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In short: if you only buy one Lachlan Giles course, take The Guard Retention Anthology if people pass you, or Fundamentals of BJJ Escapes if you get stuck underneath. His leg lock courses (50/50 and Saddle) are excellent, but they are for no-gi players who already have a solid base.
Why Lachlan Giles
At ADCC 2019, Lachlan Giles entered the absolute division against men 50 to 100 pounds heavier. He submitted three of them with the same 50/50 heel hook and left with a bronze medal. That run made him famous, but his real strength is somewhere else: he teaches like a coach who has to explain things to everyone in the room, not like a highlight reel.
He runs Absolute MMA in Melbourne and coached Craig Jones early in his career. His courses share the same format: a concept, the techniques that follow from it, then narrated rolling where you see him apply it against resisting partners. That last part is what makes the difference between understanding a move and being able to use it.
His best instructionals
1. The Guard Retention Anthology (with Ariel Tabak)
The Guard Retention Anthology: Around and Under is built with his guard retention specialist Ariel Tabak. It deals with passes that go around or over your legs: toreandos, leg drags, stack passes. The goal is not only to stop the pass but to get back to a position where you can attack.
- Best for: white and blue belts who get passed in every roll
- Format: 8 parts, with live rolling
- Note: a second volume covers passes through the legs and at close range
2. Fundamentals of BJJ Escapes (Gi & No Gi)
Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Escapes covers how to get out of mount, side control, back and the other bad positions. For each one, Lachlan explains the threats first, how to stay safe, then the path back to guard. It works in gi and no-gi, which is rare.
- Best for: anyone who spends too much time on the bottom
- Format: 8 volumes
3. The Body Lock Pass
The Body Lock Pass is one of the most used passes in modern no-gi. Lachlan breaks it down in stages, from the grip to the finish, with the answers to the most common reactions.
- Best for: no-gi players who struggle against butterfly and half guard
- Format: 6 volumes
4. The Kimura Anthology
The Kimura Anthology treats the kimura as a system: how to get it from north-south, closed guard, half guard or during a pass, then how to finish it or chain into a triangle or an armbar when the opponent defends.
- Best for: grapplers who want a reliable submission from many positions
- Format: 8 volumes
5. Leg Lock Anthology: 50/50
Leg Lock Anthology: 50/50 is the system behind his ADCC 2019 run. Lachlan comments his own training and competition footage, so you understand his decisions, not only the techniques.
- Best for: experienced no-gi competitors
- Warning: heel hooks are dangerous for the knees. Learn them with a coach, and check the rules of your federation before using them in competition.
6. The Saddle
The Saddle is his most recent leg lock system: entries, control and the different finishes from the saddle position (heel hooks, Aoki lock, straight ankle and more).
- Best for: people who already know the basics of leg locks and want a complete system
- Format: 6 parts
Quick comparison
| Instructional | Topic | Level | Gi / No-gi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guard Retention Anthology | Keeping your guard | All levels | Both |
| BJJ Escapes | Escapes | All levels | Both |
| The Body Lock Pass | Guard passing | Blue belt and up | Mostly no-gi |
| The Kimura Anthology | Submission | Blue belt and up | Both |
| Leg Lock Anthology: 50/50 | Leg locks | Advanced | No-gi |
| The Saddle | Leg locks | Advanced | No-gi |
Which one to buy first?
- You get passed all the time → The Guard Retention Anthology
- You get stuck under mount or side control → BJJ Escapes
- You can't pass in no-gi → The Body Lock Pass
- You want one submission that works everywhere → The Kimura Anthology
- You compete in no-gi and want leg locks → 50/50, then The Saddle
What we like less
The courses are long and dense. If you watch them like a series on the couch, you will forget most of it. Pick one chapter, drill it for two weeks, then move on. Also, the prices are high outside of sales: if you are not in a hurry, wait for the BJJ Fanatics Black Friday.
If you want to compare with other instructors, read our guides on Gordon Ryan and John Danaher.
Once your new guard retention or your leg locks hold up in sparring, test them in a tournament. BJJ Championships lists upcoming competitions from the IBJJF, ADCC, Grappling Industries and many other federations.