Let This Legendary EBI And ADCC Vet Fine Tune Your Guard!

By Fanatics Authors, January 28, 2019

Z Guard to Williams Guard to Triangle Sequence (Lachlan Giles)

Who is Lachlan Giles? He is a Jiu Jitsu black belt under John Simon and arguable one of the top Australian grapplers of his generation. Giles earned his distinguished reputation in prestigious tournaments such as IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, Pan Pacific Championship, Boa Super 8 and Eddie Bravo Invitational.

Giles hails from Melbourne, Australia. At a young age he was influenced by martial arts movies. He was introduced to Jiu Jitsu at the age of 15 when he saw Royce Gracie’s legendary performance at UFC 1. Lachlan began his training in Jiu Jitsu under Tyrone Crosse. It was under Tyrone’s tutelage that he progressed to purple belt. His club changed coaches and Lachlan progressed to black belt under John Simon. It is worth noting that Giles was also heavily influenced by Thiago Stefanutti. Thiago also awarded Giles the first degree on his black belt.

Lachlan Giles is an ADCC Veteran, Pan Pacific Champion and coach to one of the fastest rising starts, Craig Jones!

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Lachlan has many exceptional achievements as a grappler. He is the ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials Champion in 2015 and 2017. He is the IBJJF Pan Pacific Champion and Pan Pacific No-GI Champion in 2016 and 2017. He won the UAEJJF Continental Pro Champion in 2018. Giles also took second place at the Boa Super 8 1st Edition and 2^nd Edition in 2015. Lachlan took 3^rd place at Eddie Bravo Invitational 5. He claimed second place at the 2018 UAEJJF Grand Slam Abu Dhabi and 3^rd place at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship in 2017.

In this video Lachlan Giles explores transitioning from the z guard to Williams guard and then finally a triangle choke. He starts the sequence in Z Guard. Lachlan’s goal to create pressure on his opponent. To accomplish this goal he hooks the crook of his bottom leg deep into training partner. Next he crosses his legs and drives his top leg into his training partner. Did you notice his hand placement? He catches and over hook with his top side arm and his bottom side arm has wrist control. Giles states from here he has several options. If he is able to free his bottom leg he can catch either the triangle or go to closed guard. Lachlan now devotes a considerable amount of time explores a variation of the closed guard, the Williams guard. This guard was created by Shawn Williams, a Renzo Gracie Black Belt. Lachlan describes it as similar to the rubber guard. Yet the Williams guard requires less flexibility than the rubber guard. To enter the Williams guard, Giles states in closed guard. Much like half guard, it is important to be on your side for Williams guard. Did you see how Lachlan catches a collar tie, opens his legs and shrimps out to get to his side for the Williams guard? Next, his top side arm swims under his knee from the outside to the inside and catches right above his opponent’s clavicle. His bottom side arm has wrist control on his opponent. Lachlan notes an important detail. He states to create pressure by driving your top side a leg into your opponent. There are two ways your training partner can attack the Williams guard. The first is if you opponent drives into you. The second is if you opponent gains control of the bottom side leg. Giles states that if your opponent drives into you the correct response is to Gable grip your arms and use a cross face to correct the alignment. The second danger is if your opponent has control of your bottom side leg. One way to mitigate this danger is to hook your opponent’s far side arm with your top side leg. Lachlan also states that it is important to pull the leg up and not out when connecting the triangle. Giles finishes the video by stating there are many important details to finishing the triangle. One key detail that he notes is to have a deep bite of the crook of your knee into your opponent’s neck. Well done Lachlan! These details are a valuable addition to the guard.

This video is a wonderful example of Lachlan Giles’s ability to communicate technique to even novice grapplers. Like all of Giles’ instructional videos, there is a lot of detail. I know that I often gain new insights every time I re-watch one of his videos. Certainly, they have a powerful impact on anyone who makes a careful study of them. Giles’ education, the success of his students and the popularity that he has achieved are testaments to his exceptional abilities as an instructor. Certainly the Jiu Jitsu community is lucky to have him.

Come and learn one of the world’s most important guards from one of the world’s best instructors, Lachlan Giles. The head coach of Australia’s Absolute MMA, is back to show one of his best positions, the offensive half guard. He explores the techniques that he uses to win tons of tournaments at the world black belt level. Get it now from BJJ Fanatics!

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