BJJ Mental Models Ep. 376: New-School Fundamentals, feat. Lachlan Giles
24 snips
Feb 9, 2026 Lachlan Giles, Australian high-level BJJ competitor and coach who founded Submeta, explains a new take on fundamentals as goal-driven rather than a fixed list. He talks about prioritizing guard retention and early exchanges, tailoring fundamentals to rulesets and goals, and why specialization and prevention often beat catch-all approaches.
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Weigh-In Banter With Marcelo
- Lachlan recounts approaching Marcelo Garcia at weigh-ins and jokingly asking about his game plan.
- The exchange was spontaneous and highlighted competing with all-time greats.
Fundamentals Are Goal-Dependent
- Fundamentals should be defined by goals, rulesets, and outcomes rather than a fixed technique list.
- Tailor fundamentals to whether your aim is competition, self-defense, gi, or no-gi.
Prevent Bad Positions First
- Spend more time preventing bad positions than training late-stage escapes if you want to compete.
- Prioritize guard retention and early exchanges over practicing escapes from side control or mount.