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In short: Bernardo Faria is the instructor for people who do not have the flexibility of a 20-year-old or the time to learn the berimbolo. Start with Foundations of BJJ if you are a beginner, or Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys: Fundamental Game Plan if you are over 35. Then add the Pressure Passing Encyclopedia for the top game.
Why Bernardo Faria
Bernardo Faria is a five-time black belt world champion and won the open weight division at the adult black belt Worlds. He did it with a game that looks almost boring: closed guard, half guard, and an over-under pass he used against athletes like Leandro Lo, Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu and Erberth Santos.
That is exactly why his courses work for the average practitioner. Nothing relies on flexibility or explosiveness. He teaches a small number of positions, connected together, and repeats the details until they stick.
One transparency note: Bernardo is also a co-founder of BJJ Fanatics. That does not change the quality of his courses, but it explains why his catalog there is so large. We selected only the ones we would recommend to a friend.
His best instructionals
1. Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Foundations of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the course we would give to someone in their first or second year. It does not try to show everything: it builds a simple game plan from the techniques that win most often.
- Best for: white belts and new blue belts
- Why we like it: you can use it in sparring the next day
2. Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys: Fundamental Game Plan
Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys: Fundamental Game Plan gathers his whole game into one plan, from the first contact to the submission. The "old guys" label refers to anyone who wants to roll without relying on athleticism, which in practice means most of us after 35.
- Best for: practitioners over 35, or anyone coming back from an injury
- Related read: starting or continuing BJJ after 35
3. Pressure Passing Encyclopedia
The Pressure Passing Encyclopedia is his signature: the over-under pass and the pressure passing system around it. The idea is to stop chasing the legs of flexible guard players and to pin their hips instead.
- Best for: heavier or less mobile people who struggle against modern open guards
- Level: blue belt and up
4. The Battle Tested Half Guard
The Battle Tested Half Guard is a short course (4 parts) on the deep half guard sweep he used at the highest level. It is also one of the cheapest courses in his catalog, which makes it a good first purchase.
- Best for: people who often end up in half guard and don't know what to do there
5. The Closed Guard
The Closed Guard is his system for attacking and sweeping from the most classic guard in jiu-jitsu, mainly in the gi. The closed guard is hard to escape and does not require flexibility: a good fit if open guards are not for you.
- Best for: gi practitioners who want a reliable bottom game
Quick comparison
| Instructional | Topic | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of BJJ | Complete beginner game plan | White / blue belt |
| Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys: Game Plan | Low-risk complete game | All levels, 35+ |
| Pressure Passing Encyclopedia | Guard passing | Blue belt and up |
| Battle Tested Half Guard | Half guard sweeps | All levels |
| The Closed Guard | Closed guard | All levels |
Which one to buy first?
- You started less than a year ago → Foundations of BJJ
- You are over 35 and your body is complaining → Jiu Jitsu For Old Guys
- You can't pass open guards → Pressure Passing Encyclopedia
- You always end up in half guard → Battle Tested Half Guard
What we like less
His style is very gi-oriented and his game is not designed for no-gi leg lock exchanges. If that is your world, look instead at Lachlan Giles or Gordon Ryan. And as with all BJJ Fanatics courses, full prices are high: the Black Friday sale is the best time to buy.
A simple game is the best game for your first tournaments. When you are ready, find a competition near you on BJJ Championships, with events from the IBJJF, CFJJB, AJP and many other federations.