Key Takeaways
- A systematic approach to passing the seated guard — butterfly, single-leg X, and every position where the bottom player sits up — built around Isaac Doederlein’s front door / back door framework
- Four volumes covering foundations, front door toreando entries, back door passes, and bonus hand fighting against the seated guard — $147 for a complete passing curriculum
- Doederlein’s competitive record (89 wins, 53% submission rate, IBJJF World Champion) gives the material elite-level credibility
- The front door / back door distinction provides a clear decision tree: attack the front of the body or take the back, depending on how the guard player frames
- Best suited for gi grapplers at blue belt and above who need a structured solution to the seated guard
- Rating: 8/10
FIND IT HERE: THE PASSING SEATED GUARD ISAAC DOEDERLEIN DVD
The seated guard is a different problem than the supine guard. When an opponent sits up, they have more mobility, better weight distribution, and access to butterfly hooks, single-leg X entries, and wrestle-up setups. Passing requires different footwork, different grips, and a different understanding of angles.
Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD addresses this gap with a front door / back door framework that separates the passing problem into two clear highways. This Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD review covers the four-volume footwork passing system and evaluates whether a world champion’s approach delivers on its promise.
All About The Footwork
The seated guard dominates modern gi Jiu-Jitsu for a reason. The bottom player can off-balance, enter leg entanglements, and wrestle up more effectively — which means front door back door passing is a skill every serious top player needs. Most passing instructionals treat the seated guard as an afterthought.
Doederlein gives it a full instructional because he understands that the seated guard requires a fundamentally different approach. The bottom player’s posture changes the passing angles. You cannot circle around the hips the way you would against a supine guard because the seated guard player can pivot and follow you.
The best approach to seated guard passing alternates between pressuring into the hips (front door) and circling around to the back (back door), and Doederlein’s framework gives you the tools to choose correctly in real time.
Isaac Doederlein BJJ credentials as an IBJJF World Champion with 89 career wins and a 53% submission rate support the teaching. His featherweight competition style relies on speed and footwork, which makes him a natural fit for this specific passing problem.
Isaac Doederlein Bio
Isaac Doederlein is an American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, training with Alliance. Born November 12, 1992, Doederlein stands as one of the most decorated featherweights of his generation.
His competition record tells a compelling story. Of 131 total recorded matches, Doederlein has 89 wins (67.94%) against 40 losses and 2 draws. His submission rate of 53% is well above the site average of 40%, with his most productive finishes coming from the gi choke from the back (13 wins), straight ankle lock (11 wins), and armbar (10 wins).
His major titles include the IBJJF World Champion (2022), IBJJF European Open (2020), Brasilero Champion (2023), and IBJJF Brazilian Nationals (2019). He has also won the UAEJJF King of Mats in Tokyo and the US National Pro. His rivalry history includes competitive series against Alex Sodré (5 wins to 3 losses) and Samir Chantre (4 wins to 1 loss), though matchups against Paulo Miyao and Marcio Andre have proven challenging.
Doederlein started his martial arts journey in judo at age 11 through a church program, then transitioned to BJJ after moving to Arizona at 14. At 18, he committed fully to training under Cobrinha in Los Angeles — a decision that shaped his entire competitive career.
Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD Review
For gi grapplers who struggle with butterfly guard, single-leg X, or any seated position, the Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD provides a structured passing system that replaces guesswork with a repeatable decision tree. Paired with Doederlein’s supine guard passing set, it covers the full range of open guard passing scenarios.
Volume 1 — Foundations
Volume 1 of the Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD establishes the conceptual framework for seated guard passing. Doederlein starts with stance and range — the two variables that determine whether you are in a position to pass or about to get swept. The pulling versus framing concept is the key insight: you can pull the guard player forward to break their base, or frame to pin them in place, and each choice opens different passing options.
The pivoting point and the front door versus back door distinction complete the foundation. The front door means attacking past the guard player’s hips from the front, using pressure and toreando footwork. The back door means circling around behind the hips to attack the back or float past to side control. Every technique in the remaining volumes is a variation on one of these two themes.
Volume 2 — Front Door Passing Techniques
Part 2 of this Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD is the larger of the two main passing volumes, reflecting that most seated guard passing happens through the front door. The Front Door Toreando is Doederlein’s primary entry — a toreando that attacks past the hips.
Doederlein shows the Front Door Toreando against a frame, against a posting arm, and transitioning into a knee slice. He connects it to a folding pass in a standout sequence that uses the guard player’s own framing to fold them backward.
Forklift Pass variations finish the volume. The forklift is a less common pass that uses a deep grip behind the thigh to lift and clear the legs — a useful option against guard players who are heavy on their butterfly hooks.
Volume 3 — Back Door Passing Techniques
The third volume covers the alternative approach in this footwork passing system: taking the back door when the front door is blocked. Doederlein shows the Back Door Pass to the back — the highest-value finish in the instructional because it lands you in the dominant position — as well as the Back Door Pass to side control.
The troubleshooting chapters are the real value here. Doederlein addresses the Back Door Pass against a posting arm, against a frame, against a strong knee line, and against a leg block. Each defensive reaction shuts down a different version of the back door pass, and Doederlein provides the adjustment for each one.
Volume 4 — Bonus Section
The bonus volume in the Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD covers hand fighting and setups against overextended arms, then passing against an angled seated guard, and a final recap. The angled seated guard section is particularly useful — it addresses what happens when the guard player does not sit square but instead turns at an angle to create better hip mobility.
Doederlein shows how to adjust your stance and passing angle to counter this variation. The final recap ties the entire system together, reinforcing the front door / back door decision tree and showing how the volumes connect as a complete passing approach.
Facing Seated Guards – The Most Dangerous Guards in BJJ
The Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD works best if you drill the front door / back door distinction from Volume 1 before touching the technique sections. Doederlein’s entire system depends on making the correct choice between the two passing highways, and without that framework, the techniques will feel disconnected.
Start by drilling the Front Door Toreando from Volume 2 until the footwork feels automatic. Add the Back Door Pass from Volume 3 once you can execute the front door entry without thinking. The two approaches are complementary, and drilling them separately before chaining them will build the timing you need to switch between them during live rolling.
Positional sparring from the seated guard is the ideal testing ground. Start with your partner in a basic seated position with no grips, then add butterfly hooks, then add grip fighting. The system holds up under increasing resistance because Doederlein has accounted for the most common guard retention tools at each stage.
PASSING SEATED GUARD ISAAC DOEDERLEIN DVD FULL DOWNLOAD
Who Is This For?
Gi players who regularly face seated guards are the primary audience for the Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD. The front door toreando, folding pass, and forklift pass all rely on gi grips for control, and the troubleshooting against specific frames assumes the guard player is gripping fabric.
Blue and purple belts who struggle to pass butterfly guard or single-leg X will benefit most. Doederlein’s front door / back door framework gives you a clear plan when faced with a seated opponent, which is a significant upgrade over random passing attempts.
This instructional pairs naturally with Doederlein’s other passing set, Footwork Passing vs The Supine Guard. Together, they cover the two primary guard configurations in modern gi Jiu-Jitsu.
No-Gi specialists will find less direct application — the grip-specific techniques lose some of their control without the gi. White belts who are still developing basic balance and base will find the footwork demands challenging. Brown and black belts with a polished seated guard passing game may find the material familiar, though the front door / back door framework offers a structured way to organize what they already know.
Pros and Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
- The front door / back door distinction is one of the clearest passing frameworks in any instructional — it gives you a binary choice that simplifies a complex problem
- The troubleshooting chapters in Volume 3 (Back Door Pass vs posting arm, frame, strong knee line, leg block) address real resistance rather than compliant drilling partners
- The Forklift Pass is an uncommon technique that fills a real gap against heavy butterfly hook players
- Final recap in Volume 4 ties the system together in a way that helps retention
- At $147 for four volumes from an IBJJF World Champion, the value matches Doederlein’s companion supine guard passing set
Potential Drawbacks:
- The gi focus limits applicability for No-Gi grapplers, and the footwork demands may be challenging for larger or less mobile athletes
- Some of the front door entries require hip mobility that older grapplers may struggle with — the Forklift Pass in particular demands a deep crouch position
- The instructional assumes you already understand basic seated guard concepts; absolute beginners may need to supplement with more fundamental material before getting full value
They Sit, You Pass
Passing Seated Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD solves a specific problem — passing the seated guard with footwork rather than pressure — and solves it well. The front door / back door framework is clean, the technique demonstrations are clear, and the troubleshooting against common defensive reactions shows that the system has been tested at a high competitive level.
