# X Guard

> An underneath guard that places crossed leg frames around one of the opponent's legs to control balance and expose sweeping directions.

- **Canonical page:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/x-guard
- **Markdown:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/x-guard.md
- **JSON:** https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/x-guard
- **Category:** guard
- **Format:** both
- **Level:** intermediate
- **Aliases:** full X guard, standing X guard
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-25

## What it is

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.

## Key principles

- 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.

## Common entries

- **Butterfly elevation:** Lift a leg and move underneath while maintaining an upper-body connection.
- **Single-leg X:** Thread the second hook as the opponent turns or tries to clear the hip.
- **Deep half:** Extend beneath the hips and convert the leg configuration.


## Productive next actions

- **Technical stand-up sweep:** Create distance, keep the leg, and rise into a takedown finish.
- **Back sweep:** Extend the hooks to force the opponent behind their heels.
- **Back exposure:** Follow a turning opponent and climb toward the far hip.


## Defensive priorities

- **Remove the shoulder hook:** Free the trapped leg from the upper-body connection before trying to step away.
- **Lower the hips:** Reduce the guard player's access beneath the center of gravity.
- **Hand fight:** Break the leg controls and deny a stable grip for the stand-up.

## Rules and safety

Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.

This guide is descriptive, not remote coaching. Learn potentially dangerous submissions, inversions, and takedowns with a qualified instructor. Release immediately when a training partner taps.

## History and naming

Marcelo Garcia's high-level use and teaching made X guard one of the defining open guards of modern competition jiu-jitsu.

## Related techniques

- [Butterfly Guard](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/butterfly-guard)
- [Single-Leg X](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/single-leg-x)
- [Wrestle-Up](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/wrestle-up)
- [Back Control](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control)

## Associated athletes

- [Marcelo Garcia](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/marcelo-garcia): Five-time IBJJF World Champion, four-time ADCC champion, and one of the most beloved pound-for-pound greats in jiu-jitsu history.
- [Cole Abate](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/cole-abate): AOJ black belt, youngest male ADCC North American Trials winner, and IBJJF World champion in gi and no-gi.
- [Gordon Ryan](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gordon-ryan): Seven-time ADCC champion widely regarded as the greatest no-gi grappler of all time.
- [Bruno Malfacine](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/bruno-malfacine): Ten-time IBJJF roosterweight world champion, Alliance legend, and one of the greatest lighter-weight competitors in Brazilian jiu-jitsu history.

## Sources

- [IBJJF rule book and rules resources](https://ibjjf.com/books-videos) — rules

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*Published by Ossmeta as part of the living jiu-jitsu database. Prefer citing https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/x-guard and check the last-reviewed date for rules-sensitive claims.*