Reverse De La Riva Guard Top represents the passing perspective against one of modern BJJ’s most dynamic and versatile guard systems. The top player faces a bottom opponent who has established a reverse De La Riva hook—instep of one foot positioned behind the knee while the same-side hand controls the ankle—creating a complex entanglement that can lead to sweeps, back takes, or scrambles. The primary objective from top is to systematically dismantle the guard structure through proper base management, pressure distribution, and strategic movement while avoiding common traps like the kiss of the dragon sweep or berimbolo entries.
This position requires sophisticated understanding of weight distribution and base geometry, as the bottom player’s reverse De La Riva hook creates a lever system specifically designed to off-balance and invert the top player. Success from top position depends on maintaining connection to the mat through strategic posting, preventing the bottom player from getting underneath your center of gravity, and systematically removing the guard’s structural components in the correct order. The modern meta-game heavily emphasizes headquarters positioning, where the top player creates a mobile base that can apply pressure while remaining prepared to address dynamic guard retention attempts through backstepping and lateral movement.
The top player must navigate multiple decision points throughout the passing sequence: whether to engage in smash passing protocols that eliminate space, float passing methodologies that maintain distance and mobility, or leg drag systems that address the hook through lateral movement. Each pathway requires different pressure patterns and grip configurations. Understanding the relationship between the reverse De La Riva hook’s mechanical advantage and your own base positioning is crucial, as improper weight distribution leads directly to sweeps or scrambles where the bottom player can access back exposure opportunities. The position serves as a critical junction in modern guard passing sequences, particularly in no-gi competition where reverse De La Riva has become a foundational guard retention tool that connects to multiple defensive systems including X-Guard, Single Leg X, and leg entanglement positions.
Position Definition
- Top player maintains standing or combat base position with at least one foot posted on the mat for structural stability, distributing weight to counter the reverse De La Riva hook’s sweeping vector and prevent elevation above bottom player’s center of gravity
- Bottom player has established reverse De La Riva hook with instep of one foot positioned behind top player’s near-side knee, creating a lever system that connects through the ankle grip on the same side to generate rotational off-balancing pressure
- Top player’s weight distribution must account for the reverse De La Riva hook’s pulling vector, requiring strategic posting on the hooking-side leg while keeping hips back to maintain balance and prevent inversion or kiss of the dragon entries
- Bottom player’s far leg (non-hooking leg) typically posts on top player’s hip, bicep, or remains in space as a framing tool, creating distance management that prevents immediate smash passing and maintains guard structure
- Top player’s grips focus on controlling bottom player’s pants at the knees or ankles, or establishing collar/cross-face controls to limit bottom player’s upper body mobility and inversion capacity while preparing passing sequences
Prerequisites
- Bottom player has successfully established reverse De La Riva hook structure with proper ankle control and inverted hook configuration
- Top player is in standing, combat base, or headquarters position with ability to maintain balance against the hook’s rotational leverage
- Sufficient space exists between players to allow the reverse De La Riva hook mechanics to function without immediate passing pressure
- Top player has not yet passed the guard or established dominant pressure positions like leg drag or knee slice consolidation
- Bottom player maintains active guard retention with far leg posting and upper body positioning to prevent immediate passing opportunities
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain strategic base positioning with weight distributed to counter the reverse De La Riva hook’s sweeping vector, typically requiring posting on the hooking-side leg while keeping hips back to prevent forward elevation
- Control the distance between your hips and bottom player’s hips to prevent them from getting underneath your center of gravity, which enables kiss of the dragon and berimbolo entries through inversion mechanics
- Strip the reverse De La Riva hook methodically by attacking the ankle grip first, then addressing the hook itself through backstep, leg drag, or smash passing protocols that neutralize the rotational control
- Establish headquarters position or similar mobile base that allows pressure application while maintaining readiness to address dynamic guard retention movements and inversion attempts
- Use collar ties, cross-faces, or pants grips to limit bottom player’s ability to invert and access back exposure or leg entanglement transitions that capitalize on guard retention
- Progress through passing stages systematically: neutralize the hook structure, establish control position (headquarters/leg drag), then complete the pass to side control or mount without allowing guard recovery
- Recognize and defend common sweeps (kiss of the dragon, waiter sweep, berimbolo) by maintaining proper posture and weight distribution throughout the passing sequence, never allowing hips to drift forward
Available Attacks
RDLR Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Knee Slice Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Smash Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Toreando Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Back Step → Headquarters Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Long Step Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If bottom player maintains tight reverse De La Riva hook with strong ankle grip and active far leg framing that prevents immediate pressure:
- Execute Back Step → Headquarters Position (Probability: 70%)
- Execute RDLR Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
If bottom player loses ankle grip but maintains reverse De La Riva hook structure with hip elevation:
- Execute Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Position (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
If bottom player attempts inversion or berimbolo entry by rotating shoulders toward the mat:
- Execute Back Step → Headquarters Position (Probability: 80%)
- Execute Bodylock Pass → Side Control (Probability: 70%)
If bottom player flattens out or loses far leg posting on hip or bicep:
- Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
If bottom player transitions to other guard variations like X-Guard or Single Leg X during guard retention:
- Execute X Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Long Step Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Passing to Side Control Submission Path
Reverse De La Riva Guard Top → Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Position → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Backstep to Mount Submission Path
Reverse De La Riva Guard Top → Back Step → Headquarters Position → Knee Slice Pass → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Smash Pass to North-South Path
Reverse De La Riva Guard Top → Smash Pass → Side Control → North-South → North-South Choke
Toreando to Mount Path
Reverse De La Riva Guard Top → Toreando Pass → Side Control → Transition to Mount → Mount → Americana from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 45% | 35% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 55% | 25% |
| Advanced | 80% | 70% | 40% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds for experienced passers, 2-3 minutes for beginners
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The reverse De La Riva guard from the top perspective represents a fascinating study in leverage mechanics and base geometry. The fundamental problem you face is that the bottom player has created a lever system through their reverse De La Riva hook that mechanically advantages them in the sweeping exchange. Your hook-side leg becomes the fulcrum point, and their hook creates a pulling vector designed to rotate you around that fulcrum in a circular pattern. The solution lies not in fighting the lever directly, but in removing its mechanical advantage through systematic deconstruction. First, address the ankle grip—this is the bottom player’s steering mechanism for the hook, their primary means of controlling the direction and timing of their off-balancing attacks. Without ankle control, the hook loses much of its directional capability and becomes significantly easier to neutralize. Second, create distance between your hips and their hips. The closer your center of gravity drifts to being directly above theirs, the easier their sweeping mechanics become as they can leverage your mass against you through the inverted hook structure. Maintain this distance through strategic posting on your hooking-side leg while keeping your hips back, never allowing them to get underneath your base. Third, use the backstep as your primary defensive framework against inversion attempts. When the bottom player begins to invert for berimbolo or kiss of the dragon entries, the backstep removes you from the danger zone while simultaneously positioning you in headquarters, a superior passing platform that neutralizes their guard retention mechanics. The entire sequence should be understood as a systematic removal of structural components: grip first, then hook, then completion of pass. Each stage requires specific technical protocols, and attempting to skip stages leads directly to sweeps or scrambles where the bottom player’s positional understanding gives them significant advantages.
Gordon Ryan
From a competition standpoint, reverse De La Riva top is all about controlling the pace and not giving them the reactions they want. Most reverse De La Riva players are hunting for you to commit your weight forward or try to pull up on their hook—both reactions lead directly into their offense and are exactly what they drill thousands of times in preparation. Instead, I focus on maintaining a mobile headquarters position where I can pressure their guard structure without giving them the balance disruptions they need to execute their attacks. My primary goal is to strip the ankle grip early, usually through wrist control or by pinning their gripping hand to their own body, eliminating their steering mechanism before they can create momentum. Once that grip is gone, the hook becomes much less dangerous and I can start working my passing sequences with significantly reduced risk of being swept or having them access my back. I heavily favor the leg drag from here because it addresses both the hook and creates passing lanes simultaneously—when executed properly, the leg drag movement neutralizes the inverted hook while positioning me in a dominant passing angle. The key is staying patient and not forcing passes before I’ve properly neutralized their guard structure through systematic grip fighting and base management. Against high-level reverse De La Riva players, I’m also constantly aware of the berimbolo threat and maintain hypervigilance about my hip positioning. The moment I feel them starting to invert or get their shoulders to the mat, I’m stepping back to headquarters and resetting my passing approach. You cannot let them get underneath you—once they achieve that positional relationship, the biomechanics strongly favor their sweeping and back-taking mechanics. In terms of actual passing completion, I find that combinations work best—threaten the leg drag, when they defend by adjusting their hook or far leg frame, switch to knee slice or smash pass. The reverse De La Riva player’s defensive reactions to one passing attempt often create structural weaknesses that open up different passes, so your passing must be conversational rather than pre-scripted. Competition data shows that successful passing from reverse De La Riva top correlates strongly with grip fighting success and maintaining proper hip distance throughout the sequence—these are the two variables that most reliably predict passing outcomes at the highest levels.
Eddie Bravo
Reverse De La Riva top is where you see the evolution of the guard passing game in real time, especially in no-gi where this guard has become absolutely fundamental to modern competition strategy. From the 10th Planet perspective, we approach this position with an understanding that the bottom player is trying to create chaos—they want you off-balance, they want scrambles, they want to access your back through inversion sequences that bypass traditional passing hierarchies. Our counter-strategy focuses on staying in our base and using what we call ‘headquarters lockdown mode’ where we’re pressuring but ready to bail at any second when we feel the telltale signs of inversion attempts. The reverse De La Riva hook is basically a trap waiting for you to make the wrong movement, so we drill extensively on recognizing the sweep setups before they happen by reading the bottom player’s weight distribution and grip fighting patterns. One thing that’s often overlooked in traditional instruction is the importance of the far leg—the leg that’s not hooked but is posting on your hip or bicep. Controlling that leg or at least being aware of how they’re using it for frames and distance management is critical to your passing success because it’s often the far leg that prevents you from consolidating pressure even after you’ve neutralized the inverted hook. We also emphasize the backstep as a defensive art form that requires precise timing and smooth execution. When they start inverting for the berimbolo or kiss of the dragon, that backstep needs to be automatic and smooth, not panicked or reactive, because hesitation in that moment gives them the time they need to complete their rotation and access your back. The innovation in passing reverse De La Riva lately has been in the combination game—you can’t just commit to one passing direction anymore against good players who have sophisticated guard retention systems. You need to be able to flow between leg drag, knee slice, and smash passing based on their defensive adjustments, creating a passing conversation where you’re always one step ahead in the sequence. We drill this as a decision tree where each defensive reaction they make opens up a specific passing lane that we’ve pre-programmed through repetition. The position really rewards creativity and pattern recognition over pure strength or pressure, which fits perfectly with the 10th Planet philosophy of technical sophistication and adaptability over athletic dominance.