Self Mastery: Solo BJJ Training Drills by John Danaher
1,928 reviews · 4.97 / 5
John Danaher · Combo
Half Guard: BJJ Fundamentals - Go Further Faster by John Danaher reviews, page 11
Half Guard: BJJ Fundamentals - Go Further Faster by John Danaher has 377 customer reviews in this archive, averaging 4.98 out of 5. 98% are five-star and 0 are one or two stars. Reviews run from September 22, 2019 to August 30, 2026. All of them are published below in full, unedited.
377
Reviews
4.98 / 5
Average rating
0
1–2 star
97%
Verified buyers
Reviews 251–275
Awesome
Guard Retention was always such a mystery. If you're not in closed guard, it feels like they're chest to chest on you in seconds. This set of videos takes what feels like a chaotic situation and breaks it down into recognizable scenarios so that you can see what's happening and act.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Simple and highly effective!
I've been using many of the techniques presented with great success on the mats.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:clap::clap:Get this instructional second
This is the second instructional I would recommend for beginners. Get Mr Danaher’s Pin Escapes and Turtle escapes first then get this. I didn’t really understand half guard and avoided it until I studied this instructional. Since then it has been my go to guard and training has become much easier/more enjoyable as a slightly older practitioner. I feel half guard is also a safe starting guard to train to help you avoid injuries from partners who may be less coordinated with their body movements or before you know how to safely negotiate being stacked. Half guard will also allow you to slow down and control the pace of the match. The techniques and concepts you learn will give you some closely related defensive and offensive skills to complement your escape skills. If you master your escapes and then master the skills Mr Danaher teaches in this instructional you will surprise a lot of higher belts with your ability to escape and threaten with sweeps, take downs and back takes. From half guard I have taken down training partners from white belts to black belts with the “Outside hook circle”, the look of shock on their face alone is worth the price of the instructional :joy:. If you are an aspiring competitive athlete I would just save money and buy the go further faster bundle when you can get a good discount as you will want all of them.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging:I am older and I am using half guard more
For me JD is the best
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Great content, great value
I keep coming back to all the videos of this series and I feel that they definitely give me an edge over my peers. The half-guard system is awesome, and I learned a new word, the trilemma which is trying to create for my opponents on the mat
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Amazing halfguard details!
As a halfguard guy i really liked this one for sure ! Helped me alot with my game ! :)
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:I learned the Paradox of Jiu Jitsu
When learning Jiu Jitsu I was told Half Guard means that Im bad at elbow escapes. I found myself getting there so I purchased this to learn how to attack as I only learned a few moves in my school. I have since learned you can attack from Half Guard. I recommend this for any short guy, old guy and underweight guy. If you have a strong half guard your life in jiu jitsu has been extended to your golden years.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Big fan of Danahers Fantastic
Big fan of Danahers Fantastic attention to detail, really helping me understand the position as a blue belt
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Great
Really built out a solid half guard game from this. Knew a few of these sweeps really well but allowed me to have a full system and now try to play half guard as much as possible. Highly recommend
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Fabulous instructions
Awesome class and technique! His master class's is always worth paying 5 times!
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:Very long winded.
Very long winded.
One of My Favorite Instructionals !
I was never a big half guard player. I'd only use it for guard retention. I really started trying to play half guard as a main guard after studying the material here - and got it to work ! I continued learning with Gordon's video (butterfly half and more knee shield) and New Wave (interplay of leg locks from half guard), but this video really got me started enjoying the half guard position.
Learn to not get stuck!
John Danaher is considered the best for a reason. Top level details and explanations.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Very in depth
I find myself always going back and reviewing sections from this instuctional. I like how John explains the basics very clearly. I taught a kids class the other week and explained some concepts by parroting some of what John says and they got the techniques pretty fast. Great stuff.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:Excellent Material
Excellent resource for building knowledge on the fundamentals off half guard. I've been training for 2 years now. I'm 30 and feel that half-guard will be solid place to build my game around. I loved this instructional series. It's comprehensive and the level of detail is phenomenal. I highly recommend this.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:Half Guard: John Danaher
I have always felt stuck in this position. Now I’m feeling more and more in control!
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:Most personally useful of many
I have many of Danahers instructional and while they have all been phenomenal, this one really helped me sink it in and made me even more receptive to his others after further loom throughs. I was not happy being a half guard player, though this instructional has helped me drastically improve and own it.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:Half Guard
A detailed and comprehensive course on bottom half-guard. With practice, it should help you to develop a very effective holding and sweeping strategies from the bottom position.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:e
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Brilliant!! This series teaches the "why" and the "how" which is a huge asset for anyone.
Being an older (60yrs) practitioner with lots of wear and tear from decades of martial arts, this series is one many people have encouraged me to get good at, for all the reasons Prof. Danaher explains. This instructional is brilliant in that it teaches the "why" as much as the "how". All the subtle details of body mechanics, positioning and timing are beautifully explained. From the standpoint of tactics and strategy, Prof Danaher explains all the likely responses that may occur if you're playing half guard or in someones half guard. Another aspect that I found useful is the explanations of why you "wouldn't do this or that". As a new practitioners some things are counter intuitive and I often find myself in an "oh s#@t" situation. I know I make a wrong move but not always sure why. This series explains all of those common scenarios with detail and clarity. I highly recommend it!
Systematic and Detailed
Professor Danaher has a very systematic and detailed approach to his teaching. This approach allows for you to look at the options available to you in half guard and how to be in positions that are beneficial to you. Highly recommend for all levels for developing and/or working on improving your understanding of this position.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:I noticed an immediate benefit
I noticed an immediate benefit from this video. Half go has become a position that I feel more comfortable using when rolling after watching this instructional video!
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:thank you
this app is put together as a great reference archive.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:Half Guard
John's the man, he's the greatest BJJ coach in the world, by far and away. Watching him your getting an education in BJJ rather than just some random moves.
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::call_me_hand::skin-tone-2:Thank you for the great tutorial
Thank you!!
Response from BJJ Fanatics:hugging::+1::skin-tone-2:
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Every number on this page is computed from the 377 reviews above at build time, out of 87,673 in the full archive. See the methodology for how the corpus is collected and what is excluded.