BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 14 – X Guard Passing

Stabilizing X-Guard

Start in x-guard top
Uke attempts to off-balance you onto your far side leg
Options for anchoring balance on near side leg
- Belt grip – one of the better options; use if available
- High lapel grip – effective but also lets uke access your sleeve
- Low lapel grip – effective and doesn’t expose your sleeve; use if belt grip isn’t available

Circle Step

Start in x-guard top
Stabilize your balance and shift your weight onto your near side leg
Circle your far side leg through uke’s knees
- Make sure that both of your legs end up on the same side of uke’s body, so that they cannot recover inside position
Level change down into a pinning position (knee on belly or side control)

Backstep – Bottom Leg Post

Start in x-guard top
Stabilize your balance and shift your weight onto your near side leg
Thumb post (c-grip / lego man grip) on uke’s bottom ankle and pin uke’s heel to their butt
- Don’t just push their hook down towards your ankle, or they will be able to use it to sweep you
Backstep away from uke’s legs so that both of your legs are on the same side of their body
Level change down into a pinning position (knee on belly or side control)

Backstep – Top Leg Post

Start in x-guard top
Stabilize your balance and shift your weight onto your near side leg
Grip the toes of uke’s top leg and pin both of uke’s heels to their butt
- Don’t thumb post as in the last technique; you need to grip the toes to maximise leverage because you’re working against two legs instead of one
Backstep away from uke’s legs so that both of your legs are on the same side of their body
Level change down into a pinning position (knee on belly or side control)