and North-South featuring crazy moves such as the Dragon Sleeper and Corkscrew Headlock.

The Best Non-Scoring Position in Grappling?

The dice is between Ashi Garami and the Front Headlock here. As a leglocker, I still find the front headlock position to be a lot more useful for controlling people, especially in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu.

Rolling people from the front headlock, gator-style, and ending on top again actually gets you points in wrestling. Even though there are absolutely no rewards in terms of points in BJJ for playing the front headlock, the amount of control and a number of attacking options available from it makes it much more worthy than aiming for volatile point-scoring positions such as knee-on-belly.

No matter what your game is, a position that works from the top, bottom, and standing has to feature in your gameplan, even if it is by necessity rather than by choice. The No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD is definitely a long instructional, but it is the only one you’ll ever need on the subject.

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Grab A Headlock!

No point in trying to figure out how to shoot across the mats or Judo throw people when you can grab a headlock from standing, get them on the mats, get a pin, and get a submission. If you play your cards right and use the blueprints provided in the No-Gi Front Headlock Joel Bane DVD, you might even execute this without changing your initial engagement grip. Tell me again that grappling is hard.

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“It’s Terrifying” Joe Rogan Names The Move That Has Ended The Most Careers

BJJ World

Celebrated for its technical precision and feared for its potential to cause catastrophic injury, the heel hook now finds itself at the center of heated debate.
UFC commentator and BJJ black belt Joe Rogan names one move as the ultimate career-ender: while he respects the move for its ingenuity, he deems the heel hook the most dangerous technique in the sport.

“A Heel Hook is so Terrible”

The heel hook has long existed as a testament to the powerful nature of leg lock submission holds in grappling. Rooted in the fundamentals of leverage and movement, it offers grapplers an effective route to quickly subdue an opponent by targeting the knee joint.

Joe Rogan, known for his unfiltered commentary and extensive background as a BJJ practitioner, has not shied away from discussing the risks inherent in the heel hook.

“A heel hook is so terrible,” Rogan asserted on his podcast.“It’s literally twisting your knee apart, and it’s terrifying.”

His perspective is informed by years of training and competition, making his opinion a compelling part of the broader dialogue on fighter safety and technique regulation. Everyone’s favorite podcast host recently talked about heel hooks a lot:

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“Your knee has a lot of strength going forward and backward but almost none going side to side. So they isolate the top of it, wrap your heel into the crook of their elbow, and then they wrench it apart.”

– Joe Rogan, JRE #2290

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As a seasoned martial artist with a BJJ black belt under his belt, Joe Rogan understands the nuances behind each grappling move. Unlike many critics who simply decry the heel hook as inherently dangerous, Rogan’s stance is more nuanced. He does not hate the heel hook—instead, he appreciates its technical merits while cautioning against its misuse.

Rogan’s position underscores a critical point: the danger lies not in the move itself but in its execution.

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There’s a guy named Rousimar Palhares, who’s one of the scariest motherf—-ers to ever fight,” Joe Rogan names teh boogeyman. “He was a leg lock specialist. And what he would do is rip your knees apart. And he wouldn’t let go if you tapped and he got kicked out of the UFC for it. Cause he did it to so many people.”

________________________________________________________________________

This insight is particularly relevant when considering examples from past BJJ and MMA matches. Instances have repeatedly shown that when a fighter fails to release a heel hook or applies it with unbridled ferocity, the consequences can be devastating.

The Heel Hook: History, Technique, and Real Risks

The evolution of the heel hook is intertwined with the development of modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Historically, it emerged as grapplers sought an efficient method to control and submit an opponent by exploiting the mechanics of the knee joint.

Over time, the move evolved from an experimental maneuver in early training sessions to a refined technique celebrated for its effectiveness in high-stakes matches.

Yet, with this evolution came a growing awareness of its potential hazards. The very elements that make the heel hook so effective—its leverage and the vulnerable nature of the knee joint—aslo make it one of the most dangerous BJJ moves.

Medical experts and longtime practitioners alike have lamented how an overzealous application of the move can lead to torn ligaments, dislocated joints, and in some cases, irreversible damage.

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“Ripping knees apart, where they’re not going to be repaired… I would imagine if there’s any technique that’s ruined an athlete’s career, the heel hook would probably be number one,”

– Joe Rogan, JRE #2292

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This tension between technical brilliance and dangerous impact has led to extensive discussions across the MMA and BJJ communities. While some argue that the move should be embraced as part of the sport’s rich heritage, others, including Joe Rogan, contend that its risks demand a more careful, regulated approach.

“I Don’t Want to Look”

In labeling the heel hook as the most dangerous move in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Joe Rogan has re-ignited a vital debate—a conversation that straddles the line between tradition and modernity. As a BJJ black belt who respects the art and understands the field’s demands, Rogan’s perspective is both cautionary and constructive. He champions the heel hook’s technical beauty while urging the community to recognize and address its perils.

One of his podcast guests, comedian Michael Kosta, with whom he discussed heel hooks, particularly the savage displays of Rousimar Palhares, exclaimed in terror “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t want to look”.

The discussions unfolding in gyms, in competition arenas, and across media platforms reveal that heel hooks are still considered ‘boogeyman’ submissions in some circles, even though the IBJJF allowed them in competitions. In the end, the heel hook remains a double-edged sword—a move that embodies the very essence of BJJ’s allure and danger.

Heel Hook Finish In A Street Fight (VIDEO)

Analyzing Every Second Of The Craig Jones Heel Hook That Broke Vinny Magalhaes’ Leg

Eoghan O’Flanagan: Downright Sloppy Outside Heel Hooks DVD Review

Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD Review [2025]

Ognen Dzabirski

Key Takeaways

A No-Gi DVD on teaching you how to kill any Ashi Garmi and disrupt leg lock breaking mechanics.
Contains early, mid and late-stage defenses to inside and outside Ashi Garmi.
Goes deep into the techniques and mindset for defending and escaping late-stage heel hooks.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 8 out of 10.

GET OFF MY LEGS GRINGO CRAIG JONES GET HERE:

Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD Preview — SEE TRAILER: Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD

Time to shed a different light on leg lock defense. Luckily, this is one that will work, as it is delivered by one of the best leg lockers of modern times, Craig Jones. It also features one of his crazy systems that throw a wrench into big chunks of BJJ, so much so, that you can even claim leg locks don’t work after getting through this instructional.

The Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD offers everything you’ll need to figure out how to stay calm in Ashi Garami positions and how not to panic when people try to finish heel hooks, toe holds, and ankle locks on you. It works because it is simple, and it’s simple because it only addresses key points of leg locks. Read on!

‘Mexican’ Leg Lock Defense

I don’t know if there’s anything really Mexican about anything that Craig Jones does, but since he took the term to define his ‘ground karate’ we’re gonna stick with it. Since the approach Craig offers to defend leg locks has little to do with what people commonly teach, it’s safe to say that this Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD is a classically unorthodox Craig Jones DVD.

Understanding leg lock defense rests in understanding two key aspects of it – you need to deal with the braking threat and you need to deal with the Ashi Garami. If one of these is lacking, then you can figure out a defense yourself.

But when you’re up against a seasoned leg locker, you’ll need both, and there’s no particular order to them, so you’ll have to develop an understanding. Craig’s approach helps you get this understanding by addressing both these aspects, covering early, mid, and late-stage solutions to whatever threat you are facing.

As expected, the DVD has some crazy stuff, most of which is probably there just because Craig likes to troll. I remember that Jeff Glover’s Darce DVD was so filled with this stuff that only half of it was useful. Craig shows more restaing with his trolling content though, so this one is definitely going to be a useful DVD for you.

Craig Jones’ Best Work

Mr Troll is back with another instructional, and this time offers defense tips instead of attacks. While uncommon for Craig, I must admit that I was a lot more excited about this DVD than all his leg-lock-attacking ones put together.

As far as I am concerned, Craig Jones’s defensive-oriented BJJ DVDs so far have been his best work. Granted, he is a submission machine, and he was particularly nasty with leg locks when he was actually competing actively. And that’s exactly why he’s so good at defense – because he knows what people are looking for.

As we brace for another edition of CJI, this time in a team format that now includes a Gordon Ryan-free New Wave team as well, we get to enjoy some of Craig’s handy work. The Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD will add to your BJJ, even if you’re one of the “leg locks don’t work” bunch.

Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD Review

The Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD contains 6 volumes, each with a considerable amount of material. With a total running time of almost 6 hours, this is one of the most comprehensive No-Gi leg lock defense instructionals out there:

Part 1 – Calm Down Mate

First up, Craig outlines the most important thing about leg lock defense, and it’s not what you think. He just asks everyone who’s stuck in a leg lock to ‘calm down’, and I couldn’t agree more.

The first hour of the Craig Jones Off My Legs DVD is all about basic leg lock defense concepts that start with tapping out – intelligently dubbed ‘the fear of the Rousimar’ by Craig when you let someone finish you slowly to see how far you can take it. Then it’s time to get to some actual defending.

Focus on the hips provides both security in terms of injury risks and a solid base to build on for defense. Jones covers different ways of moving your hips to free up the pressure on your leg. He also covers the basic positioning aspects, such as inside and outside, and what the knee line concept is.

A bit of hand fighting appears towards the end, along with the very useful principle of height, one which I had never thought of using in terms of leg-lock defense before.

Part 2 – Heel Hook Escapes

When most people in BJJ think of leg lock escapes they think of escaping heel hooks. Well, there has not been a better method to deal with them since Eddie Cummings pioneered the heel slip, which Craig shows in great detail here.

As the second part of the Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD unfolds, Craig also goes over the double trouble principle and what to do when both your legs are tangled by an experienced leg locker. Outside slips, using height to help your case, and a bit of last-ditch hand fighting also feature in this volume.

Part 3 – Deep Cross Ashi Defense

If you want to figure out how to defend a fully locked leg lock format deep Cross Ashi Garami, then this is the volume for you. Craig takes a look at the most dangerous Ashi positions here, offering ways to render attacks from them useless until you can create an opening to get out.

In part 3 of the Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD, you get an overview of how to take effectiveness away from the double trouble, and ultimately defeat it altogether. He also offers some Cummings trap countering details, extending into inverted cross-Ashi positions.

Toward the end, Craig treats us with a very cool misdirection-based defense that is probably the star of this entire instructional. There is also some counter-back takes in this part, which are better left unwatched.

Part 4 – Dealing With Shallow Ashi

You get a bit more breathing space in part four of the Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD, as Craig lokes into some earlier stage defense against the Cross Ashi, although we’re not at prevention level yet.

The opening portions address common entries that are difficult to counter because the attacker is already almost into the cross ashi. These include the popular back steps and Kani Basami (leg scissors) Ashi setups.

Almost three-quarters of this volume focuses solely on the 50/50, as shallower cross-Ashi, basically countering Lachlan Giles’ giant-killing leg lock system. There is information here on just about everything, from how to cross your feet, to hand fighting and ‘the lesser of two evils’.

Part 5 – Defending Outside Attacks

This is essentially the part of the Off My Legs Craig Jones DVD where Craig covers all other Ashi positions except for the Cross Ashi. he dedicates about 10 minutes to each of the Straight Ashi, Split Squat Ashi, Seated Ashi, and even Standing Ashi versions. He wraps it all up with details on dealing with knee reapers.

Part 6 – Leg Lock Prevention

Another part of the Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD that makes this instructional a must-have in everyone’s library. Here, Craig addresses how to stop leg lockers from getting into threatening positions in the first place.

he talks a lot about kneeling and standing and categorizes entries into outside and inside to make it easier to understand. It works, as you know have less specific Ashi positions to think about.

Common misconceptions also feature, as do details on beating common launch-pads such as the butterfly, half, closed, and reverse X guard. The chapter I found most useful myself was the one on submission chains, and how to think about them in terms of principles.

Leg Locks Don’t Work

Yeah they do, I am just messing with you. But they’re only as good as the other person’s defense is bad. So, don’t be that person and make the most out of the Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD.

I always point people toward mastering a submission they’re asking me how to defend first. That is a proven formula that works great, arming you against whatever it is you want to defend, but it does take a very long time. The problem I’ve found with shortcuts such as using defense-specific instructionals is the test shortcuts tend to fail when it matters the most – on the mats.

With leg locks though, you might get away with the right instructional and the right mindset. You have the best DVD lined up already, and the mindset to accompany it is not to try and defend or get out of any leg lock you get caught in, but rather make that leg lock not work. If there was ever a quick way to stop tapping on leg locks it has to be this.

DOWNLOAD HERE: GET OFF MY LEGS GRINGO CRAIG JONES DVD

Get Off!

Next time you see someone reaching for your legs, don’t go into panic mode trying to get your leg free. Instead, use the stuff in the Get Off My Legs Gringo Craig Jones DVD to force the other person off your leg! It’s a much better feeling when they are forced to let go because their Ashi and/or braking mechanics just don’t work!

A Proven Wrong Way To Do Leg Lock BJJ Escapes

Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD Review [2025]

Leg Lock Strategies: Navigating Entanglements Jack Stapleton DVD Review [2024]

Spaz No More? Woke Culture Claiming Common BJJ Term Is ‘Ableist’ Language

BJJ World

BJJ Spaz No More? Woke Culture Claiming Common Term Is 'Ableist' Language

A common term historically used in many BJJ gyms is now being declared as an ableist slur—a development that connects issues of language, inclusion, and the rapidly evolving landscape of “woke” culture.
“Spaz” is used in a unique and non-derogatory way on the mat—a term steeped in tradition rather than insult. The debate continues.

For decades, the word “spaz” has been casually dropped in gym banter and training sessions, often describing a burst of unpredictable or overly enthusiastic movement during a match.

In this context, the term isn’t intended to belittle or demean anyone with disabilities; instead, it has evolved into a playful descriptor among practitioners who understand its roots in the sport’s history.

Many grapplers point out that, in contrast to its more contentious usage in everyday language, the term operates differently in the specialized setting of martial arts. When someone “Spazes” on the mat, it typically refers to a moment of unexpected agility or a sudden loss of control—never as an insult aimed at any individual’s identity or abilities.

What’s The Deal with Saying ‘Spaz’?

Recent articles—even those found on reputable sports and culture websites—have sparked controversy by declaring “spaz” an ‘ableist’ slur. Critics argue that the word is loaded with historical baggage and that its casual usage, even in sports, could perpetuate negative stereotypes about neurological or physical disabilities.

Some folks have even linked these concerns to broader trends in what is often referred to as “woke culture.” Despite these critiques, the majority of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community counters that the term’s longstanding usage demonstrates an internal understanding of its intent, which is pure banter.

In BJJ gym settings across the globe, the expression is rarely, if ever, used with malice. Rather, it has become a part of the sport’s colorful lexicon—a way for teammates to describe a momentary lapse in technique or an unorthodox burst of energy during fierce grappling exchanges.

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On the mat, ‘spaz’ is simply a way to describe someone getting a little wild with their movements during a match. It’s not an insult—it’s part of our everyday language and has never been used to demean anyone.

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Such sentiments echo widely among practitioners who claim that the word is embedded in the culture of BJJ as a term of camaraderie and mutual teasing, not as a weapon of verbal abuse.

Balancing Tradition With Evolving Social Sensitivities

Language is inherently fluid, and words can take on new meanings as they transition between different communities. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lingua, “spaz” has been repurposed from its general connotations into a term with a very specific, in-group meaning.

To many BJJ practitioners, its usage reflects the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of grappling arts—an evolution shaped by decades of training and shared experiences.

On the other hand, outside of this context, “spaz” may trigger associations with ableism due to its historical use in other social settings.

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“So @Beyonce used the word ‘spaz’ in her new song ‘Heated’. Feels like a slap in the face to me, the disabled community and the progress we tried to make with Lizzo.”

– disability advocate Hannah Diviney via Twitter.

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Critics suggest that regardless of intent, the word could contribute to a broader culture of insensitivity. They argue that even if it’s later reclaimed or neutralized within BJJ, its potential for harm in uncontrolled settings remains a concern.

Yet, many within the BJJ community argue that imposing a universal standard on this specialized language risks losing the rich, contextual meaning that has made the term so integral to the sport.

For them, understanding context is key—as with many forms of slang, the usage within a close-knit community can differ significantly from general public perception.

The controversy over “spaz” fits into a larger dialogue seen across various domains—from sports to pop culture—about reexamining language in light of modern social values. However, many BJJ gyms have resisted such calls, emphasizing that meaningful change must respect both tradition and intent.

No More Calling People 'Spaz' In BJJ?

Looking Forward: Is All the Fun Gone?

The controversy over the word “spaz” is mostly laughed off in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community although people outside of it seem to be getting really rattled by this form of ‘ableism’. For many on the mat, the term is a harmless, time-honored expression of spontaneity, never intended to inflict harm or perpetuate ableist connotations.

In the end, the word “spaz” in BJJ is more than just a label; it’s a reflection of a culture built on mutual respect, camaraderie, and an unyielding passion for the art of grappling. Only time will tell how this conversation evolves in the broader landscape of sports and society.

The Way Of The BJJ Spaz – Why Do Some People Roll Wild

How To Be Calm In BJJ Matches Like Gordon Ryan

7 Ways Of Passing Guard That Shouldn’t Work…But Do

Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD Review [2025]

Ognen Dzabirski

Key Takeaways

A No-Gi DVD on Ashi Garami entries by the best female up-and-coming grappler in the world.
Goes over strategies to get Ashi against kneeling and standing opponents, and expose legs from top positions.
Covers innovative ways to escape back, mount, and side control straight into leg locks.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.

LEG LOCKS ENTRIES HELENA CREVAR GET HERE:

Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD Preview — CHECK OUT THE TRAILER: Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD

Get the Ashi, hold the Ashi, and finish the leg lock. Simple, right? Yeah, I’ve you’ve never tried it before. Those who know leg locks, understand that getting to a clean Ashi Garami position is the most difficult part of the process.

If you take a look at the instructions, you’ll see that most of the content has to do with entries rather than finishes. Well, the Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD is 100% focused on entries, covering every possible scenario you can encounter in BJJ and offering more than one solution for each. Not one that you want to miss, since the instructor is the girl who just pulled off THAT crazy calf slicer finish at UFC FPI 10.

Getting the Bite

What’s your end goal when you’re trying to get to an Ashi Garami position? If you say a leg lock, you need to read the question again, this time carefully. If you said anything that is related to hip control, you’re on the right track.

The one thing that will make or break your leg-locking efforts is how well you can hold an Ashi Garami position for an extended period of time. The one thing that makes it possible to stay in an Ashi is to have your opponent sitting on the mats with their butt, a.k.a. at least one of their hips on the ground.

A hip on the mats and grips that keep their leg straight all but ensures you can control for long enough to start digging for a heel or an ankle. Since this is made possible by using your legs to get a ‘bite’ on the opponent’s hips, the goal of every entry into Ashi Garami is to get a bite on the opponent’s hips. It is essentially what every chapter of the Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD is about.

Leg Locker in the Spotlight: Helena Crevar

Yeah, it’s Helena with leg locks. Yeah, she is training with Danaher and Ryan, we all know that hence nobody is surprised that she’s pulling highlight reel leglocks on people twice her age and with years more experience than her.

There’s little about the biggest up-and-comer in women’s Jiu-Jitsu that people don’t know. Promoted to brown belt just a few months ago, New Wave’s Helena Crevar has been literally reaping submissions this past couple of years. The teenager (18) is on a streak of 6 wins, half of which she decided via submission.

Totaling a record of 23-2 since she turned pro in 2023, and boasting 15 submission wins over much more experienced opponents, Helena has been showcasing an affinity toward leg locks that are guaranteed to make Danaher salivate in training. Her Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD clearly shows that she will be the next big thing in leg locks if she is not already.

Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD DVD Review

What you get in the Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD is almost three hours of high-quality material focused on nothing but ways into Ashi Garami, spread over five different volumes:

Part 1 – Kneeling Opponent

We wouldn’t expect anything less than perfection from Danaher’s only female protege, and that is exactly what we get in the Helena Crevar Leg Lock Entries DVD. The instructionals begin with an overview of butterfly attacks, as Helena’s focus is on kneeling opponents.

She sticks to the outside Ashi at first, entering via the straight Ashi, but quickly diversifies her options to include 50/50, and cross Ashi options. Most of the attacks are elevation-based, creating the all-important Kuzishi and Crvar easily captures the key points behind all her entries, making her actions very clear.

Part 2 – Half Kneeling Opponent

The second portion of the teenage prodigy’s instructional is all about getting legs exposed against people who are half kneeling, or split-squatting, as she calls it in the Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD.

The Shin-to-shin features as the main road to Ashi Garami here, which is somewhat expected. Straight and cross-Ashi options emerge in a series of classic entries, propped up with a few extra details. A bit more value comes in the chapters addressing the RDLR guard as the main entry point, ending up with interesting backside 50/50 options.

Part 3 – Standing Opponent

The bane of all leg lockers is the standing opponent that just won’t fall. Well, I doubt that anyone will have much trouble with that after going through this portion of the Helena Crevar Leg Locks DVD. I’d even say she explained it better than anyone on the New Wave team has before.

The Shin-to-shin is called upon again, offering the anchor required to look for Kuzushi and subsequent Ashi openings. The Reverse shin-to-sin also features a lot, offering almost a mirror version of entries, mostly into the 50/50. As Crevar goes over yet another new (looks cool, though) X-guard entry into Cross Ashi, the bottom entries in this instructional come to an end.

Part 4 – Top Position

Even guard passers like leg locks these days, so Helean makes sure they’re not left craving in the fourth volume of the Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD. In all honesty, I enjoyed this one the most.

Leg drags, knee shield counters, knee cut passing and split squat pressure all feature, providing more options to diversify your guard passing with leg locks, than you’ll ever truly need. The cross Ashi is the destination of choice here, and the one move you simply can’t miss is the half guard roll entry.

Part 5 – Counter Leg Locking

Part five of the Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD sees her provide instructions on an aspect of leg locking that is becoming increasingly popular these days – defense. Not leg lock defense, but rather defending by escaping straight into Ashi and creating finishing options from tough spots.

This might be a subject for an entire instructional, but in the short span of this volume, Helena provides ideas on escaping back into cross Ashi, turning any mount into a straight Ashi Garami, and getting the backside 50/50 with ease when you’re in bottom side control. She even throws in an updated take on a classic – a closed guard opening to Ashi.

Improving Sweeps and Passing with Leg Locks

If you can get to a leg lock, go for the finish. If you can’t finish, look at what you have just by clawing your way into a legit Ashi. For the most part, you already have a route to the back, past the guard, or a three-quarters swept opponent in front of you.

I’ve been using the Ashi Garami positions as guards for a while, and I’ve seen grat results from it. However, what I discovered is that you can actually achieve more in terms of sweeping, passing, and back takes if you connect these threats with leg lock entries, rather than fully achieved leg locking positions.

What you’ll gain is free access to sweeps or back exposure from the bottom, as off-balancing is inevitable when you’re trying to get to an Ashi. You’ll also find passes to be easier to deal with since you’re already past the knee line. Moreover, thinking about bailing on leg lock entries for passes or sweeps also keeps you safe from any leg lock entry counters people usually use.

The Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD takes care of the entries problem for you, and if you use it you’ll probably end up in Ashi a lot more than other positions. But while you’re getting the hang of her tactics and techniques, keep an open mind so that you can recognize when to bail and capitalize for doing so.

Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar Free DVD Sample — SEE A FREE SAMPLE: Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD

DOWNLOAD HERE: LEG LOCKS ENTRIES HELENA CREVAR DVD

Into the Legs!

Leg locks are optional in BJJ, but mastering entries to leg-locking positions is not! If you truly want to become a world-class grappler, particularly in No-Gi, the Leg Lock Entries Helena Crevar DVD is one of the essential sources of information you have at your disposal. Even if you stick to sweeps and passes, you’ll get a lot of useful ideas out of this DVD.

Helena Crevar DVD Review – Best Submissions From Top Position

Helena Crevar, 15-year-old BJJ prodigy

SIDELINED: John Danaher Undergoes Surgery, Three More Procedures Await

Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD Review [2025]

Ognen Dzabirski

Key Takeaways

A No-Gi grappling DVD offering a different take on the K guard position.
Neil offers plenty of leg and armlocks, as well as more triangles than you thought possible.
Features positional details, setups, connections, submission combos and transitions.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.

SPECIAL K GUARD NEIL MELANSON DVD GET HERE:

Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD Preview — FULL TRAILER: Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD

I never thought that any ‘letter’ guard would take over the X guard in terms of efficiency and versatility, but that’s just me being biased. The reality is that the K guard has beaten the X and the Z (I’m not even going to mention any of the lesser-known ‘letter’ guards) to become one of the most effective No-Gi open guard positions in the history of grappling.

IF you want to know more about it, you can go and pick up one of the tens of instructionals folks have on the subject. But then you’ll be just one of the bunch of people feeling lost about it. For those smart enough to know whom to look to for some effective innovation, the Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD is a no-brainer. Read on to find out why.

Why Aren’t You Playing K Guard?

Seriously, what’s up with you? Why wouldn’t you use one of the best open guard positions in BJJ when it is clear that it works at all the highest levels? I am still amazed that I see so many people shun the K guard as being just another leg-locking gimmick.

While it is a great launching pad for many Ashi Garami-based attacks, the K guard is a lot more than just another leg-locking position. It is, after all, a ‘guard’, and not a ‘Garami’. That means that it offers stability by allowing the guard player to prevent passing, trap the top person where they want them, and launch versatile attacks that end up with a sweep, back take, or finish.

One area where the K gaurd really excels, especially in terms of open guards is its structure. Everything is reinforcing everything else in the position, meaning there is no one weak spot that the top person can exploit. Pair that up with the crazy attacks from the Neil Melanson K Guard DVD and you just discovered your best guard going forward!

Neil Melanson’s Special Grappling Formula

When you understand grappling as much as Neil Melanson does, you can get away with everything, even tweaking stuff in grappling that people say shouldn’t be tweaked. Most people wouldn’t dare, but Neil has always had an “I don’t care” attitude in his quest for the most functional grappling techniques and patterns possible.

Given that he has spent a lifetime grappling, was the main grappling coach of Randy Couture when the ‘Natural’ was on top of the UFC heavyweight division, and has produced the most mind-boggling, yet practical DVDs out of any grappler out there, when he speaks, we listen.

Neil doesn’t have a a BJJ black belt, but knows (and can do) more than most black belts you know, possibly even combined. He is that good at figuring out what matters and finding the most direct, and often most painful way of achieving it. And that includes working off your back like in the Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD.

Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD Review

The Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD is a long one, containing about 5 hours of super useful and detailed K Guard material. It is spread over four volumes, all of it No-Gi, and delivered with long chapters and meticulous order, both signature aspects of any Neil Melanson DVD:

Part 1 – Unexpected K-Guard Attacks

First of all, the K guard you’ll see Neil play and teach in this instructional is slightly different from what you’re probably thinking when you think K guard. That’s fine, as Neil was one of the first people to mess around with the position, and I find his version more ‘user-friendly’ than that of Lachlan or Craig Jones.

In the opening volume of the Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD, Neil goes over crazy stuff to do from the guard before talking about the guard structure itself. Strange, but fun, and filled with stuff like arm triangles from the bottom Peterson rolls directly from the K guard.

A few things you might be more familiar with, at least as concepts, are kneebars, heel hooks, and armbars, all given a new perspective by Melanson. Oh, and let’s not forget the lazy Susan, a mind-blowing move to finish a mind-blowing volume.

Part 2 – Basic K Guard Positioning

While you might be tempted to only stick to the stuff in the first volume of the Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD, if you want to find out why it all works, you’ll have to watch some more.

Part two takes care of the ‘why’, introducing the K guard as a position. Here, Neil goes through key aspects such as posture, grips, drills, body positioning, etc in extreme detail that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in his instructionals. Seriously, one of his chapters lasts more than 30 minutes, tying everything into the smallest detail!

Concluding this hour-and-a-half-long volume is a discussion on off-balancing and a pendulum example to help put context to the theory.

Part 3 – K Guard Submission Combos

The Neil Melanson K Guard DVD has over two and a half hours of material before we even get to the halfway point. You understand now why Neil’s stuff falls under the must-watch category for grapplers.

In a very originally thought out and presented fourth volume, Melanson goes over the different submissions available from the K guard, explaining the relation and connections each of them has with the guard, and how to use it to your advantage.

The submissions featured in this portion are triangles (Neil’s favorite), armbar, and Kimura. He presents each in several different scenarios, moving from bottom to top while looking to finish and showing how you can connect them between themselves if required.

Part 4 – More Finishes & Transitions

With a Neil Melanson DVD, there’s never a shortage of submissions, and the Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD is no exception. In the final part of the instructional, Melanson keeps on track with submission combinations, mostly offering more triangles from different positions, bound by elbow-snapping armbars.

Rounding off limb breaks with the K Bar, Melanson moves towards transitioning as the instructional runs its course. presenting back takes and roll outs as alternatives to directly finishing your opponent. What an instructional!

BJJ Guard Versatility

How many different things can you do from the guard? Not that I am not asking you how many different guards you have played, but rather how many things you can do to get a better position over your opponent.

Guard versatility means having plenty of attacking options both when you are in the guard position you prefer, and when you’re being forced into a guard situation you don’t necessarily like. At the end of the day, you need to have either sweeps, submissions, and/or back takes/wrestle-ups ready from as many different guards as possible.

But wait, there has to be a better way to go about it than just collecting guards. There is. Instead of trying to learn different moves from different guards, try figuring out the most effective guards, as proven in competition, and find out how to connect them to each other.

That’s how you develop a world-class guard game that will work in Gi and No-Gi. I’ll even start for you by suggesting a great resource for leaving one of those super-effective guards: the Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD.

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The Special Ingredient!

The special ingredient you won’t get in your run-of-the-mill BJJ gym, or your standard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional is the practical grappling intelligence that Neil Melanson brings to his DVDs. The good news is that you don’t need to have that same intelligence (don’t get offended).

All you need is his guidance, which, for the K Guard comes in the form of the Special K Guard Neil Melanson DVD. Pick it up and learn why exactly Neil calls it ‘special’.

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Key Takeaways

A No-Gi BJJ DVD covering every straight armbar variation you’ll ever need.
Features top, bottom, and standing setups as well as submission combos centered around armbars.
Offers incredible details on standard, reverse, and shotgun finishing mechanics and grip positioning.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

ARMBAR IT ALL SHAWN MELANSON DVD GET HERE:

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This instructional is an interesting one. It goes past the usual armbar setups and the needless repetition of things we’ve already seen. Instead, the Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD offers a direct guide on getting different kinds of straight armbars from all possible positions in grappling.

Even for those who don’t really like doing armbars, such as me, this instructional holds important information. I like triangles a lot more, but what I figured out through the years is that a triangle is a lot easier to get and finish when you’re using the arm as your anchor and one-way street to the choke. A lot more instances such as this one are presented in the DVD.

The Highest Percentage Submission

Statistics say that the armbars are the highest percentage submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This is easy to understand, given that most people training are white to blue belt, and the armbar is one of the things that is both familiar to everyone and easy to make sense of.

So why not add them to your arsenal? Specialising in something is great, but if you know there is a super-high percentage chance of finishing something, and you’re not doing it, that’s like intentionally playing a game on the hardest setting when you still don’t even understand the commands.

The moral here is that you need to start using armbars more. Don’t worry, they won’t all work, but that, also, is a good thing for your Jiu-Jitsu. The higher the percentage a move is, the more people are aware of it. It’s also why the Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD goes over so many different armbar variations.

Submission Maestro Shawn Melanson

You know who Shawn is. There is a great chance that you’re among his thousands of followers waiting for his next video to drop. He is a lot more active on Instagram than he is issuing long-form BJJ instructional, but I have a feeling that’s going to change if the Shawn Melanson Armbars DVD is any indication.

Shawn is a very active competitor, with his latest gold medal coming in the NAGA Rhode Island championship just a few weeks ago, in March 2025. With a record of 18 submission wins out of 30 and a bunch of gold medals and super fight victories, the black belt certainly can back up what he demonstrates in his videos.

The 31-year-old American No-Gi prospect is also active in MMA, with a 3-1 record. Fighting out of New Hampshire, I expect we’ll be seeing a lot more from him on the mats, on his popular social media channels, and in full-length instructionals.

Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD Review

The Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD is a four-part instructional that lasts for a total of an hour and a half, offering interesting details, and importantly, variations on finishing straight armbars in No-Gi:

Part 1 – Mounted Armbars

In the opening portion of the Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD, mounted armbars are up first. Unusual, as most people tend to go from guard or show finishing mechanics. Not Shawn. He knows what works and does not waste any time demonstrating it.

Right out of the gate, he talks about the S-mount dilemmas when you’re looking to finish an armbar. The solutions extend past just the traditional armbar finish, with triangle chokes, shotgun armbars, and a bunch of other straight armbar variations. They all work together to create an impossible scenario to defend against.

Part 2 – Side Control Armbars

The shotgun armbar that appeared at the end of the first volume sets the tone for what we get to see in this part. Melanson looks into the, according to me, most difficult spot for securing armbars as he takes us through far and near side setups from the top.

Spinning armbars, of course, feature in this part of the Shawn Melanson Arm Bar DVD, as do near-side quick finishes, such as the sliding armbar. I enjoyed the Rau Dag armbar, a setup I haven’t used before, and I also liked the solution Shawn has for the hitchhiker escape, which extends past just side control armbar setups.

Part 3 – Guard Armbars

The most difficult of the bunch. Setting up an armbar from guard is extremely hard, although the Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD does offer great pointers to help you figure it out faster.

Some of those key pointers include setups from the closed guard, using the 2-on-1 grip, and how to involve your legs in the finish. Shawn also provides great finishing details, as well as yet another shotgun armbar finish. The reverse armlock from headquarters is one I’ve been using for years, and it’s definitely well worth pursuing.

Part 4 – Flying Armbars

I stick by my earlier statement that guard armbars are the most difficult ones to get. A close second in difficulty is the flying setup that, understandably, happens mostly from standing.

Bringing the Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD to an end in style, Melanson’s focus in the final stretch is on safe flying armbar setups against both a standing and a seated opponent. He offers a very useful and instinctive traingle follow-up and wraps everything up with a couple more armbar variations.

Everyone Knows Armbars

Even those folks who walk in from the streets, juiced to the gills on TRT, and who claim to ‘see red’ know an armbar when they see one. So, you can bet that anyone training BJJ, no matter how long, is also going to know what an armbar is, even if they’re not quite clear which variation you’re using to finish.

That means people will try to get away from you or stop your armbar somehow. And that is something you want. It would be naive to hope to finish an armbar every time you go for one – even Shawn can’t boast of such a perfect record.

What you get, though, when you go for a legitimately tight armbar attack, is a reaction. And those reactions are exactly why people develop entire systems around armbar threats. triangles, Omoplatas, Kimuras, Guillotines, and back takes. The list goes on and on for stuff you can do when you have your opponent occupied with protecting their elbow.

The Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD shows a lot of armbar variations from top, bottom, and standing positions. All of them will have greater value for you as opportunity creators, rather than finishes, at least until you really specialize in one or several of them. And that is a good thing!

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Pop Them Elbows!

Time to introduce a bit of urgency to your game. Use the information in the Arm Bar It All Shawn Melanson DVD to make people react more by attacking their elbows from a bunch of unexpected positions. The shotgun armbars from this DVD alone are enough to make people scared of placing their palms on your body. Add in the classic finishes and submission combos, and you can pretty much do whatever you want. Or an armbar.

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