Reverse De La Riva

Reverse De La Riva (RDLR) is a variation of the De La Riva where the bottom player hooks the inside of the opponent’s lead leg with their near-side leg, rather than hooking the outside. This guard is commonly used to counter an opponent's attempts to pass and provides opportunities for sweeps, submissions, and transitions. It is highly effective against pressure passing and when the opponent is in a staggered stance.

Key Features of Reverse De La Riva

Leg Placement

  • The inside hook (near-side leg) is placed around the opponent’s lead leg, with the instep cupping the inside of their thigh or knee.
  • The other leg is often used to frame against their hip, thigh, or shin to maintain distance.

Grips

  • Common grips include controlling the opponent’s far-side collar, sleeve, or ankle.
  • The near-side leg (hooking leg) often combines with a Pant Grip for maximum control.

Posture and Angle

  • The bottom player stays angled to one side, creating off-balancing opportunities and denying the opponent a strong passing line.
  • Angles are critical for sweeping and countering the opponent’s pressure.

Objectives of Reverse De La Riva

Control the Opponent

  • Use the hook and grips to neutralize the opponent’s posture and ability to pressure pass.

Set Up Sweeps and Submissions

  • Off-balance the opponent to create opportunities for sweeps and submissions.

Transition to Other Guards

Common Techniques from Reverse De La Riva

Sweeps

Baby Bolo Sweep

  • Use the hook and grips to roll underneath the opponent and sweep them to a dominant position.

Push Sweep

  • Frame against their hips or shin while off-balancing their lead leg to topple them.

Kiss of the Dragon Sweep

  • Roll under their leg, transitioning to their back or sweeping them over.

Back Take Sweep

  • Use the hook to rotate their hips, exposing their back and transitioning to Back Control.

Submissions

Triangle Choke

Armbar

  • Transition to an armbar by isolating their arm and pivoting your hips.

Heel Hook

  • Transition to a Leg Lock entry by isolating their leg while maintaining control with the hook and grips.

Calf Slicer

  • Use the control of their leg to trap it and apply pressure to the calf for the submission.

Transitions

To Single-Leg X Guard

  • Elevate their lead leg, inserting your other leg under their thigh to transition into Single-Leg X Guard.

To X Guard

  • Adjust the positioning of your hooks and grips to establish full X Guard.

To Butterfly Guard

  • Remove the hook and sit up while inserting both hooks under their thighs to transition into Butterfly Guard.

To Closed Guard

  • Pull the opponent forward while retracting your legs to establish Closed Guard.

Defending Against Reverse De La Riva (Top Player)

Pin the Hook

  • Use your hand or knee to pin the hooking leg, breaking their control.

Backstep Pass

  • Step over their hooking leg to neutralize the guard and pass into Side Control.

Smash Pass

  • Apply heavy pressure to their hips and thighs to flatten them and pass.

Torreando Pass

Tips for Effective Reverse De La Riva

  • Keep active hooks and strong grips to maintain control and prevent the opponent from escaping.
  • Use your hip movement to adjust angles for sweeps and submissions.
  • Stay dynamic and ready to transition to other guard variations when the opponent adjusts their posture.
  • Focus on disrupting their balance to create openings for attacks or transitions.

Reverse De La Riva is a versatile and effective guard for dealing with pressure and mobility-based passes, offering a blend of defensive and offensive options through precise grip fighting and leverage.

Advancing Reverse De La Riva

Reverse De La Riva provides a dynamic range of options for offense and defense, leveraging precise angles, hip movement, and hooks to disrupt the opponent’s base and create opportunities for control, sweeps, and submissions. Mastery of transitions and setups is key to making this guard effective.

Transitions from Reverse De La Riva

To X Guard

  • Elevate their lead leg with your hook, insert your far-side leg under their hips, and establish X Guard for sweeps and submissions.

To Single-Leg X Guard

  • Pull their lead leg forward while hooking your near-side leg under their thigh, transitioning to Single-Leg X Guard.

To Closed Guard

  • Break their posture by pulling them forward, retract your legs, and wrap them around their waist to establish Closed Guard.

To Butterfly Guard

  • Remove the hook, sit up, and insert both legs as hooks under their thighs to transition to Butterfly Guard.

To Deep Half Guard

  • Roll under their hips and trap one leg to establish Deep Half Guard control.

Submissions from Reverse De La Riva

Triangle Choke

  • Use the hook and grips to isolate one arm, then pivot your hips and lock your legs around their neck and shoulder.

Armbar

  • Trap their arm with your legs while maintaining control of their posture, pivoting to extend the arm.

Heel Hook

  • Transition into a leg entanglement, isolating their foot, and twist for the submission.

Calf Slicer

  • Trap their leg with your hook and Lapel Grip, then apply pressure to their calf for the submission.

Omoplata

  • Use the hook and grip control to isolate their arm, rotate your hips, and lock the shoulder lock.

Sweeps from Reverse De La Riva

Baby Bolo Sweep

  • Use the hook and grips to roll under their base, off-balancing them, and sweeping to a dominant position.

Kiss of the Dragon Sweep

  • Roll underneath their hips using your hook and grips, exposing their back for a sweep or transition to Back Control.

Push Sweep

  • Frame against their shin or hip, push while pulling their lead leg with your hook and grips, and sweep to top position.

Pendulum Sweep

  • Swing your legs while using the hook to destabilize their base, sweeping them sideways.

Back Take Sweep

  • Rotate their hips using your hook and grips, exposing their back for a transition to Standing Back Control or top position.

Passes to Counter Reverse De La Riva (Top Player)

Backstep Pass

Smash Pass

  • Apply heavy pressure onto their hips, pinning their hooking leg, and drive forward to bypass their guard.

Knee Cut Pass

  • Use grips to pin their leg and slide your knee through their guard to transition into Side Control.

Toreando Pass

  • Control their pant legs, create an angle, and circle around their guard into a dominant position.

Leg Drag Pass

  • Drag their hooking leg across your body and pin it, transitioning into a dominant passing position.

Escapes from Reverse De La Riva (Bottom Player)

Frame and Recover Guard

  • Use your arms to frame against their shoulders or hips, creating space to recover to Closed Guard or Open Guard.

Roll to Stand-Up Escape

  • Roll under their pressure while maintaining hooks, then perform a technical stand-up to disengage.

Invert to Reset

  • Use the hook and grips to invert under their base, creating space to reset into another guard.

Shrimp to Re-Establish Hooks

  • Use your hips to create space, then reinsert your hooks to regain control or transition to another guard.

Takedowns from Reverse De La Riva

Sweep to Stand-Up Takedown

  • Use a sweep to off-balance them, then rise to your feet while maintaining control of their leg to execute a takedown.

Single-Leg Takedown

Tripod Sweep to Trip

  • Use your hook and grips to knock them backward, then drive forward for the takedown.

Back Take to Standing

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