The X Guard, characterized by the unique “X” shape your legs form beneath your opponent, is one of the most dynamic and powerful open guard positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This position puts you directly under their center of gravity, where you can control their base, disrupt their balance, and set up a wide variety of sweeps and attacks.
What makes the X Guard truly special is its adaptability. It’s highly effective in both gi and no-gi settings and can be used against opponents of any size or style, allowing you to stay aggressive while staying safe, all from the bottom.
Mechanics: How to Execute the X Guard
Securing the Position
Start by elevating your opponent from an open guard, such as butterfly or single leg X, and slide underneath their base. Once there, position one leg behind their far knee and the other across their hip to form the signature “X” shape. This configuration lets you lift, tilt, and manipulate their balance.
Grip behind the kneecap or ankle to keep their leg isolated and prevent them from stepping out or circling away. Without that control, you’ll lose the position fast. Flare your knees outward, pull your hooks in opposite directions, and stay tight to their leg. Keep your head close to their shin or thigh, and never lie flat. The more connected you are, the harder you are to shake off.
Key Features of the X Guard
Open guards are built for offense, and X Guard is no exception. It’s so useful because it gives you access to manipulate your opponent’s base while remaining protected. With the right timing, even a much larger opponent can be flipped.
The X Guard is one of the few bottom positions that works equally well whether your opponent is standing tall or on one knee. Against standing opponents, you can elevate them and attack with technical stand-up sweeps or transition into single-leg finishes. Against kneeling opponents, you can off-balance them diagonally, expose their back, or slide into leg entanglements.
Transitions: How to Enter the X Guard
Single Leg X Guard to the X Guard
Single leg X is a natural precursor to X Guard. You’re already isolating one leg, so to complete the transition, simply drop your outside hook behind their far knee and shift your inside foot to their hip. As you do, scoot deeper underneath their base and lock in the X shape with your legs.
Open Guard to an X Guard
From butterfly, De La Riva, or even a loose-seated guard, your job is to elevate your opponent enough to slide under their center of gravity. Use underhooks, collar ties, or shin grips to create space and angles. Once they’re stepping forward or posting their hands, that’s your green light to shoot underneath and establish X Guard.
The most common and reliable sweep is the technical stand-up. Control the kneecap, flare your hooks, and time your kick as your opponent posts their hands. Replace your top hook with your foot on their thigh, kick diagonally, and stand up.
X Guard to Assume Other Dominant Positions
If your sweep lands you in their open guard or turtle, use your grip to pass directly into side control, or follow their hips to take the back. The X Guard sets up momentum-based transitions, and keeping that pressure going is key to staying ahead in the exchange.
When to Use the X Guard in BJJ
The X Guard shines in situations where your opponent is standing or posting with a wide base, making it difficult to break their posture with traditional sweeps. When they step forward to pass or try to pressure in, it opens up space underneath, which is precisely when you should shoot under and set the X Guard. It’s a perfect response to an aggressive passer trying to pin your hips or control your legs.
You can also enter X Guard during scrambles or as part of guard retention when your opponent starts to pass. Instead of settling for half guard or risking back exposure, you can invert your hips slightly, hook a leg, and pull yourself into X Guard.
The X Guard in Gi vs. No Gi
While the fundamentals of X Guard stay the same, the way you apply it shifts depending on whether you’re training in the gi or no-gi. In gi, grips play a huge role. You can anchor yourself with pant grips, lapels, or sleeves to stabilize the position and slow down your opponent’s movement. In no-gi, you lose those fabric handles, so you rely more on underhooks, tight leg grips, and controlling the kneecap or ankle. The absence of grips forces you to stay more active with your legs and pressure.
Leg positioning becomes even more important in no-gi, where opponents are more slippery and explosive. You need to flare your knees outward, pull your hooks apart, and keep your body tight to theirs to avoid getting shaken off. In gi, the friction from the uniform gives you a little more leeway with space, but you still need sharp angles to keep control.
Common Defenses and Passing the X Guard
When you’re caught in X Guard, your first priority is to adjust your body and regain control of your balance. Shift your hips, square your stance, and work to keep your center of gravity low so your opponent can’t tilt or lift you. If they’ve latched onto your knee, ankle, or sleeve, strip those controls before trying to move.
Once you’ve cleared the immediate danger, you can look to pass. Dropping into closed guard or re-establishing a seated open guard can give you a chance to reset and prevent further attacks. If you’re feeling confident, countering with your own technical stand-up sweep or side dump can flip the exchange in your favor.
Tips to Improve Your X Guard Techniques
Drill your transitions: Practice isolating your opponent’s leg from open guards like butterfly or single leg X to enter X Guard smoothly.
Master the single-leg sweep: Use it to off-balance and reverse your opponent. Elevate the hips, control the knee, and kick through with precision.
Work on retention: Re-pummel your legs, reset your hooks, and stay tight to your opponent’s base to prevent guard passes and maintain control.
X Guard Starts Here
Mastering the X Guard is about changing the way you approach grappling from the bottom. This position puts you in control, even when your opponent thinks they’re winning the positional battle. You can use it to hit clean sweeps, disrupt a passer’s rhythm, or enter a dominant leg entanglement, keeping you one step ahead.
The only way to own it is to get on the mats and drill. Get your reps in. Play with different entries. Fail a bunch. Then figure out what works. Over time, your timing, control, and transitions will sharpen. So grab a training partner, hit the gym, and add a new dimension to your guard game.