The X guard is one of the most dominant and advanced Brazilian jiu-jitsu positions you should learn. It is an open guard that can help you dominate your opponent and give you access to various great sweeps and submissions. This is why grapplers want to practice X Guard BJJ.
This article will teach you everything you need to know about the X guard in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In addition, you will learn how to sweep or submit your opponent from this fantastic open guard position.
BJJ X Guard Explained
The X-Guard is widely regarded as one of the most effective guards in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is a good guard position for sweeping opponents, whether training or competing.
Indeed, the BJJ X Guard gives you access to various excellent lower-body attacks, including leg locks.
Stephan Kesting, a well-known black belt, explains the x guard positions and mentions five different types in the video below.
Most importantly, the BJJ X-Guard is one of the most effective guards for controlling and sweeping your opponent. It was developed by the legendary Marcelo Garcia and has been used successfully for many years at the highest levels of competition.
As a result of the X guard system, the shift toward focusing more on lower body attacks has radically revolutionized the jiu-jitsu game.
Indeed, because you are below your opponent in the x position, it has long been regarded as one of the best guards.
BJJ X Guard Entries
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, there are several ways to enter the X-guard, including from butterfly guard, half guard, and single leg X-guard, to name a few.
Butterfly Guard to X Guard
X-guard entry from the butterfly guard is one of the most famous x-guard entries. Lachlan Giles demonstrates how to enter the x guard from the butterfly in great detail in the video below.
SLX to X Guard
Entering the X-guard is also possible from the single-leg X-guard; the video below shows how to transition smoothly.
X Guard from Half Guard
You can also enter the x-guard from the half-guard position; Chewjitsu shows how to do it so smoothly in the video below.
Jiu Jitsu Attacks from the X Guard Position
As previously stated, the X guard can aid in the establishment of strict control on the opponent’s lower body. Otherwise, this control aids in the execution of some spectacular attacks.
Some well-known BJJ competitions, particularly No-Gi, fascinate the crowd with lower-body attacks. This is due to using all types of X guards with high proficiency.
The X guard can give you access to various jiu-jitsu submissions, including heel hook, kneebar, etc.
Jiu Jitsu X Guard Sweeps
The X-guard is among the most effective guards for sweeping your opponent and should not be overlooked. Therefore, many of the world’s most accomplished athletes have successfully swept their foes using the X-guard techniques.
Chewjitsu demonstrates seven incredible x-guard sweeps in the video below.
Related: Whether a novice or a seasoned practitioner, learning several sweep techniques from the half-guard is essential for pushing your BJJ game to the next level. I wrote an article offering a comprehensive list of jiu-jitsu half-guard sweeps for Gi and No-Gi competitions. Click here to read more!
X Guard Pass
Kaynan Duarte demonstrates how to pass the X guard step by step in the video below.
Conclusion
The X Guard is one of the most commonly used guards in competitive Jiu Jitsu. It is an outstanding open guard that is the foundation of many players’ games.
This is because it is an effortless sweeping position that gives you and your opponent great control. Not only that, but it can also provide some highly effective submissions, such as leg locks.
Here are some fantastic things you can do from the X guard position:
- Sweep your opponent.
- Take the opponent’s back.
- Submit your opponent using kneebar, Heel hook, and other leg attacks.
- Transit to ashi-garami
These are just a few suggestions; the x guard can do various transitions, sweeps, and submissions.
Please share your ideas; Is the X-guard among your most preferred jiu-jitsu positions?
Related: Whether a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, knowing how to attack and defend from various jiu-jitsu positions is essential for taking your BJJ game to the next level. I wrote an article that comprehensively lists the fundamental BJJ positions you should know. Click here to learn more!
