Single Leg X Sweep
Sweep · Open Guard
The basic sweep from single leg X in open guard, for when the opponent stands tall on the trapped leg; he falls back and you come up on that leg. Hug his leg high to your chest, elbows tight, outside foot on his hip and inside leg behind his knee: one pushes, the other lifts. Bring your hips under him so his weight loads onto your legs, then extend both legs fully and at once, as if standing up from the mat: he loses his base and falls back. Hold the heel so he cannot sit up into you, and come up with a technical stand-up; from there finish on top or go straight to ashi garami. A loose hug lets the leg slip out as you extend. If he leans forward, switch to the X-guard sweep; if he straightens the leg, the straight ankle lock.
How to do it
- In single leg X, hug their leg high to your chest, elbows tight: the leg is your anchor.
- Outside foot on their hip, inside leg behind the knee: each leg has its own job, one pushes and one lifts.
- Bring your hips under them so their weight loads onto your legs before you extend.
- Extend both legs fully and at once, as if standing up from the mat: the hip foot pushes, the knee leg lifts, and they fall back.
- Hold the heel and come up on the leg with a technical stand-up; from here finish on top or go straight into ashi garami.
Key details
- Hug the leg tightly: it is your anchor, and a loose leg slides out as soon as you extend.
- Extend your legs as if standing up from the mat: both legs together, fully straight.
- Come up quickly, holding the heel, to score: the held heel stops them from sitting up into you.
- Load their weight onto your legs with the hips under them before you extend.
- From here you can finish on top or go straight into ashi garami.
- Reach for his free ankle first: holding both ankles, square up between his legs and push straight back, because he cannot step back to catch himself.
- If the free leg is out of reach, do not push straight back into his base: tilt your knees sideways and twist his knee out, so he falls the way his feet cannot step.
- As he falls, tuck your bottom foot out from under him so you can roll up over the top with the momentum instead of getting stuck under his weight.
Common mistakes
- A loose hug on the leg. — They pull the leg out and pass. — Hug the leg high on your chest, elbows tight.
- Pushing with bent legs. — There is no lift, so they keep their balance. — Extend both legs fully at once.
- Staying down after the sweep. — They sit up into you and you are back in guard. — Stand up on the leg with a technical stand-up.
- Pushing straight back when he has stepped the free leg back. — The push goes into his back leg; he stumbles but keeps his balance. — Twist sideways, or kick the hip foot up to lift his trapped foot off the mat and turn it onto its arch with your elbow.
How to drill it
SLX entry and sweep, 8 each side; then the partner resists by leaning.
What comes next
Where it comes from