LACHLAN GILES

Lachlan Giles is one of the most respected modern no-gi instructors and the figure most responsible for the Australian no-gi competitive identity. Born in Melbourne in 1985 and trained under John Will, Giles competed at the elite level across multiple ADCC tournaments and earned a bronze medal in the 2019 ADCC absolute division — finishing three substantially larger heavyweight opponents with heel hooks in a tournament that was widely regarded as one of the most impressive single-tournament performances of the modern era.

Giles' competitive style emphasized the modern leg-lock system, the half-guard offensive system (knee shield, dogfight, deep half), and a defensively-oriented approach to scrambles and back-control exchanges. His coaching of Craig Jones to ADCC silver in 2017 established the Absolute MMA academy in Melbourne as one of the most productive non-American/non-Brazilian no-gi training facilities in the world.

As an instructor and pedagogical innovator, Giles has been one of the most influential figures in modern no-gi BJJ. His online instructional output, his Submeta streaming platform, and his analytical approach to technique have set new standards for technical instruction in the post-2015 era. The Australian B-Team (Craig Jones and others) emerged largely from Giles' coaching tradition, and the broader Australian no-gi competitive presence in modern grappling owes much of its character to his work. As of 2026 Giles continues to compete selectively in superfight events and runs Absolute MMA and Submeta as full-time pursuits.