A complete, coachable guard-retention system you can plug into classes immediately.
The Bottom Line
You get a step-by-step retention map against common over and around passes. Chapters translate directly into focused rounds and troubleshooting assignments. It is dense, but perfect for coaches who turn concepts into drills.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: System-first coaches
Skip if: You want quick tips
Tech focus: Guard Retention, Framing, Knee Shield, Hip Escape, Toreando Defense, Stack Pass Defense, Guard Recovery
Biggest takeaway: Teach retention before offense.
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What You'll Learn
If you are building a fundamentals-to-intermediate curriculum, this is the clearest retention blueprint you can assign to staff and students. It organizes frames, hip movements, and recovery paths into a single teachable map.
Coaches like it because every section translates to specific positional sparring rounds and troubleshooting drills. It also scales across gi and no-gi, which makes week-to-week planning simpler for mixed programs.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Guard Retention
- Framing
- Hip Escape
- Inversion
- Knee Shield
- Sit Up Escape
- Leg Drag Defense
- Toreando Defense
- Stack Pass Defense
- Guard Recovery
Format & Level
- Instructional style: Conceptual, System Based
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Both
- Volumes: 8
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I saw classes improve fastest when retention rules became the weekly theme before adding new attacks.
Why Lachlan Giles & Ariel Tabak?
Lachlan Giles is a renowned coach from Absolute MMA and an ADCC absolute medalist known for clear, concept-driven teaching. Ariel Tabak is his black belt and guard retention specialist. Their collaboration blends competition-tested ideas with classroom-friendly organization. BJJ Heroes lists Giles among the sport's top coaches with notable students like Craig Jones. Their material is widely recommended for hobbyists and competitors alike.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Changed how I think about retention; feels like a real system, not a move dump.
- Great for class design; easy to build specific sparring from each chapter.
- Clear concepts that work for smaller athletes and hobbyists.
- Explains over and around passes with logical counters and re-guards.
- High rating from multiple users; strong 9.5 out of 10 style praise.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Dense and long; not a quick watch for brand new students.
- Pricey at list; people suggest waiting for daily deals or coupons.
- Requires drilling discipline; casual viewers may not implement well.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- The Guard Passing Anthology by Lachlan Giles – Pairs offense after defense for a full top-bottom curriculum.
- Precise Pressure Passing by Paul Schreiner – Alternative passing pedagogy many coaches rate highly.
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View The 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.
