スタンダードシングルレッグX(Sutandādo Shinguru Reggu X)
TransliterationTranslation: standard single leg X
The Standard Single Leg X establishes the basic SLX position with one foot on the opponent's hip and the other foot behind the knee of the same leg, both from the outside, with hands controlling the ankle or leg. [1] From standard SLX, the guard player can sweep by elevating and off-balancing, transition to full X-guard, or attack with ankle locks, heel hooks, and kneebars by adding additional leg entanglement. [1],[2] The standard SLX is one of the most versatile positions in modern grappling. [2],[3]
Standard single leg X (ashi garami) controls one leg with both of the bottom player's legs, providing a platform for sweeps and leg lock entries. [1]
Single leg X was developed in modern BJJ and became central to the leg lock revolution of the 2010s. [1]
Single leg X is the most commonly used leg entanglement in no-gi competition. [1]
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In this 4 part mini-series you'll get a crash course on the SLX position in BJJ and submission grappling. Today we look…
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Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
Guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2011)
Alias sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Marcelo Garcia: Advanced BJJ Techniques (2011)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
Alias sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Marcelo Garcia: Advanced BJJ Techniques (2011)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
hip flexibility, active legs, grip management
long legs for distance control and guard retention
hip flexors, adductors, quadriceps, core, grip
According to Stephan Kesting, keeping your hips on the ground is almost never correct—it makes it very easy for your opponent to pop your heel off. Instead, you should elevate your hips and clamp your legs together to make it much harder for them to escape.
Stephan Kesting emphasizes keeping your top foot on your opponent's hip rather than bringing it across the centerline, which is illegal in BJJ competition and prevents you from controlling distance with the bottom of your foot for defense.
Stephan Kesting identifies four key components: the basic position, the core drill (three movements on two sides covering defense and guard transitions), the basic twist sweep, and the technical stand-up from X guard.
The thigh clamp, popularized by Marcelo Garcia, involves bringing your elbow against the heel and grabbing your own hamstring to prevent your opponent's heel from rotating out, and it also allows you to switch your grip if they drive pressure into you.
The Standard Single Leg X establishes the basic SLX position with one foot on the opponent's hip and the other foot behind the knee of the same leg, both from the outside, with hands controlling the ankle or leg. From standard SLX, the guard player can sweep by elevating and off-balancing, transition to full X-guard, or attack with ankle locks, heel hooks, and kneebars by adding additional leg entanglement.
The standard single leg X-guard is the foundational SLX configuration, the base position from which all SLX attacks and transitions originate. Its importance in both sweeping and leg-locking systems has made it one of the most studied positions in modern competition.
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
The standard setup chain: Achieve Guard Contact → Control Grips → Manage Distance → Threaten Submissions/Sweeps.
Standard counters include: Guard Pass — systematically work to clear the legs and establish a dominant position / Leg Pin — control one or both legs to neutralize guard retention / Pressure Passing — use heavy chest pressure to flatten and immobilize the guard player.
Common variants: Standard guard (primary leg and grip configuration for control and attack…); Offensive guard (configured for sweeps and submissions); Defensive guard (prioritising distance management and preventing passes); Transition guard (moving between guard types to adjust to the opponent's pa…).
Single leg X is the most commonly used leg entanglement in no-gi competition.
Top errors to watch for: Not elevating the leg before entering — the butterfly hook lift creates the space to thread the legs / Placing the hip foot on the wrong side — both feet must control the SAME leg / Not controlling the ankle — the opponent will pull the leg free without ankle control / Keeping the legs passive in the X-position — the feet must push and pull actively.
The Standard Single Leg X is also known as Sutandādo Shinguru Reggu X, Basic SLX, Standard Ashi Garami, Classic Single Leg X.
