A complete, concept-first guard retention framework with live examples.
The Bottom Line
You will learn layered retention against under, around, and through passes. You will see live rolling that connects drills to timing. You will not get a quick move list.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Players getting passed often
Skip if: You want quick tricks
Tech focus: Guard Retention, High Pummel, Knee Cut Defense
Biggest takeaway: Retention is layered pummeling
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What You'll Learn
Two 8-volume sets covering around/under and through-the-legs passing threats, with live footage. It reframes guard retention as layered pummeling, head/hip management, and space creation.
Best for serious students who want a complete retention framework rather than isolated tricks.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Guard Retention
- High Pummel
- Headquarters Counters
- Torreando Defense
- Knee Cut Defense
- Smash Pass Defense
- Inversion Entries
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual, Footage Breakdown
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: No-Gi
- Volumes: 16
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I started retaining more once I focused on leg pummels and head/hip alignment rather than chasing single moves.
Why Lachlan Giles & Ariel Tabak?
Giles teams with Ariel Tabak, a renowned guard retention specialist. Together they present a cohesive, concept-driven curriculum with extensive troubleshooting and live footage.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Rated 9.5/10 by a user who changed how they think about retention.
- Praised for concise pacing with minimal fluff.
- Concept-first approach resonates for many who struggled with purely move-based sets.
- Community timestamps and notes show lots of real use.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Dense and overwhelming if you lack a specific study plan.
- Some users find Lachlan's style hard to follow compared with others.
- A few prefer Submeta structure over long anthology sets.
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Smart Alternatives
- They Shall Not Pass (Guard Retention) by Gordon Ryan – Alternative philosophy for retention and pummeling.
- Under Pressure: Retention by Brian Glick – Concise retention ideas some prefer.
- No Gi Open Guard Volume 1: K Guard – If you want bottom offense to pair with retention. (Price: $99.00, 8 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Guard Retention Anthology Bundle on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
