The backstep from De La Riva Guard is a fundamental rotational guard passing technique that directly addresses the DLR hook, the primary control mechanism of the De La Riva system. Rather than attempting to strip the hook through conventional means such as pummeling or pressure, the passer steps their trapped leg backward in a large arc and rotates their hips away from the guard player, using angular displacement to disengage the hook entirely. This rotational concept represents a paradigm shift from linear passing approaches, exploiting the geometric weakness inherent in the DLR hook structure: the hook controls movement along the sagittal plane but cannot effectively track lateral or rotational displacement.
The technique’s strategic value lies in its ability to bypass the guard player’s strongest control axis. DLR guard operates most effectively with forward-backward sweeping power generated through the hook-grip combination. The backstep moves perpendicular to this control axis, creating a lateral displacement that the DLR hook cannot follow without the guard player making significant hip adjustments. When executed with proper timing, particularly when the guard player’s ankle grip is momentarily weakened or their attention is directed toward defending a different threat, the backstep can completely neutralize an established DLR position in a single explosive movement and deposit the passer directly into headquarters position.
However, the backstep carries inherent risk that distinguishes it from safer passing options. The rotational movement temporarily exposes the passer’s back to the guard player, creating a window for back takes through inversion or hip-following mechanics. This risk-reward dynamic makes timing and full commitment critical: a half-committed backstep is substantially more dangerous than no backstep at all, as it creates the exposure without achieving the hook clearance. Additionally, alert guard players will transition to Reverse De La Riva during the backstep, inserting an opposite-side hook that must be addressed before the pass can be completed. Successful backstep passers develop precise timing, explosive hip rotation, immediate positional consolidation, and contingency plans for RDLR transitions to minimize the vulnerability window and capitalize on the hook clearance.
From Position: De La Riva Guard (Top) Success Rate: 45%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Headquarters Position | 45% |
| Failure | De La Riva Guard | 25% |
| Failure | Reverse De La Riva Guard | 15% |
| Counter | Back Control | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Commit fully to the backstep rotation once initiated. A half… | Maintain constant tension on your DLR hook by actively pulli… |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 3 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Commit fully to the backstep rotation once initiated. A half-committed backstep exposes your back without clearing the hook, creating the worst possible risk-reward scenario.
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Strip or weaken the ankle grip before stepping. The ankle grip is the anchor that allows the guard player to track your rotation and maintain hook connection.
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Rotate your hips explosively and completely. The backstep must change your facing angle enough that the DLR hook geometry no longer functions as a control mechanism.
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Consolidate immediately after clearing the hook. The window between hook clearance and guard re-establishment is narrow, and forward pressure must fill it instantly.
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Maintain controlling grips on the opponent’s legs throughout the rotation to prevent them from following your movement or inserting new hooks.
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Use the backstep as part of a passing system, not in isolation. Chain it with toreando threats so the guard player cannot commit fully to defending either direction.
Execution Steps
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Assess the guard configuration: Evaluate the depth and angle of the DLR hook, the strength and location of the opponent’s grips (ank…
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Establish controlling grips on both legs: Secure pants grips near both knees or grip the non-hooked leg’s pants with one hand and the hooked l…
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Strip or weaken the ankle grip: Use your free hand to peel the opponent’s grip from your ankle or pants cuff. This is the critical p…
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Initiate the backstep with your hooked leg: Step your hooked leg backward in a large, committed arc behind you, simultaneously beginning to rota…
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Complete the hip rotation: Rotate your hips fully to face the opposite direction from your starting orientation. The rotation m…
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Plant and establish new base: Plant your stepping foot firmly with toes pointing toward the opponent’s hips and square your body t…
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Consolidate position with immediate forward pressure: Drive forward aggressively into headquarters position the moment the hook clears, using your leg gri…
Common Mistakes
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Half-committing to the backstep by taking a small, tentative step rather than a full rotational arc
- Consequence: The DLR hook remains partially engaged while your back is exposed, creating the worst possible scenario: rotational vulnerability without hook clearance, leaving you open to back takes and sweeps
- Correction: Treat the backstep as a binary decision. Once you initiate, commit to a full, explosive rotation with a large stepping arc. The step should be large enough to change your shin angle by at least 90 degrees relative to the hook
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Attempting the backstep without first stripping or weakening the opponent’s ankle or pants grip on your trapped leg
- Consequence: The ankle grip serves as an anchor allowing the guard player to track your rotation and maintain hook tension. The backstep fails because the opponent can follow your movement and re-establish the hook from the new angle
- Correction: Always address the ankle grip before initiating the backstep. Use your free hand to peel their grip or use a misdirection sequence to momentarily break their grip focus before stepping
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Leaning your upper body forward during the backstep rotation instead of keeping your torso upright
- Consequence: Forward lean during rotation maximally exposes your back and destroys your base, making back takes trivially easy for the guard player and creating sweep vulnerability in the direction of your lean
- Correction: Keep your chest upright and hips under you throughout the rotation. Think about rotating around a vertical axis through your spine rather than bending forward. Your head should stay over or behind your hips at all times
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Maintain constant tension on your DLR hook by actively pulling your knee toward your chest and driving your foot into the back of their knee, making the hook resistant to rotational clearing.
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Protect your ankle grip as the primary anchor point. If the passer cannot strip this grip, they cannot effectively backstep because you can track their rotation through the grip-hook connection.
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Develop Reverse De La Riva as your automatic contingency guard. When you feel the DLR hook clearing, immediately insert the opposite-side RDLR hook rather than fighting to maintain a compromised DLR position.
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Use your hip mobility to follow the passer’s rotation. Your ability to chase their movement with hip adjustments determines whether the backstep clears the hook or merely changes the hook’s angle.
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Keep your free leg active on their hip or body to maintain distance management and prevent them from collapsing forward into consolidation after any hook clearance.
Recognition Cues
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The passer grips both of your pants legs simultaneously near the knees, establishing bilateral lower body control that precedes the rotational movement
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The passer’s weight shifts noticeably to their free (non-hooked) leg as they prepare to lift and rotate the hooked leg backward
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The passer aggressively strips or fights for your ankle or pants grip on their trapped leg, indicating they intend to remove the anchor before stepping
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The passer’s shoulders begin to turn away from you before their hips rotate, telegraphing the backstep direction and timing
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The passer threatens a toreando or forward pass and then suddenly changes direction, using the initial threat as setup for the rotational backstep
Defensive Options
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Maintain DLR hook tension and chase with hip rotation to follow the passer’s backstep and re-establish the hook angle - When: When you have a strong ankle grip anchor and the passer’s backstep is telegraphed with enough time to adjust your hip angle to track the rotation
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Transition to Reverse De La Riva by inserting your opposite leg as a hook when you feel the DLR hook beginning to clear - When: When the DLR hook is partially clearing and you cannot maintain the original hook angle, but the passer has not yet consolidated position. This is the most common defensive transition.
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Invert underneath the passer during the rotation and come up behind them to take the back - When: When the passer commits fully to the backstep rotation without maintaining hip pressure, creating a clear window of back exposure. Requires strong inversion mechanics and timing.
Position Integration
The backstep from De La Riva integrates into the broader DLR passing system as a directional alternative to linear passes like the toreando and bullfighter. While most DLR passes move laterally along the guard player’s control axis, the backstep moves perpendicular to it, creating a passing vector that the DLR hook cannot effectively track. This makes it an essential complement to forward-pressure passes, allowing the passer to create a two-directional threat matrix: forward pressure threatens toreando and smash passes, while the backstep threatens hook clearance through rotation. The technique also connects to the broader backstep passing family, sharing core rotational mechanics with backsteps from Deep Half Guard, K-Guard, and Single Leg X-Guard, making it a highly transferable skill across multiple guard passing scenarios. Proficiency in this technique forces the DLR player to address rotational threats in addition to linear ones, significantly limiting their available responses and opening windows for complementary passes.