Entrance Drill

Executing the De La Riva entrance drill begins with your partner standing with legs parallel to their shoulders. Place your feet on their hips and ensure their grip is outside your knee. Choose between a pistol grip or a regular grip on their sleeve, avoiding a grip behind the elbow.

1. With a firm grip, have your partner squat slightly to maintain balance and apply a bit of pressure.
2. Initiate the movement by lifting your hips off the mat and performing a hip escape to the side you intend to apply the De La Riva hook.
3. Simultaneously kick their leg and pull on the arm to practice breaking their grip.
4. As you move your hips out, keep your back off the mat. When breaking the grip, swing your leg to insert the De La Riva hook and square your back and hips on the mat.
5. Return to the starting position in front of your partner and repeat the sequence, lifting your hips, hip escaping, kicking, and breaking the grip to swing your leg into the De La Riva hook.
6. Ensure that each time you establish the De La Riva hook, your back and hips are flat and square on the mat.
7. Repeat the drill on both sides, focusing on the hip escape, the kick to break the grip, and the swinging motion of your leg to secure the De La Riva hook.

It's crucial to wave your leg and flatten your back on the mat to properly execute the De La Riva hook. If you remain on your side, the hook will be ineffective as your foot will barely reach the opponent's thigh.