Marcelo & Paul clarify for Rush certain edge cases of what technically defines the Single-Leg X-Guard: The configuration of your outside-foot matters greatly not only in terms of legality, but also in potential consequences; if said leg crosses your opponent's mid-line while you are over-hooking their ankle, you may lose out on some particularly important affordances that may end up contributing to the outcome of your match. Orient your foot such that your toes point laterally away from your opponent's center, allowing you to press your heel onto their hip. This foothold not only connects you to your opponent, but also plays a crucial part in your ability to impose an off-balance by delivering a strong push from your sole. If your opponent is intent on countering your entanglement by trying to camp down in close and pressure forward with a cradle of sorts, use your free-hand to clear off any ties around your neck as you cleanly step on their hip and create some distance with your legally placed foot. Allowing your toes to meander across medially (as is the case with reaping the knee), gives up the strong contact point used for imparting an imbalance, and trades it for heel-exposure while keeping your opponent close for a more direct attack.