Who Andre Galvao Is in the BJJ Landscape
Andre Galvao is frequently associated with a pressure-forward, athletic style that mixes wrestling hand-fighting with disciplined positional control. Rather than being tied to a single niche, he’s recognized for developing well-rounded athletes and stressing fundamentals that scale from hobbyist rounds to high-level competition. If you’ve heard his name, it’s usually in the context of complete games: standing engagements that set up passes, strong transitions to the back, and an emphasis on finishing from dominant positions.
When people study andre galvao, they often look for material that shows how to connect phases: stance to grips, grips to passes, passes to back exposure, and back exposure to high-percentage finishes. That connective tissue—how one step triggers the next—is a hallmark of his systems-based approach.
Andre Galvao Videos on BJJ University (Top 20 Videos, Top 10 Courses)
Killing The Guard Bundle by Andre Galvao
$397.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features Andre Galvao, a 6x ADCC champion and multiple time IBJJF World Champion, teaching various techniques to effectively pass the guard. Galvao is known for his success in both Gi and No Gi. The video is part of a bundle that provides learners with access to four full-length instructional videos wherein Galvao shares his secrets for guard passing. This instruction stretches over 8 hours of footage.
The Galvao Guard Bundle by Andre Galvao
$247.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features Andre Galvao teaching his signature '3 on 1 guard dominance' concepts from the Reverse De La Riva guard position. He emphasizes how these techniques can even the playing field when playing guard, granting significant control over the opponent. He demystifies the assumption that the Reverse De La Riva position is overly technical or suited only for flexible guard players. Galvao showcases how to leverage this position to control, dominate, and potentially sweep or submit the opponent.
Passing Modern Guard Using Old School Concepts by Andre Galvao
$149.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this instructional video, six-time world champion Andre Galvao shares his expertise on passing modern guard using old school concepts. This 8-volume video series focuses on mastering modern guards and passing them with flexibility and pressure. Andre's teachings focus on dominating your opponent through precise positioning, enabling you to pass through fast and flexible opponents without allowing them to invert and make life difficult. Utilizing Andre's methods can offer effective solutions against stubborn lapel positions.
Side Control Dominance by Andre Galvao
$149.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features Andre Galvao, a 6-time IBJJF World Champion and ADCC World Champion, teaching how to effectively dominate from the side control position. Andre demonstrates how to advance your position using simple mounts and back takes to avoid getting placed back into guard. Additionally, he provides comprehensive instruction on fundamental submissions from side control, emphasizing techniques that have helped him successfully throughout his BJJ career.
Rocking The Baby by Andre Galvao
$149.00 • BJJ Fanatics
Andre Galvao, a renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, teaches viewers the 'Rocking The Baby' technique within a half guard position. He breaks down the steps to set up numerous potent attacks and defend against stronger opponents. The technique uses positions like the reverse lockdown and shoulder trap to facilitate submissions and back takes. He also guides viewers on drilling the series, stressing its importance in training efficiency and proficiency.
World Champion RDL Techniques by Andre Galvao
$149.00 • BJJ Fanatics
Andre Galvao, IBJJF and ADCC hall of fame athlete, instructs on how to effectively utilize the reverse De La Riva guard, a common competition guard. Through this guard, he teaches several techniques such as the Y-guard sweep, back take inversions, and kiss of the dragon rolls. He also explains how to transition into other strong positions like the single leg X. Furthermore, he shows how grapplers can setup various submissions such as kneebars, cross chokes, and loop chokes from this guard.
3 on 1 Guard Dominance by Andre Galvao
$149.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, Andre Galvao, a renowned competitor and head coach of Atos Jiu-Jitsu, teaches his unique 3 on 1 guard control. Considered effective for practitioners of all levels, this approach offers dominance over larger and more aggressive opponents, preventing their guard passing attempts. Galvao also explains how to build a robust system around the 3 on 1 guard, integrating tactics different positions and grip configurations for efficient sweeps, submissions, and guard pass defenses.
Takedown Dominance by Andre Galvao
$127.00 • BJJ Fanatics
Andre Galvao, a six-time ADCC World Champion, teaches a master class in no gi grappling takedowns. Despite having no wrestling background, Andre has become one of the best takedown fighters in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He shares his techniques and strategies for executing effective single and double leg takedowns. Andre provides insights into setup methods and strong finishes, sharing the lessons he has mastered throughout his illustrious grappling career.
Defending and Countering Pressure Passes by Andre Galvao
$127.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video is a detailed instructional on how to defend and counter pressure passes, particularly over under passes, in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The tutorial is given by 12-time World Champion Andre Galvao. In this video, Galvao shares the concepts, techniques, and strategies of the Atos method that are most effective against larger, stronger top players. The aim is to enhance your guard retention abilities by learning to prevent some of the most effective passing styles.
Winning From Full Mount by Andre Galvao
$127.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this video, Andre Galvao, a successful competitor and head instructor at Atos, shares his strategies on how to win from a full mount position. He explains how to break through opponent’s defenses and slow down their escape attempts. Using fight-ending submissions like armbars, katagatame chokes and triangle chokes, Andre lays out his methodology for maintaining control and achieving victory.
Teaching Style: Clear Sequences, Fight-Winning Priorities
Galvao’s instruction typically emphasizes clarity of purpose at each phase of the exchange. From the feet, he prioritizes stance, posture, and decisive entries rather than playing in-between positions. On the ground, he favors pass paths that produce immediate scoring threats or back exposure. In most lessons you’ll hear consistent cues around pressure, angle, and timing, with an expectation that students chain two or three follow-up options automatically when the first look gets blocked.
You’ll notice three recurring themes:
- Phase linking over isolated moves. He teaches sequences where your grips, head position, and step patterns naturally lead into the next layer if your opponent counters.
- Back exposure as a north star. Whether from passing or transitions, he repeatedly steers the exchange toward the back because it offers control, scoring, and finishing leverage.
- Competitive realism. Even if you’re not competing, his details reflect what holds up against strong resistance—hand-fighting discipline, edge-of-mat awareness, and reliable finishes from dominant control.
Andre Galvao Transitions (9 Videos)
Core Systems Students Associate With Galvao
- Standing to pass: Hand-fighting, collar ties, and snap-downs that force reactions into front headlock, body lock, or angle-taking entries. From there, he connects to pressure passes or transitional attacks.
- Pressure passing with back takes: Knee cut and body-lock style lines that prioritize chest-to-chest control, shoulder pressure, and head position. When opponents turtle or turn, the system flows into seatbelt control and immediate hooks.
- Back control and finishes: Structured control (seatbelt, chest alignment, and trap-and-shoot style leg and wrist management) that makes the choke a byproduct of staying one step ahead of the escape path.
- Transition discipline: If a pass stalls, expect a clear re-attack cycle—switching sides, redirecting the hips, or circling to expose the back rather than resetting to neutral.
Andre Galvao Standing (2 Videos)
What to Study First (A Practical Starting Plan)
If you’re new to Galvao’s material, start with a simple plan built around your most common training scenarios:
- From the feet: Learn one reliable collar-tie or hand-fight entry that you can reproduce every round. Focus on stance, head position, and a single trigger (snap to front headlock or angle step) that leads you to top position.
- Your A-pass: Choose one pass line—knee cut or body lock—and commit to learning the grips, head placement, hip angles, and immediate follow-ups. Don’t collect ten passes; get truly good at one and its first two counters.
- Back exposure habit: Any time your opponent turns to a hip or turtles during your pass, think “seatbelt now.” Drill the hand placement, hook timing, and chest alignment so the back take becomes automatic.
- Back finish flow: Build one finish chain from seatbelt to short choke/RNC, with a plan for when the opponent controls your choking hand or slides shoulders to the mat. The key is keeping chest-to-shoulder connection and staying above their escape line.
Apply this in sparring by setting a micro-goal each round. For example: start standing, force a reaction with hand-fighting, enter your A-pass, and hunt the back. If the pass or back take stalls, zoom in on Galvao’s re-attack cues—switch sides, reset head position, and keep climbing the control ladder rather than backing away.
Andre Galvao Counters (3 Videos)
How Galvao’s Approach Helps Different Learners
- Beginners: The emphasis on phase linking keeps you from getting stuck collecting random moves. You’ll develop a coherent A-to-B-to-C game that survives resistance.
- Intermediates: The pressure and head-position details help you cut through guards that previously felt immovable. Expect better conversion from advantage positions to scores and finishes.
- Advanced athletes: The insistence on back exposure and re-attacks gives you scoring density. You’re not hoping for a clean pass—you’re structuring repeatable attempts that reliably earn dominant control.
Andre Galvao Turtle (2 Videos)
Use BJJ University to Explore Andre Galvao’s Library
BJJ University is a free, curated hub for technical learning. Use the navigation menu to browse categorized videos, short clips, breakdowns, and instructional resources by instructor, technique, position, category, and training topic. If you’re studying Galvao, start with his page to see materials organized around standing entries, pressure passing, and back-control mechanics.
Because everything is grouped by themes and positions, you can build the exact sequence described above: pick a standing entry, connect it to your A-pass, then study the back-exposure follow-ups. Bookmark BJJ University and share it with teammates who want structured, free resources without the usual search noise.
FAQs
What is Andre Galvao best known for as a coach?
A connected, pressure-forward style that links wrestling-style entries to passing and back exposure, along with clear finishing mechanics from the back.
Should I study gi or no-gi material first?
Pick the ruleset you train most. The underlying principles—stance, head position, pressure, and back exposure—translate in both, so consistency matters more than picking the perfect version on day one.
What’s the fastest way to apply his system in sparring?
Choose one standing entry and one A-pass, then hardwire the seatbelt back take as your default any time the opponent turns. Track how often you reach the back and how quickly you convert to the choke.
How do I stop opponents from slipping out when I take the back?
Prioritize chest alignment and shoulder control before chasing the choke. Use seatbelt tension, head position, and hook timing to keep their shoulders from dropping below your chest line.
Where can I find organized Andre Galvao resources?
Visit the Andre Galvao video library on BJJ University to browse curated clips, breakdowns, and instruction organized by position and theme.