Reverse De La Riva
Inside-hook open guard that controls the lead leg from the inside — a primary entry to berimbolos, back takes, and modern passing counters.
Overview
Reverse De La Riva (RDLR) places your hook on the inside of the opponent’s lead leg while you control the ankle or sleeve. It changes the passing angle, creates berimbolo and back-take paths, and pairs with classic De La Riva when they switch leads.
Position Flow
How to Enter
- Insert the inside hook when a standing passer steps a lead leg between your hips
- Switch from classic De La Riva as they change lead legs
- Recover from open guard after stuffing a toreando ankle grip
How to Exit
- Berimbolo-style inversion to the back when they pressure forward
- Back take without full inversion when they turn the corner
- Sweep by off-balancing the posted lead leg
- Transition to fifty-fifty or other entanglements if rules and training allow
Key Controls
- Inside hook behind the lead knee or thigh
- Ankle, pant, or sleeve grip on the hooked leg
- Secondary collar, sleeve, or underhook to stop them clearing posture
Vulnerabilities
- Leg drag when the inside hook is shallow
- Knee-cut pressure that splits your knees before the hook settles
- Stack passes if you invert without upper-body control
Ideal When
You want a modern open-guard hook that counters standing passers and creates back exposure instead of only closed-guard retention.
OffenseOffense
Goals
- Keep the inside hook and ankle control long enough to force a step
- Convert their pass pressure into back exposure or a sweep
Key Techniques
- Berimbolo entries toward the back
- Sit-up or off-balance sweeps on the posted lead
- Kiss-of-the-dragon style back takes when available in your system
Pro Tips
- Hook depth beats frantic inversion — shallow RDLR gets dragged
- Hold a secondary grip so they cannot simply kick the hook off
Common Mistakes
- Inverting every time with no upper-body connection
- Ignoring the free leg and getting smashed through the center
DefenseDefense
Goals
- Clear the inside hook and reclaim a knee-forward pass
- Drag or cut before they invert to the back
Key Techniques
- Leg drag on the hooked leg
- Knee-cut once the inside hook loosens
- Toreando clears when both ankles become available
Pro Tips
- Keep posture and hide the near elbow to reduce back-take fuel
- Address the hook early; late reactions feed berimbolo chains
Common Mistakes
- Turning the corner into their inversion
- Both hands on the hook foot while losing ankle/sleeve fights elsewhere
Variations
RDLR with sleeve and collar control in the giNo-gi RDLR with wrist and underhook connectionsRDLR to classic DLR lead switches
Key Concepts
- Inside hook changes the pass geometry
- RDLR is a back-take engine as much as a sweep engine
- Control the ankle/sleeve before you invert
Recommended Drills
- Open-guard to RDLR hook inserts against a standing partner
- RDLR retention rounds vs knee-cut and leg-drag pressure
- Controlled berimbolo entries ending in back control without finishing chokes
Related Techniques
Summary
Reverse De La Riva puts an inside hook on the lead leg and turns passing pressure into back exposure. Own the hook and secondary grip first, then sweep, berimbolo, or take the back — do not invert empty.