Zen Guide To Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Zen Guide To Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ DVD showing how a world champion readapts their Gi guard game to No-Gi.  
  • The material is divided based on whether the top person is standing, kneeling, or seated.   
  • Includes sweeping, back takes, upper and lower body submissions, and quick guard transitions. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

GUIDE TO SUBMISSION GRAPPLING MARGOT CICCARELLI DVD HERE:

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At first glance, the Zen Guide To Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD might not attract your attention. If I have one grievance with it, it is the title – it is too broad, not doing the material inside this instructional justice.

The DVD itself is incredibly useful. It depicts the complete gameplan Margot Ciccarelli used to dominate with the Gi, and her attempts (successful ones) to transition it to No-Gi. What’s better, it also contains the entire thought process behind using specific moves, along with parallels drawn to their Gi counterparts.

Translating Your Gi Game to No-Gi

If you’ve only been training with the Gi, and are now looking to move to No-Gi, you’re in for one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do in Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, the longer you were exclusive with Gi, the harder the transition is going to be. Oh, and the same is true if you’re switching from No-Gi to Gi.

The best way to figure out what works and not is to analyze how to change grip points or try out new angles to get the same thing. You won’t choke anyone worth their salt with a cross choke in No-Gi, so you’re better off trying to figure out a choke from the same position that would work. In this instance., I’d go with a  Guillotine, as it works from both the bottom and top and offers plenty of grip variations to finish.

The bottom line is that you need to look at the outcome you’re trying to achieve. Do you want to sweep a standing opponent? Figure out how to engage them first – that will lead you to the guard you can use to sweep/submit later. Much better than trying to play a specific guard at any cost. Or, use a shortcut and copy the game plan from the Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD.

Grappling Scientist Margot Ciccarelli 

People who have laser focus on the things they do end up being incredible at their chosen profession. I doubt Margot Ciccarelli set out to be an extremely effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, particularly since she is still competing, but her dedication to deciphering grappling has led her on that path.

The Murilo Santana black belt has spent her adult years training in a way that most BJJ athletes dream of. She started in the UK, under the mind-blowing trio of Nick Brooks, Daniels Strauss, and Ollie Geddes. Who knows what would’ve turned out if she stayed with the Mill Hill crew longer?

Margot had to travel shortly after discovering BJJ though, and ended up in Maui, picking up training under the guidance of local coaches, but not stopping there. Ciccareli went on to train in New York, California, Hong Kong, and the UK, learning as a true grappling nomad, and eventually earning her black belt from Santana in 2021.

Margot also launched a very cool project along with dancer Stehapnie Lee in 2018, called Jitz Jamming, which blends together dancing and BJJ in a form of movement-based flow.

To date, she has Gi world, Pans, and European titles at many different belt levels, and has demonstrated that her No-Gi game is just as strong by winning the 20024 European ADCC trials. Just something to remember as you check out the contents of the Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD.

Zen Guide To Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD Review

The Zen Guide To Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD offers the standard four volumes, featuring pristine organization of the material, which amasses to a total of two hours:

Part 1 – Conceptual Framework & Engagement

As the Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD kicks off, Margot presents her project with it, which is transitioning her world-title-winning guard Gi game to No-Gi. She begins by defining the concepts that will guide her material in the instructional, starting with the way she organizes her game into standing, seated, and knees down areas.

Margot also covers distance, explaining how to initiate matches and what cues to be wary of if the other person is more aggressive. She also talks about guard pulls from an interesting perspective, and offers great advice on timing by explaining how when to wait and when to impose your game.

Part 2 – Seated Tactics 

Form seated, Ciccarelli’s focus is on De la Riva initially, with lots of inverting Bolo options to get to the back. You can tell her base is a Gi game, although the moves are definitely optimized for No-Gi in her guidelines here.

Leg locks come next, offering another high-percentage option from the position. This second volume of the Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD offers straight Ashi Garami attacks that result in heel hook finishes, as well as no-nonsense transitions into Cross Ashi. I particularly enjoyed the use of leg traps to finish.

This volume also contains lots of 50/50 work that acts as both an Ashi Garmi for hunting kneebars and a back-taking/sweeping guard that eventually leads straight into passes.

Part 3 – Knees Down Game Plan

Arguably the most interesting and original part of the Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD, where she engages in a more active guard exchange game as the opponent goes one level higher, starting with their knees on the ground.

The butterfly and Z guard dominate this portion of the material, with the emphasis on sweeping, mostly from the 2-on-1 grip configuration. Back takes, of course, appear at every possible turn, enforced by the threat of upper body submissions, such as the Kimura and Tarikoplata.

Part 4 – Standing Strategies

The toughest distance to cover from guard in No-Gi is when your opponent is standing, which is exactly what Margot covers in the final part of her instructional. She starts off with a few conceptual ideas on distance management and how to engage in a way that doesn’t put you at risk of getting passed and pinned.

As you might expect, there’s plenty of complex guard work happening here, with shin-on-shin guard leading the way, followed by RDLR, K-Guard, and X-guard combos. Each of these guards offers different submission threats, and when put together in a system, they pretty much cover 360-degree sweeping.

Of course, the hero so far of the Zen Guide To Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD, back exposure, features in this part as well, with a few interesting spinning and dragging setups.

Understand Passing for a Better Guard

You can approach things in two ways when you’re trying to learn stuff in BJJ. You can look at what you’re trying to do, or you can look at what your opponent is trying to do. Yeah, ideally it would be both, but if you could do that I’d be reviewing your DVD and you wouldn’t be reading this.

In terms of what you can do, the task for a guard player is easy, Gi or No-Gi – don’t let people past your legs. If you can do that, you can look to off-balance them and try to get on top or isolate a limb to finish.

When you’re looking at your opponent, though, you’ll learn a lot more. If you ask me, you should start with this first whenever you’re trying to figure something out in Jiu-Jitsu and look at what you’re doing second.

If you just try to see what people do against your guards you’ll notice different levels and directions, to begin with. Both of these are covered in impressive detail in the Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD, as she offers plenty of solutions.

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DOWNLOAD HERE: SUBMISSION GRAPPLING MARGOT CICCARELLI DVD

Peace Comes from Within

The calmer you are, the better you’ll perform. Trying to be calm when someone on top of you is trying to bull-rush you and choke you though, is not easy unless you know exactly what you’re doing. For those of you that don’t some awesome answers lie in the Zen Guide To Submission Grappling Margot Ciccarelli DVD. Since it is No-Gi, it’ll work just fine in the Gi as well, saving you time and money if you cross-train.

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Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ DVD leads you through effective escapes from the most common positions and submissions. 
  • Features mount, side control, knee on belly, and back mount escapes. 
  • Explains how to get out of straight and bent armlocks, leg locks, and chokes. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 8 out of 10.

POSITION AND SUBMISSION ESCAPES CRAIG FUNK DVD HERE:

Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD Preview
SEE TRAILER HERE: Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD

Every position in BJJ has an escape, and every submission people put you in can be countered. Given the sheer number of positions and submissions though, this may seem like an impossible task to achieve.

Well, if you try to find a solution for every position and submission out there, you’ll get stuck and fail, since it is literally impossible. The Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD offers not just ways to deal with everything, but also a way of categorizing positions and submissions so that the same escape concepts apply to a bunch of them at once.

Where to Start With ‘Houdini’ Training 

Getting out of anything in BJJ is more difficult than most things you’re going to do in your life. Before you start exploring defense and escapes, you need to be aware that you’ll have to spend considerable time suffering in different positions. There’s no other way around it.

However, once you manage, you’ll turn into the ‘Houdini’ you think your instructor is, even if you have decades less experience than them. Escaping is really all about trickery, with the results being potentially match-ending – very Houdini-like, won’t you agree?

Adding escapes to your repertoire means you need to have solutions for every position and submission that exists. Placing moves and positions into broader categories will help reduce the amount of information you need to process, allowing you to repeat and practice more.

So, to start with, pick a bad position and allow yourself to be placed there. Then, pick up the Position And Submission Craig Escapes Funk DVD to start getting ideas on where you need to go and what you need to do to get there.

CSW Coach Craig Funk

Combat Submission Wrestling is a gym that is run by one of the most legendary MMA coaches in the world – Erik Paulson. He has been delivering a version of n-nonsense grappling, based on catch wrestling, BJJ, and Sambo, that is very hard to beat.

One of the alumni of Erik’s CSW is Craig Funk, a BJJ black belt who has been training since his early teenage days. His competitive record includes both grappling and pro-MMA bouts but also a decade of work as a bouncer, and we all know how much that experience comes in handy. Just take a look at John Danaher.

Currently heading the Freedom BJJ Academy Craig has taken the CSW style of grappling in two specific directions. One is self-defense, an area of combat sports Craig is highly proficient in.

The other direction is highly effective submission grappling for pro competitors, based on counter-attacking tactics.  In the Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD we see what Funk likes to use to make his students unsubmittable and very hard to hold down.

Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD Review

This Craig Funk Escapes DVD was a very fun instructional to watch. The no-nonsense CSW style and the great organization of the material means that you can use it even if you’re a complete beginner. Craig delivers almost an hour and a half of material over two volumes in this DVD:

Part 1 – Positional Escapes

There is a simplicity easily associated with CSW running through the material in this Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD. For example, the first volume is all about positional escapes, sticking to the point and covering all the key spots, offering more than one way out.

Craig starts with the mount, offering a total of three different ways out, each featuring a different direction. Put together, they’re as unstoppable as you can hope to get when escaping.

Side control and knee on belly follow, once again with plenty of variations for each. I can point out the Hip Rip side control escape as one that really helped me out.

The back mount is the final position Funk addresses in the first volume, offering two ways out, both of which are based on principles that actually work against high-level opposition. I prefer the back-to-the-mats approach but the Caveman Crunch is definitely one that will catch many people by surprise.

Part 2 – Escaping Submissions

Part two of the Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD is all about submission escapes. Now that you know how to get out of most positions, it won’t matter where you end up after you deal with a submission threat – you know how to escape!

Funk divides the material into straight arm locks, triangles, shoulder locks, and leg locks. The straight armbar gets more attention than any other move, with a total of 5 escape options, covering both top and bottom scenarios.

Triangle escapes contain moves you’re probably already using, but with plenty of details to polish them up. The same is true for Omoplata escapes, while there are some very interesting approaches to dealing with Kimuras that I am itching to try.

Ankle locks round up this part of the instructional, as most of CSW’s curriculum tends to favor them over heel hooks. If recent evidence is anything to go by, ankle locks really do seem like the worst leg lock to defend and escape these days, and the options Funk provides will definitely help you out.

How to Make Everything Work in BJJ

There is a hidden caveat to developing a very sound defensive game in BJJ that most people miss out on. A very welcomed ‘side effect’ of focusing on defending and escaping si that all your attacks are going to improve as a direct result of your effort.

Wait, what? How can you get better at attacking when you’re learning to escape? It’s easy – the better you become at fending off attacks and escaping late-stage positions and submissions, the more your grappling confidence is going to grow.

This translates to opening your attacking game up, and taking way more risks since you now don’t care if you get into a bad spot or end up in a submission. Knowing how to escape is exactly what you need to turn your attacking game up two or three notches while developing a well-rounded game in the process.

While there is no mention of turning escapes and defense into direct attacks in the Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD, the material sets the stage for it. After all, CSW is infamous for effective counterattacks, and the material in this DVD contains their bread-and-butter escapes and defense strategies.

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Annoy Everyone! 

It will take you some time to figure everything out in terms of escapes. You’ll need to dedicate some work to each position and submission and some will end up taking more of your time than others. However, everything you need to figure out the solutions is in the Position And Submission Escapes Craig Funk DVD, presented in more ways than one. The secret to developing world-class escapes is something you already know – practice, practice, practice!

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Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ DVD that offers more than one way to deal with the half guard from the top.  
  • Features attacking different half guard variations using submissions systems and wrestling rides. 
  • Explains how to counter common defenses and use half guard structures against the bottom person. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.

TOP HALF GUARD NEIL MELANSON DVD GET HERE:

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The top half guard is a great position to be in, and you don’t even have to know how to pass. Yes, you read that right. Top half is a great position to pin people from, and launch all kinds of attacks that include passes but are definitely not limited to them.

These moves have always been there, it is your mindset, influenced by coaches, that has set you in a singular direction that often ends up in dead ends. Check out the Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD, filled with Neil’s groundbreaking catch wrestling-BJJ combos to break out and see Jiu-Jitsu form a much broader angle.

The Top Half Guard: Trapped or Dominant? 

Every time you roll, you’ll end up in the half guard at least once. It is by far the most frequently used position, and everyone uses it, from top and bottom, Gi and No-Gi. The question is, who has the advantage as the half guard?

Most people would argue that the bottom person has an edge since they’re playing guard, which is designed to attack from. The premise is that the top person has to pass a guard before they can attack themselves.

In most cases of guards, especially the closed guard, this is true. The outlier is the half guard, which is the real 50/50 position in BJJ. Passes and sweeps are equally removed from the person trying to achieve them, while submissions are readily available to both.

The only thing tipping the scale towards the top person is something that the guard player can’t do anything about – gravity. Pressure is something that the top person has as a significant advantage, as long as they know how to use it. The Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD addresses this particular aspect in great detail.

Neil Melanson’s Efficient Grappling

I was a purple belt when I discovered Neil Melanson through a grappling instructional. It turned out I had seen him in the corner of Randy Couture during his time as UFC coach, I just had no idea who he is.

The Ground Marshal is was constant breath of fresh air in BJJ, introducing a lot of catch wrestling to the mix. He is only interested in one thing- efficiency, and goes after it with the determination and in-depth analysis to match any other world-class coach. The difference is that Neil likes to keep to himself and above all, keep things simple.

Interestingly enough, my very first Neil Melanson instructional was a top half guard one. To this day, I still use lots of the things I picked up from it very often, if not every day. I am expecting the Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD to introduce even more of Melanon’s crazy, but effective, grappling ideas.

Full Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD Review

The Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD contains eight volumes, each filled with a different number of chapters, but usually not more than five. As Melanson favors longer chapters, the material is organized into systems per chapter, rather than single moves. The entire DVD lasts for over 4 hours.

Part 1 – Key Concepts

There is no time wasting with Neil, as he gets straight to the point in part one. His signature way of delivering information is via very long chapters, running from 10-30 minutes each! Understandably, the entire first volume of the Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD only has three chapters, but contains 45 minutes of instructions!

Initially, he explains his top half guard goals, offering the concepts he uses to create his attacking strategies. there is a very detailed portion in this part on how to pin the near side arm so that can go straight to a traingle off of your pass. Shoulder locks, naturally, offer follow-up opportunities.

Part 2 – Butcher Shop & Bent Armlocks

What Neil refers to as the butcher shop is a choke I originally learned from Cyborg Abreu as the knee-on-neck choke. Regardless of the name, it is very effective and brutal, usually set up from the north-south.

In this part of the Neil Melanson Half Guard DVD, the focus is on landing straight into the butcher shop after you pass the half guard. In fact, setup happens while you’re still in the guard, with the resulting posture break helping you past the legs.

Kimuras and Americanas also feature in this part of the instructional but with a wrestling twist to them. Instead of going for them for the top half, which is pretty far for a finish, Melanson uses a classic leg ride – the Turk to bunch the bottom person up getting both an arm lock and a pass at the same time.

Part 3 – Using Underhooks

I am against using underhooks when you’re playing the bottom half mostly because of the crazy stuff Neil showed against them in his original top half DVD. From the top, however, they’re crucial, and this part of the Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD shows exactly why that is.

Neil begins in familiar territory, talking at length about the ‘standard’ half guard pass that involves both underhooks. He then moves on to explore different pins that are a direct result of the past, such as Kesa Gatame, with all the assorted painful submissions they bring.

Wrapping up are a few ideas on how to break through the bottom person’s defenses since people don’t just give away underhooks in grappling. Neil ends with a very unique twist, passing with a near-side underhook into a leg triangle.

Part 4 – Tulsa Rides & Chokes

This part is one of my favorites in this Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD as it contains some real wrestling gems that work perfectly in BJJ. The Tulsa ride is one such example, allowing you to torture the bottom person with pressure until they let you through. Neil will show you how to pike on their misery by landing straight into an arm triangle choke.

More rides feature in this part, with the Crab ride offering a different direction once you begin a Tulsa ride, leading to a bar arm, or chicken wing that I never got to work for myself. What I have working very well for me is the gift wrap, which is what Melanson covers next, complete, with several choke finishes.

Part 5 – Dealing With Z-Guard

If you can’t cope with the Z-guard you’re going to have a very tough time grappling this day, seeing how everyone is using it, Gi or No-Gi. Neil seems to share the same sentiment, dedicating an entire volume of his Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD to breaking it open.

The cradle pass, something I initially picked up from Melanson opens the hunting season on Z-guard, branching off into low passes, keeping the threat of submissions very high at all times. Speaking of submissions, knee compressions, and hip locks will all but guarantee that you make it past the Z-guard with ease.

Part 6 – Lockdown Solutions

Another go-to solution you need in your toolbox is the lockdown half guard. Neil offers a different route to what most people take (crawling or sitting back) as he disrupts the structure of the guard by going for the feet.

In the only other chapter in this volume of the Neil Melanson Half Guard DVD we get to learn what the Navy Shuck is, and how it allows you to do even more leg rides. This time, the rides are of the reverse kind, killing off the half guard in a way that BJJ folks find very confusing (when they’re on the receiving end).

Part 7 – Underhook Counters

Neils bread and butter attacks form the top half happen when the bottom person is trying to make something happen using the classic undertook-based approach. In wrestling-free BJJ, this may have a place, but when faced with the Half Stock, Nelsons, and Darces, the deck is completely fixed to suit you as the passer.

Very cool chokes, such as the Manly Choke (best name ever) feature in its portion of the Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD as follow-ups to the brutal ties and passes. There is also a very cool Octopus Guard counter that will force people to reconsider using it against you ever again.

Part 8 – Leg Locks

As we reach the end of this Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD, we get a real cherry on top of the cake – some of Neil’s signature leg lock finishes. Set up using leg rides (the half guard is very vulnerable to them) Melanson shows his knee bar system that involves several different entires and a bunch of great details on getting the tap.

He also shares a few toe holds, and something that is not easy to learn these days – a sequence of leg attacks taught to Neil by Billy Robinson himself! Say what you want. but Melanson certainly knows how to end an instructional in style!

Want to Pass? Trap A Leg!

The closest thing I can offer to a proven guard passing formula is to force the half guard when you’re on top. Simply put, just sit on one of the bottom person’s legs and they’ll have no option but to engage in half guard with you.

How does this help your passing? Well, instead of looking at an unknown number of guards, most likely in the hundreds by now, you now only have one guard to deal with – the half guard. Depending on how you position yourself, you can take away even the variation of the guard, ending up with a much more precise task.

Of course, in order for this entire strategy to work you’ll need to have idea of how to pass the half guard. That is not easy, but it is much easier to figure out compared to dealing with every possible guard variation out there. Plenty of concepts and tactics are available in the Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD.

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Ride The Top! 

We already know that wrestling is extremely beneficial to BJJ. It takes someone like the Ground Marashal, though and the Top Half Guard Neil Melanson DVD to put things into perspective, offering a blueprint on how and when to use wrestling moves to donate BJJ. The rides and catch-wrestling submissions offered by Neil contain literally everything you’ll ever need to have an easy time when you’re in the top half guard.

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SIDELINED: John Danaher Undergoes Surgery, Three More Procedures Await

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
SIDELINED: John Danaher Undergoes Surgery, Three More Procedures Await

One down, three to go as the mastermind behind modern Jiu-Jitsu confronts his toughest opponent yet—his own body as John Danaher undergoes surgery, with more to follow! 

The global Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community got some flash news from John Danaher via his Instagram, as the iconic coach renowned for revolutionizing the art, embarks on a challenging journey of medical surgeries that could redefine his future role in the sport.

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“The doctors say that generally this is the end of any kind of Jiu jitsu type movement at high level.”

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John Danaher Undergoes Surgery

A Path Marred by Physical Trials

Danaher’s ascent in the world of Jiu-Jitsu is nothing short of extraordinary. Starting his martial arts journey later in life and contending with a crippled leg from the outset, he defied the odds to become one of the most respected coaches in the field.

“I’ve always tried to live as actively as my body would permit,” Danaher reflects. He has definitely achieved more than most, especially in the realm of coaching. His determination saw him push beyond limits, but compensating for one injured limb inevitably strained the rest of his body.

Eight years ago, the toll of overcompensation led to a critical point—Danaher underwent hip replacement surgery. Many would have slowed down, but not him. He rebounded, returning to professional coaching with renewed vigor, guiding his students to new heights in competitive grappling.

About four years ago, adversity struck the BJJ mastermind again. His other hip began to deteriorate, signaling another impending hurdle. Yet, fate had another twist.

Following the breakup of his renowned squad, Danaher focused on building a new team from scratch and it is safe to say that New Wave Jiu-Jitsu is now well established.

Personal health took a backseat to his commitment to nurturing talent and fostering the growth of his students, but now John Danaher can finally look after himself for a while.

“My students are, without exception, truly outstanding teachers,” he proclaims with pride. He believes they can “represent what we espoused far better than I ever did and contribute greatly to the sport’s continued growth.”

Names like Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, Helena Crevar, Giancarlo Bodoni, Luke Griffith, Nicolas Meregali, Big Dan, and many others, stand as testaments to his mentorship as John Danaher undergoes surgery, with more procedures set to follow soon.

 

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The Imminent Showdown: A Series of Surgeries

Recently, the decline of his hip reached a critical juncture. Doctors are urging immediate action—not only for his failing hip but also for the knee that has been the root cause of his physical challenges. This year, Danaher is slated to undergo four significant surgeries:

  1. Bilateral Inguinal Hernia Repair: Already completed, addressing issues he admits he “put off too long.”
  2. Hip Replacement: To restore function to his deteriorated hip, mirroring the surgery from eight years prior.
  3. Knee Replacement: A complex procedure, especially since it will involve a femur already connected to a hip replacement.
  4. Lens Implants: To correct his vision, ensuring he doesn’t miss a moment on the mats.

His previous hip replacement demanded six months to a year for full recovery. This time, the addition of a knee replacement to the Danaher surgery list complicates matters and he’s expected to be sidelined significantly longer.

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“The issue will be the more complex and generally less robust knee replacement,” he notes, highlighting the uncertainty ahead.

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Danaher Surgery Hip Replacement

 

The Unyielding Spirit: One Down, Three to Go

“Today, one operation down, three more to go!” Danaher declares with a resilience that’s inspired countless students. His journey underscores a truth many in sports know too well—the toughest battles often lie beyond the arena.

While the future holds uncertainties, one thing is clear: John Danaher’s influence on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is indelible. Whether he returns to high-level coaching or reshapes his role within the community, his philosophies and methodologies will continue to echo throughout dojos worldwide.

Perhaps this period will give rise to new endeavors—more writings, seminars, or digital products where he can impart knowledge without physical strain. The mind that revolutionized Jiu-Jitsu isn’t confined by physical limitations and as John Danaher undergoes surgery by surgery, somehow, I think he’ll be back quicker than we think

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Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ DVD guiding you through the best applications of underhooks for control. 
  • Contains standing, pinning, and guard examples, using some of Glover’s signature positions.   
  • Includes both defensive and attacking uses of underhooks. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 8 out of 10.

UNDERHOOKS WITH UNCLE JEFF GLOVER DVD HERE:

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Some of the most fundamental grappling concepts are often the ones we fail at, mostly because they’re only covered as parts of moves, and are not the main focus of your attention. Underhooks are a great example of this.

There is no way you can effectively grappler without underhooks, Gi or No-Gi, but how much do you really understand about the mechanics and dynamics of this staple grappling move? One look at the Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD will show you how much you’re falling behind in understanding what underhooks can do for your Jiu-Jitsu.

Conquering the Armpits 

So what’s the deal with underhooks? Everyone is constantly talking about them, especially wrestlers and MMA fighters, but what’s the big deal? After all, they’re easy to get, right?

Nope. If you’ve ever tried getting a single, let alone double underhooks from the mount, then you know how elusive they can be. On that note, holding the mount without any means of control in the bottom person’s armpit(s) is nearly an impossible task.

Armpit control is one of those things that is easy to apply to just about everything in BJJ. Think about it – you’re either trying to put your limbs in the opponent’s armpits or trying to clear their limbs from yours. When you thin about underhooks in this manner, it becomes a lot easier to use them.

A great thing about the Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD is that Jeff is not a stickler for how an underhook should look. Instead, he offers the concept of underhooks from every applicable position, letting you figure out how you’re going to place your arm.

Jeff Glover’s BJJ 

So it’s Uncle Jeff again. This time around, he’s talking about a concept everyone needs. But, before we get into it, why Jeff Glover? After all, plenty of people have tried to cover this subject, and yet, you’ll likely learn more from this playful instructional by Glover than all others put together.

It is exactly whits playfulness that sets Jeff apart from everyone else. When you think about it, the applications of underhooks can’t change – they’re literally set in stone. So, it comes down to who is delivering the information, which, it turns out, matters a lot to those trying to learn from a specific resource, like the Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD.

At the end of the day, it is Jeff’s teaching style that will help you figure out what matters and what you should focus on. Admittedly, Jeff does stuff a bit unorthodoxly, but that’s the missing piece of the puzzle – he gives you the freedom to make the moves ‘your own’ which will make it easier for you to fit them in your game.

Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD Review

The Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD features No-Gi demonstrations of a very comprehensive use of underhooks in all BJJ positions that allow for them. Glover divides the content into three volumes, offering a total of an hour and a half of material.

Part 1 – Standing

The Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD kicks off with a focus on the standing exchanges that involve underhooks, which would be almost every version that is worth considering. Jedd talks grip first, as playing with a single underhook is a lot more realistic and effective as opposed to aiming to establish both of them.

Glover also shares how to use the underhook(s) to set up and defend takedowns. If there is one key point to take away from this part of the instructional, it is to use the underhook to clinch and prevent the other person from moving freely, before you think about attacking. Attack examples here include snap downs and the double leg takedown.

Part 2 – Mount & Side Control

Arguably, the most you’ll use underhooks in Jiu-Jitsu is going to be on the ground, from a pinning position. For the most part, it is going to be in an attempt to control the position, but in some cases, underhooks also help you get out of one, as this part of the Jeff Glover Underhooks DVD demonstrates clearly.

The mount and top side control get a lot of attention, with Glover explaining how most situations of control you create anyway, involve some form of underhook, even when it is not the one we usually think about in grappling terms. Jeff covers defensive uses of the underhooks from these positions as well.

Part 3 – Guard

Finally, we arrive at the most complex use of underhooks in grappling. Mess them up from standing and you can re-adjust them. Fail with them from a pin, and you’re still on top. However, if you base your game on underhooks from the guard, and you lose them, you’re likely in deep trouble.

The guards getting attention in this last part of the Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD are ones he was known for using a lot during his competitive days. The butterfly guard is first, showing plenty of interesting underhook control variations, including some that Marcelo Garcia used to great effect.

Another staple position of Jeff’s, the deep half guard, also features, offering an interesting take on an underhook, before the focus shifts to back attacks. Rounding everything off is a bit of highly useful information for triangle hunters, detailing how to use them effectively when your leg is trapped in a half guard.

Direct Torso Control

Underhooks are just one way of controlling your opponent. You know that, but what does this control mean, and what part of the body should you strive to control?

Let’s start with control. If you can make someone move in a direction they don’t want to and stop them from going in a direction they want to go to, you have control. As far as grappling is concerned, this is the most realistic expectation of control over another person you can aim for.

On the matter of the body part you’re trying to get to so that you can establish control if I had to pick one, I’d say the torso. Now let me confuse you a bit – every aspect of control you try to have, from a grip to full mount, including Ashi Garami variations, is aimed at controlling the torso.

This is what we refer to as indirect control. Hwoever, the more direct the control is on the torso, the more control you’ll have over the other person. Let’s take underhooks as an example – they attach you to the shoulder, which provides direct control over that side of the torso.

Get two of them, and you now have optimal torso control to start doing whatever it is your game requires. The Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD holds plenty of ideas on how to get super creative with underhooks to get control that leads to submission.

Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD Free Sample
CHECK OUT A FREE TECHNIQUE: Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover

DOWNLOAD HERE: UNDERHOOKS WITH UNCLE JEFF DVD

Uncle Jeff Knows!  

Easier said than done, but that’s the fun part, right? Next time you’re on the mats rolling, forget about your game for a bit. In every roll, from every position try to get at least one underhook in and see what happens. The Underhooks With Uncle Jeff Glover DVD provides the blueprint, but you’re free to test out the concept of underhooks during open mat so that you realize yourself that you need it.

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Cowboy Cerrone Remembers Crazy Near-Death ATV Experience

By
BJJ World
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Cowboy Cerrone Remembers Crazy Near-Death ATV Experience

In a recently surfaced video, UFC Hall-of-Famer and wild man Donald Cowboy Cerrone recounts how a harrowing ATV accident nearly claimed his life. Known for his relentless spirit and fearless approach, both inside and outside the octagon, Cerrone’s tale of survival adds yet another chapter to his already legendary status.

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“I remember dying. I remember it’s clearly, clearly dying, and I know they talk about DMT, like, the strongest hallucinogenic on the planet.”

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Cowboy Cerrone On Crashing His ATV

The Incident Where Cowboy Cerrone Died (For a While)

The incident occurred 15 years ago, but the memory remains vivid for Cerrone. While riding an ATV at high speed, he lost control and crashed, resulting in severe injuries that left him fighting for his life.

The aftermath was nothing short of a nightmare. Cerrone’s intestines were shredded, and he required immediate medical attention to save his life. The severity of his injuries was staggering, and the recovery process was grueling.

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“I remember dying. It was the most peaceful, graceful feeling,” Cerrone recounted as he went out after the accident. “It was just black. I had no spiritual awakening, I didn’t see the other side. I just passed away.”

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When he was brought to the hospital, he came in with all his ribs broken, punctured lungs, and significant internal bleeding. In fact, he was pronounced dead at the scene for a while, before returning to the land of the living thanks to the work done by EMTs.

It took weeks of recovery in a medically induced coma for Cerrone to wake up. When he did, he was completely lost and in such intense pain that he ended up ripping out his catheter, adding to his injuries.

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“You know the pain if you’ve ever caught it on the zipper before? Imagine that, but much worse,” 

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In a recent video, the Cowboy Cerrone ATV accident featured again, as the fighter recounted the events, sparking renewed interest in his life and career. Beyond the dramatic retelling, the video also provides insight into Cerrone’s crazy strong mindset that landed him on top of so many legendary UFC scraps.

The fighter’s brush with death left him with lasting internal damage, including the removal of 9 feet of intestines and half of his stomach. His harrowing recollections provide a sobering perspective on the risks of his profession and the fortitude it takes to recover from life-threatening injuries.

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“I was racing some motocross and I wrecked real bad and just kind of spilled my guts out,” he said. “They had to take a bunch of my intestines and part of my stomach.”
“What happened this time is, my stomach basically rolled around the intestine. Man, talk about pain. It was like someone was stabbing me. Oh, it was so brutal!”

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A Life of Thrills and Spills

Cerrone’s near-death experience on the ATV is just one of many wild stories in his life. Known for his adrenaline-fueled antics, ‘Cowboy’ has always lived on the edge.

From wild horseback rides to daring stunts, Cowboy Cerrone death brushes are quite a common thing in the octagon, as the fighter seemingly tries to replicate the intensity of his fighting career:

  • Falling Off a Cliff – In 2013 Cowboy Cerrone fell off a cliff during rock climbing, angering Dana White to an extreme.
  • Hunting Accident – 2016 saw Cerrone post a gruesome eye injury that was a result of shooting a rifle while hunting off of a horse, which spooked the horse.
  • Suba Dive Malfunction – As he was trying to find a $500 hidden prize, Cowboy’s suit filled with water during a scuba dive and he barely managed to survive.
  • Car Accidents – There have been more than we can recount, but one sticks out, where Cerrone ended up with his truck flipped on its roof in New Mexico, just days before fighting Tim Means.
  • Short Notice Fighting – Cerrone once fought two times in the UFC in the span of two weeks, in January 2015, winning both of them.

One of the most captivating aspects of Cerrone’s persona is his ability to blend his fighting legacy with his adventurous spirit. Fans have seen him take on the toughest opponents in the UFC, but his off-the-cuff exploits add a layer of unpredictability that keeps them hooked.

Cowboy’s Legendary UFC Legacy

Inside the octagon, Cerrone’s legacy is undeniable. With numerous records under his belt, including the most wins and finishes in UFC history, he has cemented his place as one of the sport’s greats.

His fighting style—marked by precision striking, impeccable grappling, and an indomitable will—has earned him a legion of fans worldwide. Cerrone’s ability to bounce back from adversity is a testament to his resilience.

Whether it’s recovering from life-threatening injuries or facing setbacks in his fighting career, he always comes back stronger. This tenacity has made him a role model for many aspiring fighters but his recent idea to come out of retirement was met with scepticism from Dana White, who we agree with:

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“If it’s about money, he can do something else,” said White. “Cause he ain’t gonna fight for the rest of his life, he’s always gonna need to make money. So let’s figure that out now instead of three years from now.”

________________________________________________________________________

Cowboy Cerrone Remembers Crazy Near-Death Experience

There’s Nobody Like Cowboy Cerrone! 

Donald Cowboy Cerrone’s life is a testament to living fearlessly. His near-death ATV accident is just one of many stories that illustrate his indomitable spirit and unyielding passion for adventure.

Beyond the octagon, Cerrone has engaged in a series of wild stunts that have kept fans on the edge of their seats. From horseback riding escapades to daring motorcycle jumps his off-the-cuff exploits add a layer of unpredictability that mirrors the intensity of his fighting career.

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Grappling Continuum DVD Review Zack Esposito, Shawn Williams, and Warren Stout

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Grappling Continuum DVD Review Zack Esposito

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi instructional taught by three coaches, who are experts in different aspects of grappling. 
  • Covers fundamental wrestling engagement tactics from standing that can be replicated on the bottom.   
  • Includes passing, takedowns, grip fighting, submissions, sweeps and counters.
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.

THE GRAPPLING CONTINUUM DVD GET IT HERE:

Grappling Continuum DVD Preview Zack Esposito, Shawn Williams
SEE THE TRAILER: Grappling Continuum DVD

You need better wrestling for your BJJ. That’s a sentence I can freely share with 90% of BJJ practitioners and I would be correct. However, what is it exactly that you need to be focusing on from wrestling that would help your BJJ without overcomplicating things or having to learn a whole new combat sport?

That, right there, is one of the hardest questions to answer in this day and age of grappling. What is fundamental and what’s the stuff we absolutely can’t grapple without? The Grappling Continuum DVD, a very well-put-together collaborative effort between three standout coaches offers plenty of answers to these questions.

Fundamental Wrestling Techniques 

I have no idea what’s fundamental in grappling at this point in time. I’ll go ahead and use the term for every move that seems to be inevitable when we engage, whether it is standing or on the ground. Actually, the moves that apply to both get my vote as fundamental over anything else.

This should make it easier for you to sift through the millennia of knowledge that’s contained in wrestling, as you attempt to figure out what to use in BJJ and what to leave. Given the usual reasons for people being different, both in body and mind, as well as the different goals, the fundamentals have to be stuff that would apply to all, and not be subject to individual influences.

So, what are the fundamentals of wrestling for BJJ then? Getting close to the opponent, attaching yourself to their neck, arm, or leg, stopping them from attaching, taking away balance, and preventing the bottom person from standing back up. These will do for now and are exactly what you can pick up quickly from the Grappling Continuum DVD.

A Standout Grappling Trio

Whoever thought of putting this dream team together for a specific grappling DVD is a genius, and I’d love for more work like this to start appearing. Instead of just the condensed idea of one coach, in this instructional, we get to enjoy the expertise of three coaches, each of them expert in a different field:

Zack Esposito is a wrestling coach at Oklahoma State, with several Big 12 titles to his name in that role. He has also guided many wrestlers to NCAA D1 All-American Titels and national championships, as well as being in the corner of UFC champions like Johnny Hendricks and Daniel Cormier. He is the wrestler in this deadly trio of grappling experts.

Shawn Williams represents BJJ as a Renzo Gracie black belt and one of the best innovators in the sport. The man behind the Williams Guard and a host of other incredibly effective systems, as well as one of the greatest coaching minds in Jiu-Jitsu in this century, is the glue that holds the material in this Grappling Continuum DVD together.

Warren Stout, a Lehigh wrestling legend and 3rd-degree BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie is the final piece in this puzzle. He has been helping Renzo and Shawn Willimas with wrestling for two decades and has spent time training with Rolls Gracie, Mauro Sergio, and John Danaher. These days, he coaches MMA fighters and grapplers at multiple locations.

Grappling Continuum DVD Review: Zack Esposito, Shawn Williams, and Warren Stout

This three-person instructional dubbed the Grappling Continuum DVD is a very useful project that provides plenty of expert information from various perspectives about the same grappling exchanges. It has six volumes, each of them with a different length, and a total of 3 hours of material:

Part 1 – How to Engage

In one of the best DVDs I’ve seen about wrestling for Ji-Jitsu, the opening sections feature short intros by all the coaches involved in it. Given the combined knowledge of Shawn, Warren, and Zack I was wondering how the material delivery would flow at this point.

It turns out I had nothing to worry about, as the three know each other pretty well and already have a way to work together. most of the first volume of the Grappling Continuum DVD covers the basics nobody likes to learn (at least as a beginner).

There are lots of movement basics, stance details, and instructions on how to manage distance to engage, both on the feet and on the ground. I loved that all the material demonstrated stating, is then translated to direct use in BJJ by looking at guarded scenarios.

Part 2 – Grip Fighting 

Another aspect most people hate to learn is grip fighting. Well, Shawn and Co. make it as fun as it can get in this part of the Grappling Continuum DVD, covering mostly how to keep your arms free of engagement.

The focus is first on the elbow and collar ties, with low-energy, high-efficiency ways of clearing them in No-Gi situations. A set of hand-fighting drills to help you figure out timing really helps with the point they’re making.

As the material progresses, the attention switches to the 2-on-1 grip, and how to approach wrist control, or rather how to clear wrist grips which, as it turns out, matter more than the upper arm one. I really enjoyed the portion on disrupting opponents, as it is something I’m focused on myself at the moment.

Part 3 – Butterfly Guard Applications

In part three of the Grappling Continuum DVD Shawn takes the steering wheel, focusing a lot on the butterfly guard and integrating everything shared so far into an easy-to-follow game, that seems to be just as uncomplicated to pull off in rolling.

Sticking to engaging with grips, he quickly explains how to use armdrags, head snaps, and elbow control to disrupt balance and sweep. His end-range sweeping move of choice here is the ankle pick, which works beautifully.

As this volume draws to its conclusion, we also get to see how to use the tie-clearing tactics from the previous one to easily brush off collar tie attempts from the person on top.

Part 4 – Getting the 2-on-1

Past the halfway point, Zack, Shawn, and Warren’s Grappling Continuum DVD introduces attacks from standing, with the 2-on-1 grip featuring in the main role. The way they present it is with the 2-on-1 as the main goal, with entries and takedowns representing branches that stem from it.

Attacks include takedowns, controlled scoring, establishing side control after taking the match to the mats, and a few turtle breakdowns, just to cover all bases. A key principle on how to use pushing, pulling, and shoveling makes all of the above possible, once again allowing you to exert the minimum possible amount of energy.

Part 5 – All About the Double Leg 

Everyone’s favorite takedown to watch, but least favorite to do (at least for Jiu-Jitsu folks) is the center of attention in the penultimate portion of the Grappling Continuum DVD. The coaches start from the setup, looking at armdrags and collar ties as the starting points.

In fact, they go very far in detailing why shooting is a big risk in BJJ, and clinch-type setups are far more effective. They also offer instruction on recognizing guillotine dangers and maneuvering around them to finish the double in full control. Toward the end, the single leg also gets a mention, as a common follow-up or predecessor to the double leg takedown.

Part 6 – Snapdowns, Turtle and Extra Concepts 

As we get to the final part of the instructional, the coaches use their time to finish up offering bits and pieces that maybe had no place in the previous content but definitely make it easier to figure out how to do the stuff they already presented.

From a look at the stiff arm turtle (a.k.a. referee’s position) to reverse Tae Otoshi straight into guard passing, this portion contains all the extra stuff you might be wondering about in terms of using the material. I liked the snap-down guillotine and also enjoyed the concept of feet-to-floor training and a high level of control from standing engagement to pin.

Training Jiu-Jitsu With A Purpose

The moment you start engaging with your opponent, which usually means you’re standing, you need to only move with a clear purpose of attacking, defending, or creating better angles and opportunities. Unfortunately, I often see people grappling without purpose, but rather for the sake of just ‘play fighting’.

You’ve heard that you need to have something you’re testing out in rolls, or else they only count as low-yield cardio at best. Well, testing something out, or specializing as BJJ grapplers like to say, means you are after a goal, which gives you purpose. That’s the easy part.

The hard part is to hone in on that purpose from the moment you start a roll or match, not just when you’re close to it. If passing is your area of research, then you should be thinking about how to stay past the legs after taking the opponent down as soon as you slap and bump, not after you engage.

This point, and lots of similar ones are at the core of the material that three of the best grappling coaches in the world present in the collaborative effort that is the Grappling Continuum DVD.

Grappling Continuum DVD Review Zack Esposito Free Sample
WATCH A FREE SAMPLE: Grappling Continuum Zack Esposito, Shawn Williams, Warren Stout

DOWNLOAD HERE: THE GRAPPLING CONTINUUM DVD

Finish Strong!

It’s all about the finish in BJJ, isn’t it? Sound familiar? Well, a strong finish is only going to be possible if you start effectively, give yourself every advantage, and have a clear idea of what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and when to do it. It sounds very Danaher-y when I put it like this, so why not make things simple and learn from the Grappling Continuum DVD? Zack, Shwan, and Warren break things down so that even strikers can understand it.

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Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A Gi BJJ DVD that has Roger Gracie explaining what he thinks and does when passing guard. 
  • Features pressure passing scenarios based on concepts that relate to realistic scenarios.  
  • Includes examples of passing the knee shield, half guard, and closed guard. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 10 out of 10.

ROGER GRACIE GUARD PASSING SYSTEM DVD GET HERE:

Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD Preview
FULL TRAILER: Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD

There is no point in watching Roger Gracie pass guards, with or without the Gi, if you don’t have any context as to what he is doing. Okay, you understand the basics of BJJ positions and can figure out what passing is and what guards are. But what is Roger doing?

I think the more important thing is what is Roger thinking, and that’s something you can’t analyze using footage – you have to go to the source. In this case, the best source to figure it out said from asking Roger himself, is to get your hands on the Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD. You have the chance to do it – will you grab it?

Pass Like Roger Gracie

Yeah, you wish. But you’re welcome to try! The cold hard truth is that you’ll never be able to pass like Roger unless you’re Roger. You can, however, learn from everything Roger has done in his lifetime of training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

With passing on the menu today, we get to revisit the craziness that is the Roger Gracie closed guard pass, and his unbeatable strategy when it comes to destroying people’s guards. In fact, they managed to, seemingly easily, breeze past the guards of some of the best grapplers ever, both with and without the Gi. Very, very few people have been able to replicate that.

The Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD is not a full depiction of Roger’s system. Thank God! Instead, he shares his approach to passing, explaining how he likes to use pressure to deal with any type of guard scenario. This one is one of the ‘new breeds’ of instructionals that transcend techniques and actually aim to teach grapplers something.

Roger Gracie’s BJJ Legacy

Whenever people mention Roger Gracie, a few things spring to mind. The most well-behaved and calm Gracie member for one, and probably the most humble. Super technical Jiu-Jitsu. A bad run in the UFC. Cross collar chokes. Pressure passing. GOAT.

I could go on, but for those few Gen Z readers who have no idea who Roer is, I think you get the point. Roger is by far one of the best that ever stepped on the mats, both as a competitor and a coach.

His legacy of submitting all of his opponents with the same submission in the IBJJF Worlds has never been matched. Also, very few have managed to submit al their opponents on the road to ADCC gold, as Roger did back in 2005. That’s a flawless, Mortal Kombat-type of performance if ever there was one.

Another thing everyone visiting London does Is hop over to Roger’s (he actually has a few academies around town) to try and learn from the GOAT. Do you know what happens if you run into him during class? You get to roll with him as he spars with everyone when he is in the gym.

Until you can figure out how to get to London and hope that Roger is on the mats when you visit, take a look at the Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD. It’s one of his ‘signature move’ areas and you’ll pick up stuff you’ll use on the mats until you decide to hang up your Gi for good.

Guard Passing System Roger Gracie DVD Review

One look at the Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD and you can see it’s not the same as most instructionals these days. It has three volumes, but each only contains a few chapters, even though they’re all over 30 minutes long. The full instructional lasts just under 2 hours and features Roger demonstrating guard passes with the Gi:

Part 1 – What is Pressure Passing?

So, pressure passing isn’t really what you thought. I know that for me, this Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD changed my complete perception of pressure passing. As early as the very first chapter, Roger explains exactly what pressure is in terms of passing, and crucially, pinning during passing.

He shares some incredible concepts in this part of the DVD, that both explain your body positioning relative to the opponent, and exactly which points of the opponent’s body you need to pressure.

A very astute example follows in the form of a knee shield solution that doesn’t take you into a pass, as most instructionals show. Instead, Roger demonstrates how to get past the knee shield and into half guard. He addresses the half guard next, constantly ensuring the bottom person does not recover their knee shield.

Part 2 – Leg Pins

When I figured out this concept, it completely changed not just my passing approach, but also my sweeps. It wasn’t Roger who pointed me to it, but I more than enjoyed Roger Gracie’s take on the subject, which is the main focus in the second part of this Roger Gracie Passing DVD.

Gracie picks the leg weave position to portray how pinning the legs and creating a bottom leh aids your passing efforts. Still using the half guard as an example, he covers pressure mechanics, optimal direction, and how to deal with common recovery attempts.

The end destination of Roger’s pressure weave pass is the mount, of course, and we all know what happens to the bottom person from there once Roger conquers it. An alternative smash pass option against the knee shield wraps up this volume.

Part 3 – Pressure Passing the Closed Guard

About 12 years ago I think, was the first time I heard of the Roger Gracie closed guard pass There was nothing on YouTube, and the only way to figure it out was to learn from someone who has trained at Rogers and figured out the details for himself.

I personally loved it, as butchered of a version as I got during my blue belt days. Well, the move has been pretty much dissected by now on multiple occasions, but it is always a pleasure to see Roger demonstrate it.

The final part of the Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD guides you through pressure passing the closed guard, from opening using a knee in between the legs to torturing the bottom person with Roger’s spine-twisting pass. Just to cover all bases, Roger also offers a standing passing version at the tail end of the DVD.

The Goal of Guard Passing in BJJ

Why do most guard passes fail? The answer is surprisingly easy and super obvious, but people tend to miss it all the time. It all comes down to one thing – can you keep the bottom person from getting back to guard once you pass?

A big part of the blame here lies with BJJ coaches. They focus on so many needless details for arm placement, angles, etc, that they miss the actual main point. We pass guard not for the process of passing, but for the effect of getting past the legs. Read that again.

Now, hopefully, triggered to think, take a look at some top matches. Doesn’t matter if it is Roger Gracie, Gordon Ryan, Marcel,o or yourself featuring. Even better, watch random purple belts from competition footage on YouTube and try to see what they do, after they pass, to ensure they stay past the legs.

As your eyes open to the fact that people worry more about how they move their legs while passing than they worry about staying past the legs, you’ll want solutions. The Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD has a bunch of them, all pressure-based and delivered by the real GOAT of BJJ. 

Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD Free Sample
WATCH A FREE SAMPLE: Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD

DOWNLOAD HERE: ROGER GRACIE GUARD PASSING SYSTEM DVD

Pass With Pressure! 

Time to unleash that old-school pressure that won’t crush your opponents, but rather pin them. If you play your cards right and stick to the instructions in the Roger Gracie Guard Passing System DVD, you’ll also unlock the ability to use pressure in a way that makes the bottom person experience it worse the more they struggle to get out. Passing like Roger, right?

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John Danaher Marriage Rules: 5 Radical Reasons for Saying ‘I Do’

By
Filip Zanki
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John Danaher Marriage Rules: 5 Radical Reasons for Saying 'I Do'

John Danaher, the enigmatic and widely respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, is one strange cat, as Joe Rogan would put it. Known for his cerebral approach to martial arts and background in philosophy Danaher’s reputation for deep analytical thinking, Danaher is considered a BJJ ‘guru’.

From time to time, though, his eccentricity in other aspects of life also seeps through, making the mysteriously charismatic figure of John Danaher appear even more unique and interesting. Take the John Danaher marriage rules for example, offering a blend of humor, pragmatism, and a unique perspective that only someone like Danaher could provide.

John Danaher Marriage Rules

John Danaher Marriage Advice: 5 Key Reasons to Get Married

During a candid conversation, Danaher outlined what he humorously refers to as the “only five viable reasons to get married.” His criteria are unconventional, to say the least, reflecting his analytical mind and dry wit.

  1. Age Difference: “The bride must be between 18 and 25 years old, and the man should be over 55,” Danaher quipped. The significant age gap, he suggests, brings about a certain dynamic that could be beneficial for both parties.
  2. Financial Dynamics: He jested that the man “should have no money,” while the woman “must be wealthy.” This reversal of traditional financial expectations adds an ironic twist to societal norms.
  3. Enthusiasm for Intimacy: Danaher emphasized that the woman should be “particularly enthusiastic about intimate relations.” While tongue-in-cheek, this point underscores the importance of physical compatibility in a relationship.
  4. Practical Benefits: The coach also mentioned that marriage should offer tangible benefits, such as social connections or personal advancement. “If it doesn’t improve your life in measurable ways, why complicate things?” he mused.
  5. Shared Goals: Finally, Danaher highlighted the necessity of aligned life objectives. “It’s crucial that both individuals are moving in the same direction,” he said, noting that divergent paths often lead to discord.

Danaher has been known to challenge societal expectations so the John Danaher marriage rules, entertaining as they are, come as no real surprise:

“People often follow scripts laid out for them without question,” he remarked. “Marriage, careers, lifestyles—we should critically assess what truly brings us fulfillment.”

The Man Behind the Plan

Born in New Zealand, John Danaher moved to the United States to pursue higher education, eventually undertaking a Ph.D. in philosophy at Columbia University. However, a knee injury led him to the doors of Renzo Gracie’s academy, where he found his true calling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Danaher quickly became one of the most influential figures in the sport, coaching elite athletes like Georges St-Pierre, Gordon Ryan, and Garry Tonon. His methodical approach and dedication have revolutionized modern grappling.

Despite his prominence in the martial arts world, Danaher is a private individual who rarely discusses his personal life. Yet, when he does share, his thoughts are as intriguing as his coaching techniques. Just take a look at the John Danaher marriage advice!

A Few More John Danaher Pearls of Wisdom

Danaher’s views on marriage aren’t just theoretical. His lifestyle and personal anecdotes often reflect his philosophies, both applicable to BJJ and life, just like the rule-based John Danaher marriage rules Tonon shared with the BJJ world:

  • Rash Guard Wedding Attire: Fellow BJJ legend Matt Serra once recounted the hilarious story of Danaher attending his wedding in his trademark rashguard. “There he was, everyone in tuxedos, and John walks in dressed for the mats,” Serra laughed. “That’s just John—unapologetically himself in every situation.”
  • Monastic Commitment: Danaher’s students often joke about his monk-like dedication to martial arts. Garry Tonon shared:

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“I asked John once why he never pursued relationships, and he said, ‘I’m married to Jiu-Jitsu.’ His devotion is on another level.”

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  • Dating ‘Advice’: In a lighthearted conversation, Danaher once advised, “Never start a first date discussing your 10-year life plan. It’ll either scare them off or, worse, they’ll want to join in.” His dry humor offers levity while subtly critiquing overzealous commitment.

John Danaher

The John Danaher Marriage Approach

What makes Danaher’s views particularly engaging is how they mirror his teaching style in martial arts—unconventional yet profoundly effective. He deconstructs complex systems, whether in Jiu-Jitsu or life and rebuilds them with logic and purpose.

The John Danaher marriage rules, while delivered with humor, invite deeper reflection on societal norms and personal motivations. After all, everything he has said about Jiu-Jitsu has been right – so why shouldn’t he be on point about marriage as well?

Danaher’s emphasis on self-awareness, practicality, and challenging conventions encourages individuals to make choices that align authentically with their values. The question is, whether someone would decide to adhere to his advice and test his theory.

Renzo Gracie sums up John Danaher pretty well, in one of his more famous quotes regarding the BJJ mastermind:

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“John lives life on his own terms. His perspectives might seem eccentric, but there’s wisdom hidden in his words.”

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People on social media have shared and discussed his five reasons, with many finding them refreshingly candid. One user wrote, “Leave it to Danaher to make me laugh and contemplate my life choices all at once.”

The ‘Central Problems’ of Getting Married 

This unconventional approach to marriage is likely a reflection of Danaher’s philosophy—question everything, seek authenticity, and don’t be afraid to defy norms. His five viable reasons to get married are less about prescribing actions and more about encouraging critical thinking.

In a world where societal pressures often dictate personal decisions, the John Danaher marriage advice serves as a reminder to live deliberately. Whether on the mats or in life, his teachings inspire others to pursue mastery, not just of a craft but of one’s own existence.

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Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A Gi BJJ insturctional outlining a complete fundamentals curriculum used by Eliot Marshall.
  • Includes attacks, defenses, standing, and groundwork, along with punch defense and awareness. 
  • Features headlock and bear hug defenses that are more suited for an Aikido instructional than a BJJ DVD. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 4 out of 10.

FUNDAMENTALS CURRICULUM ELIOT MARSHALL DVD GET HERE:

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FULL TRAILER: Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD

I really like it when people organize their teaching, as most coaches don’t really pay too much attention to methods and training structure, but rather to how good they sound while demonstrating. Sometimes, coaches manage to organize their curriculums in an effective way that helps both students to learn faster and other coaches to coach better.

The Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD sounds like it delivers exactly that. While it does contain a fairly long and detailed curriculum, there are flaws to it that make it almost useless to a beginner student, and very limited in terms of quality info for coaches. Read on.

The Roadmap I Never Had

When I started training BJJ instructionals were pretty scarce, especially ones that delivered full curriculums. I would’ve really enjoyed supplementing my daily training with some digital details back then, especially organized by level and experience.

Later on, as I turned to lots of teaching when I became a purple belt, I became curious about curriculums, believing that they were the only way to organize training and gauge results. It turns out that, while you do need a roadmap, curriculums rarely offer it.

Just like you can’t use the school system from the 80s to teach kids about what they need today, you can’t use all the old school BJ stuff, exactly as it was before the 2000s, and try to teach people today. Apart from a few timeless things most of that stuff is useless, which also explains the role of repetitive curriculums in BJJ.

Unfortunately, the Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD is the perfect example of the point I am trying to make here. Check out the play-by-play review to learn more about it.

UFC Veteran Eliot Marshall

Eliot Marshall has been a part of martial arts since he discovered Karate Kid during his childhood. Initially a Soo Bahk Do striker, Marshall turned to BJJ in the late 90s and has never looked back.

These days, Eliot is the owner and head coach at Easton Training Center, where he covers most of the grappling classes. With several Pans titles to his name, as well as a stint in the UFC to top off an impressive 17-5 professional MMA record, there’s little dispute that he knows what he’s talking about.

BJJ-wise, Eliot began training with Amal Eason in Colorado in 1999, and received all his belts from him, following in the Renzo Gracie lineage. Marshal is also the first American to win the Pans at blue, purple, and brown belts. The superheavyweight is now dedicated to teaching full time, offering his experience and knowledge even outside the bounds of his gym, with the likes of the Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD.

Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD Review

The Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD contains eight volumes and has no real structure to it. I can see how some things are beneficial for beginners, but this entire instructional is like a chaotic version of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu curriculums, with perhaps a third of the material offering anything useful. The length of the DVD is just under 5 hours.

Part 1 – Warm Ups and Self-Defense Basics

As this instruction opened up, there was a promise in the approach that Marshall utilized. I liked the fact that he integrated punching into his Jiu-Jitsu, as it really provides a different perspective to grappling exchanges, one that’s mostly missing nowadays.

That said, the first part of the Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD immediately sets the stage for a pretty chaotic approach to the material that Marshall demonstrated. He starts with the intro to his system, offering some interesting warm-up options, and then talking immediately about punch defense from various positions.

He offers technical stand-ups, sweeping, posture control, front headlock chokes, and more in the span of 15 or so minutes, all condensed into a couple of scenarios that are hardly relatable to one another.

Part 2 – Back to the Mats Scenarios

From the beginning of the second portion of the Eliot Marshall Fundamentals DVD, it is clear that the structure is different from every other BJJ DVD so far, and not in a good way. Part two offers mostly guarded situations, with some stuff like the concept of the self-defense open guard offering valuable information.

Other chapters involved in this portion, such as the buck & roll are a direct waste of time, and they’ll do more damage than good to someone looking to figure out the fundamentals of grappling.

The Kesa Gatame escape is good though, as is the basic knee to elbow defensive application Eliot shows here.

Part 3 – Back Attacks & Subs

Arguably, one of the best bits of the Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD. In this volume, Marshall at least sticks to one area. Once again there is a a Kesa Garame defense that involves going back to guard and standing up just like every volume so far.

The good stuff starts when he takes punch defense toward back exposure. I leave the punching up to you to decide whether you’ll use it as an opening. However, what Marshall demonstrates in terms of getting and attacking from the back is sound, from a fundamental perspective.

He shares some fairly details RNC finishing mechanics, explains how to get to the back after getting to a front headlock (he uses a snap down from standing) and also covers grip work that leads to chokes and armbars from behind. Not at all bad.

Part 4 – Mount and Side Control

Bear hugs really have no place in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but for some reason, Marshall seems to think we need to defend against them. While the attack is Aikido-esque, the over-under solution he offers I actually useful as a clinching position for grapplers.

If we skip over the bear hug portion the points made about pinning in this part of the Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD are quite straightforward and easy for beginners to figure out. This includes just enough details on mount and side control maintenance.

Part 5 – Headlocks 

Another rollercoaster of a volume in the Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD that covers lots of headlock scenarios, mostly from a defensive aspect that is reminiscent of early 2000s self-defense instructionals. All that’s missing are the heavy red curtains in the back.

Some moves are useful, or at least the idea behind them, such as hunting for armlocks after escaping a headlock. The inevitable Kesa Gatame appears again, with yet another idea on how to get out and back up to standing.

The incredibly complex subject of frames and pummels features very shortly, just enough to cause massive confusion in a new grappling student. More open guard self defense and headlock escapes conclude this 45 minutes long part of the instructional.

Part 6 – Passing and Bear Hug Defense

More bear hug defense, separated from the other martial in this DVD on the subject by an entire volume. Just saying.

Part six of the Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD goes into passing, looking at how to perform the Torreando pass and how to attack from side control. useful content, including the following sections on standing closed guard passing using the knee slice.

I’ll skip over the bear hug stuff completely. There is also a standing Osoto Gari in this portion, but with no context whatsoever that will make it viable to use.

Part 7 – Overhook Guard Attacks

Along with the portion on back attacks, this is another part of the Eliot Marshall Fundamentals DVD that I found enjoyable to watch, and took some useful insights from it. The overhook guard is something that’s just as useful in BJJ as it is in MMA or self-defense, especially when paired with traingle and Omoplata attacks. Well, triangles do feature in this part of the DVD.

There’s also a bit of passing under the legs, which adds the final useful dimension to passing around and through the legs as mentioned in the previous volume. I think they could’ve all easily featured in the same one for consistency.

Part 8 – More Back Attacks & Defense

As we reach the final part of the Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD, which was confusing and even tiresome at some points, the focus is on more back mount work. Most of it has to do with attacks, which include rear naked choke variations and armbars, but also some examples and a glance over the role of grip fighting in escaping.

How to Use BJJ Instructionals as a Newbie 

If you’re starting BJJ in teh 2020s you’re starting with just about every bit of information available to you – and that is a lot. No one person can hold, process, or deliver that knowledge to you, but the internet can, and it often leaves beginners confused to the point where they just give up on BJJ and leave.

What you need to know as a beginner in the whirlwind of DVDs and instruction is that you need structure. All the information is useful, but what you do with it matters the most, and in that regard, not all information provided by instructionals is helpful, at least not at the starting point of your grappling journey.

While you can learn from any instructional at any belt level, don’t expect to learn everything in it. This is true for every DVD, but especially for the Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD. A few bits and pieces are definitely worth the time to watch and maybe re-watch, but as a whole, this instructional won’t teach you much.

The same thing applies to all instructionals you’ll ever watch, although as you specialize more, you’ll be able to pinpoint specific ones that carry only the information you need and get more in return than you would with a general one like Marshall’s.

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Start Here! 

The rallying cry of the Complete Fundamentals Curriculum Eliot Marshall DVD is to ‘Start here” but here is highly confusing in this DVD. Is this the BJJ instructions to get you going? Nope. Is this the instructional to help an instructor set up their fundamentals curriculum? While it has some good points, I hope nobody tries to use it in that regard. it is good, however, to see what it was like to teach 20+ years ago and what not to do today.

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