De La Riva Guard Bottom is one of the most dynamic and versatile open guard positions in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Named after Ricardo De La Riva who revolutionized its use in the 1980s, this position is characterized by the bottom player hooking their opponent’s leg from the outside while controlling the opposite sleeve or collar. The De La Riva hook, created by threading your leg around the outside of your opponent’s near leg and hooking behind their knee, creates powerful off-balancing opportunities and serves as the foundation for numerous sweeps, back takes, and leg entanglements.
This position excels at disrupting your opponent’s base and posture, making it difficult for them to establish effective pressure or initiate guard passes. The De La Riva hook combined with strategic grips allows the bottom player to control distance, create angles, and threaten multiple attack sequences simultaneously. The position’s effectiveness stems from its ability to break down the opponent’s structure while maintaining offensive options - when executed properly, it forces the top player into a defensive posture rather than allowing them to dictate the pace of the engagement.
De La Riva Guard Bottom has become fundamental to competitive BJJ, particularly in no-gi grappling where it transitions seamlessly into leg lock systems and back attacks. The position offers exceptional versatility, allowing practitioners to chain together sweeps, transitions to other guards (X-Guard, Single Leg X), and direct paths to dominant positions like the back or mount. Its modern applications, influenced by practitioners like the Mendes brothers, Cobrinha, and the Miyao brothers, have expanded the position’s scope to include berimbolo entries, kiss of the dragon variations, and sophisticated leg entanglement systems.
Position Definition
- Bottom player’s outside leg threaded around opponent’s near leg with foot hooking behind their knee, creating the signature De La Riva hook that controls their base and prevents forward pressure
- Bottom player controlling opponent’s opposite sleeve or collar with a cross grip, creating a diagonal control system that disrupts their posture and enables angular attacks
Prerequisites
- Opponent in open guard passing position on their knees or in combat base
- Bottom player has established the De La Riva hook around opponent’s near leg
- Bottom player has secured a cross grip on opponent’s opposite sleeve, collar, or lapel
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain constant tension on the De La Riva hook by pulling your knee toward your chest and driving your hooking foot into the back of their knee
- Create diagonal control by combining the hook with a strong cross grip to break down their posture and prevent them from squaring up to you
- Use your non-hooking leg actively to manage distance - placing it on their hip, knee, or bicep to prevent them from closing distance and smashing forward
- Keep your hips mobile and shoulders slightly off the mat to enable quick angle changes, inversions, and transitions to other positions
- Constantly off-balance your opponent by pulling with your grips while extending and retracting the De La Riva hook to disrupt their base
Available Escapes
De La Riva Sweep → Mount Top
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
De La Riva to X-Guard Transition → X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Berimbolo Entry → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Kiss of the Dragon → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Single Leg X Entry → Single Leg X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Waiter Sweep → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Balloon Sweep → Mount Top
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains upright posture and resists being pulled forward:
- Execute De La Riva to X-Guard Transition → X-Guard (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Single Leg X Entry → Single Leg X-Guard (Probability: 65%)
If opponent drives forward with pressure attempting to smash the guard:
- Execute Berimbolo Entry → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Kiss of the Dragon → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent posts on your non-hooking leg and attempts to clear the De La Riva hook:
- Execute De La Riva Sweep → Mount Top (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Waiter Sweep → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Back Attack Path via Berimbolo
De La Riva Guard Bottom → Berimbolo Entry → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Leg Lock Path via Outside Ashi
De La Riva Guard Bottom → Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami → Outside Heel Hook
Mount Submission Path
De La Riva Guard Bottom → De La Riva Sweep → Mount Top → Armbar from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 45% | 35% | 10% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 55% | 20% |
| Advanced | 75% | 70% | 35% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds per engagement