X-Guard

Also known as: X Guard · Marcelo Guard

The bottom player is underneath a standing opponent with legs crossed in an X behind one thigh, holding the other leg or ankle. The opponent is standing on a platform you control — almost every exchange ends with them swept. Popularized at the highest level by Marcelo Garcia.

Gi & No-gi · Category: Guards

What can you do from X-Guard?

X-guard player (positional score +3/10)

Sweeps

• X-Guard Sweep — From under the X, stretch their legs apart, tip them off their one remaining post, and technical stand-up while holding a leg — you rise, they fall.

Top player

This side of the position is about defending and rebuilding — see the escapes and transitions from the other role.

Where you can go from here

• Open Guard

How you get here

• X-Guard Entry from Butterfly Guard

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