{"slug":"x-guard","name":"X Guard","aliases":["full X guard","standing X guard"],"category":"guard","format":"both","level":"intermediate","summary":"An underneath guard that places crossed leg frames around one of the opponent's legs to control balance and expose sweeping directions.","overview":["X guard positions the bottom player underneath a standing or partially standing opponent with one leg over the shoulder and two opposing hooks controlling a leg and hip. The crossed structure creates powerful elevation and keeps the opponent's base divided.","The guard's strategic value is its ability to move an opponent whose weight would be difficult to push directly. Small extensions of the hooks can force wide steps, reveal the back, or create a direct route to standing up with a leg."],"keyPrinciples":["Stay under the opponent's center of gravity rather than hanging at the end of the leg.","Keep the controlled knee pointed away from a stable base.","Use upper-body control to prevent the captured leg from retracting.","Alternate directions until the opponent can no longer post safely."],"entries":[{"label":"Butterfly elevation","description":"Lift a leg and move underneath while maintaining an upper-body connection."},{"label":"Single-leg X","description":"Thread the second hook as the opponent turns or tries to clear the hip."},{"label":"Deep half","description":"Extend beneath the hips and convert the leg configuration."}],"continuations":[{"label":"Technical stand-up sweep","description":"Create distance, keep the leg, and rise into a takedown finish."},{"label":"Back sweep","description":"Extend the hooks to force the opponent behind their heels."},{"label":"Back exposure","description":"Follow a turning opponent and climb toward the far hip."}],"defenses":[{"label":"Remove the shoulder hook","description":"Free the trapped leg from the upper-body connection before trying to step away."},{"label":"Lower the hips","description":"Reduce the guard player's access beneath the center of gravity."},{"label":"Hand fight","description":"Break the leg controls and deny a stable grip for the stand-up."}],"relatedTechniqueSlugs":["butterfly-guard","single-leg-x","wrestle-up","back-control"],"athleteSlugs":["marcelo-garcia","cole-abate","gordon-ryan","bruno-malfacine"],"rulesetNote":"Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.","historyNote":"Marcelo Garcia's high-level use and teaching made X guard one of the defining open guards of modern competition jiu-jitsu.","sources":[{"label":"IBJJF rule book and rules resources","url":"https://ibjjf.com/books-videos","type":"rules"}],"lastUpdated":"2026-07-25","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/x-guard","markdownUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/x-guard.md","jsonUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/x-guard","relatedTechniques":[{"slug":"butterfly-guard","name":"Butterfly Guard","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/butterfly-guard"},{"slug":"single-leg-x","name":"Single-Leg X","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/single-leg-x"},{"slug":"wrestle-up","name":"Wrestle-Up","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/wrestle-up"},{"slug":"back-control","name":"Back Control","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control"}],"associatedAthletes":[{"slug":"marcelo-garcia","name":"Marcelo Garcia","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/marcelo-garcia"},{"slug":"cole-abate","name":"Cole Abate","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/cole-abate"},{"slug":"gordon-ryan","name":"Gordon Ryan","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gordon-ryan"},{"slug":"bruno-malfacine","name":"Bruno Malfacine","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/bruno-malfacine"}],"sourceSite":{"name":"Ossmeta","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com"}}