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Open Guard: BJJ Fundamentals - Go Further Faster by John Danaher — ByteByU

Open Guard: BJJ Fundamentals - Go Further Faster by John Danaher

Build a powerful open guard foundation to outlast and outthink your opponents.
Foundations of BJJ cover
  • John Danaher's Simple Principles Make The Most Complicated Position In Jiu-Jitsu Devastating For Your Opponents
  • Master the Open Guard with perhaps the best coach in all of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the legendary John Danaher.
  • Professor Danaher expertly shows the single biggest determinant of success, the gripping secrets to maximum leverage, and then explores the fundamentals of kuzushi and how this ancient concept is his focus in all attacks.
  • As one of the world’s most sought after grappling coaches, Professor Danaher explains the fundamental techniques and concepts that make open guard so important.
  • Systematically approach the Open Guard with these special insights and studies from Professor John Danaher.
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Course Content

Volume 1

13 Lessons
Theory – What is the value of the open guard position?
0:00 - 3:32
A contradiction in Jiu-Jitsu and the fundamental problem of guard position
3:32 - 10:08
Finding advantage within a neutral position
10:08 - 14:18
The four main scenarios you will need to deal with when working from open guard
14:18 - 19:42
How to grip the Gi for maximum results
19:42 - 28:50
The single biggest determinant of success from open guard: Kuzushi
28:50 - 44:11
The single biggest determinant of success from open guard: Kuzushi Part 2
44:11 - 52:38
Overcoming the complexity problem: The 6 principles of sweeps – Feet off the floor
52:38 - 1:02:54
Double direction
1:02:54 - 1:06:53
Arm trap
1:06:53 - 1:10:31
Action reaction
1:10:31 - 1:14:46
Wrestling reversal
1:14:46 - 1:21:20
Double trouble +
1:21:20 - +

Volume 2

2 Lessons
Two crucial skill sets for open guard development – the double seated position
0:00 - 35:09
Two crucial skill sets for open guard development – first contact and entry into open guard
35:09 - 47:37

Volume 3

12 Lessons
Directionality of force
0:00 - 10:06
Principle of ken ken
10:06 - 17:52
Changing direction – Sumi Gaeshi
17:52 - 27:17
Hook sweep/Sumi Gaeshi practical application
27:17 - 31:00
The role of your two legs in hook sweeps
31:00 - 41:18
Hook sweep/Sumi Gaeshi angles of attack
41:18 - 46:58
Look where you want them to land
46:58 - 57:06
Multiple grips for hook sweep/Sumi Gaeshi
57:06 - 1:00:57
Hook sweep/Sumi Gaeshi grip and go
1:00:57 - 1:23:50
Dealing with a posted hand
1:23:50 - 1:28:22
Double direction Sasae +
1:28:22 - +

Volume 4

16 Lessons
Hook sweep from a supine position
0:00 - 10:05
Hook sweep from a supine position – Part 2
10:05 - 14:33
Leg frames from butterfly guard
14:33 - 18:19
Arm trap Sumi Gaeshi / hook sweep series
18:19 - 27:47
Hook sweep Sumi Gaeshi with arm trap
27:47 - 38:41
Hook sweep Sumi Gaeshi combined with Sasae
38:41 - 45:06
Supine arm traps
45:06 - 52:20
Yoko Sumi Gaeshi
52:20 - 57:03
Side-to-side arm trap Sumi Gaeshi
57:03 - 1:01:37
Arm drag / arm trap hook sweep
1:01:37 - 1:06:29
Sumi Gaeshi on a standing opponent
1:06:29 - 1:12:27
Spider Sumi Gaeshi
1:12:27 - 1:19:03
Hiza Guruma
1:19:03 - 1:23:37
Hiza Guruma from underhooks
1:23:37 - 1:39:00
Spider guard on a kneeling opponent +
1:39:00 - +

Volume 5

13 Lessons
Hiza Guruma when opponent is on one knee
0:00 - 7:32
Ankle pick (Kibisu Gaeshi)
7:32 - 9:58
Shoe lace to shoe lace
9:58 - 14:55
Kneeling opponent transition to Ashi Garami
14:55 - 19:23
Special Study: Tomoe Nage – getting feet off the mat
19:23 - 25:33
Tomoe Nage sweep – De la Riva variation
25:33 - 26:26
Tomoe Nage sweep – De la Riva Part 2
26:26 - 38:46
Tomoe Nage sweep – De la Riva Part 3
38:46 - 44:17
Sumi Tomoe Nage
44:17 - 50:43
Sumi Tomoe Nage – Part 2
50:43 - 56:36
Lapel and spider Tomoe Nage
56:36 - 1:02:09
Double Footed Tomoe Nage
1:02:09 - 1:09:34
Lasso Tomoe Nage & Yoko Tomoe Nage as a sweep +
1:09:34 - 1:20:36

Volume 6

16 Lessons
Attacking from cross-collar cuff and bicep – Triangle
0:00 - 10:10
Armbar (Juji Gatame)
10:10 - 13:41
Omoplata
13:41 - 22:44
Tripod Sweep
22:44 - 28:04
Ankle Pick (Kibisu Gaeshi)
28:04 - 34:02
Uke Waza / Lapel Drag
34:02 - 40:36
Tomoe Nage
40:36 - 45:28
Special Study: Inside vs Outside Control – De La Riva Guard
45:28 - 51:18
De La Riva Guard Part 2
51:18 - 1:02:22
De La Riva Guard Part 3
1:02:22 - 1:05:13
De La Riva Guard Part 4
1:05:13 - 1:08:13
Transition outside → inside control: Ashi Garami
1:08:13 - 1:13:10
Transition Ashi Garami Part 2
1:13:10 - 1:19:39
Transition Ashi Garami Part 3
1:19:39 - 1:22:21
Transition Ashi Garami Part 4 +
1:22:21 - +

Volume 7

11 Lessons
Ashi Garami standard sweep
0:00 - 11:50
Double Leg Ashi Garami
11:50 - 17:31
Relationship between Ashi Garami & X-Guard
17:31 - 23:41
X-Guard scoop sweep
23:41 - 35:07
X-Guard near cuff sweep
35:07 - 37:58
X-Guard far cuff sweep
37:58 - 42:08
Double Leg X-Guard sweep
42:08 - 44:57
X-Guard Tomoe Nage
44:57 - 49:06
X-Guard back → Ashi Garami
49:06 - 54:52
…and more variations +
54:52 - +

Volume 8

10 Lessons
Double Kouchi Gari part 2
0:00 - 11:09
Double Kouchi Gari part 3
11:09 - 13:53
Double Kouchi Gari part 4
13:53 - 16:39
Double Kouchi Gari part 5
16:39 - 19:28
Double Kouchi Gari part 6
19:28 - 22:07
Attacking split squat (Headquarters) – negating the position
22:07 - 27:54
Negating split squat Part 2
27:54 - 40:51
Negating split squat Part 3
40:51 - 49:37
Negating split squat Part 4
49:37 - 55:27
Putting it all together +
55:27 - +

What Will You Learn?

???? Open Guard: BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further, Faster
A complete system for mastering open guard—featuring entry strategies, control frameworks, sweeps, submissions, and transitions into more advanced positions.

???? Course Overview

John Danaher presents a structured and progressive curriculum that turns open guard into a tool for both control and attack. Whether your opponent is posturing, passing, or scrambling, you’ll learn how to find grips, manage frames, and launch sweeps or submissions—all while maintaining structure and composure.

???? What You’ll Learn

  • Entry & Frame Foundations: Sleeve, collar, shin-to-shin grips; C-frames; defending passes while setting up attacks; flow drills linking entries to resets.
  • Sweep Mechanics & Setups: Sit-through, shin-slice, lasso entries; direction-driven timing; hip-bump, flower, pendulum variations for live rolling.
  • Submission Chains & Attacks: Triangle, armbar, kimura, omoplata from open guard; collar/sleeve control; dynamic grip-switching; sequencing sweeps and submissions.
  • Transition & Flow Integration: Paths into butterfly, X-guard, closed guard; recovery after pressure or scrambles; performance-driven continuous-flow drills.

???? Who This Course Is For

  • Grapplers seeking an offensive, rhythm-driven open-guard system.
  • Anyone preferring a structured blueprint over fragmented drills.
  • Practitioners who need a system that holds up under pressure and transitions seamlessly.
  • Both gi and no-gi athletes wanting modular, adaptable open-guard entries.

✅ Key Benefits

  • Systematic Open-Guard Structure: Entry → Sweep → Submission → Transition, designed for seamless flow.
  • Control with Purpose: Builds frames that defend and threaten simultaneously.
  • Dynamic Sequencing: Smoothly moves you between guard types and positions.
  • Mat-Tested Techniques: Drills and patterns crafted for real-resistance scenarios.
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