page_title: Guard (grappling)
section_title: X-Guard
hierarchical_section_title: Guard (grappling) / Open Guard / X-Guard
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Икс-гард.English: Jiujitiero playing x-guard during roll.
context_page_description: The guard is a ground grappling position in which one combatant has their back to the ground while attempting to control the other combatant using their legs. In pure grappling combat sports, the guard is considered an advantageous position, because the bottom combatant can attack with various joint locks and chokeholds, while the top combatant's priority is the transition into a more dominant position, a process known as passing the guard. In the sport of mixed martial arts, as well as hand-to-hand combat in general, it is possible to effectively strike from the top in the guard, even though the bottom combatant exerts some control. There are various types of guard, with their own advantages and disadvantages.
  The guard is a key part of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where it can be used as an offensive position. It is also used, but not formally named, in Judo though it is sometimes referred to as dō-osae in Japanese, meaning "trunk hold". It is called the "front body scissor" in catch wrestling.
context_section_description: The X-guard is an open guard where one of the combatants is standing up and the other is on their back. The bottom combatant uses the legs to entangle one of the opponent's legs, which creates opportunities for powerful sweeps. The X-guard is often used in combination with butterfly and half guard. In a grappling match, this is an advantageous position for the bottom combatant, but in general hand-to-hand combat, the top combatant can attack with stomps or soccer kicks. Likewise, skilled use of the x-guard can prevent the opponent from attempting a kick, or throw them off balance should they raise a leg. For instance, in the first round of the UFC196 fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, McGregor used the x-guard to sweep Diaz after Diaz stood in McGregor's butterfly guard. The x-guard has been used in Judo before being popularised by Marcelo Garcia.
caption: The x-guard being used in BJJ competition
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