The X-Guard is one of BJJ’s most dominant positions. It’s also an effective and practical type of guard, among the best out there. You’ll be able to get many taps if you use it properly, which I’m confident you’ll be able to do so after reading this article.
So yea, this article will be about the X-Guard, as you might have guessed. We’ll cover many aspects of it, such as variations, sweeps, submissions, and tips. I’ve thoughtfully ordered the article the way it is. The reasoning for that is to maximize your learning in the shortest time possible.
So we’ll first define it. Then, we’ll review variations followed by sweeps. And we’ll end the article with submissions and tips to finish using this guard type more often.
There’s actually more to the X-Guard than more people are aware of. You essentially have an endless set of options to go for. For instance, sweeping the opponent is a fantastic option you have, which will allow you to attain a dominant position, such as Mount and Side Control.
Likewise, you can finish the fight by using the Single Leg X-Guard variation, which we’ll review in the upcoming section of this article, and go for a submission from it. These are all valid options we’ll review today.
So without further ado, let’s dive into the first part of this instructional guide.
What Is the X-Guard in BJJ?
The 1st part of this article will review the most basic variation of the X-Guard. It’s the first thing you want to ensure you understand about this position, as all the following sections will be built on it. I find it quite amusing to see grapplers trying to learn advanced techniques without knowing the basics. Are you one of them?
Anyways, learning the basics is critical, especially if you know very little about the thing you’re learning. If you’re already familiar with this guard type, it might not be renewing anything. However, starting with the basics and making sure you understand them—is key.
The X-Guard position is when you’re at the bottom and have one of your legs wrapped around the inside of the opponent’s thigh and place it on his hips. The second leg, furthermore, will hook the opponent’s same leg, but on the knee level. Finally, you wrap your arm around his other leg.
This is the most basic X-Guard position you can be in. However, I always say this, basic isn’t simple and it’s certainly not ineffective. Investing time into learning the standard position is critical. I’ve stumbled upon a great video that explains this position and you should watch it to further your understanding.
So there you go; this is the X-Guard for you. Now, let’s dive a bit deeper into the more advanced variations you want to know about. Knowing these will boost your flexibility and give you more options to use to win the fight.
X-Guard Variations
You’re now in the 2nd part of this instructional. It’ll be worth it to go over the previous one again if you feel like you haven’t understood this basic position properly.
The more you know about the basic position, the easier all the rest will come. And again, basic isn’t simple and it’s definitely not ineffective. So you want to keep learning and broadening your knowledge.
And now, let’s dive into the variations you want to know about.
#1 – Standard X-Guard
The first variation we’ll take a look at is the Standard X-Guard. This is the variant we reviewed in the previous section. But we didn’t dive into nearly as much detail as I wanted to. So let’s jump right into the variation itself.
To be in the Standard X-Guard position, you want to start at the bottom guard. Then, your left leg goes under the opponent’s hips and wraps around his right leg. You now wrap your right foot around the same leg, with your shin being in contact. The last step is to underhook your hand around his ankle.
This is everything. So let’s break down each contact point to see how it benefits you.
Let’s begin with your arm. You want to wrap your left arm around the opponent’s right leg (the leg that’s closer to you.) What you want to do is pull this leg toward you to achieve the best effect from this guard type.
And now to your legs: your right leg goes under and around the opponent’s left leg. Your shin should face the ceiling and be in contact with the back of the knee. Furthermore, you want your left leg to be under his hips and hook the same leg, with your feet placed on hips.
#2 – Overhook X-Guard
The 2nd variation we’ll review is the Overhook X-Guard. There’s one detail that will be different from the Standard one. And that’s how you use your left arm. Previously, it was an underhook you used with your arm to gain more control.
Now, however, you want to use an overhook. This will give you more control because it allows you more options and more leverage on his leg, which means him being less balanced. And him being less balanced equals you being more likely to win.
Eventually, here’s how it goes: You want your legs to be in the same positions. To remind you, your right leg hooks the opponent’s left leg, so your shin faces the back of his knee. And your left leg goes under his hips and wraps his left hip. Your legs should be in an X shape.
You want to overhook your arm around the opponent’s left leg (the one closest to you.) Your forearm will face his shin, which will lock his leg in place and allow you to sweep more easily.
#3 – Single Leg X-Guard
The last variation we’ll review today is the Single Leg X-Guard. This variant is the one which will give you the most control. That’s because you’re focusing on one of his legs and putting all your weight onto it. Therefore, he’ll have the most difficulty escaping while you’ll find it the easiest to sweep.
What does the Single Leg X-Guard look like?
The Single Leg X-Guard is when you’re at the bottom position and wrap your left leg around your opponent’s right leg. You want to place it on his right hip. Then, you wrap your right leg under his groin and place it on his hips. Finally, you put all your weight onto his left leg, leaning on it.
And you’re now in the Single Leg X-Guard. From this position, you have many sweeps you can go for. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
In the next part, we’ll review how to sweep the opponent from some of the variations I’ve covered in this part. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
X-Guard Sweeps
The use of sweeps while in X-Guard is a fantastic choice. When you’re in the Single Leg variation, for instance, a single movement from your side and your opponent will move heavily. Why is that? That’s because his level of imbalance will be high if you perform this guard correctly.
There isn’t much a better way to kick off the fight and get the advantage than sweeping the opponent. You’ll essentially be controlling the fight, which is what your goal should be.
You’ll eventually end up on top, which will give you even more options to finish the fight with. Finishing from Mount, for instance, is easier than finishing from Closed Guard. If you want to know which submissions you should learn from Mount, follow this link!
#1 – Ankle Sweep
The first sweep we’ll review is the Ankle Sweep. I’m a big fan of this one because it’s fast-paced. And you guys know I’m all for fast-paced Jiu-Jitsu. The faster you are on your feet, which will require you to specifically train for quickness, the more unexpected you’ll be.
Anyways, the Ankle Sweep is a simple move you want to learn, and you can even learn it as your first one. So here’s how it goes:
You start in Overhook X-Guard and grab the opponent’s collar. Then, you pull him toward you fiercely while changing your back of the knee hook to the back of the ankle. Finally, once the opponent stands up (which he will), you’re going to pull his ankle to you while extending your leg.
This will make the opponent fall. From that point, you can stand up while maintaining your contact points and attain either Mount or Side Control.
If you end up in Side Control, it’s important you know how to finish from it. So if you want to learn about the best submissions from Side Control, follow this link!
#2 – Back Take Sweep
The 2nd sweep we’ll review is going to be a back take. Your desired outcome from it will be to attain the Back Mount position. From it, you can finish the fight by going for countless submissions, such as the Rear Naked Choke. And, in short, it’ll allow you to finish the fight effectively.
You first begin in Standard X-Guard. Then, you push the guy with your legs and wait for him to post with his hands. Next up, push your opponent while maintaining your hook arm grip (on his knee.) You now switch your grips, passing his leg to the side, and hooking both your feet around his thighs.
You now should be in his back. Passing his leg to the side will allow you to face his backside, which is the fundamental of this back take.
Finally, you extend your legs to force the opponent to lean back and sit. And you’re now in the Back Mount.
This sweep is an effective one because it allows you to attain perhaps the most effective and dominant position in BJJ clearly and simply. You now want to go train and experiment with this back take, to see whether it fits your grappling style or now.
If you’re higher than the brown belt, you have the privilege of choosing which techniques are suitable for you. But for the rest, white, blue, and purple belts, I recommend practicing almost all the moves you encounter.
#3 – Ankle Grip Sweep
The third sweep we’ll review from the X-Guard—is the Ankle Grip Sweep. This is a classic all grapplers should familiarize themselves with. The primary reason is that it’s simple to learn and will bring you results quickly.
It’s also pretty similar to the Ankle Sweep, which we already reviewed, but has two additional steps. These steps aren’t hard to execute or understand. So learning this sweep as your first one—is viable.
You first begin in the Standard X-Guard, and you use your leg that’s hooking the back of your opponent’s knee to pull his leg closer to you. Then, you grab the same leg’s ankle. Finally, you push your other leg while using your ankle grip to force your opponent to fall.
However, many grapplers think this sweep end here. However, the entire point here was to attain a more dominant position, such as Side Control or Full Mount. So now, how can you do that?
You want to use the Knee Slice guard pass, which I have an entire article about (follow the previous link to read it). However, in conciseness, it’s when you cut your knee across the opponent’s belly and pass his guard.
X-Guard Submissions
So you now know what the X-Guard is, you’re also familiar with its variations, and finally, you know how to sweep the opponent from it to gain a more dominant position. Alright. So, what’s up next in your journey?
The missing piece now is submissions. Submissions are a critical part of BJJ because they allow you to finish a fight. And finishing a fight is the entire point of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So without them, we’re left to wonder what’s the point.
This is why the following part of this article will cover various X-Guard submissions you want to start learning. These will be the ones you want to learn first, as they’re (1) effective and (2) simple. So there isn’t a way you can go wrong by learning them.
I hope you’re excited about the most intriguing part of this article, as I’m definitely eager for you to start seeing results already!
#1 – Loop Choke
The Loop Choke is one of BJJ’s most influential techniques. It’s the one we’ll discuss first since you’ll be able to learn it with very little X-Guard experience. And as you might know already, the more taps you get, the more motivated you’ll be.
The Loop Choke is a submission that utilizes neck pressure by twisting the opponent’s collar in two contrary directions. It allows you to create immense pressure since you can apply force in contrary directions.
Here’s how to perform the Loop Choke from X-Guard:
Start in the X-Guard position and grab the opponent’s collar. Pull his collar to you while grabbing the other side of his neck, using your other hand. Next, lift the opponent and reach to the back of his head. Finally, you roll, flip, and squeeze your hands to create a lot of neck pressure.
This looks like a fancy move. But I assure you, you’ll be able to learn and understand it in no time. You don’t have to be an expert in any field in the grappling world to understand it completely.
If you want to read more about the Loop Choke and how to finish with it more often, including from other positions, follow this link!
#2 – Armbar
The 2nd submission we’ll review is the Armbar. This is a group of submissions, which means you can play around with them to see which one is most suitable for your specific situation. What the Armbar is—is a hyperextension of the opponent’s arm and should force him to tap out quickly.
To perform the Armbar from the X-Guard position, you want to start in the X-Guard and pull the opponent’s far arm to your chest. Then, you grip his collar and pull it while bringing your top knee higher to his hips. Next, you’re going to wrap your other leg around his head while applying forward pressure to flip the opponent.
Keep all your grips and contact points when you roll with the opponent. Now, what’s left is to hyperextend his arm downward, while his thumbs are facing the ceiling.
This is more of a fancy, complicated move. But that’s only to the naked eye. BJJ trainees can spot that it’s not at all difficult to perform it. Therefore, it’ll be best to start training and experimenting with it for yourself to see just how uncomplicated this Armbar variation is.
And if you want to learn more about Armbars, including variations and tips to finish more often with it, follow this link!
#3 – Heel Hook
The last submission we’ll review today is the Heel Hook. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s a leg lock, which is a group of painful lower-body submissions. You want to learn leg locks, even if you’re yet a brown belt. Simply knowing how they work—will allow you to defend against them better.
And when the day comes and you attain the brown belt, you’ll be able to use them in tournaments, which is excellent news. Follow this link to learn about the best leg locks you want to learn in BJJ.
This specific section will review the Heel Hook, one of BJJ’s strongest leg locks you want to learn. It’s going to be from the Single Leg X-Guard. I’ve found a great instructional you want to watch after you read the steps. Both reading and watching will allow you to better your understanding.
You first start in the Single Leg X-Guard position (bottom.) Then, you push the opponent backward by letting go of one of your leg grips and using it for that purpose. The opponent will then post. When he does so, you lock his ankle (that’s close to you.) The final step is to lock his ankle with both hands and do a sit-up while rotating.
Doing a sit-up is the first force you’ll apply on his heel. The 2nd force, which will turn this Heel Hook into an unbearable leg lock, is rotation. After that, the opponent will be forced to tap out.
But there’s so much more to learn about this wonderful leg lock. If you want to read more tips on how to finish the Heel Hook in BJJ more often, follow this link.
X-Guard Tips
Alright. So you now know how to finish from the X-Guard. That’s fantastic. I gave you one choke, one standard submission, and one leg lock to learn. You’re now ready to go on the mat and start practicing.
But before you do that, I want you to read another part, which isn’t mandatory, but it’ll help you get more taps. And getting more taps is what you want, as that will keep you motivated to continue training.
So read and implement the following 3 tips to ensure you boost your X-Guard skills and get more taps.
Tip #1 – Sticky Feet
The first tip is having sticky feet. What do I mean by that? You want to hook your legs around the opponent, perhaps behind his knee or his thigh; you already know that.
But you want your feet to just be there. Instead, your goal is to wrap them as tightly as possible. That will help you gain more control over the opponent, resulting in more success.
Tip #2 – Hand Grips
The 2nd tip is to experiment with different hand grips. I know there are many variants you want to learn. However, there’s something I’d like to emphasize: mat experience is the most valuable resource you have.
That’s why I won’t tell you which hand grips to use for which scenarios. Instead, I want you to start using the X-Guard while trying different hand grips. Overhook the opponent’s ankle and grip the opponent’s collar. These two will give you a lot of control, but you might never learn it.
Experiment with hand grips to see more success.
Tip #3 – Learn All the Variations
The last tip is to learn everything I’ve mentioned here thus far. You want to learn the sweeps, submissions, and X-Guard variations. These are here to help you grow and understand more about the wonderful world of BJJ.
Learning more variations will make you a better grappler, regardless of how you look at it. So learn all the variations to boost your X-Guard skills.
Final Words
And that’s it! Wow. We’ve gone through a lot of material in one guide. Hopefully you found this as interesting as I had fun writing it. It’s always fun for me to research and come up with these articles, as they allow me to keep learning about the massive, endless world of BJJ.
I encourage you to always try and learn more since knowledge is power, and that’s not a cliche. It really is like that. The more you know, the more entries and moves you can execute, both offensive and defensive.
The X-Guard, however, isn’t the most effective type of guard. If you want to read about BJJ’s most effective guard positions, follow this link!
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Here are other articles you’d enjoy reading:
BJJ 101: Reverse De La Riva Guard
BJJ 101: Spider Guard (The Proper Way)
BJJ 101: De La Riva Guard (Sweeps & Submissions)
BJJ 101: Butterfly Guard (Lots of Sweeps & Submissions)
Closed Guard 101 – Complete BJJ Guide
Pull Guard BJJ – Everything You Need to Know
13 Best Submissions From Closed & Open Guard (BJJ)
11 Best Half Guard Submissions From Top and Bottom
BJJ 101: Half-Guard (And How to Finish From It)