5 tips to improve your guard retention (Lachlan Giles and Ariel Tabak)

lachlangiles.ne...
The Guard Retention Anthology: Around and Under is finally here. This collaboration between Ariel Tabak and myself has taken 9 months to make, and made an enormous difference to my game, I hope it does for you too. Expect it to take some time to develop as it will most likely be a different approach to what you were using before, but I can guarantee that once you fully adopt this style it will be a game changer for you.
This really is different to what I believe is currently out there and I am actually quite ashamed how bad I think my open guard retention was before working with Ariel, be prepared to hate some of your training partners who start using it :)
The instructional is split up into two sets: Around and Under, and Through the legs. Each share a common first chapter on general guard retention principles, and then about 8 hours of unique content.
Around and Under covers general concepts and principles, around the legs retention, under the legs retention, initiating the first grip, turning defense to offense, and narrated rolling.
Through the Legs (to be released next month) covers general concepts and principles, headquarters, cross knee through, knee shield, half guard variants, the smash pass, late stage recovery, and narrated rolling.
The content is in depth but really aimed for anyone willing to dive deep into what good guard retention is, it is certainly more similar to the guard retention you would see at the lighter weight divisions rather than heavy, as they tend to have the more impassable guards. That is not to say that heavier people cannot use it, we both think this is the best style to play and recommend all take this approach and do the recommended mobility work to make it as effective as possible. There are definitely options if you are less mobile, and a good place to start there would be the through the legs section, particularly the half guard and knee shield variants. However for optimum guard retention we recommend not settling at this close to mid range, and continuing to push your opponent back layers and develop good retention and further distance (open guards).
Each set is $127, with through the legs due next month. Save an extra 10% with the code LACHLAN10 or use the link here to give me an extra cut for the referral.

[@jpm8288]

Tip 1. Your upper body should follow your lower body Tip 2. Knees to chest Tip 3. Use the High Pummel over the Hip Escape Tip 4. One leg high, one leg low Tip 5. Frame with your feet on the bicep or shoulder

[@crokengaming]

Wow...what an eye-opener this was for me. I'm a white belt who has been training for 5 months, and all I've been told about guard retention is "keep a connection to your opponent"...which I've tried to do at all costs. Soooo...that had me doing exactly what Lachlan said NOT to do, which was reach my feet way out to touch my opponent. I was wondering why my guard is so easy to pass. This helps a LOT. Thank you both!

[@alexpang6752]

You should connect with your opponent with a form of guard such as DLR or reverse DLR or with a stick hook or grip but not just use your feet to "touch your opponent".

[@piranhaandthedirtplantedta4210]

No one teaches this! I have been asking so many instructors how to retain guard and none of them gave me a clear answer. You have answered the question like no other! Thank you.

[@user-ih4mw7fz9q]

Because they don't know. Lots of fake blackbelt and lazy instructors out there.

[@oliverbradley8755]

I am missing all 5 tips from my game. This is gold - subscribed!

[@bitkonju3488]

Really good video and the whole DVD is insane! Also Ariel Tabak is a real wizard...one moment his hair is short and in the next scene on the DVD his hair is longer...11/10 thx for the content boiz, keep it up!

[@michelleshearer1715]

This is exactly what I've been looking for. In the short video it covered a lot of my questions which I've been struggling with. Thank you! Keep up the good work.

[@fuloran1]

Here is what I love about this, it's actually 2 in 1! If you pay attention to BOTH sides of what is going on it's a great guard passing lesson as well!

[@edboss36]

Good spot, actually nearly all bjj videos are like that

[@Snake_holiday]

that high pummel is slick. thanks for sharing

[@shawn9457]

Now I learned high parm is really important. Thanks

[@hegemanc]

Wow. Great concepts. Last 15 seconds gave me the detail I had never heard before. Bravo!

[@Toddry]

This is really good. I know what I'm getting for Christmas.

[@geekwisdom8969]

Thanks for this -- a nice eye opener as I was doing terrible this week. I would like to use the "I am working long hours" excuse to my poor jujitsu but one guy was practicing passing guard and made it soooo easy. Felt like I did not deserve to be there that day. My biggest problem is my flexibility. I have never been flexible even when doing tae-kwon do as a kid. I wish my knee could easily be close to my chest. Baby steps, I guess. Great stuff in this video - will be drilling these concepts before bed.. for sure.

[@Vengeance888]

Ps. This information is gold regardless if it’s mma or street effective

[@tomarintomarin9520]

Huge honour for me to watch this video

[@justicedelicious1880]

He definitly blasted one out at 5:18

[@ArielTabak]

Omg! I swear that was either Lachlan or the mats hahahahaha

[@trxscreed]

Thank you, I just spit my water all over my monitor.

[@zerotoguitarhero5023]

Really appreciate your uploads

[@gajner]

Great concept

[@jerkov420]

Wow this shit is pretty eye opening. Thanks mate! I've been following Lachlan's tutorials extensively because we have similar body types and I'm incorporating his style a lot in my game, but this one video could very well be the defining one. Cheers!

[@JuanRomero-gi4kf]

I've been waiting for this DVD!!!

[@viniBraga10]

great vid! cheers from brazil.

[@crossfitbilly]

SO much good stuff here!

[@geraldfabrot9961]

Great heuristics! Great pointers. (Actually six for the price of five too ^^) I’ve got your half-guard anthology and I’m definitely tempted by this one too!

[@MikeStopforth]

That high pommel is a hugely underrated technique.

[@robertoconnor7877]

Somebody split my face open with one at a tournament this weekend and was awarded a victory for it, underrated indeed lol

[@MikeStopforth]

@@robertoconnor7877 ah no! Sorry dude. Bad break.

[@danielreizinger548]

Thanks for sharing some of this for free :)

[@7Phoenix1]

Will definitely be getting this instructional, thanks guys!

[@fozzit]

Great details thank you so much

[@ericschaumburg1089]

Might buy this dvd I’ve been looking for something like this

[@illusionxmuta]

Bought it. Easily my biggest DVD purchase regret

[@faizulcosta6286]

Great video

[@davidbowen3460]

Fantastic video, thanks so much!

[@SantMuz]

Amazing stuff

[@benodell3420]

Outstanding!

[@loawkoes]

Just perfect!

[@ildeupereirafilho4247]

Awesome tutorial... tks for sharing!

[@luciantomescu4738]

Nice détails 👌🔥 ,thanx coachs

[@voodootech8424]

The link does not work. Where can we buy the instructional?

[@Vengeance888]

Getting really damn good at defending the guard based on sports rules when all the most dangerous threats are removed is meaningless. But I will learn and use this anyway because I am really frustrated about getting smashed in training. Just my opinion, Thank you

[@velezjiujitsu]

Awesome tips!

[@deadacorn3541]

Link is dead. Is this still available?

[@kennedic4403]

Any tips or stretches to help get flexible enough to do the high pummel more consistently?

[@oliverbradley8755]

He made a video on it -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5e3Z2eFhs6qjMk

[@supplyside2464]

a lot of high level guard players are naturally gifted and dont have to work too hard to gain the required flexibility. i havnt heard much good flexibility advice from people who are naturally flexible. iyengar yoga is still the biggest secret when it comes to gaining this type of flexibility - thats if you dont already have it :)

[@JDoyle216]

Rafa Mendes is a prime example of the one leg high and one low principle. Watch him spar!

[@BlockheadJiujitsu]

@LION TAMER haha too true. He's annoyingly good at everything

[@Bighandsdown]

This way so good I just logged into bjj fanatics and did the deed 🤣 thank you

[@jaehwan123]

Is he calling Lachlan "Lachy?" Anyway, thanks for posting this. It looks really good.

[@BJJNZ]

yes.. lachy is typical aussie name shortening.

[@BJJNZ]

like Lachie calls Ariel "Ari"

[@Vscustomprinting]

those kids and their wacky nicknames

[@zeNUKEify]

Thanks Lachlan

[@TheCaringstar1]

great tips thank you!

[@thomascharles1178]

Interesting concept

[@andryranivoarizaka9772]

Nice ! Thanks for sharing. Isn't that knee-close-to-armpit principle to be applied while trying to pass the guard as well (like for pressur passing) ?

[@ZatoichiRCS]

What exercises help is guard retention. Please specify muscles needed to workout. Of course abs is possibly the most important.

[@wakeup_samurai]

Do you get tired pulling knees to chest, do you do it when you don't have grips or other scenarios when you're in more danger, or just get better core strength?

[@LetsTakeItAll24]

It’s less about core strength than it is just about hip mobility and flexibility

[@raymondr2821]

Thank you so much this help alot 🤙🤙🤙💪💪💪

[@EagleTrue]

It's sooo good !

[@ProjectPurity]

What rashguard is Ariel wearing?

[@BlockheadJiujitsu]

Looks like the Braus logo, also I think he's sponsored or affiliated with them so check their website :)

[@buckmajor]

Sounds good I like it, however, for guys over 100kg like myself with not much flexibility can be a bit hard to do? My only option is to trim down until I can get my knees as close to my chest as possible but that is going to be my goal. Thx guys!

[@supplyside2464]

hey mate im 117kg i can do all of this actively while rolling. iyengar yoga is your answer if youre big and want this kind of mobility :)

[@Michael-ki5oz]

yeah flexibility and like they said make sure you're bringing your knees back just outside your torso not straight back to your chest

[@sweetsweeethistory1337]

is the last fact only valid when in gi?

[@burakguvendik7276]

Thank you Ossss🙏🙏🙏

[@sweetsweeethistory1337]

great content btw

[@abuhanzza8116]

What kind of stretch should i do to get flexibility for 3:17 ?

[@Facu_duartejj]

Hamstrings glutes and lower back

[@user-sk4nt5bm5r]

Bought it :)

[@nelsonluna2998]

how is it?

[@shatter5874]

well......WE'RE WAITING

[@user-sk4nt5bm5r]

@@shatter5874 Amazing stuff :) Must have tbh

[@jeffersonbarbosa5034]

Thanks

[@Timeless92]

Thats my new leg day

[@cryptogolfer8888]

Been doing it wrong the whole time lol.. thank you

[@diabolic42090]

high pummel changed my game at blue belt

[@orgANGmo]

Blue belt here. When I train consistenly my guard is hard to pass, but I didn't know why. If O go back to traning after a hiatus, pretty much everyone passes my guard. Watching this video I just realised the reason, I do the same thing but unconciously. Gotta get this instructional.

[@insidethevelvetglove3919]

I can see the one basic requirement that I lack, extreme flexibility, every great guard player seems to have this

[@kevincox9279]

Even though they have the ability to get their knees to their armpits you don’t have to have their level of mobility. If you focus on the principles they’re sharing, you’ll improve your guard retention . Plus, when you combine the prevention principles with attacking you become pretty tough. I have average flexibility and I’m 49 so I’m not the quickest cat on the mat - But working on these principals and a few basic attacks has helped me a lot. So you can definitely make a lot of improvement .

[@badxradxandy]

Yoga

[@wingoreviewsboxingandmma3667]

How about a stay on to retention or a can't take me down retention? I'm not "retain" being on my back and on bottom.

[@클라임-b8q]

2:10 2:10 5:12 5:12

[@pidyongcrsz6846]

Wow

[@jamesfernandes1260]

Hi guys

[@jamesfernandes1260]

Hi

[@longeloe]

TabÁk! Hahahaha Definetly buying this one, just need to save up a bit! Hahaha

[@Vengeance888]

The evolution of these techniques are great for sport jiu jitsu but if we trapping our own arm underneath our thigh to create a frame it leaves us defenseless in a self defense situation…. This is the frustrating part about learning sport bjj. It is meaningless in a way. Only for fun. This is same situation as Aikido as the art evolves, either keep traditional methods of breaking joints and practicing an effective form or evolve and have fun with it.

[@kevinmcgivern1320]

Looks like you need a lot of flexibility?

[@supplyside2464]

yes

[@superchunkylover23]

Start doing Yoga and stretching after class, you’ll build up your flexibility quick!

[@jamesfernandes1260]

Ok

[@artnos]

High pummel looks like it requires flexibility

[@Vscustomprinting]

ninja guard

[@Vengeance888]

The way we have to keep our hands low is not good for mma or streets. It’s open to strikes.

[@brianmonzon1027]

I did not know that Jim carrey can do jiujitsu???

[@Sevisija]

Step one: Be flexible. You're welcome :P

[@theratrace2153]

what happened to your left ankle, Lachie?!?! It looks waaaay waaaay overbent!!!!

[@zakzik6175]

Thanks Lachlan