Shin-to-Shin
Seated open-guard connection that meets the passer’s lead shin with your own — a primary entry to single-leg X, X-guard, and stand-up sweeps.
Shin-to-shin (STS) is a seated open-guard platform: your shin meets their lead shin while you control the ankle or pants and keep a secondary frame or butterfly hook ready. From STS you elevate into single-leg X, dive X-guard, or stand to trip — making it a modern hub against standing passers.
How to Enter
- Meet their lead shin as they step into open guard
- Recover STS from butterfly when they stand a heavy lead foot
- Transition from De La Riva when the outside hook fails but the shin line remains
How to Exit
- Single-leg X elevation when you scoop the lead leg
- X-guard entries under the hips
- Tripod / ankle-pick style stand-ups
- Butterfly elevation if they kneel into you
Key Controls
- Shin connection on their lead leg
- Ankle, pants, or sleeve grips that freeze the foot
- Secondary butterfly hook or hand frame that stops smash passing
Vulnerabilities
- Knee-cut or long-step once the shin connection angles off
- Smash pressure if you play STS flat on your back too early
- Hand fighting that frees the ankle before you elevate
Ideal When
A standing passer offers a clear lead shin and you want elevation entries without committing to full X-guard immediately.
Goals
- Keep the shin connection until elevation or the trip is committed
- Force them to kneel or overstep into single-leg X / X-guard
Key Techniques
- Single-leg X entries
- X-guard dives
- Tripod and standing sweep paths
Pro Tips
- Stay seated and active — dead STS gets passed
- Connect grips before you abandon the shin line
Common Mistakes
- Falling flat without a secondary hook
- Chasing the ankle with both hands while they knee-cut
Goals
- Clear the shin connection and reclaim a passing platform
- Force them flat before they elevate
Key Techniques
- Knee-cut once the shin angles off
- Long-step against elevation attempts
- Headquarters pins when they sit too upright
Pro Tips
- Win the ankle/grip fight before stepping deep
- Do not plant the lead foot inside easy scoop range forever
Common Mistakes
- Standing tall over a live STS elevation
- Both hands fighting the shin while they take the other leg to X-guard
- Shin connection buys elevation
- STS is a hub, not a place to stall
- If the shin clears, reset open-guard frames immediately
- Open-guard STS inserts vs standing partners
- STS to single-leg X elevations
- STS retention rounds into X-guard or tripod exits
Shin-to-shin meets the lead shin from a seated open guard, then elevates to single-leg X, X-guard, or standing trips. Keep the connection alive, add secondary frames, and leave STS as soon as the next entanglement is clearer.