BJJ Fanatics
The Modern Defensive Guard by Ryan Hall reviews
The Modern Defensive Guard by Ryan Hall has 65 customer reviews in this archive, averaging 4.94 out of 5. 97% are five-star and 1 is one or two stars. Reviews run from April 26, 2022 to July 11, 2026. All of them are published below in full, unedited.
Who reviewed The Modern Defensive Guard by Ryan Hall
10 of these reviewers gave their belt rank when they submitted the review. BJJ Fanatics asks for rank, age and years training at the point of review, so this breakdown is self-reported by the customer.
| Belt | Reviews | Average rating |
|---|---|---|
| Purple | 5 | 5.0 |
| White | 3 | 5.0 |
| Blue | 1 | 5.0 |
| Brown | 1 | 5.0 |
Where to buy it
The Modern Defensive Guard by Ryan Hall is no longer listed on the BJJ Fanatics storefront. The reviews below stay published because the archive mirrors the review platform rather than the current catalogue.
The reviews
great details
great details
Masterful
Ryan Hall gives in-depth analysis and great explanations
One of the best tutorials I've ever seen
This is not just about guard, but about the nature of a jiu jitsu as a whole. It has improved my game across the board.
Hidden Gem
This instructional is a hidden gem. Definitely a laying of a foundation I imagine a lot of people donβt get. Will improve your bjj imo.
The concepts Ryan explains gives a different perspective than often taught in most gyms.
Study well
Good stuff
Interesting concepts
In this instructional, Ryan Hall explains the mechanics of fundamental concepts. It is very useful in combination with the study of techniques. The instructional is very rich, it takes quite some time to assimilate, but definitively worth it.
Awesome Technical Detail - Great Presentation
This is now my favorite instructional. I love the breakdown of position and techniques. If you can only buy one course, ever, this is probably the one to go with!
Principles
I think this is his magnum opus I go back and watch it every couple months
Helpful
Great instructional
Alot of concepts but hard
Alot of concepts but hard to digest
Full of Gems
A great philosophy of defense. Ryan Hall is super innovative and practical at the same time. I wish he had more instructionals out because I would get every single one. Well worth the price!
awesome as expected
great video
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€excellent resource
Ryan Hall is the conceptual king. Love this guys tutorials. Buy it. You won't regret it
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€I appreciate Ryan's conceptual approach to teaching
I appreciate how Ryan teaches concepts rather than moves in a blind/robotic way, and I feel that this helps me improve, really
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€Ryan Hall has interesting insight
Ryan Hall has interesting insight into techniques. Highly influential on approach to playing guard. Different style of teaching based around concepts.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€Great!
Really helpful
Great For Beginners
Fantastic for beginners as it goes through the basics and how to keep yourself in powerful positions.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€Mind Blowing
Holy moly, this was paradigm shifting. I feel like a beginner all over again. Heavy on concept, this instructional is all about how there is something rotten in the state of Jiu-Jitsu. Often we accept bottom without a second thought. Ryan goes through painstaking details about why that's often a bad idea, and what's a better way. So much to digest here. I'll be referring back to this for years.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Great Concepts
Ryan teaches details techniques but does a great job of explaining the concepts and reasoning behind each technique taught.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Great for understanding the open
Great for understanding the open guard!
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»Awesome detail
Awesome detail
Favorite Guard Instructional
Absolutely brilliant. The content is focused on concepts and principles more than individual techniques, but includes both. Highly recommend, this is my favorite instructional Iβve bought.
Really love this series. Masterpiece
Really love this series. Masterpiece of approach and concepts of defensive guard. I want more from RH!
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Ryan Hall
Nice job hall. Good class
The best guard instructional.
Basically everything needed to have an unpassable guard is in this instructional. A lot of this instructional is conceptual. I greatly enjoyed it and have learned a lot from it.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»Informative and practical
I really enjoy the structure of Ryan Halls instructionals where he first lays out the theory behind his ideas and then shows how and when to use it.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Highly recommended
I used to play half guard a lot, and "let" people to push me over and try to pass my guard. I learned a lot, but it really warped my thinking of what the guard really is. This collection changed my view of the guard, and now not only am I more aggressive, but I also started to get more submission too.
Excellence continues
Ryan has a gift for teaching and heβs an incredible innovator.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsππ₯So informative
So informative
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€Finally feel like I leveled
Finally feel like I leveled up. Instead of forcing myself and opponent into certain guards I can relax and and be sound and employ sweeps as the openings come
Easily the Best Instructional Ever
Ryan Hall starts from the premise that if you want to understand the guard, you need to understand some points about jiu jitsu as a whole subject, and he spends five volumes explaining a way to think about jiu jitsu that is pretty mind blowing and immediately improved my performance in many positions at the next open mat I went to. I'm just getting into his specific approach to the guard now and I'm seeing things I haven't heard mentioned before but that I think will be as solid as everything he said up to now. THANK YOU!
Great Concept Piece
I loved this instructional. Keep in mind, this instructional doesnβt teach a ton of technique per se, but introduced a lot of concepts that are highly valuable to guard retention and offense. If youβre a Priit Mikhelson acolyte, this may be the next step in going from defensive to offensive, and I highly recommend it. Plus, Ryan Hall drops a lot of great one-liners.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»Great Buy
Great instructional
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»GUARD EVERYWHERE
Instructional very well done. If you like play guard, this is the right for you. Great explanations, great details. Great teacher
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»Developed better guard
Because of how detailed the instructional I was able to work on recovering more and develop more of a defense guard game. Definitely worth the purchase
easy to overlook biomechanics
Ryan Hall goes deeply in depth on how to frame with good bone support with pretty much every part of your body. there is a lot of wrestling up from those frames, which some people discourage (you may open yourself up to sweeps for more points for your adversary), but I enjoy throws and take downs so I love it. I also dont have any wrestling experience so it was that much more valuable. Not to mention the way he teaches is clear, and entertaining. Looking forward to more instructionals from him
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»A different kind of teaching
Ryan Hall has been putting out amazing content for years and more and more I find his conceptual and mechanical principles style of teaching a much needed branch of learning in BJJ. Although I do watch it on 2 speed.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Putting it all together
Ryan does a great job going over the different types of frames and putting it all together. I just finished watching this course a week ago and it's already helped me improve.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»Guard uniqe
Ryan Hall at his best! His focus on concepts based on body positioning is unique. So the instructor's rule is body positioning leads to guard retention and attacks!
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Great ideas to bring jiujitsu
Great ideas to bring jiujitsu into the 21st century!
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»Groundbreaking. Jiu Jitsu is truly
Groundbreaking. Jiu Jitsu is truly a a sport that is always evolving, and Hall delivered a product that will change the way that you play and approach guard.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Awesome!!
Top Notch Insrructional!!
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»one of the best instructionals on this site
Essential for anyone purple belt and up.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»The. ABSOLUTE. Game. Changer.
You canβt not purchase this instructional unless youβre prepared to become an member of the dinosaur bjj academy. Seriously, without getting lost in an all-too-common techniques video, Ryan and his interactive partner (how unique is that!) deconstruct common beliefs that are limiting your overall understanding of grappling while at the same provide you with eye-opener concepts and principles that should form the basis of your game, and from which, an appropriate bjj castle is built with traps and entanglements that are structurally sound and increase tour mental awareness. Fascinating stuff. Warning: many times throughout the instructional I heard a loud βwhooshβ sound. It was just me pulling my bjj head out of my bjj ***. Forewarned is forearmed!
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Ryan is the man
One of the best instructors in the game
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»Great philosophy of guard
Ryan really does a great job of emphasizing the need to change our philosophy of guard play.
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Made me question a lot of grappling concepts
Very conceptual heavy, challenges some conventional ideas but brings a lot of evidence to back it up. Might be a bit confusing for people just starting out but great for those looking to build a deeper understanding
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»Really helpful
Really helpful
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€π€π»An instructional unlike any other
Itβs hard work to keep things simple. I own over 30 instructionals, and have learned useful information from each. But what Mr. Hall has done here is unique. If you are looking for someone to explain how to do a 10 step complicated move? This ainβt it. Want to understand essentials of framing, position, and the underlying principles of each, then this is for you. This thing, start to finish, is probably over 6 hours long. Its very detailed about things we often dont think about in BJJ. This is an instructional that bears repeated watching as it is part technique, exposition, humor, and philosophy. Well done Mr. Hall!
Response from BJJ Fanaticsπ€ππ»