The Berimbolo Entry is a revolutionary back-taking technique that emerged from the modern sport jiu-jitsu evolution, fundamentally changing how practitioners approach De La Riva guard. This dynamic movement combines inversion mechanics with precise grip control to spin underneath the opponent, emerging directly onto their back. The technique exploits the opponent’s base by creating a rotational momentum that makes defending against the back take extremely difficult once the movement is initiated.
The berimbolo represents a paradigm shift in guard play, prioritizing movement and angles over traditional sweeping mechanics. By inverting underneath the opponent, the practitioner creates a unique angle of attack that bypasses conventional passing defenses. The technique requires excellent hip mobility, timing, and spatial awareness, but when executed properly, it offers one of the highest percentage paths to back control in modern jiu-jitsu. The entry phase is crucial - proper De La Riva hook placement and grip control determine whether the inversion will be successful or if the opponent can counter-rotate to prevent the back take.
Starting Position: De La Riva Guard Ending Position: Back Control Success Rates: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 65%
Key Principles
- Maintain active De La Riva hook throughout the entire rotation
- Control opponent’s far hip or belt to prevent them from squaring up
- Invert smoothly with momentum rather than forcing the movement
- Keep your head close to the mat during rotation to maintain balance
- Use the De La Riva hook to off-balance opponent forward as you invert
- Commit fully to the rotation - hesitation allows opponent to counter
- Emerge with seatbelt control immediately upon completing the spin
Prerequisites
- De La Riva guard established with active hook on opponent’s near leg
- Strong grip on opponent’s belt, pants, or gi material at far hip
- Opponent’s weight distributed forward over their base
- Sufficient hip mobility to invert and rotate underneath
- Collar or sleeve grip with opposite hand for additional control
- Opponent’s posture broken forward to prevent base recovery
Execution Steps
- Establish De La Riva control: From De La Riva guard, secure a deep hook with your outside leg behind opponent’s near knee. Your inside foot should be on their far hip. Grip their far hip, belt, or gi material firmly with your bottom hand while maintaining collar or sleeve control with your top hand. (Timing: Hold position until opponent commits weight forward)
- Break opponent’s base: Pull opponent’s far hip toward you while simultaneously pushing with your inside foot on their hip and pulling with your De La Riva hook. This off-balances them forward and to the side, creating the opening for your inversion. Their weight should be distributed over their hands or forward knee. (Timing: Execute as opponent steps forward or reaches for controls)
- Initiate the inversion: Release your collar/sleeve grip and post your top hand on the mat beside your head. Simultaneously pull your body underneath the opponent using your belt/hip grip while maintaining your De La Riva hook. Your head and shoulders should begin rotating toward the mat as your hips elevate. (Timing: Smooth continuous motion, do not pause mid-rotation)
- Complete the rotation: Continue rotating underneath the opponent by pulling forcefully on their far hip while driving through with your De La Riva hook. Your body should spin 180-270 degrees, bringing you from underneath them to behind their back. Keep your head tucked and close to the mat throughout the spin to maintain balance and momentum. (Timing: Full rotation should take 1-2 seconds)
- Establish back control: As you complete the rotation and emerge behind opponent, immediately secure seatbelt control by threading your top arm under their near armpit and your bottom arm over their far shoulder. Your chest should be tight to their back with your De La Riva hook now transformed into a first back control hook. (Timing: Secure grips immediately upon completing rotation)
- Insert second hook: With seatbelt control established, insert your second hook on the opposite side while controlling their hips with your grips. Maintain constant pressure with your chest against their back to prevent them from turning into you. Adjust your position to achieve full back mount with both hooks in and hands locked for control. (Timing: Insert second hook within 2-3 seconds of establishing first hook)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent sits back and sprawls legs away, preventing De La Riva hook from off-balancing them (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to Kiss of the Dragon variation by releasing the hook and using momentum to spin directly to their back, or transition to Reverse De La Riva guard and attack with alternative sweeps
- Opponent grabs your inverting leg/pants and prevents rotation by anchoring you to the mat (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use the pressure on your leg to spring back to De La Riva guard and immediately attack with different sweep or back-take attempt. Alternatively, switch to deep De La Riva position and work waiter sweep
- Opponent counter-rotates in the same direction, following your spin to prevent back exposure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Accept the scramble position and use your superior positioning from the inversion to establish either Single Leg X-Guard or return to seated guard with dominant grips. Can also continue rotating for Kiss of the Dragon finish
- Opponent steps over your inverting body and establishes top position during your rotation (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Maintain your hip grip and use momentum to complete the rotation into deep half guard rather than back control. From deep half, immediately work to sweep or return to guard rather than accepting bottom position
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary mechanical advantage that the berimbolo creates over traditional sweeping mechanics? A: The berimbolo creates a rotational angle of attack that bypasses conventional passing defenses by positioning the practitioner underneath and behind the opponent. Unlike traditional sweeps that attempt to off-balance the opponent laterally or forward, the berimbolo uses inversion to access the back from an angle that is extremely difficult to defend once the rotation is initiated. This three-dimensional movement exploits the opponent’s natural inability to maintain base while someone rotates underneath their center of gravity.
Q2: Why is maintaining the De La Riva hook throughout the entire rotation critical to successful berimbolo execution? A: The De La Riva hook serves as the primary steering and control mechanism during the rotation. It off-balances the opponent forward and prevents them from stepping away or squaring their hips to re-establish base. Without maintaining hook pressure throughout the spin, the opponent can easily disengage, counter-rotate, or step over the inverting practitioner. The hook essentially locks the opponent’s near leg in place while the practitioner rotates around it, creating the mechanical advantage necessary for the back-take.
Q3: How should a practitioner respond if their opponent successfully grabs their inverting leg and anchors them to the mat during the berimbolo attempt? A: The practitioner should use the pressure and grip on their leg as a spring mechanism to return to De La Riva guard position immediately. Rather than fighting against the anchor, accept the failed berimbolo and immediately transition to alternative attacks such as the waiter sweep from deep De La Riva position, or switch to Reverse De La Riva guard. The key is not to remain static in the partially inverted position, which is vulnerable to passing. Alternatively, if hip control is strong, the practitioner can transition to deep half guard and work from there.
Q4: What is the most common timing error when executing the berimbolo, and how does it compromise the technique? A: The most common timing error is rotating too slowly or hesitating mid-movement. This gives the opponent time to recognize the attack and implement defensive counters such as grabbing the inverting legs, posting against the rotation, or counter-rotating to prevent back exposure. The berimbolo must be executed with explosive, continuous momentum in one smooth motion. Hesitation transforms the technique from a dynamic, difficult-to-defend movement into a predictable, easily countered position that leaves the practitioner vulnerable.
Q5: Why must seatbelt control be established immediately upon completing the rotation, and what happens if this step is delayed? A: Establishing seatbelt control immediately upon emerging behind the opponent is critical because there is a brief window where the opponent is still reacting to the rotation and hasn’t yet organized their defense of back control. Delayed grip establishment allows the opponent to turn into you, escape to turtle position, or initiate a scramble before you secure dominant positioning. The berimbolo rotation and seatbelt grip should be trained as one continuous movement - the hands should be reaching for upper body control the instant the chest reaches the opponent’s back, not as a separate subsequent step.
Q6: How does head position during the inversion affect the success and safety of the berimbolo entry? A: Proper head position - tucked close to the mat and rolling over the shoulders rather than the top of the head - is essential for both successful rotation mechanics and injury prevention. Keeping the head close to the mat lowers the center of gravity, improves balance during the inversion, and increases rotational speed by creating a smaller radius of rotation. Lifting the head or attempting to maintain visual contact with the opponent during the spin raises the center of gravity, slows the rotation, and can result in falling to your back mid-movement. Additionally, improper head position places dangerous pressure on the cervical spine and increases risk of neck injury.
Safety Considerations
When training the berimbolo entry, proper neck and spine positioning is critical to prevent injury during the inversion. Always keep your chin tucked and roll over your shoulders rather than the top of your head. Practitioners with limited neck mobility or previous neck injuries should consult with instructors before attempting this technique. Begin practice on soft mats with slow, controlled repetitions to develop proper body mechanics before increasing speed. Partners should avoid posting or driving weight onto the inverting practitioner’s neck or upper back during drilling. If you feel any sharp pain in your neck, shoulders, or spine during execution, stop immediately and reassess your technique with an instructor. Build up hip and shoulder flexibility gradually through dedicated mobility work before attempting high-speed berimbolo entries.
Position Integration
The Berimbolo Entry is a cornerstone technique of modern sport jiu-jitsu guard systems, particularly the De La Riva guard family. It integrates seamlessly with other De La Riva attacks such as the waiter sweep, baby bolo, and Kiss of the Dragon, creating a comprehensive system where each technique sets up the others. When the berimbolo is defended, the attempted rotation often creates opportunities for X-Guard entries, deep half guard transitions, or traditional sweeps. The technique also connects to the broader back attack system - successful berimbolo entries lead directly to high-percentage back control positions where rear naked chokes, bow and arrow chokes, and other back attacks become available. In competition, the berimbolo represents a strategic approach that prioritizes back points over traditional sweep points, making it particularly valuable in modern IBJJF scoring systems. The technique has evolved beyond a standalone move into an entire philosophical approach to guard play that emphasizes movement, inversion, and three-dimensional attacks over static positioning.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The berimbolo represents a fundamental shift in our understanding of guard mechanics and spatial relationships in jiu-jitsu. Traditionally, guard players sought to off-balance opponents in two-dimensional planes - pushing, pulling, or rotating them laterally. The berimbolo introduces a third dimension by positioning the guard player underneath and behind the opponent through inversion. This creates a mechanical situation where the opponent’s base, which is designed to resist two-dimensional forces, becomes completely ineffective against a rotational force applied from beneath their center of gravity. The key to understanding berimbolo mechanics is recognizing that the De La Riva hook doesn’t simply control the leg - it creates a fixed axis point around which you rotate while simultaneously preventing your opponent from rotating in response. When executed with proper timing and commitment, the opponent faces an insurmountable mechanical disadvantage because their base is designed to prevent lateral displacement, not three-dimensional rotation underneath their body. The berimbolo’s effectiveness stems not from strength or athleticism, but from exploiting fundamental principles of physics and human biomechanics.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the berimbolo is one of the highest-percentage paths to back control available, which makes it incredibly valuable in modern point-based rulesets where back control scores four points and creates submission opportunities worth maximum points. What makes the berimbolo particularly effective at the highest levels is that once you commit to the rotation, your opponent has a very narrow window - less than two seconds - to successfully counter it. Most defensive reactions are simply too slow. The key is recognizing the correct entry timing, which comes from understanding when your opponent’s weight is distributed in a way that prevents them from stepping away or counter-rotating. I look for moments when they’re reaching for grips, stepping forward to engage, or attempting to break my De La Riva guard - these are all moments when their base is compromised and they can’t react quickly enough to my rotation. The other critical element is commitment - you cannot execute a berimbolo tentatively. Once you begin the inversion, you must complete it with full speed and commitment, or you’ll end up in a vulnerable position. Train the movement until it becomes automatic, so when you see the timing window in competition, your body executes without hesitation.
- Eddie Bravo: The berimbolo is one of the most revolutionary techniques to emerge from the gi game, and it’s fundamentally changed how we think about guard play and back attacks. What I love about it from a 10th Planet perspective is that it embodies our philosophy of using movement and unorthodox angles to create opportunities. While we primarily train no-gi and use different control methods than the traditional De La Riva hook, the principles of rotation and inversion translate directly to our system. We’ve adapted berimbolo mechanics into techniques like the Crab Ride and our various truck entries, which use similar rotational movement to access the back. The mental aspect of the berimbolo is just as important as the physical execution - you need to train yourself to be comfortable upside down and spinning in space, which requires overcoming natural instincts to maintain visual orientation. We drill inversion movements extensively at 10th Planet because being comfortable in inverted positions opens up an entire dimension of attacks that most practitioners never develop. Start by getting comfortable being upside down, then add the rotation, then add resistance. Once you can move fluently through inversion, the berimbolo becomes just one tool in a larger system of rotational attacks that your opponent simply isn’t prepared to defend.