BJJ Instructional Review: Jiu-Jitsu for Old Guys – Bottom Game (Half Guard & Closed Guard) by Bernardo Faria

BJJ Instructional Review: Jiu-Jitsu for Old Guys – Bottom Game (Half Guard & Closed Guard) by Bernardo Faria

If you have been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu long enough to feel the difference between your 20s and your 40s (or even your late 30s), you already know the truth: explosive scrambles, berimbolos, and high-amplitude guard retention start to cost more than they are worth.

Bernardo Faria, 5-time IBJJF Black Belt World Champion and co-founder of BJJ Fanatics, has built an entire Jiu-Jitsu for Old Guys series around this reality. The Bottom Game installment (Half Guard & Closed Guard) is the foundation of that series. It delivers exactly what older, wiser, or less explosive grapplers need: a complete, pressure-tested system for staying safe, conserving energy, and still sweeping or submitting people half your age.

This is not a dumbed-down version of half guard. It is the refined, high-percentage evolution of the game Faria used to win world titles, including the Absolute division in 2015, built around leverage, frames, and positional control instead of speed or athleticism.

Why Half Guard and Closed Guard Are the Ultimate Old Guy Guards

Bernardo is crystal clear in the instructional: these are the only two guard positions where you can physically lock your opponent. Closed guard traps them between your legs. Half guard traps one of their legs. Both slow the game down, reduce scrambling, and let you dictate the pace using structure rather than explosiveness.

For practitioners dealing with creaky knees, stiff hips, or a lower back that protests big movements, this is liberating. You stop fighting physics and start using it.

Detailed Content Breakdown (5 Volumes)

The instructional is split into five focused volumes with clear progressions and built-in drills. Here is what you actually get:

Volume 1: Half Guard Foundations & Signature Sweeps

Knee shield concepts (different levels and why they matter), seamless entries into deep half guard, single-leg variations, the signature Faria Sweep, and even a Turkish Get-Up inspired sweep tailored for older bodies. Emphasis on staying safe against pressure passers and never getting flattened.

Volume 2: Fluid Transitions Between Half Guard and Closed Guard

How to move between the two positions without giving up control or exposing yourself. Flat half to closed guard, knee shield to closed guard, and single-leg to closed guard entries. This is where the system feeling really kicks in.

Volume 3: Closed Guard Attacks That Actually Work for Older Grapplers

Efficient omoplata entries and troubleshooting (including when they close the elbow), hand-on-belt sweeps, shoulder bump sweeps, and a leg-trapping sweep. Everything is designed to minimize hip strain while maximizing control.

Volume 4: Reverse Transitions & Defensive Details

What to do when they try to open your closed guard (elbow push or standing up). Clear decision trees for flowing back into half guard or maintaining control.

Volume 5: Safe Guard Pulling + Drills

The safest ways to jump to closed guard, fake double-leg to half guard pulls, and the most effective half guard pull. Then a generous bonus section of drills for both positions so you can actually develop the muscle memory and timing.

The inclusion of dedicated drills is one of the biggest upgrades over many instructionals. Knowledge is cheap; skill requires repetition. Bernardo gives you the reps.

Teaching Style & Production Quality

Classic BJJ Fanatics: clear, well-lit, multiple camera angles, and Bernardo calm, methodical delivery. He teaches exactly how he plays, no theory, no fluff, no it depends on the grip. Every detail is shown at a pace older students can actually follow and repeat.

There is some intentional repetition across volumes. For the target audience (hobbyists, returning grapplers, coaches teaching older students), this is a feature, not a bug. Concepts land deeper the second and third time you see them.

What We Loved

True longevity focus. Every technique prioritizes protecting your body while remaining effective against younger, stronger, faster opponents.

System over techniques. You do not just learn isolated moves; you learn how half guard and closed guard feed into each other.

Beginner-friendly depth. White and blue belts will understand everything. Purple belts and above will still find high-level refinements and details they have been missing.

Drills included. Rare and extremely valuable for older students who need smart, low-impact repetition.

Proven pedigree. These are the exact concepts and systems Faria used at the highest levels.

Excellent value when the series goes on sale (regularly 197 dollars, frequently discounted).

What Could Be Better

Production is functional BJJ Fanatics style, clear and professional, but not cinematic.

If you already own Bernardo earlier half guard material (for example Battle Tested Half Guard), there is some conceptual overlap (expected and not a deal-breaker).

Advanced competitors looking for berimbolo variations or modern leg-lock entries will find this too foundational.

Who This Instructional Is Perfect For

Grapplers 35+ who want a bottom game that will still work in 10 to 15 years.

Hobbyists training 2 to 4 times per week who are tired of getting crushed.

Injured or returning practitioners rebuilding safely.

Coaches who teach older or less athletic students.

Anyone who loves half guard and closed guard and wants a complete, modern system.

Skip it if: You are a young competitor chasing the latest meta, or you already have a highly developed, athletic bottom game you are happy with.

TheGentleArtGuide.com Verdict

Jiu-Jitsu for Old Guys: Bottom Game is one of the most practical and honest instructionals available for anyone who wants their BJJ to age gracefully. Bernardo does not sell you flashy moves that require a 22-year-old body. He gives you a battle-tested framework built on leverage, frames, and smart positioning, the same framework that helped him win five world titles.

If you are serious about building (or rebuilding) a bottom game that keeps you on the mats for decades instead of months, this is an easy recommendation. It pairs beautifully with the other volumes in his Old Guys series (Pressure Passing, Positional Escapes, Guard Retention, etc.) if you want a complete, cohesive game plan.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 for older practitioners, hobbyists, and anyone prioritizing longevity and efficiency.

Rating: 7 out of 10 if you are under 30 and chasing the current competitive meta.

Bottom line: Buy it when it is on sale, watch it slowly, drill the material, and enjoy finally having a bottom game that feels like you again, technical, controlled, and sustainable.

Ready to grab it? Check the latest pricing and free sample directly on BJJ Fanatics:

https://bjjfanatics.com/products/jiu-jitsu-for-old-guys-bottom-game-half-guard-and-closed-guard-by-bernardo-faria

Train smart. Stay on the mats.

Written by Jimmy Rose, lifelong martial artist and BJJ enthusiast