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%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains upright posture with elevated hips and attempts to disengage leg:
- Execute Single Leg X Sweep → Standing Position (Probability: 65%)
- Execute X-Guard Sweep → Mount (Probability: 60%)
If opponent drives forward with heavy pressure attempting to smash pass:
- Execute X-Guard to Ashi Transition → Ashi Garami (Probability: 55%)
- Execute De La Riva to X-Guard Transition → X-Guard (Probability: 50%)
If opponent stands completely upright or backs away to create distance:
- Execute Technical Stand Up to Single Leg → Standing Position (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Standing to Single Leg X → Single Leg X-Guard (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts to clear hooks by stepping over or circling laterally:
- Execute Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Inside Ashi Entry → Inside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 45%)
If opponent exposes their trapped leg by pulling back defensively:
- Execute Ankle Pick Sweep → Standing Position (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Single Leg X Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 50%)
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 Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 45% | 25% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 65% | 40% |
| Advanced | 75% | 80% | 55% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds depending on skill level and opponent’s defensive knowledge
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Single Leg X Guard represents a critical junction point in the lower body control system, offering practitioners a choice between upper body attacks through sweeps and lower body attacks through leg entanglements. The position’s effectiveness stems from its ability to compromise the opponent’s base while maintaining your own mobility and offensive options. The fundamental principle is elevation - by keeping the opponent’s trapped leg elevated and their weight distributed over unstable points, you create a dilemma where they cannot simultaneously defend both sweep and leg attack threats. Proper execution requires understanding the biomechanics of balance disruption; your inside leg controls the opponent’s ankle to prevent rotation and escape, while your outside hook manipulates their hip to direct their weight away from stable base points. The transition between SLX and deeper leg entanglements should be seamless, using the opponent’s defensive reactions to determine optimal attack paths. Master practitioners recognize that SLX is not merely a static position but a dynamic control platform that facilitates continuous offensive pressure through multiple attack vectors.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, Single Leg X Guard is one of the highest percentage positions for creating immediate attacking opportunities against standing opponents. I use SLX primarily as an entry system into my leg attack game, but the sweeping threats are equally important for creating the reactions I need. When opponents stand in my guard, SLX allows me to immediately control their balance and force them into defensive decision-making - they either stay upright and risk being swept, or they come down into my leg entanglement game where I have numerous finishing options. The key to making SLX work at the highest levels is maintaining constant movement and pressure; you cannot allow your opponent to settle and establish defensive grips. I’m always looking for the back-step entry into deeper leg positions, using the threat of the sweep to disguise my leg attack entries. Against elite competition, the ability to transition seamlessly between SLX, X-Guard, and Ashi Garami variations is essential - if they shut down one entry, you must immediately threaten from another angle. The position’s effectiveness in no-gi competition is particularly high because without gi grips to rely on, opponents struggle to neutralize the off-balancing pressure created by properly executed SLX mechanics.
Eddie Bravo
Single Leg X Guard fits perfectly into the 10th Planet system as a bridge position between our traditional butterfly-based guards and the modern leg lock game. What I love about SLX is how it gives you instant control when someone stands up in your guard - you’re not scrambling to recover, you’re immediately threatening with sweeps and leg attacks. We teach SLX as part of the pathway from lockdown and deep half into the saddle position and other leg entanglements. The transition flow is critical: you might start with a lockdown sweep attempt, they defend by standing, you immediately transition to SLX, and from there you have entries into the honey hole or back takes depending on their reaction. The beauty of this position is the multiple attack layers - while you’re threatening the sweep, you’re already setting up your leg isolation for attacks, and if they defend the leg attacks, you can come back to the sweep or even technical standup to wrestling. In our competition strategy, SLX becomes an important reset position when scrambles occur; it allows you to quickly establish control and offensive momentum even from compromised situations. The key innovation we emphasize is combining SLX with upper body controls that aren’t traditional in this position - using overhooks or collar ties to create additional control points that make the position even more difficult to escape.