Move of the Day

X-Guard Sweep to Technical Stand-Up

Off-balance from X, stand through their base, and finish on the single.

X-guard is a lifting entanglement. Your feet make an X behind one of their legs; your hands control the other leg or the sleeve. The high-percentage finish for most people is not a flashy helicopter — it is a technical stand-up that puts you standing on a single-leg they already donated.

The steps

1. 01From butterfly or DLR, enter X: one foot on the far hip, one behind the near knee, hips under their center.
2. 02Elevate so they are light on the trapped leg. Control the free ankle or sleeve.
3. 03Kick the top foot to tilt them, then post a hand and technical stand-up.
4. 04Keep the trapped leg as you stand — you are now on a single.
5. 05Run the pipe or dump to the back if they hop. Do not release to reset guard.

Details that matter

• If you cannot lift, you are too far from their hips. Scoot in before you sweep.
• Watch the knee-on-your-chest smash. Frame the near hip the moment they drop their weight.
• X-guard without a stand-up plan is just a fancy closed guard they will pass.

Video walkthroughs live on the BJJ Everyday YouTube.

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