Jira Jira was the Monster of the week in Ep.36 of the Grendizer anime and was piloted by Commander Zegra, another member of the Elite Bodyguard of Great Vega, like the late Capt. Gorman and Jin Jin.

Its vehicle form was a conventional light yellow flat disk, adorn with a massive spike on top, and the hull possessing the red star emblem of the Elite Body Guard of Vega. The robot form was humanoid type, cover in a red, black, gray, purple and light yellow color scheme: its right black arm ended in a hand with tentacles for fingers while the left had the upper shell of the saucer mode as shield. Face was red, with a mouth plate and orange eye and yellow nose. Red torso, with a plate with port holes in the chest, dark red pelvis with the Elite Guard emblem in it. It's weaponry include spinning blades in the vehicle form and the spike shoot an destructive electric attack. It use its tentacle fingers to lasso its enemies

Side note: Not much really happens with its pilot and mech. After many episodes where Duke interacts with many Vega Pilots, Zegra has little of it with him – indeed is just his challenge line, they fight and dies: this is because most of the Episode is concentrated on the Grendizer/Double Spazer Combination maneuver and training, which understandable, robbed any interest I had for this Elite bodyguard (remember, these guys are suppose to be the top mofos of the Vega Army). Zegra's coolest part was saving Skull Moon Base from an incoming Meteor and then using his whip to grab a cup of wine and then through the glass back on the plate, but frankly Gorman he ain't, though he is the first enemy to do severe damage to the Spazer.

When Gandal discovers an incoming Meteor, he uses all resources at his disposal to destroy or deviate its trajectory to Skull Moon Base, but these prove fruitless. As he gives the order to abandon base, an incoming transmission from a new spaceship comes to view: a vessel showing the distinct emblem of the Great Vega Elite Bodyguard. The Ship proceeds to cut the Meteor and then fires its Electric attack on the meteor from one side while the Base fires a beam from the other. This breaks the meteor in half and both pieces barely avoid the Base crashing in the distance, aftershocks of the impact been felt. The ship later docks to the base.

Side note 2: Then there is this brief pointless scene of Daisuke having a premonition of the Elite Guard, when Hikaru shows up to tell him he is needed in the Observatory.

Zegra then meets Gandal and Zuril and informs the purpose of his mission after finding the weakness in Grendizer: That weakness, explain by Umon in the observatory, is Grendizer's launch from and connection to the Spazer and the entire process of moving the command chair from cockpit to cockpit: each cycle taking 7.5 seconds for the former 5 seconds for the later. Umon referring it as the deadly period for Grendizer where it is incapable of fighting. His solution is to have Double Spazer and Grendizer combine (like the Scrander in Mazinger Z) in maneuvers call Scramble Turn and Dizer Jump, but both Daisuke and Koji require training. Daisuke expressing his reservations, not interested other carrying his burden, both Koji and Umon reminding him he is not alone in this war.

As Zegra and Jira take off in direction to Earth, the two heroes spent the next for 5 hours training for the maneuver, but flunking at every attempt. Koji comes out, a bit light headed (since every failed to connect he hit his head with with the control console) when they are alerted of the new Invader approaching. Duke identifies the enemy as Elite Guard and takes off to challenge him. He then meets his foe and the two fight, but Grendizer fails to make any major dent on the advance hull of the enemy craft. Duke makes the cockpit transition when Zegra opens fire and destroys the Spazer's dorsal fin and right wing (the first time an enemy damages the Spazer). Losing control Grendizer crashes as as it ejects, Jira Jira transforms for the one on one fight – Koji takes off on the Spazer to assist. As the fight rages, Duke is able to rip Jira's right arm with Screw Crusher Punch. Jira then takes to the air and bashes Grendizer multiple times until Duke falls unconscious.

As Zegra is about to finish Grendizer Koji arrives and fires missiles and cyclone beams, saving Duke, the two try to make the connection with the Dizer Jump, when Jira fires at Grendizer, falling onto the cliff. Thinking fast the two change to Scramble turn, this time the Connection is successful and Grendizer takes off. A shock Zegra is then outmaneuver and shot down with a combine Space Thunder/Cyclone Beam attack, out-powering Jira's Electric Attack, and falling to the ground. Jira transforms to avoid a crash, and then jumps to return back to its vehicle form: is at this moment both Duke and Koji fire Shoulder Boomerang and Double Cutter, the blades cutting through Jira Jira before he could be sealed in the shell, this been its weak point. The Saucer beast, now in flames, crashes with a horrified Zegra surprise they found his weak point and dies as it's mecha explodes. Later, Duke (along with Umon and Koji) at last comprehends the importance of Team work.