Josh
Saunders
Fundamentals of Top Control
Four immersive days building a complete system for taking opponents down, eliminating the scramble, and controlling what happens next.
A takedown is only valuable if you control what happens next.
This four-day workshop is built around one clear objective: converting takedowns into sustained top control.
Josh Saunders will guide athletes through a complete, integrated system for taking opponents down and keeping them pinned, pressured, and controlled once the fight hits the mat.
Rather than collecting disconnected techniques, you'll develop a repeatable framework for entering, controlling, advancing, and making better decisions under resistance—one you can immediately apply in training and competition.
What you'll build.
Each session builds on the last, moving from the initial entry through control, advancement, and decision-making.
Enter
Develop high-percentage takedown entries that translate cleanly into dominant top position.
Kill the Scramble
Learn how to eliminate common scrambles and prevent opponents from rebuilding or standing back up.
Control
Build systems for pressure, balance, and positional dominance once the fight reaches the mat.
Advance
Connect takedown → control → positional advancement without giving away momentum or space.
Decide
Develop decision-making principles that work across body types, positions, and rule sets instead of relying on memorized sequences.
Josh Saunders
One of the fastest rises to the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Josh began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in July 2020 after a professional rugby league career and with no prior combat sports background. In just 3 years and 11 months, he earned his black belt.
He has since established himself as a top international competitor, with a game built around pressure, control, disciplined decision-making, and repeatable systems rather than athleticism alone.
His coaching follows the same philosophy: high-percentage techniques that hold up under resistance, taught through concepts you can understand, test, and reproduce.
Built for athletes who want control—not just movement.
Better Wrestling Integration
For Jiu-Jitsu practitioners who want their standing game to connect directly to what they do best on the ground.
Hold What You Earn
For athletes who can get the takedown but struggle to keep opponents down once the scramble begins.
Competition Control
For competitors who want to dictate pace, deny space, and accumulate meaningful positional control.
Coachable Systems
For coaches who want a cohesive framework they can teach, repeat, and adapt for their own athletes.
Material is scalable from beginner through advanced and applies across both gi and no-gi contexts.
Four days to change your top game.
More than a seminar.
The workshop is designed around the complete training experience: instruction, repetition, feedback, recovery, and time to absorb it.
4 Days
Four progressive days centered on one focused system.
8 Core Sessions
Morning and afternoon BJJ sessions designed to build on each other.
Video Review
Technical review of training footage to deepen understanding and refine decisions.
Training Footage
Professional recordings so you can revisit the material after the workshop.
Recovery
Daily cold plunge access plus guided mobility and recovery.
Full Vector Access
Access to Vector's complete performance facility throughout the workshop.
“Spent 5 days training at Vector while on vacation and it was a highlight of the trip. World class BJJ and fitness facility, and the staff could not have been more welcoming.”
Train hard.
Recover well.
Stay awhile.
Vector is located in Playa Flamingo on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, surrounded by beaches, restaurants, adventure, and some of Guanacaste's most popular destinations.
Registered athletes receive our Guanacaste travel guide along with access to exclusive rates at select local hotels.
Josh Saunders Workshop FAQ
Who can attend?
The workshop is scalable across experience levels. Concepts are designed to be accessible to newer practitioners while offering enough technical depth for experienced athletes and competitors.
Is this workshop gi or no-gi?
The core concepts apply across both gi and no-gi Jiu-Jitsu. Any workshop-specific equipment or uniform guidance will be provided to registered participants before the event.
How much does it cost?
The complete four-day workshop is $799. A $299 registration payment reserves your place and is applied toward the total price.
When is the remaining balance due?
The remaining balance is due 60 days before the workshop.
What is included?
Your workshop includes four days of instruction, two core training sessions per day, technical video review, professional training footage, full Vector facility access, daily cold plunge access, guided mobility and recovery, a workshop rash guard, welcome kit, closing group dinner, and our Guanacaste travel guide.
Do I arrange my own accommodation?
Yes. Participants arrange their own travel and accommodation. Registered athletes receive recommendations and access to exclusive participant rates at select local hotels.
Which airport should I fly into?
Liberia International Airport (LIR) is the closest international airport to Playa Flamingo and is generally about 1 to 1.5 hours away by car.
Can I bring my partner or family?
Absolutely. The workshop can easily be combined with a Costa Rica trip, and Playa Flamingo and the surrounding Guanacaste area offer plenty to do between and around training days.
Train with Josh Saunders in Costa Rica.
December 7–10, 2026
Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste
$299 is applied toward the $799 workshop total.