X-Guard

X-guard is an underneath guard where you sit below the opponent's standing leg with your shins crossed in an X behind their knee and hip. From there you control their base and sweep them in almost any direction.

Controlling the base

Because you are under the opponent and holding the standing leg, small movements of your legs translate into big off-balances. Most X-guard sweeps are about taking away the post they would use to recover, then finishing on top or coming up into a leg entanglement.

Entries and connections

X-guard is usually entered from single-leg X, De La Riva, or butterfly when the passer stands, so it lives inside a larger seated and open-guard system. Mapping those entries and the passer's reactions keeps the position from feeling like a one-off trick.

Techniques

Community flows for X-Guard

  • Complete Butterfly Guard, Vol 4: Head-and-Arm & the Standing Opponent — Two self-contained subsystems. The head-and-arm family when the opponent collapses too close for the Abu Dhabi sweep. The standing-opponent toolkit…
  • X Guard Attacks — X Guard for competition. Reading what they give you to score points and secure dominant positions.
  • Open Guard Transitions — From open guard to dominant positions & submissions! Exploiting standing opponents, pressure passes, & balance disruptions to access butterfly, X GUARD, &…
  • Kuzushi Chain from Sit-Up Guard — Balance-breaking from sit-up guard. Reading reactions, creating off-balancing opportunities, and transitioning to single leg takedowns, single X, and modified…
  • Open Guard Pressure Passing — Dismantling butterfly, X, and reverse X guards with constant pressure. Capitalizing with dominant positions and submissions.
  • Modern Guard Flow — X-guard, single leg X, & de la riva. Transitions between them w/ clear sequences to sweep, take the back, & advance to mount or side control
  • NO-GI OPEN GUARD ATTACKS — High-percentage sweeps, back takes, & leg lock entries from DLR, RDLR, K-guard, & X-guard in no-gi competition. Chain attacks to score points & secure…
  • Modern Leg Entanglements — K Guard, 50/50, and X Guard. Fluid transitions between them with pathways to heel hooks and positional finishes based on how your opponent reacts.

Frequently asked questions

What is X-guard in BJJ?

An open guard played from underneath a standing opponent, with your legs crossed in an X around their lead leg. It gives strong control of their base for sweeps.

How do you get to X-guard?

Most commonly from single-leg X, De La Riva, or butterfly guard when the opponent stands up to pass. You shift under their lead leg and build the X with your shins.

Is X-guard good for smaller grapplers?

Yes. It uses leverage and the opponent's own base against them rather than strength, which is why many smaller and leg-lock-oriented players favor it.

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Related positions

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