A complete guard-retention roadmap that stops modern passes and gets you back on offense fast.
The Bottom Line
You will learn how to classify passes and apply the right retention layer. You will see when to face in, face away, invert or sit up. You will not get a random move dump.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Brown belts stuck on bottom
Skip if: You want quick tips
Tech focus: Guard Retention, Pummeling, Sit Up Escape
Biggest takeaway: Layers beat passes
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
If you are a brown belt who gets stuck retaining against modern passing, this is the cleanest system we found. Giles and Tabak map out principles, frames, pummels, and the decision tree for over, around, and north-south style passes. The structure makes troubleshooting simple: identify the pass family, apply the layer, then counter-pummel or invert. The live-roll breakdowns help you see when to switch from facing in to facing away. You get a complete language for retention that plugs into any guard you already play.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Guard Retention
- Toreando Defense
- Leg Drag Defense
- Stack Pass Defense
- North South Defense
- Inversion Escapes
- Sit Up Escape
- Hip Heist
- Frame Recovery
- Pummeling
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual, Footage Breakdown
- Skill level: Advanced
- Format: Both
- Volumes: 8
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I rank this first because it upgrades your defensive baseline, which multiplies every other skill you own.
Why Lachlan Giles & Ariel Tabak?
Giles is an ADCC absolute medalist known for clear pedagogy; Tabak is a guard-retention specialist and Giles black belt at Absolute MMA.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Best guard retention material I have used so far.
- Clear concepts that finally stopped torreandos and leg drags.
- Live-roll sections make the decision tree click.
- Applies in gi and no-gi without change.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Eight parts can feel overwhelming at first.
- Some drills require space and partners willing to cooperate.
Smart Alternatives
- Under Pressure: Half Butterfly Mastery by Brian Glick – Pair with half-butterfly retention when opponents get chest to chest. (Price: $197.00)
- New Wave Jiu Jitsu: No Gi Guard Passing by John Danaher – Complements retention by giving you a structured passing game. (Price: $197.00, 8 vols)
- The Saddle by Lachlan Giles – Great if your retention flows into leg entanglements.
Sources & References
Official listing: View Guard Retention Anthology: Around and Under on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
