Single Leg X-Guard Bottom

Jan 23, 202610 min read

Single Leg X-Guard Bottom represents one of the most versatile and effective positions in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, offering practitioners a powerful platform for both sweeping and leg attack systems. The position is characterized by a specific leg configuration where the bottom player entangles one of the opponent’s legs using an inside leg wrap around the ankle or lower calf, while the outside foot creates an active hook on the opponent’s hip or inner thigh. This configuration creates exceptional control over the opponent’s balance and base, offering powerful sweeping leverage and direct pathways to modern leg lock positions. The fundamental strength of Single Leg X-Guard lies in its ability to elevate and off-balance the opponent while maintaining multiple offensive options. Unlike many guard positions that specialize in either sweeping or submissions, SLX excels at both, making it a critical component of contemporary BJJ strategy. The position serves as a bridge between traditional guard play and modern leg entanglement systems, allowing practitioners to seamlessly flow between upper body attacks through sweeps and lower body attacks through leg locks. This versatility makes SLX particularly effective in no-gi competition, where the absence of gi grips places greater emphasis on body positioning and leg control. The effectiveness of Single Leg X-Guard has been proven at the highest levels of competition, with numerous world champions utilizing the position as a cornerstone of their guard systems. The position’s relevance has only increased in recent years as leg lock strategies have become more prominent in competitive BJJ, making SLX an essential position for any serious practitioner to master.

Position Definition

  • One of opponent’s legs is trapped between your legs with your inside leg wrapped around their ankle or lower calf, creating the primary control point that prevents their leg from escaping the entanglement through rotation or extraction
  • Your outside foot actively hooks on opponent’s hip, inner thigh, or belt line, creating constant off-balancing pressure and maintaining elevation of their trapped leg to prevent them from establishing downward pressure
  • Your hips are positioned underneath opponent’s center of gravity with active elevation, preventing them from establishing stable base while maintaining sweep readiness and creating angles for both upper and lower body attacks
  • Opponent’s trapped leg is kept elevated and extended away from their body, compromising their ability to generate power or establish defensive posture while opening pathways for both sweeping mechanics and leg attack entries

Prerequisites

  • Adequate hip mobility and hamstring flexibility to maintain leg configurations without losing position
  • Understanding of off-balancing mechanics and weight manipulation principles
  • Basic knowledge of leg entanglement concepts and safe leg attack principles
  • Ability to coordinate upper and lower body controls simultaneously
  • Familiarity with guard retention and recovery concepts

Key Defensive Principles

  • Maintain constant elevation of opponent’s trapped leg to prevent them from establishing heavy pressure or stable base
  • Use active foot positioning with hooks that constantly adjust to opponent’s weight shifts and balance changes
  • Control opponent’s ankle and knee simultaneously using your leg wrap to limit their mobility and escape options
  • Create off-balancing angles by directing force away from opponent’s remaining base point
  • Position your hips underneath opponent’s center of gravity to maximize sweeping leverage
  • Maintain readiness to transition between upper body attacks (sweeps) and lower body attacks (leg locks) based on opponent’s reactions
  • Prevent opponent from establishing forward pressure by keeping their weight elevated and distributed over your hooks

Available Escapes

Single Leg X Sweep → Standing Position

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 45%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

X-Guard to Ashi Transition → Ashi Garami

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Single Leg X Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Technical Stand Up to Single Leg → Standing Position

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

De La Riva to X-Guard Transition → X-Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Ankle Pick Sweep → Standing Position

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Inside Ashi Entry → Inside Ashi-Garami

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Standing to Single Leg X → Single Leg X-Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent maintains upright posture with elevated hips and attempts to disengage leg:

If opponent drives forward with heavy pressure attempting to smash pass:

If opponent stands completely upright or backs away to create distance:

If opponent attempts to clear hooks by stepping over or circling laterally:

If opponent exposes their trapped leg by pulling back defensively:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Passive foot positioning with static hooks that don’t adjust to opponent’s movement

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent easily clears hooks and passes guard, establishing dominant position without facing meaningful resistance
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain active, dynamic hooks that constantly reposition based on opponent’s weight shifts and balance changes, using foot pressure to redirect their movement

2. Failing to elevate opponent’s trapped leg, allowing them to flatten hips and establish downward pressure

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent establishes stable base with heavy pressure, neutralizing sweeping threats and creating passing opportunities
  • ✅ Correction: Keep opponent’s trapped leg elevated throughout by extending hips upward and maintaining tension in leg wrap, preventing them from settling weight downward

3. Inadequate ankle control with loose leg wrap that allows opponent’s leg to rotate or escape

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent extracts their trapped leg easily, passing guard or establishing superior position without difficulty
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain tight control at opponent’s ankle and calf using inside leg, keeping constant tension that prevents rotation or extraction of trapped leg

4. Poor hip positioning with hips too far away from opponent’s center of gravity

  • ❌ Consequence: Loss of sweeping leverage and inability to off-balance opponent effectively, resulting in stalled position or successful opponent disengagement
  • ✅ Correction: Position hips directly underneath opponent’s center of mass with active elevation, maximizing leverage for sweeps and maintaining control over their balance

5. Telegraphing leg lock entries with obvious grip changes or body repositioning

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent recognizes leg attack intentions early and defends effectively, often countering with passing sequences that establish dominant control
  • ✅ Correction: Disguise transitions to leg entanglements by maintaining consistent grip patterns and body positioning until final commitment, using sweeping threats to mask leg attack setups

6. Neglecting upper body control while focusing exclusively on leg configurations

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent uses free upper body to establish grips, frames, or passing grips that neutralize lower body control
  • ✅ Correction: Coordinate upper body controls (sleeve grips, collar ties, or underhooks) with leg positioning to create comprehensive control system

7. Remaining static in position without creating constant off-balancing movements

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent adjusts their base and posture to neutralize threats, establishing defensive stability that prevents successful attacks
  • ✅ Correction: Continuously shift angles and elevation to keep opponent’s balance compromised, never allowing them to settle into stable defensive posture

Training Drills for Defense

SLX Entry from Various Guards

Practice entering Single Leg X from multiple guard positions including butterfly guard, De La Riva, seated guard, and reverse De La Riva. Focus on smooth transitions and maintaining control throughout entry sequence. Partner provides progressive resistance as skill develops.

Duration: 5 minutes per entry variation

Flow between Single Leg X, X-Guard, butterfly guard, and leg entanglement positions without stopping. Emphasize maintaining opponent’s leg control throughout transitions and recognizing when each position is most advantageous. Incorporate both offensive and defensive transitions.

Duration: 10 minutes continuous flow

Off-Balancing Cycles with Progressive Resistance

From established SLX position, practice directing opponent’s weight in different directions using hook pressure and hip movement. Partner provides increasing resistance as practitioner demonstrates control. Focus on maintaining elevation while creating directional off-balancing.

Duration: 3-minute rounds with 1-minute rest

Sweep and Leg Lock Decision Making

Establish SLX position and react to partner’s defensive choices by selecting appropriate sweep or leg attack. Partner randomly chooses between backing away, pressuring forward, or posting laterally. Practitioner must recognize pattern and execute optimal response.

Duration: 5 minutes positional sparring

Hook Retention Against Passing Attempts

Maintain SLX hooks while partner attempts various passing strategies including knee slice, long step, and smash passes. Focus on active hook repositioning and hip mobility to retain guard. Increase partner’s passing intensity progressively.

Duration: 3-minute rounds, multiple passes per round

Escape and Survival Paths

Shortest Path to Straight Ankle Lock

Single Leg X-Guard Bottom → Outside Ashi-Garami → Straight Ankle Lock (2 transitions)

High-Percentage Path to Kneebar

Single Leg X-Guard Bottom → Ashi Garami → Kneebar (2 transitions)

Advanced Path to Heel Hook

Single Leg X-Guard Bottom → Inside Ashi-Garami → Saddle → Heel Hook (3 transitions)

Sweep to Submission Path

Single Leg X-Guard Bottom → Single Leg X Sweep → Standing Position → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke (4 transitions)

X-Guard Transition Path

Single Leg X-Guard Bottom → X-Guard → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke (3 transitions)

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner40%45%25%
Intermediate60%65%40%
Advanced75%80%55%

Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds depending on skill level and opponent’s defensive knowledge

  • X-Guard - Parent position - SLX is a variation that controls one leg while X-Guard controls both
  • Ashi Garami - Primary transition target for leg lock entries from SLX
  • Outside Ashi-Garami - Direct leg entanglement entry from SLX with leg isolation
  • Inside Ashi-Garami - Alternative leg entanglement configuration accessible from SLX
  • Butterfly Guard - Related open guard position that shares similar sweeping mechanics
  • De La Riva Guard - Common entry position into SLX using similar leg hooking concepts
  • Reverse De La Riva Guard - Alternative entry position with similar leg control principles
  • Deep Half Guard - Related guard position with similar off-balancing mechanics
  • Saddle - Advanced leg entanglement accessible through SLX transitions
  • 50-50 Guard - Related leg entanglement position with different control dynamics
  • Straight Ankle Lock - Primary submission available directly from SLX position
  • Kneebar from Guard - High-percentage submission accessible through SLX leg control
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