X-Guard Sweep
Sweep · Open Guard
An open guard sweep from X-guard, reached from single leg X when the opponent steps into you; he falls back and you stand up on top. Walk your shoulders in until you are directly under his center of gravity. Cross your feet in an X on his far leg, one behind the knee and one on the front of the thigh near the hip, and hug the near leg tight to your chest so he stands on the far leg alone. Flare your knees: the hook behind the knee pulls, the foot on the hip pushes, and his base splits; extend the legs and he falls back. As he posts his hands, kick diagonally into a technical stand-up, still holding the leg. A loose hug lets him step off the X. If he sits back, return to the single leg X entry.
How to do it
- From single leg X or open guard, slide under the standing leg, walking your shoulders in until you are directly under their center of gravity.
- Cross your feet in an X on their far leg: one behind the knee, the other on the front of the thigh near the hip.
- Hug the near leg, the one you are under, tight to your chest and lift it, so they stand on the far leg alone.
- Flare your knees and pull the hooks in opposite directions: the hook behind the knee pulls toward you, the foot on the hip pushes away, and their base splits.
- Extend the legs: they fall backward. As they post their hands, kick diagonally and come up on top with a technical stand-up, still holding the leg.
Key details
- Get directly under their center of gravity: from there a small extension of your legs lifts their whole weight.
- One foot behind the knee, one on the hip: the two hooks work against each other like a lever on the far leg.
- Hug the leg you are under: it is the only thing that keeps them on the X when they try to step off.
- Flare the knees and pull the hooks in opposite directions: their base splits.
- The main finish is the technical stand-up: kick diagonally as they post their hands.
- Sweep where his base is missing: leaning back, push him away and kick into the technical stand-up; driving into you, take him overhead; stable front and back, roll his knee out to the side while blocking the ankle.
Common mistakes
- Lifting without being under them. — If you lift before you are under them, they simply step off the X. — Walk your shoulders under before extending.
- Letting go of the leg. — The hugged leg is the only thing that keeps them on the X. — Hug the leg the whole time, until they are on the mat.
- Feet crossed the wrong way. — With the feet crossed wrongly your legs cannot extend against them. — One foot behind the knee, one on the hip.
If they defend
- They lean forward. → Their weight goes forward: sweep them the other way.
How to drill it
X-guard entry and sweep, 8 each side; then the partner chooses which way to lean.
What comes next
Where it comes from