What “Concepts Strategy” Means in Practical Training
Concepts Strategy is the study of the rules beneath the moves. Instead of memorizing a thousand techniques, you learn the small set of principles that explains them. For example, if you understand how frames create space and how wedges remove space, you can troubleshoot half guard, side control, or mount with the same mental model. If you know how to manage posture and base, you can resist sweeps and submissions even when the grip sequences look unfamiliar.
On the mat, BJJ concepts show up as repeatable actions: winning inside position with your elbows, aligning your spine to resist kuzushi, pointing your wedges (knees, shins, elbows) at the opponent’s hips or shoulders to block rotation, and directing force through the strongest line of your structure. These ideas scale across gi and no-gi and help you adapt to different body types and styles.
Studying concepts doesn’t replace technical drilling—it supercharges it. When you know the “why,” each rep becomes a chance to refine leverage, timing, and direction rather than just copying choreography.
Concepts Strategy Videos on BJJ University (Top 20 Videos, Top 10 Courses)
Luta Livre Another Vision of Ground fighting Bundle by Nicolas Renier
$1497.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features multiple instructional lessons on Luta Livre ground fighting techniques by Nicolas Renier, a black belt holder and a multi-time ADCC veteran. It aims to dissect and teach effective Luta Livre grappling strategies, concepts, and lessons, enhancing viewers' understanding and performance in this niche. This bundled video set offers an in-depth exploration of Luta Livre-based grappling solutions.
Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys Bundle by Bernardo Faria
$1347.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features 5-time World Champion, Bernardo Faria, introducing his 6-part course bundle "Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys". Bernardo explains how his techniques are designed for all ages and are effective regardless of physical explosiveness. He focuses on the system for controlling the opponent from various guards, setting up passes, and controlling the top opponent using his renowned guard system. These systems, he assures, are easy, effective, and built for rapid skill development.
The Timeless Jiu Jitsu Bundle by Rafael Lovato
$1197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features Rafael Lovato Jr., a highly sought after BJJ instructor, promoting his Timeless Jiu Jitsu Bundle. This instructional series will teach the viewer classic, timeless techniques suitable for grapplers of all ages. Lovato Jr.'s coaching style is admired for its simplicity and effectiveness, which is what his Timeless BJJ is all about. He promises that his instructional will offer 'subtle tips and tricks from every position' to simplify the game for the viewer.
Fundamentals Of Jiu Jitsu Bundle by Nicholas Meregali
$887.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video is an instructional by Nicholas Meregali, showcasing a variety of fundamental Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques. The teacher demonstrates various positions and techniques, discussing the utility of each in both offensive and defensive scenarios. The series covers open guard attacks, closed distance guard, standing passes, pressure passes, submissions and many more. The overall goal of the video is to offer a complete system that will allow practitioners to transform their games quickly and effectively.
Gracie Fundamentals Bundle by Rayron Gracie
$788.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video is a promotional clip for the Gracie Fundamentals Bundle, a compilation of instructional courses taught by Rayron Gracie - a representative of the next generation of the Gracie family. The bundle is designed to develop a viewer's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game from start to finish, focusing on efficiency and simplicity. It's intended for a wide range of viewers, regardless of body type or belt ranking. The course topics include Turtle Mastery, Guard Passing, Mount Dominance, and Side Control Escapes. The bundle provides over 8 hours of instructional content.
The Daisy Fresh Curriculum: No-Gi Purple Belt Bundle by Heath Pedigo
$697.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, Instructor Heath Pedigo introduces his Daisy Fresh Curriculum for the No-Gi Purple Belt level. This curriculum is designed to help BJJ practitioners transition from a collection of individual techniques into a strategic system of movements. It is aimed at improving decision making and transitions on the mat, leading to increased effectiveness. The methods and system shared by Pedigo are based on decades of experience and have been proven by successful athletes.
The Daisy Fresh Curriculum: White Belt Bundle by Heath Pedigo
$697.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video is an instructional masterclass by Heath Pedigo, specifically designed for white belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners. It provides comprehensive strategies and techniques focusing on standing techniques, attacking from the closed guard position, guard retention and escaping from difficult positions. It also offers specific training details for rapid improvement, teaching unique escapes and tournament tested techniques such as taking the back from closed guard and finishing with the bow and arrow choke. The package includes all four videos covering these techniques and strategies.
The Daisy Fresh Curriculum: Blue Belt - No Gi Bundle by Heath Pedigo
$697.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video titled "The Daisy Fresh Curriculum: Blue Belt - No Gi Bundle" by highly accomplished coach Heath Pedigo focuses on teaching No Gi techniques to elevate your game to the blue belt level. Additionally, the video outlines the tested strategies, techniques, and secrets that the Daisy Fresh crew has used in the most rigorous Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. The training includes teaching a wide range of grip techniques, guard pass methods, guard retention strategies, and defenses to common takedowns. The video aims to create a rounded game, covering essential areas such as successful sweeps, submissions, and back takes.
The Daisy Fresh Curriculum: Blue Belt - Gi Bundle by Heath Pedigo
$697.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In the video, Heath Pedigo, the head coach of the Pedigo Submission Fighting team, teaches successful techniques, concepts and strategies designed for blue belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The video is particularly focused on constructing a Gi based game and developing a core group of passes. These techniques and strategies have been tested in some of the toughest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments by the Daisy Fresh team. The goal of the instructional video is to assist practitioners in setting up their game successfully at the blue belt level.
The Mirroring Principle Bundle by Wim Deputter
$647.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video is about 'The Mirroring Principle' by black belt instructor Wim Deputter. This technique is used for self-defense and grappling in BJJ. Wim provides a systematic approach to posture and how to mechanically open and break the guard from a top position using a concept he calls the 'King’s Gambit'.
Why BJJ Concepts Matter
- Efficiency: Principles like posture, base, and connection cut down on wasted movement and help you conserve energy in long rounds.
- Transferability: A grip may change between gi and no-gi, but the concept of controlling the shoulder line or knee line stays the same, so your skill transfers across contexts.
- Decision-making: Concepts give you checkpoints. For example, in guard passing, first establish base and posture, then win inside position, then pin the hips with a wedge before climbing upper body control.
- Troubleshooting: When stuck, ask concept questions: Do I have frames or wedges? Whose hips are higher? Am I aligned or twisted? Did I control the near hip before chasing the head? These checks quickly reveal the next best action.
Concepts Strategy Bernardo Faria (12 Videos, 4 Courses)
Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys Bundle by Bernardo Faria
$1347.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features 5-time World Champion, Bernardo Faria, introducing his 6-part course bundle "Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys". Bernardo explains how his techniques are designed for all ages and are effective regardless of physical explosiveness. He focuses on the system for controlling the opponent from various guards, setting up passes, and controlling the top opponent using his renowned guard system. These systems, he assures, are easy, effective, and built for rapid skill development.
Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys: Fundamental Game Plan by Bernardo Faria
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this instructional video, 5x World Champion Bernardo Faria guides the viewer through the development and implementation of a comprehensive game plan for Jiu-Jitsu, specifically tailored for older grapplers. The content covers various aspects including the bottom game, passing game, submissions, pinning systems, and control techniques. Bernardo's unique systems have helped many to improve their performance and confidence on the mat, regardless of age, athletic level, or skill level. This all-encompassing instructional provides viewers with simple, effective techniques to dominate any opponent, making it an essential tool in every grappler's arsenal.
Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu No-Gi by Bernardo Faria
$99.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In his instructional video, 5x World Champion Bernardo Faria presents the foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for No-Gi training. He focuses on teaching techniques that require no athleticism, emphasizing the importance of mastering the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu, especially in No-Gi. These techniques are helpful for all ages and skill levels, and are particularly beneficial for older grapplers. Faria's methods place emphasis on the simplicity and understanding of the basics, which have led him to multiple world championships.
Champions Mindset by Bernardo Faria
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features Bernardo Faria, a five-time World Champion, providing guidance on the mental side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He shares key mental exercises and techniques that can help unlock a practitioner's BJJ potential and improve their success rate during training and on tournament day. Faria also opens up about what goes through his mind during fights, thought processes that can be applied by others the next time they roll. This is part of a series that explores the mental strategies of top BJJ athletes.
Core BJJ Concepts And Principles You’ll Reuse Everywhere
- Base and Posture: Base is your ability to resist force in all directions; posture aligns your spine so your frames transmit force without collapsing. From closed guard defense to standing passing, base and posture keep you safe and mobile.
- Frames and Wedges: Frames create and maintain space with bony structures (forearms, shins); wedges remove space to pin parts of the opponent. Passing often uses wedges; escaping uses frames first, then hip movement.
- Connection and Pressure: Connection is how you stick to the opponent to feel and steer their center. Proper pressure spreads weight through strong surfaces and angles, forcing reactions that expose passes and submissions.
- Angle, Inside Position, and Kuzushi: Attack the line of least resistance by getting your limbs inside theirs, turning their hips or shoulders off-axis, and breaking balance before advancing.
- Leverage and Alignment: Small shifts—turning knees inward to seal the hip line, keeping elbows inside ribs—multiply force. Good alignment lets you use big muscles and skeletal structure instead of grip strength alone.
- Timing and Sequencing: Concept jiu jitsu is about the right order. Stabilize, pin a hip, isolate a limb, then submit. Or in guard: create kuzushi, capture a wedge, connect, and finish.
Concepts Strategy Giancarlo Bodoni (11 Videos)
Common Mistakes When Learning Concepts
- Treating concepts as slogans: “Use frames” isn’t actionable unless you specify where the frame points, what it blocks, and how you connect your hips to make it strong.
- Over-prioritizing pressure without control: Pressure without wedges allows easy hip escapes. Control the near hip first; pressure comes after pinning movement.
- Ignoring inside position: Hands or knees outside the opponent’s frames loses the battle before it starts. Fight for inside position early in every exchange.
- Memorizing exceptions before mastering fundamentals: Fancy variations can hide weak base, posture, and hip control. Build the foundation first.
- Separating drilling from sparring: Concepts must be pressure-tested. Add specific sparring with tight constraints (e.g., top half guard only, objective is hip pin) to make principles automatic.
Concepts Strategy John Danaher (9 Videos, 4 Courses)
Ageless Jiu Jitsu: Winning When You're Older Or Less Athletic Bundle by John Danaher
$627.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features instructor John Danaher introducing his Ageless Jiu Jitsu series, especially curated for those who might be older or less athletically inclined. This large bundle of instructional videos emphasises on strategy, leverage, and technique instead of reliance on raw strength or explosive athleticism. With the techniques and strategies imparted in this bundle, practitioners can train smarter not harder, maintain their practice as they age or improve their technique without relying too much on physicality.
Ageless Jiu Jitsu: Winning When You're Older or Less Athletic - Bottom Game by John…
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video features renowned coach John Danaher teaching strategies and techniques particularly useful for older or less athletic practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He emphasizes understanding key positions like half guard, mount, and rear mount, and explains how to utilize these positions for sweeping offense and submission finishing. Techniques covered include the tightwaist series, deep half, knee levers, ude gatame, front chokes, and more, all optimized for the older and less agile grappler. The video, aimed at improving performance without reliance on speed or flexibility, is part of a broader series taught by Danaher at Team New Wave.
Ageless Jiu Jitsu: Winning When You're Older and Less Athletic - Bottom game: Gi by…
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video, presented by the legendary BJJ coach, John Danaher, provides an insightful guide on ageless Jiu-Jitsu strategies. He teaches viewers how to outsmart athletic opponents, particularly when you are less athletic or older. Techniques covered include offensive guards, pin escapes, and strategic gameplans. The video also emphasizes the critical role of the Gi and showcases ways to submit opponents with a cross collar strangle.
Ageless Jiu Jitsu: Winning When You're Older Or Less Athletic - Top Game Gi by John…
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video by world-renowned coach, John Danaher, is part of his 'Ageless Jiu Jitsu' series intended to help older or less athletic practitioners succeed. The video focuses on the top game gi position, teaching strategies for obtaining proper grips, creating kuzushi (off-balancing), executing takedowns, passing the guard, and effective pinning. The techniques taught are high-percentage moves, meant to be accessible to any practitioner, reflecting Danaher's belief in nuance and precision over raw athleticism. Every technique is explained with older grapplers in mind to help them stay competitive regardless of physical limitations.
What To Study First: A Practical Roadmap
- Defensive shell and survival positions: Learn to keep elbows in, hands protecting your neck line, and knees pointed to block hip access. Survival positions buy you time to re-establish frames and recover guard.
- Hip and shoulder line control: Study how to pin or free the near hip. In passing, wedge the far thigh and block the near hip before chasing upper body. In escapes, free your hip line first, then turn to your side.
- Frames to mobility to offense: Drill building frames, connecting them to your hips, then moving your hips to create angles. Practice getting to your knees or inserting hooks once space is made.
- Tension management: Alternate between heavy connection for control and lightness for speed. Learn when to float and when to sink pressure.
- Sequencing checkpoints: For each major task (guard retention, passing, escaping, finishing), define 3–4 concept checkpoints. Example passing sequence: establish posture and base → win inside position → pin the hips with a wedge → connect chest-to-thigh or chest-to-chest → advance to isolation or mount. Write these down and review after rounds.
Start with these bjj fundamental concepts so every technique you learn has a place in a larger system.
Concepts Strategy Firas Zahabi (9 Videos, 1 Courses)
Core Striking Combinations and Tricky Attacks by Firas Zahabi
$97.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features Firas Zahabi teaching core striking combinations and complex attacks. He imparts techniques to evade strikes and counter using defensive movements. Zahabi also shares his preferred drills that focus on head movement, touch sparring, counter-attacking, and footwork. In conjunction, the video teaches two-way striking drills where each participant develops their timing and defensive methods in response to each attack.
How To Train Concepts On The Mat
- Constraint drills: Limit your tools to highlight a principle. Example, top player can use only knee wedges to control hips; bottom player focuses on inside elbow position and hip escapes.
- Live situational rounds: Start in a defined position (e.g., half guard knee shield). Top player’s goal is to win the near-hip wedge; bottom player’s goal is to restore frames and get to an underhook or guard recovery.
- Language and cues: Use concise cues during rounds—“near-hip first,” “elbows in,” “inside knees,” “head height,” “angle then attack.” Clear language turns abstract ideas into fast reactions.
- Video reflection: After training, re-watch a clip that demonstrates the same principle you struggled with. Identify exactly where posture, angle, or wedge control failed. Browse this page on BJJ University.
FAQs
What are the most important BJJ concepts for beginners?
Start with base and posture, inside elbow position, frames that connect to your hips, and controlling or freeing the near hip. These bjj fundamental concepts keep you safe, make escapes work, and set up reliable passes and submissions.
How do I apply concepts during sparring without freezing?
Pick one focus per round, like “win inside position” or “pin the near hip.” Use short cues and measure success by hitting the checkpoint, not by winning the round. Build from one principle at a time.
Do concepts replace drilling techniques?
No. Concepts guide what to drill and how to troubleshoot. Techniques give you concrete entries, grips, and finishes. The combination is what produces consistent results.
Are these concepts the same in gi and no-gi?
Yes, the principles are the same—posture, base, angles, connection—but grips and friction change your tools. Focus on controlling lines (hips, shoulders, knee line) and you can adapt to either ruleset.
Which instructors emphasize concept jiu jitsu?
Many top teachers highlight principles in different ways. Look for instruction that explains base, posture, frames, wedges, angle, and sequencing and then shows how those ideas connect across positions.