Lachlan Giles at Masterskya
![Lachlan Giles at Masterskya](/content/images/size/w960/2019/11/DSCF0727-1.jpg)
Van and Alex, founders of Masterskya Brooklyn, recognized the genius of Lachlan Giles long before he went on a tear through the ADCC absolute division. They also had some fortunate timing, and months ago booked him for a seminar in their Brooklyn academy on his way back to Australia following the ADCC.
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And so, out of all the famous academies in NYC, it was their pay-what-you-can gym, at the end of this scaffolded walkway, in the basement of a building with no address, where the most popular man in /r/bjj put on a three hour seminar, six days after taking bronze at the olympics of submission grappling.
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Alex bravely played the role of uke, which meant an evening of tapping to the world's best leg locker. All in service to his students. He may have had a slight limp at the end of the evening.
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Halfway through the evening, Lachlan demoed a technique, looked around said, "Who wants to try it on me?" Two beats of silence and a few nervous giggles filled the room. Then Mike Davilla, MGA blackbelt, stepped up and says, "I do."
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The last 30 minutes of the evening was a Q&A, which started out about technique, and then veered into Lachlan telling stories of the "What kind of week has it been?" variety:
~"What was your training like for the ADCC?"
~"I just focused on wrestling and leg locks..."
~"After losing the first round of your division, why did you enter the absolute?"
~"Seth told me that I'd be more likely to get invited back to ADCC next year if I did it. I thought about how hard it was going through trials, and said, 'I'll do it.'"
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At the end, Lachlan took a group picture and selfies with everyone who asked. More than one person asked for a picture of themselves leg-locking the Lachness Monster.
Lachlan is a true gentleman. Absurdly knowledgeable (he literally has a PhD in knees), but humble, accessible, and funny. It was a pleasure getting to spend time with him that week. He's a great ambassador for the sport.
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