BJJ Graph

De La Riva Sweep

Jun 15, 202511 min read

De La Riva Sweep

bjjtransitionsweepopen_guardgi_specific

Required Properties for State Machine

Core Identifiers

  • Transition ID: T058
  • Transition Name: De La Riva Sweep
  • Alternative Names: DLR Sweep, Berimbolo Setup Sweep

State Machine Properties

Transition Properties

  • Success Probability: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 75% - core probability data
  • Execution Complexity: High - requires precise grip control, leg entanglement, and timing
  • Energy Cost: Medium to High - demands coordinated effort and dynamic movement
  • Risk Level: Medium - potential for guard pass or counter if mistimed
  • Execution Speed: Medium to Fast - must be executed with controlled momentum

Physical Requirements

  • Strength Requirements: Medium for pulling opponent and driving hips
  • Flexibility Requirements: High for hip mobility and leg positioning
  • Coordination Requirements: High for managing grips, leg hooks, and sweep motion
  • Speed Requirements: Medium for quick reaction to opponent’s posture or movement

State Machine Content Elements

Visual Execution Sequence

Detailed step-by-step description for clear movement sequence visualization:

From the De La Riva Guard position, you start on your back in an open guard configuration, with one leg hooked behind the opponent’s lead leg at the knee, using your foot to control their thigh, while your other leg pushes on their far hip or knee to maintain distance and create angles, and you secure strong grips on their sleeve or collar to control their upper body. As the opponent attempts to pass or adjust their posture, you reinforce your grip on their sleeve or collar with both hands, pulling them forward to break their balance, while simultaneously shifting your hips to the side of their hooked leg to create an off-balancing angle. You deepen the De La Riva hook by pulling with your leg to further disrupt their base, using your pushing leg to extend and create additional leverage, while maintaining tension on their upper body to keep them leaning forward. With a sudden hip thrust and a pull on their upper body, you initiate the sweep by rolling them over their lead leg towards the direction of your hooked leg, using your momentum to follow through and come up on top as they land on their back or side. You establish a dominant position such as side control or top position, maintaining control of their legs or upper body to prevent immediate guard recovery, securing the sweep with chest pressure and positional awareness.

Template: “From De La Riva Guard, hook one leg behind opponent’s lead leg at knee, push far hip with other leg, grip sleeve or collar. Pull forward with grips to break balance, shift hips to hooked leg side for angle. Deepen hook to disrupt base, extend pushing leg for leverage, keep upper body tension. Thrust hips and pull to roll opponent over lead leg, come up to top position. Secure side control or top position with control and pressure.”

Execution Steps (Numbered Sequence)

  1. Setup Requirements: Start in De La Riva Guard with leg hooked behind opponent’s lead leg
  2. Grip Control: Secure strong grips on opponent’s sleeve or collar with both hands
  3. Distance Management: Use pushing leg on far hip or knee to maintain distance
  4. Angle Creation: Shift hips to side of hooked leg to off-balance opponent
  5. Posture Break: Pull forward with grips to disrupt opponent’s balance
  6. Hook Deepening: Pull with De La Riva hook to further unbalance opponent
  7. Leverage Extension: Extend pushing leg to create additional sweeping leverage
  8. Sweep Initiation: Thrust hips and pull upper body to roll opponent over lead leg
  9. Follow Through: Come up on top to establish side control or top position

Key Technical Details

Critical elements that determine success:

  • De La Riva Hook: Strong leg control behind opponent’s knee for base disruption
  • Grip Strength: Secure hold on sleeve or collar to control upper body
  • Hip Mobility: Dynamic hip shift to create sweeping angle and momentum
  • Leverage Management: Pushing leg extension to maximize off-balancing force
  • Timing: Coordinating grip pull, hook, and hip thrust for effective sweep

Success Modifiers

Factors that increase/decrease probability:

  • Hook Effectiveness: Strength of De La Riva hook on lead leg (+/-20%)
  • Grip Quality: Control over opponent’s upper body with sleeve or collar (+/-15%)
  • Hip Angle Creation: Dynamic shift for optimal sweeping angle (+/-15%)
  • Opponent Posture: Catching opponent during forward lean or pass attempt (+/-10%)
  • Knowledge Test Performance: Understanding open guard sweep mechanics (+/-10%)

Counter-Attack Analysis

Common Counters

Opponent responses with success rates:

  • Posture Recovery: Regaining upright posture to resist pull → Open Guard Top (Success Rate: 50%, Conditions: early recognition)
  • Leg Withdrawal: Stepping back to free lead leg from hook → Neutral Position (Success Rate: 40%, Conditions: quick reaction)
  • Base Widening: Adjusting stance to prevent roll → Top Position (Success Rate: 35%, Conditions: strong base)
  • Counter Sweep: Using momentum for own sweep or pass → Bottom Position (Success Rate: 25%, Conditions: advanced skill)

Format: [[Counter Technique]] → [[Result State]] (Success Rate: X%, Conditions: [when applicable])

Decision Logic

If [sweep setup] is recognized early:
- Execute [[Posture Recovery]] (Probability: 50%)

Else if [leg hook] can be broken quickly:
- Execute [[Leg Withdrawal]] (Probability: 40%)

Else if [base] is strong for resistance:
- Attempt [[Base Widening]] (Probability: 35%)

Else [skill level] allows for counterattack:
- Attempt [[Counter Sweep]] (Probability: 25%)

Else [optimal execution]:
- Accept transition (Probability: Success Rate - Modifiers)

Educational Content

Expert Insights

Commentary as if from recognized authorities:

  • John Danaher: “The De La Riva Sweep is a cornerstone of modern open guard play, demonstrating the importance of leg entanglement to control and off-balance an opponent. The key lies in the dynamic hip movement and grip control, which must be synchronized to create a sweeping angle. This technique teaches critical principles of leverage and timing that are essential for advanced guard systems.”
  • Gordon Ryan: “In competition, the De La Riva Sweep is a high-percentage move against standing passers, especially when you catch them leaning forward. I focus on deepening the hook and pulling with power to ensure the roll, often transitioning to dominant positions. The technique shows how open guard can be a powerful offensive tool with proper execution.”
  • Eddie Bravo: “De La Riva Sweep brings a creative dynamic to open guard, allowing for fluid sweeps and transitions like the berimbolo if the initial roll fails. It integrates well with modern guard systems and can surprise opponents who aren’t used to leg entanglements. This move is perfect for grapplers who want to develop a versatile, angle-based sweeping game.”

Each insight should focus on one key technical or strategic element.

Common Errors

For knowledge test generation:

  • Error: Weak De La Riva hook or leg control

  • Why It Fails: Fails to disrupt opponent’s base, making sweep ineffective

  • Correction: Ensure strong hook behind knee, pull with leg to off-balance

  • Recognition: Opponent easily steps out or maintains upright posture

  • Error: Poor grip control or posture break

  • Why It Fails: Allows opponent to maintain balance and resist sweep

  • Correction: Secure strong sleeve or collar grips, pull forward with force

  • Recognition: Opponent’s upper body remains stable during attempt

  • Error: Inadequate hip mobility or angle creation

  • Why It Fails: Lacks necessary leverage to roll opponent over lead leg

  • Correction: Shift hips dynamically to hooked leg side for optimal angle

  • Recognition: Sweep stalls or opponent counters with base adjustment

Timing Considerations

When to attempt this transition:

  • Optimal Conditions: When opponent stands or leans forward during pass attempt
  • Avoid When: Opponent maintains low, defensive posture with strong base
  • Setup Sequences: After establishing De La Riva Guard with grip control
  • Follow-up Windows: Must complete sweep within 3-5 seconds to avoid counters

Prerequisites

Requirements before attempting:

  • Technical Skills: Understanding of open guard control and sweep mechanics
  • Physical Preparation: Hip flexibility and strength for dynamic movement
  • Positional Understanding: Control points in De La Riva Guard
  • Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced - requires precise timing and control

Technical Assessment Elements

Knowledge Assessment Questions

5 technical questions with multiple choice answers:

  • Mechanical Understanding: “What creates the leverage in a De La Riva Sweep?”
  • Timing Recognition: “When is the optimal moment to initiate the De La Riva Sweep?”
  • Error Prevention: “What is the most common mistake in executing De La Riva Sweep?”
  • Setup Requirements: “Which grip is essential for starting the De La Riva Sweep?”
  • Adaptation: “How do you adjust if the opponent steps back during the De La Riva Sweep?”

Variants and Adaptations

Different versions for various scenarios:

  • Standard De La Riva Sweep: Classic roll over lead leg with sleeve grip
  • Collar Grip Variation: Using collar grip for stronger posture break
  • No-Gi Specific: Modified grip and hook without gi for control
  • Berimbolo Transition: Shifting to back take if initial sweep fails
  • Size Differential: Effective against larger opponents with proper angle

Training Progressions

Skill development pathway:

  • Solo Practice: Hip shift and leg hook motion without partner
  • Cooperative Drilling: Partner allows sweep for technique development
  • Resistant Practice: Partner provides progressive resistance to setup
  • Sparring Integration: Attempt during live rolling from De La Riva Guard
  • Troubleshooting: Identify and correct issues with timing or hook control

Audio & Narration Elements

Action Descriptions

Dynamic language for TTS narration:

  • Movement Verbs: Hook, push, grip, pull, shift, thrust, roll
  • Spatial References: De La Riva hook, hip angle, top position
  • Pressure Dynamics: Posture break, base disruption, sweeping force
  • Momentum Descriptions: Dynamic hip shift, coordinated roll, controlled landing

Coaching Commentary

Real-time instruction and feedback:

  • Setup Cues: “Establish De La Riva hook, control their sleeve or collar”
  • Execution Guidance: “Shift hips to the side, pull to break posture, sweep with thrust”
  • Adaptation Prompts: “If they resist, deepen the hook and adjust your angle”
  • Completion Confirmation: “Roll them over, come up to top with control”

Technical Specifications

Animation Keyframes

For potential visual development:

  • Starting Position: De La Riva Guard with leg hook and grips
  • Transition Points: Hip shift, posture break, hook deepening, sweep thrust
  • Finishing Position: Top position after sweep (side control or mount)
  • Alternative Outcomes: Failed attempt leading to neutral or guard pass

Biomechanical Analysis

Scientific movement breakdown:

  • Force Vectors: Diagonal pull on upper body, lateral thrust through hips
  • Leverage Ratios: Hooked leg and hips as fulcrum for opponent’s weight shift
  • Range of Motion: Hip rotation, leg extension for hook and push
  • Power Generation: Core and leg strength for sweeping momentum

Validation Checklist

Every transition file must include:

  • All required properties with specific numeric values
  • Detailed visual execution sequence (minimum 4 sentences)
  • Complete numbered execution steps (minimum 6 steps)
  • At least 3 common counters with success rates
  • Decision logic for opponent behavior
  • Expert insights from all three authorities
  • Minimum 3 common errors with corrections
  • 5 knowledge test questions with answers
  • Timing considerations and prerequisites
  • Training progression pathway

Example Implementation

See Hip Bump Sweep for a complete example implementing all standard requirements.

Notes for Developers

This standard ensures:

  • Consistent transition data for state machine implementation
  • Probability calculations with modifier systems
  • Rich content for comprehensive technical documentation
  • Educational value through expert analysis
  • Technical depth for authentic understanding
  • Structured decision analysis patterns
  • Knowledge assessment integration
  • Training progression guidance

Updates to this standard should be reflected across all transition files to maintain consistency and educational value.

  • De La Riva Guard - Starting point for this transition
  • Berimbolo - Alternative transition from De La Riva setup
  • Side Control - Common ending position after successful sweep
  • Open Guard Bottom - General category of starting position

Competition Applications

  • IBJJF Rules: Legal at all belt levels, scores as sweep (2 points)
  • No-Gi Competition: Effective with modified grip setups
  • Self-Defense: Useful for reversing position in real-world scenarios
  • MMA Applications: Applicable with adjustments for striking defense

Historical Context

De La Riva Sweep is a modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique developed as part of the De La Riva Guard system by Ricardo De La Riva, showcasing the evolution of open guard into a dynamic offensive platform. It highlights BJJ’s focus on leg entanglements and angle creation to reverse positions against standing opponents.

Safety Considerations

  • Controlled Sweep: Execute with control to avoid injuring opponent
  • Personal Safety: Be prepared to adjust if sweep fails or opponent counters
  • Partner Communication: Ensure opponent is ready for dynamic movement
  • Training Environment: Use in controlled settings with proper mats

Position Integration

Common De La Riva Sweep combinations:

Training Applications

  • Sweep Development: Essential for open guard sweeping arsenal
  • Competition Preparation: High-percentage move for scoring points
  • Control Training: Builds skills in reversing from bottom position
  • Angle Mastery: Encourages development of dynamic hip movement and timing

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