As the bottom player in feet on hips guard, transitioning to De La Riva represents a deliberate upgrade from basic distance management to an angular, hook-based control system with significantly greater offensive potential. The transition requires coordinating the removal of one foot from the opponent’s hip, threading the freed leg behind their lead knee as a DLR hook, and simultaneously transferring grips to establish the full DLR control framework. Success depends on reading the opponent’s stance, timing the entry to coincide with their weight commitment, and maintaining distance control through the remaining foot throughout the vulnerable transition phase. The reward for a clean entry is access to the entire DLR attack ecosystem, including berimbolo sequences, X-Guard transitions, and powerful sweeping chains.
From Position: Feet on Hips Guard (Bottom)
Key Attacking Principles
- Remove one foot from the hip only after identifying the target leg and having a clear plan for immediate hook placement to minimize the vulnerable transition window
- Thread the hooking leg outside-to-inside behind the opponent’s lead knee using a circular motion rather than a direct linear stab that is easily read and defended
- Maintain the remaining foot on the opponent’s far hip throughout the transition to preserve distance control and prevent forward pressure collapse
- Transfer the same-side hand grip to the hooked leg’s ankle or pants simultaneously with hook placement to create the essential two-point DLR control system
- Establish the cross grip on the far sleeve or collar immediately after securing ankle control to complete the full DLR offensive framework
- Create hip angle by rotating away from the hooked leg once both grips are established, maximizing the off-balancing leverage that makes DLR dangerous
Prerequisites
- Both feet established on opponent’s hip bones with active pushing frames creating controllable distance
- At least one upper body grip secured (cross sleeve, collar, or wrist control) to prevent opponent from rushing forward during the transition
- Opponent presenting a clear lead leg by stepping one foot forward or shifting weight asymmetrically to one side
- Hip elevation maintained with core engagement, creating the mobility needed to thread the hooking leg smoothly
- Opponent does not have dominant ankle or pants control on your hooking-side leg that would prevent hook threading
Execution Steps
- Identify the lead leg: Observe which leg the opponent has advanced forward or carries more weight on. If their stance is squared, use asymmetric foot pressure to provoke a lead leg by pushing harder with one foot, forcing the opponent to step one foot forward to maintain balance and creating the target for your DLR hook.
- Secure controlling grip: Confirm your upper body grip is solid before initiating the transition. Ideally grip the cross sleeve on the opposite side from the leg you will hook, or establish a collar grip to control their posture and prevent them from diving forward when you remove one foot from their hip during the vulnerable transition phase.
- Remove the hooking-side foot: Take your foot off the opponent’s near hip on the same side as their lead leg while simultaneously beginning to angle your hips toward the hooking side. Keep your opposite foot firmly planted on their far hip to maintain distance and prevent them from collapsing forward into your guard structure during the opening.
- Thread the DLR hook: Circle your freed leg outside and behind the opponent’s lead knee, wrapping your instep or shin behind their knee joint. Use a smooth circular threading motion rather than a direct stab to avoid the opponent reading and retracting their leg. Your knee should point outward as you hook, creating the signature DLR control position with your shin pressing firmly into the back of their knee.
- Secure ankle or pants control: Immediately reach your same-side hand to grip the opponent’s ankle, pants cuff, or heel on the hooked leg. This grip combined with the hook creates the essential two-point connection that defines functional DLR guard. Without this grip, the opponent can easily extract their leg from the hook since a hook alone has minimal retention power against active resistance.
- Establish cross grip: With the hook and ankle control secured, establish your far hand grip on the opponent’s cross sleeve, collar, or lapel. This diagonal grip system generates the off-balancing force that makes DLR guard dangerous, creating opposing force vectors between your hook pulling inward and your upper body grip pulling diagonally that destabilize the opponent’s base.
- Set free leg position: Position your non-hooking leg on the opponent’s far hip, bicep, or knee depending on your intended attack chain. The free leg provides essential distance management and secondary control while your DLR hook and grips create the primary offensive structure. Hip placement maximizes distance control, bicep placement limits their arm mobility, and knee placement assists sweeping mechanics.
- Create angle and tension: Rotate your hips slightly away from the hooked leg while pulling your DLR hook tight toward your chest. Extend your free leg to push the opponent’s far hip, creating a diagonal tension system that disrupts their balance and establishes the fully active De La Riva guard position. This completed configuration should immediately threaten the opponent with sweep and transition options.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | De La Riva Guard | 55% |
| Failure | Feet on Hips Guard | 30% |
| Counter | Open Guard | 15% |
Opponent Counters
- Opponent strips ankle grip and circles lead leg away from hook attempt (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately retract the hooking leg and replace your foot on their hip to restore the feet-on-hips structure. If they advance during the grip break, transition to butterfly guard or closed guard rather than re-attempting DLR against a prepared opponent. → Leads to Feet on Hips Guard
- Opponent drives forward with heavy pressure to flatten guard before hook threads (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use their forward momentum against them by pulling with your remaining foot on their hip and your collar or sleeve grip. Convert the failed DLR attempt into a scissor sweep or pendulum sweep opportunity, exploiting the committed weight distribution they created by driving forward. → Leads to Feet on Hips Guard
- Opponent backsteps over the hooking leg and initiates a pass (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Follow their backstep with your hips, converting the DLR hook attempt into a reverse De La Riva position or recovering to shin-on-shin guard. Keep your grips active to prevent them from achieving a dominant passing position and immediately re-engage with an alternative guard system. → Leads to Open Guard
- Opponent grabs the hooking ankle and pins it to the mat before hook fully threads (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Circle your hooking foot sharply outward to strip their ankle grip using rotational leverage from your hip movement. If the grip holds, abandon the DLR entry, replace your foot on their hip, and transition to spider guard or lasso guard where your already-engaged upper body grips support an alternative guard configuration. → Leads to Feet on Hips Guard
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the optimal timing window for initiating the De La Riva hook from feet on hips guard? A: The ideal entry window opens when the opponent advances one leg forward, creating a clear lead-trail leg distinction. This typically occurs when they attempt to control your ankle, initiate a pass, or shift their weight to establish a passing grip. The moment one hip is advanced beyond the other, the lead leg becomes vulnerable to the DLR hook because the opponent cannot easily retract it without compromising their balance and base.
Q2: Why must you maintain one foot on the opponent’s far hip during the transition? A: The remaining foot on the far hip serves as your primary distance control mechanism during the most vulnerable phase of the transition. When you remove the hooking-side foot, you temporarily lose half of your pushing frame. Without the remaining foot anchoring the opponent at distance, they can drive forward into your guard and achieve chest-to-chest pressure before you establish the DLR hook, effectively passing your guard during the transition attempt.
Q3: What grip should you prioritize securing before removing your foot to thread the DLR hook? A: The cross sleeve grip on the opposite side from the leg you intend to hook is the highest-priority grip because it creates a diagonal control line that prevents the opponent from circling away and provides the foundation for the DLR offensive structure. A collar grip is an acceptable alternative offering posture control. The critical point is having an upper body connection that anchors the opponent in place during the transition.
Q4: Your opponent has a squared stance with no clear lead leg - how do you create the conditions for the DLR entry? A: Use asymmetric foot pressure to provoke a lead-leg presentation. Push harder with one foot on their hip while reducing pressure with the other, creating a rotational force that encourages them to step one foot forward to maintain balance. Alternatively, pull their sleeve or collar to one side while pushing the opposite hip, creating the angular displacement that forces one leg ahead of the other. Never attempt the DLR entry against a perfectly squared stance.
Q5: The opponent grabs your hooking ankle mid-transition and prevents the hook from fully threading - what is your immediate response? A: Circle your foot sharply outward to strip their ankle grip using the rotational leverage of your hip movement. If the grip holds, abandon the DLR attempt and immediately replace your foot on their hip to restore the feet-on-hips structure. From there, either re-attempt after establishing a stronger upper body grip that limits their hand availability, or transition to spider guard or lasso guard where your already-engaged upper body grips can support an alternative guard system.
Q6: What is the most critical mechanical detail that distinguishes a successful DLR hook from one that is easily cleared? A: The depth and angle of the hook determine its retention power. A properly set DLR hook has the instep or shin pressed firmly against the back of the opponent’s knee, with your own knee pointing outward and your hips angled away from the hooked leg. Combined with the ankle grip, this creates a two-point control system with strong structural integrity. A shallow hook where only the foot curls behind the calf lacks the mechanical advantage to resist extraction and provides minimal off-balancing leverage.
Q7: After establishing DLR from feet on hips, what should be your immediate chain attack if the opponent begins to strip your ankle grip? A: When the opponent commits a hand to stripping your ankle grip, they temporarily reduce their posting ability and upper body defense. Use this moment to either enter a sweep such as the waiter sweep or basic DLR sweep while they are grip fighting, transition to X-Guard by threading your bottom leg between theirs while they focus on your hook, or establish a lasso or spider guard variation on the arm they are using to strip your grip, converting their defensive action into your offensive setup.
Safety Considerations
The primary injury risk during this transition involves the hooking knee, which can experience valgus stress if the opponent drives forward aggressively while the hook is partially threaded. Practitioners should ensure the hooking leg maintains a slight bend and never locks out straight against resistance. If the opponent applies sudden lateral pressure to the hooked knee, release the hook immediately rather than fighting to maintain it. During training, communicate with partners about knee sensitivity and avoid explosive passing movements during cooperative drilling phases. The ankle of the hooking foot can also be vulnerable to being trapped or twisted during failed entries, so maintain awareness of foot position throughout.