Comparison

No Gi Essentials vs Counters to the R.A.T.

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

No Gi Essentials

Learn submission grappling techniques and strategies from a renowned instructor. This comprehensive app features private lessons, live rolling footage, and detailed analysis for beginners and intermediates.

Highlights
  • Submission grappling instruction
  • Techniques and strategies
  • Private lessons
  • Live rolling footage
  • Detailed analysis
  • Beginner and intermediate focus
Features
Read full description

Submission grappling, or no gi jiu jitsu, is a timeless expression of the art. In this stunning app, Roy Dean explains the techniques and strategies that make all the difference for beginning and intermediate players. 12 private lessons are featured, plus live rolling footage and analysis. This is a large app, designed for multiple viewings. Chapters include: Welcome Essential Movements Essential Grips Takedowns Armdrag Kimura Guillotine Guard Options Mount Options Sidemount Escapes Opening the Guard Leglock Techniques Leg Combinations No Gi Essentials Rolling Analysis “The more you improve, the more you’ll get out of No Gi Essentials. It is quite possibly Roy Dean’s best DVD to date, an impressive achievement considering the high standard he has set in the past.” -Can Sonmez Slideyfoot.com “If you want smaller details on making your armbar better, tightening your footlocks, or even a few more ideas than you already have, this is a bargain. Consider it the most well thought out 2hr private lesson on no gi grappling you’ll ever get, at one quarter the price!” -Paul Pedrazzi Norcal BJJ Roy Dean holds black belts in several arts, including Judo, Aikido, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is renown for his clear instruction and precise technique.

About

Counters to the R.A.T.

This instructional app offers advanced techniques for experienced martial arts students and instructors. It provides video lessons and in-depth articles to help users develop personalized and functional skills beyond basic programs.

Highlights
  • Advanced martial arts techniques
  • Personalized skill development
  • Ten instructional videos
  • Two cutting-edge articles
  • 5000-word written content
  • Jeet Kune Do skill enhancement
Features
Read full description

After several requests from senior instructors to be taught something more challenging/stimulating beyond the basic Rapid Assault Tactics Program, and after hearing a resounding “NO” (numerous times) from management, I decided to do something - hence the idea for this instructional. I developed this app to give experienced students and instructors some ideas on how they can take their JKD skills beyond the basic RAT program and actually develop something functional and personal! The contents of this informative app will provide you with ten clear and informative videos, as well as give you two cutting-edge articles - 5000 words (almost 20 pages) to be precise. Mixed together, they will definitely make a positive impact on your Jeet Kune Do skills, as well as help you to personalize what you’ve learned from your instructors and this app. I hope you will not only enjoy this app, but that you will one day write me and tell me how it inspired you to go on your own journey to discover those things that work best for you!

Screenshots

No Gi Essentials3 screens
Counters to the R.A.T.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Counters to the R.A.T. at none against No Gi Essentials's 1. Counters to the R.A.T. also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 88%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). No Gi Essentials's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 33 months). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

No Gi Essentials costs $19.99 and Counters to the R.A.T. $19.99 up front. No Gi Essentials sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Counters to the R.A.T. asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

No Gi Essentials holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of No Gi Essentials's written reviews are positive against 100% of Counters to the R.A.T.'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

No Gi Essentials ships an update every 2 months, Counters to the R.A.T. every 33 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
No Gi Essentials versus Counters to the R.A.T.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNo Gi EssentialsCounters to the R.A.T.
Price$19.99$19.99
Rating4.1 (14 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 33 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB26 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperROYDEAN TV LLCHarris International

Customer experience

No Gi Essentials

All ratings14 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%

Counters to the R.A.T.

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

No Gi Essentials

One-time1
  • Access The Full Version$19.99
None

Counters to the R.A.T.

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is No Gi Essentials free?
No Gi Essentials costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Counters to the R.A.T. free?
Counters to the R.A.T. costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, No Gi Essentials or Counters to the R.A.T.?
No Gi Essentials is rated higher. No Gi Essentials averages 4.1 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Counters to the R.A.T. averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do No Gi Essentials or Counters to the R.A.T. have ads?
Neither No Gi Essentials nor Counters to the R.A.T. shows ads.
Which is updated more often, No Gi Essentials or Counters to the R.A.T.?
No Gi Essentials ships an update every 2 months, and Counters to the R.A.T. every 33 months. Most recently, No Gi Essentials was updated on October 29, 2026 and Counters to the R.A.T. on October 23, 2026.

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