Reverse De La Riva Guard

Position
Also known as:
RDLR RDLR Guard Inside De La Riva

Reverse De La Riva is the mirror image of its famous parent: instead of wrapping the opponent's lead leg from the outside, your hook comes from the inside. Born as a defensive answer to the knee cut pass, RDLR grew into one of the modern game's most productive guards, the starting point for kiss-of-the-dragon back takes, K-guard conversions, and the inversion game that defines contemporary jiu-jitsu.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · The RDLR hook threads from the inside of the opponent's lead leg, curling around the back of the knee with your instep controlling their far thigh.
  • · Maintaining a strong collar or sleeve grip prevents the top player from smashing past and establishes off-balancing control.
  • · Hip angle must stay perpendicular to the opponent, not flat on your back, to preserve mobility and sweeping leverage.
  • · Anticipate the top player's knee cut pass by using your free foot as a frame on their hip or far knee to create distance.
  • · Inverting underneath the opponent is a core mechanic for back takes (Kiss of the Dragon) and berimbolo transitions.

Execution

  1. 1 When the opponent steps their lead leg forward, thread your inside leg between their legs and hook around the back of their lead knee, locking your instep on their far thigh.
  2. 2 Establish grips on the collar and far sleeve (gi) or collar tie and wrist control (no-gi) to prevent them from flattening you.
  3. 3 Use your free foot to frame on their hip or far knee, maintaining proper distance and controlling their ability to pass.
  4. 4 Angle your hips underneath them by scooting or inverting to off-balance them forward, opening transitions to back takes, berimbolo, or 50-50.
  5. 5 If transitioning to 50-50, use the RDLR hook to thread your leg deeper and lock your legs around their single leg in the 50-50 configuration.

Common mistakes

  • × Keeping your hips flat and square to the ceiling instead of angled, which kills your mobility and makes you vulnerable to smash passes.
  • × Hooking too shallow with the RDLR leg so it slips off easily, losing the entire guard position when the opponent backsteps.
  • × Neglecting upper body grips and relying only on the leg hook, allowing the top player to crossface and flatten you for an easy pass.

From the bottom

What the bottom grappler is working toward from Reverse De La Riva Guard.

Berimbolo Entry transition K-Guard Entry From Reverse De La Riva transition Kiss Of The Dragon transition
14 less common
Choi Bar submission Crab Ride To Back transition De La Riva To X-guard Transition transition Matrix Reverse De La Riva To 50-50 transition Rolling Back Take transition Single Leg X Entry transition Straight Ankle Lock submission Waiter Sweep sweep X-guard Sweep sweep Armbar submission Omoplata Control Scissor Sweep sweep Triangle From Guard submission

On top

The top grappler's options against Reverse De La Riva Guard.

Back Step transition Knee Cut Pass pass Leg Drag Pass pass
8 less common
Arm Weave Pass pass Long Step Pass pass Rdlr Pass pass Smash Pass pass Toreando Pass pass Truck Entry transition X-Pass pass North South Choke submission

Chains & Sequences

Commonly taught paths through the graph that feature this technique.

RDLR Back Roll Sweep to Kimura

Reverse De La Riva Guard Side Control Top Kimura