Forging the Guard: Wrestle Ups by Giancarlo Bodoni

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What will You Learn?

Master effortless reversals by combining elite jiu-jitsu technique with perfectly timed wrestle ups.

Giancarlo Bodoni, one of the most dominant grapplers on the planet and a top student of the legendary John Danaher, brings you a game-changing instructional designed to reframe how you think about reversals from the bottom.

In Forging the Guard: Wrestle Ups, Giancarlo reveals how to seamlessly blend traditional BJJ guard positions with low-effort, high-reward wrestle ups—turning common situations into powerful sweeps and takedowns. Far from being a scramble-heavy, energy-draining tactic, Giancarlo teaches you how to use precision, timing, and structure to make wrestle ups an efficient and reliable part of your no-gi arsenal.

Whether you're attacking from butterfly, shin-on-shin, reverse de la Riva, or half guard, this series gives you the keys to controlling the pace and finishing with dominant top position—without muscling through your opponent.

What You’ll Learn:

• 🛡️ Guard Mastery Meets Wrestling Efficiency
  Discover how to fuse classic guard structures with modern wrestling to create clean, effortless reversals.

• 🔁 No-Gi Reversals Reimagined
  Understand why nearly every effective no-gi sweep ends with a wrestle up—and how to finish strong every time.

• ⏱️ Timing Over Strength
  Learn Giancarlo’s approach to minimal-effort wrestle ups by reading your opponent and striking at the perfect moment.

• 🦋 Systemized Entries from Top Guards
  Build wrestle up attacks from butterfly guard, shin-on-shin, reverse de la Riva, and more.

• 🔒 Defensive to Offensive Transitions
  Turn defensive moments into dominant scrambles that get you on top and in control.

• 🧠 Elite-Level Insight
  Learn from one of the best minds in the game, trained under John Danaher and battle-tested at the highest level.

Who’s This For?

• Grapplers who want to upgrade their no-gi guard game

• Wrestlers looking to blend seamlessly into jiu-jitsu

• BJJ players seeking efficient ways to get on top

• Anyone tired of muscling through reversals and sweeps

What Exactly do You Get?

Part 1

• Intro
• Reversals In No Gi Grappling: A Guiding Philosophy
• The Hierarchy Of Off Balances
• The Fundamental Wrestle Up Dilemma: Head Height Hip Height  
  

Part 2

• Seated Vs Kneeling Intro To Short Double Leg
• Finishing Protocols Turking To Score
• Clawing To Score
• Back Side 2 On 1 To Score
• Front Side 2 On 1 To Score
• Shoulders And Hips
• Shoulder Post Double
• Hip Heist Double
• Arm Drag Double  

Part 3

• 2 On 1 Elbow Pass
• 2 On 1 Elbow Post
• 2 On 1 Cross Post
• Heisting Snap
• Te Guruma
• Snap To Ankle Pick
• Snap Double
• Seated Snap To Cow Catcher
• A Solid Set Up For Wrestle Ups: Sumi Gaeshi  

Part 4

• Over Hook Hip Heist
• Whizzer Knee Slide
• Slide By
• Seated Ankle Pick
• Cradle
• Elevation To Double  

Part 5

• Seated Vs Standing Heel Toe
• Strategies For Hand Fighting
• Judging Distance
• Snatch Double Leg
• Mid Distance Double
• Far Distance Double
• Inside Reach Single
• Outside Reach Single  

Part 6

• Arm Drags
• Snatching Arm Drags
• Double Kouchi Double Leg
• Double Kouchi Split Stance Double
• Employing Ashi Waza
• De Ashi Single
• De Ashi Ankle Pick
• Outside Ankle Pick
• Inside Ankle Pick
• Overwhelming Your Opponent  

Part 7

• Supine Vs Standing (Proactive) Tripod To Double Leg
• Reverse Tripod Double Leg
• Troubleshooting Tripod Double Leg: The Pendulum
• Double Shin Double Leg
• Kani Basami Double Leg
• Supine Vs Split Squat Pendulum Single Leg
• Tight Waist Build
• Inversion Double Leg
• Cross Ankle DLR  

Part 8

• Leg Entanglements Ashi Garami Double
• Ashi Tripod
• Forward Shifting
• Ashi/Tripod Combo
• X Guard Double
• Ashi High Leg Rise
• Cross Ashi High Leg Heist
• 50/50 High Leg Heist
• Kani Basami
• Using Wrestle Ups For Guard Retention Low Double &Ankle Pick
• Single Legs