Passing De la Riva: Fundamentals

Passing the De La Riva Guard involves understanding key concepts to maintain balance and control. One of the most crucial points is the 'belly button line' or 'invisible wall,' which is an imaginary line you should not cross with your head to avoid being swept or having your posture broken. This line can be visualized using the opponent's belt as a reference.

1. Avoid having your head pass the belly button line to prevent the opponent from breaking your posture and executing sweeps.
2. Maintain a balance between being too far forward, which makes you vulnerable to overhead sweeps, and too far back, which can lead to counter sweeps.
3. Apply pressure on the opponent's guard to elevate their hips off the mat, making it easier to initiate passes such as the leg drag or to control their knee for a leg weave and back step.
4. Keep the opponent's hips off the floor to prevent them from kicking, sitting up, or off-balancing you.
5. Use your shin to apply pressure and control while keeping your upper body straight, allowing for smooth transitions to various passes like the leg drag, smashing pass, or back to guard.

These concepts are derived from a deep understanding of the De La Riva guard and are essential for effectively passing it while maintaining control over the opponent's legs.