Submeta Review – The Best Place To Learn BJJ Online? (+B Team!)

Submeta is Lachlan Giles’ online learning platform – and it’s become the most systematic way to learn Brazilian jiu jitsu remotely. After testing it extensively since 2022, I can say this: if you’re serious about structured improvement, this is the best option available. Tin this Submeta Review I tell you exactly what you get, what it costs, and whether it’s worth it.

What Is Submeta?

Submeta is the online learning platform from Lachlan Giles – my favorite BJJ instructor and the most systematic teacher in the sport. It contains 174+ structured courses covering every major position and technique in BJJ, plus hundreds of technique videos, match breakdowns, and rolling footage.

Why this matters: Unlike random YouTube videos or disconnected techniques, Submeta uses “layered learning” – you build foundations before advanced concepts. Each course includes review questions and troubleshooting exercises that actually help you retain information.

The simple version: It’s like having private access to Lachlan’s complete teaching system, organized so beginners can follow a clear path from white belt to advanced techniques.

What You Actually Get on Submeta

Courses (174+ from Lachlan alone): These are the core value. Each course is 1-3 hours of systematic instruction on one topic – escapes, guard, passing, submissions. They include review questions and troubleshooting that actually help you learn, not just watch.

Sets: Curated bundles that group courses into complete systems. The 50/50 Set, for example, connects bottom position, top position, and seated variations with related counters. Think of these as roadmaps through Lachlan’s massive library.

Videos: 500+ technique clips, match breakdowns, Q&A sessions, and rolling footage. New content appears weekly.

The key difference: This isn’t a random collection of techniques. Everything connects to everything else through Lachlan’s systematic approach.

Courses

There’s 174+ courses on Submeta right now (scroll down for a list of all of them). Each of these courses consist of a series of videos that explain different aspects of a certain topic.

The courses are usually about 1.5 to 3 hours in length (although a few are shorter). So this is shorter than Lachlan’s super long instructionals on Fanatics (which are like, 8,000 hours long). But they’re still as in depth as they need to be.

And they also contain exercises to test your knowledge as you go through the course. So say goodbye to watching BJJ instructionals without actually paying attention!

Videos

The submeta library also contains over 2000 videos. Most of these are about a single jiu jitsu technique, but there’s also videos with rolling footage, match breakdowns and discussions. 

Techniques

The technique videos are what you’re used to from a BJJ platform. The videos are taped during Lachlan’s regular classes that he teaches at his gym. 

Breakdowns

The breakdowns discuss recent matches and trends in BJJ. For example, I watched the breakdown of how Mikey Musumeci got passed by Jackson Souza at WNO, and the trend analysis of half guard underhook sweeps at the ADCC North America trials this year. I think these breakdowns are extremely interesting and I hope he adds more of them.

Discussions

Currently there’s 1 proper discussion video listed about the role of specific sparring in your training, and there’s several Q&A videos. (And there’s more discussion videos in the courses, but they aren’t listed separately under the videos tab yet.) I watched the Q&A’s about passing the knee shield, which was very helpful for me. I’d like to see Lachlan do more of these kinds of videos.

Rolls

The rolling footage is fun and interesting to watch. It features Lachlan in his gym with his students and with Craig Jones. Personally, I don’t know if I’m going to watch these videos all that much, unless they make them more topic specific (as in ‘Sparring focused on single x and leg locks’).

Game plan

There’s also a Game Plan tab on Submeta, but it’s not available yet. Lachlan says this will be released soon. It will help students to choose a set of techniques that go well together, so they can build an effective game plan for themselves. But we don’t know exactly what this functionality is going to look like yet.

Who is Lachlan Giles?

Lachlan Giles is a top tier competitor and the best instructor in BJJ, in my opinion. (If you browse around on this website, you’ll see that I feature his technique videos everywhere.) He has one of the biggest libraries of technique videos on YouTube, several best selling courses on BJJFanatics and now his own learning platform.

Also read: The 7 Best BJJ Instructors: Choose wisely who to learn from

Beyond Lachlan: Guest Instructors on Submeta

Submeta isn’t just Lachlan’s personal library anymore. The platform now features several world-class guest instructors, each with their own subscription tier and teaching style.

B-Team (Craig Jones, Nicky Ryan, Nicky Rodriguez): (Soon to be ‘Simple Man Jiu Jitsu’) The most popular guest option. Their content focuses on narrated rolling sessions, class footage, and shorter courses like White Belt Curriculum and Beginner Leg Locks. Think “private YouTube but organized” – great for intuitive learners who pick up techniques from watching high-level rolling.

Adele Forna: World-class competitor offering her own course collection. Less content volume than B-Team but high technical quality from an elite female perspective.

Levi Jones-Leary: Rising star instructor with focused course offerings. Newer addition to the platform.

The key insight: Each instructor has a separate subscription. Lachlan remains the systematic, comprehensive option with 174+ courses. The guest instructors offer different perspectives and teaching styles for specific learning preferences.

My recommendation: Start with Lachlan’s systematic approach. Add guest instructors only if their specific teaching style or perspective fills a gap in your learning.

What Courses Are Available? (The Smart Way to Browse)

Lachlan has systematically covered every major position in BJJ. Rather than listing 174+ courses here (which goes out of date immediately), here’s the smart approach:

• For beginners: Start with the Foundational courses (Escapes, Guard, Passing, Controls & Submissions). These are free and give you the complete white belt curriculum.
• For specific problems: Browse by position using Submeta’s filters – guard, passing, escapes, submissions, wrestling.
• For complete systems: Use the Sets feature to follow connected courses that build complete games around specific positions.
• Recent additions worth noting: Lasso Guard, Side Control Reverse Underhook, North-South Choke, Gi Open Guard Overview.
• Free courses: some of the introductory Submeta courses are free, so you can always start with those.

My recommendation: Don’t try to consume everything. Pick one area you’re struggling with and work through the complete system Lachlan provides for that position.

Submeta Cost: Is It Worth $20+ Per Month?

Current pricing:

• Lachlan Giles: $19.95/month (174+ courses, 500+ videos)
• B-Team: $12.99/month (focused on rolling footage and shorter courses)
• Annual subscriptions: Around $240-250/year with discounts

Use my discount code ‘BJJMORE’ for money off your first month.

Value breakdown: This is expensive compared to YouTube but cheap compared to private lessons. At $20/month, you’re paying about $0.65 per hour of Lachlan’s instruction. If you actually use the systematic approach – complete courses, do the exercises, follow the Sets – it pays for itself quickly.

The catch: You subscribe per instructor. Want both Lachlan and B-Team? That’s $32+ per month.

Do you have a Submeta Discount code? (Yes, it’s ‘BJJMORE’)

Yes, we have a Submeta discount code, it’s ‘BJJMORE’. You can use our promo code at checkout to get $16 off your first month. It also works when you get an annual subscription.

Can you get Submeta for free?

Yes, you can watch some Submeta courses for free. These are mainly the introductory courses. After that, you can use our discount code ‘BJJMORE’ to get $16 off your first month.

Is Submeta the Best Online Learning Platform for BJJ?

Yes, I think submeta is by far the best online learning platform for BJJ. I’ve tried many of the other options (BJJFanatics, Atos online, Roger Gracie tv, Grappler’s guide, and others), and Submeta stands out for several reasons.

Why Submeta is the best place to learn BJJ online

Here’s 3 reasons why I think Submeta is the best place to learn BJJ online:

1. Lachlan Giles is the most structured instructor in BJJ (by far). There are many reasons for this. He explains clearly, he knows more than almost anyone, and he just puts in way more effort than other instructors. His instructionals are longer, better structured, he doesn’t go off topic, he gives you new details, shows techniques in sparring and competition settings, and he makes his content easy to navigate.
2. The content library is huge and organized. Most other learning platforms don’t have nearly as much content as Submeta. And if they do, they’re dumps of single technique videos.
3. Courses with quizzes are unique in this industry. I’ve never seen BJJ courses that feature quizzes to test your knowledge before. I think that’s such an obvious addition in retrospect, because it helps you test if you understood the material which helps you learn

What could be better?

I already noticed a few things which Lachlan can improve on Submeta. I know that he launched it recently and is still adding features, and I’d like to see the following:

• Even more structure: Lachlan suggests where to start and there’s helpful content filters, but I still find the huge content library a little overwhelming. I know that for his own students, Lachlan assigns them specific videos, based on their game and what they need to improve. I think that he will try to recreate this for all the remote students with the Game Plan functionality, but that hasn’t come online yet.
• More interaction: I’d love to be able to ask Lachlan questions and send him suggestions for videos. And I’d also like to interact with other students, so I can ask questions when I’m having problems with a technique. Perhaps this is what the discussion section is supposed to be for, but I’m not sure about that. Which brings me to the next point.

• The discussion section: It’s not used all that much by the community. I would love to see more questions and discussions posted in here.

• Even more content: I know, it’s so greedy, but I want to see even more content! I want more courses, but I especially want more match breakdown and discussion videos. I think it’s super interesting to hear Lachlan’s thoughts about trends in BJJ and how to train. I hope he’ll do many of these kinds of videos after this year’s ADCC.

Who Should (And Shouldn’t) Subscribe to Submeta

Perfect for:

• Systematic learners who want principle-first, complete systems rather than random techniques
• Beginners who need clear progression paths and troubleshooting help
• Time-poor students who can only study 10-15 minutes but want to make real progress
• Intermediate players looking to fill gaps and build coherent game plans

Skip it if:

• You prefer owning content forever rather than subscription access
• You only need one specific technique rather than complete systems
• You’re not willing to do the exercises – the real value comes from Lachlan’s systematic approach
• Budget is tight – at $20+/month, this isn’t casual viewing

For beginners specifically: Start with Lachlan’s Foundational courses. They’re free and will teach you more in a weekend than most people learn in six months of random YouTube videos.

Submeta vs Other BJJ Learning Options

• .Submeta vs BJJ Fanatics: Different models. Submeta excels at systematic progression with quizzes and troubleshooting. BJJ Fanatics offers deeper dives on specific topics that you own forever. My take: For most students, Submeta’s structured approach works better than owning random instructionals. (Also read: Best BJJ Instructionals (2025): 200+ Hours Tested by Black Belt (Complete Rankings).)
• Submeta vs Grappler’s Guide: Grappler’s Guide is lifetime access to Jason Scully’s content. Submeta is ongoing subscription to Lachlan’s systematic teaching. Quality difference is huge – Lachlan’s instruction is simply better.
• Submeta vs free YouTube: YouTube is random techniques without progression. Submeta is systematic curriculum with review questions. If you’re serious about improvement, the structure is worth the cost.

Bottom Line: The Best Systematic BJJ Learning Available

After three years of testing Submeta, here’s my assessment: Lachlan Giles has created the most structured remote learning system for Brazilian jiu jitsu.

• What makes it special: The layered learning approach, review questions, and Sets that connect techniques into complete systems. This isn’t random technique collection – it’s systematic curriculum that actually works.
• The main limitation: Cost. At $20+ per month per instructor, this is for serious students, not casual viewers.
• My recommendation: Try it for one month using code BJJMORE. Focus on one problem area – escapes, guard, or passing. Follow Lachlan’s complete system for that position, do the exercises, and see if the systematic approach clicks with you.

Submeta FAQ

• Can I watch Submeta offline? Is there a mobile app?
  No download option and no native app. Lachlan confirmed this directly on Reddit. The site works fine on mobile browsers, and some iOS users “Add to Home Screen” as a workaround. Not ideal for flights, but most people watch at home anyway.
• How much gi content is there? I’m worried it’s all no-gi.
  Plenty of gi content. Some courses are 100% gi, others 100% no-gi, many are mixed. Recent gi-specific additions include Lasso Guard and Gi Open Guard Overview. Don’t worry about this – Lachlan covers both thoroughly.
• How long should I stay in Foundations before moving on?
  Lachlan recommends at least 6 months in Foundations, but you can start one intermediate course in parallel. My take: Don’t rush this. The Foundations courses are free and contain more useful information than most people learn in their first year.
• Is Submeta better than Lachlan’s BJJ Fanatics instructionals?
  Different purposes. Submeta is superior when you’re new to a topic – better structure, more current content. His Fanatics anthologies go deeper once you already understand an area. For most people, start with Submeta’s systematic approach.
• Is it worth subscribing for just 1-2 months to binge content?
  Many users do “learning sprints” – focus intensely on one problem area for 1-3 months, then cancel. This works well if you’re disciplined about following complete systems rather than random techniques.
• Are the quizzes actually useful or just gimmicky?
  The quizzes are genuinely helpful. They’re quick A/B picture checks and short recall questions between lesson sections. Much better than passively watching – they force you to think about what you just learned.
• How often is new content added?
  Constantly. New videos appear weekly, and courses get added regularly. The material reflects current approaches, not outdated DVD content from 10 years ago. This is one advantage over “buy once” instructionals.
• Will Submeta help if I don’t have regular mat time or drilling partners?
  It’s excellent as supplemental study and troubleshooting, but not a replacement for mat time. Use it to understand concepts and troubleshoot problems you encounter in class. The systematic approach helps you make sense of what happens during sparring.
• How does Submeta compare to other platforms like AOJ+, Grappler’s Guide?
  Reddit consensus: Submeta wins on structure and searchability. AOJ+ is good but updated less regularly. Grappler’s Guide is vast but scattered. For systematic learning, Submeta is clearly superior.
• Is there free content to try first?
  Yes – several Foundations courses are free, including the complete white belt curriculum for escapes. Start there before subscribing to anything.
• Can I try it for cheap first?
  Promotional pricing varies – sometimes $1-5 for the first month. Use my code BJJMORE and see what discount applies. Don’t bank on specific promos, but there’s usually some first-month deal available.
• Is the “Game Plan” feature available yet?
  Still in development. Lachlan has discussed it as a personalized learning roadmap based on your attributes and completed courses. The Sets feature currently serves a similar purpose by grouping related courses into complete systems.