Key Takeaways
- A systematic footwork-based passing system from an IBJJF World Champion, focused entirely on breaking through the supine guard
- Four volumes covering foundations, the Ribs Toreando, the Over Under Stack, and the C-Grip Toreando — $147 for a complete passing curriculum
- Doederlein’s teaching framework is built around “passing zones” and two primary grip strategies (Ribs vs C-Grip), giving you a clear decision-making structure
- The progression from simple footwork fundamentals to complex passing chains means the system scales from blue belt curiosity to black belt application
- Best suited for gi grapplers who face supine guards regularly and want to develop passing patterns rather than relying on strength
- Rating: 9/10
PASSING THE SUPINE GUARD ISAAC DOEDERLEIN DVD DOWNLOAD
Supine guard passing is one of those skills that separates competent top players from truly dangerous ones. Most grapplers learn a handful of passes — a knee cut, a leg drag, a toreando — but never connect them into a coherent footwork passing system. The Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD changes that by building an entire passing curriculum around footwork patterns, grip variations, and zone-based decision making.
This Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD review breaks down the four-volume set and evaluates whether a world champion’s system translates into practical mat application across different levels.
The Role of Footwork in Passing
The supine guard — where the bottom player lies on their back with their feet between themselves and the top player — is one of the most common positions in gi Jiu-Jitsu. It includes everything from De La Riva and spider guard to collar-and-sleeve and lasso. Passing it requires more than just speed or strength. It demands footwork that can navigate between the guard player’s feet, hips, and grips without getting locked into a static battle.
Most passing instructionals teach techniques in isolation: here is a knee slice, here is a leg drag, here is a toreando — but the guard player adjusts. If you only have one pass, supine guard passing becomes a losing battle. Doederlein’s approach is different. He teaches passing as a zone-based system where your footwork determines which pass is available, and your grip choice determines which passing avenue you take. This toreando passing BJJ system creates a chain of options rather than a single attack.
Isaac Doederlein BJJ credentials as an IBJJF World Champion give the Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD a high level of competitive credibility. The system bears the marks of someone who has tested it against elite guard players under IBJJF rules.
Who is Isaac Doederlein?
Isaac Doederlein is an American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, one of the most decorated gi competitors in the sport’s history. Doederlein started training judo at age 11 through his church’s program, then switched to BJJ after moving to Arizona at 14.
At 18 years old, one month after finishing high school, he moved to Los Angeles to train under Cobrinha full time — a decision that shaped his entire competitive career. That bet paid off. Doederlein became an IBJJF World Champion in 2022, won the IBJJF European Open in 2020, took gold at the IBJJF Brazilian Nationals in 2019, and won the Brasilero Champion title in 2023.
He has also won UAEJJF titles including the King of Mats in Tokyo and the US National Pro. His competitive focus on gi Jiu-Jitsu under IBJJF rules makes him a natural fit for teaching supine guard passing, which is predominantly a gi concern.
Passing the Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD Review
he gi focus and the emphasis on footwork rather than pressure mean this instructional fills a specific niche rather than covering every passing scenario. But for gi grapplers looking to solve the supine guard with movement and decision-making, the Passing the Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD represents one of the most complete passing systems available.
Volume 1 — Foundations
Volume 1 of the Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD establishes the conceptual framework for the entire instructional. Doederlein introduces the three passing zones — high, middle, and low — which determine where your weight and pressure should be based on the guard player’s position. This is not a throwaway concept; the zones reappear throughout the remaining volumes as the basis for every passing decision.
The Inside Staple is the first major tool, and Doederlein spends real time on the setups. He then covers framing versus pulling — a distinction that determines whether you pin the guard player’s hip or pull their weight forward. The pivoting point and head positioning chapters are deceptively important; most people get passed because their head is in the wrong place, and Doederlein addresses this head-on.
The volume ends with the Ribs versus C-Grip distinction, which is the central fork in his footwork passing system. The Ribs grip commits you to one passing highway; the C-Grip commits you to another. Understanding which to use based on the guard player’s frame is the key.
Volume 2 — Ribs Toreando
The Ribs Toreando is Doederlein’s signature passing concept from this Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD. Instead of the standard toreando that chases the pant leg, the Ribs Toreando uses a grip on the ribs to control the guard player’s torso while you circle around.
Volume 2 shows the Ribs Toreando against a guard player with no frame, with a frame, and transitioning into a knee slice. The knee slice to Canto Choke sequence is a standout — it turns a standard pass into a submission threat that the guard player has to respect, which opens up even more passing options.
The back door leg drag against the knee shield and the subsequent knee pinch transition show that Doederlein has accounted for the most common guard retention tools. He is not teaching in a vacuum; every technique addresses a specific defensive reaction.
Volume 3 — Passing Options from Over Under Stack
Volume 3 opens from the Over Under Stack position, which you can reach from the Ribs Toreando. This is where the system really starts chaining. Doederlein shows passing options from the stack, then expands into the Ribs Toreando to front door thigh drag, back door thigh drag, and leg trap leg drag.
The leg drag option against a strong knee line and the leg trap to knee pinch close out the volume. What makes this section impressive is the fluidity. Each technique feeds into the next, and Doederlein shows the transitions clearly enough that you can drill them as sequences rather than isolated moves.
Volume 4 — C-Grip Toreando
The C-Grip Toreando is the alternative passing highway in the Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD. Where the Ribs grip puts you on one side of the guard, the C-Grip puts you on the other. Doederlein introduces the grip mechanics, then shows the toreando against no frame and against a frame, followed by the back door pass against the knee shield and against the foot.
The bonus section covers setups to the C-Grip against the armpit hook and knee shield, which addresses the most common defensive grips that guard players use to prevent you from establishing passing control. This volume rounds out the system so that you have answers from both grip configurations.
Untangling Supine Guards
The Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD rewards methodical study. Start by drilling the three passing zones and the Inside Staple from Volume 1 until they feel automatic. The zone concept is the map that makes everything else make sense, and skipping it will leave you guessing.
Once the foundations are in place, pick one passing highway — either the Ribs Toreando or the C-Grip Toreando — and drill that volume exclusively for a week. Add the second highway once the first feels natural. Doederlein’s system is built so that the two approaches complement each other, but you do not need to learn both at once.
Positional sparring from the supine guard is the ideal testing ground. Start with the guard player in a basic open guard, practice entering your chosen grip, and work the passing chain. As you improve, have the guard player add resistance and counter-moves. The system holds up under progressive resistance because each technique accounts for a specific defensive response.
LINK TO THE PASSING THE SUPINE GUARD ISAAC DOEDERLEIN DVD
Who Is This For?
Gi players are the primary audience for the Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD. The supine guard concepts — Ribs grips, C-Grips, zone-based footwork — are most relevant under IBJJF rules where open guards dominate. White belts who are struggling to pass consistently will find the zone framework gives them a clear plan instead of random movement.
Blue and purple belts who have a basic toreando or knee slice but lack a connected passing system will get the most out of this instructional. Doederlein’s teaching gives you the decision-making structure that turns isolated passes into chains.
No-Gi specialists will find less direct application. The grip variations (Ribs, C-Grip) rely on gi fabric for control, and many of the specific passes assume the guard player is wearing a gi. Brown and black belts who already have a developed passing system may find the footwork concepts useful as refinements, but the overall framework is most valuable for those building their passing from the ground up.
Pros and Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
- The zone-based passing framework (high, middle, low) gives you a clear decision tree rather than a random collection of techniques
- Doederlein teaches this toreando passing BJJ system as connected chains — the Ribs Toreando feeds the Over Under Stack, which feeds the leg drag, which feeds the knee pinch
- The Canto Choke transition from the knee slice is a genuinely useful finishing option that most passing instructionals ignore
- Teaching quality is high; Doederlein explains why each adjustment matters, not just what to do
- At $147 for four volumes covering a complete supine guard passing system from a world champion, the value is competitive with similar-length instructionals
Potential Drawbacks:
- The instructional is exclusively gi-focused, which limits its audience in a sport that increasingly includes No-Gi competition
- The C-Grip Toreando sections assume a certain level of mobility; older or less agile grapplers may struggle with the foot speed required
- Some of the troubleshooting against advanced guard retention (inverted guards, berimbolo counters) is not covered in depth — this is a supine guard passing system, not a comprehensive anti-modern-guard toolkit
Footwork-Driven Guard Passing
Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD delivers a systematic, footwork-driven approach to supine guard passing for gi Jiu-Jitsu. Doederlein’s world champion credentials and teaching clarity make Passing The Supine Guard Isaac Doederlein DVD accessible without dumbing it down. The zone framework, the Ribs Toreando, and the C-Grip Toreando combine into a complete footwork passing system that rewards deliberate practice.
