The Sickle Sweep is a fundamental attacking technique from the De La Riva Guard that leverages the hook control to off-balance and sweep your opponent. Named for its characteristic leg hooking motion that resembles a sickle cutting through grass, this sweep exploits the opponent’s base when they attempt to pass or establish their posture. The technique combines precise leg positioning with upper body control to create a powerful sweeping motion that drives the opponent backward and allows you to come on top.
This sweep is particularly effective against opponents who are standing or have elevated their posture in your De La Riva Guard. The sickle motion of your hooking leg combined with a collar or sleeve grip creates a powerful lever system that makes it extremely difficult for the opponent to maintain their balance. Unlike some sweeps that require explosive power, the Sickle Sweep relies on proper timing and technical execution, making it accessible to practitioners at all skill levels.
The Sickle Sweep serves as a cornerstone technique in modern De La Riva Guard systems and chains naturally with other attacks including back takes, leg entanglements, and submission attempts. Understanding this sweep provides essential insight into how the De La Riva hook functions as an offensive weapon rather than just a defensive control mechanism.
From Position: De La Riva Guard (Bottom) Success Rate: 58%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Mount | 50% |
| Success | Side Control | 15% |
| Failure | De La Riva Guard | 25% |
| Counter | Open Guard | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Maintain strong De La Riva hook with toes pulled toward you … | Maintain upright posture with hips back to resist the forwar… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Maintain strong De La Riva hook with toes pulled toward you to create rigid structural tension that prevents the hook from slipping during the sweep
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Control opponent’s posture with collar or sleeve grip to prevent posting and create additional sweeping force when pulled
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Create diagonal sweeping angle approximately 45 degrees from opponent’s centerline rather than sweeping straight backward
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Use your bottom leg to push opponent’s far hip while hooking near leg, generating opposing vectors that eliminate all base options
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Time the sweep when opponent’s weight shifts forward onto the hooked leg or when they lift their far foot to step
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Maintain constant tension in your hook throughout the entire motion to prevent any adjustment or recovery by the opponent
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Follow through by coming up on top immediately after the sweep using your collar grip to pull yourself forward
Execution Steps
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Establish De La Riva control: Secure your De La Riva hook by threading your right leg behind opponent’s left leg with your foot ho…
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Grip the collar and control posture: Establish a deep collar grip with your right hand, getting as far behind the neck as possible. Your …
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Create the sweeping angle: Shift your hips to your right side to create an angle approximately 45 degrees from the opponent’s c…
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Execute the sickle motion: Simultaneously perform three coordinated actions: (1) Extend and scythe your De La Riva hook in a wi…
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Drive opponent backward: As the opponent begins to fall backward, maintain strong pulling pressure with your collar grip whil…
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Come up on top: As the opponent hits the mat, immediately release your hook and use the momentum to come up into mou…
Common Mistakes
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Sweeping straight backward instead of at a diagonal angle
- Consequence: Opponent easily posts their hands or steps back to recover base, negating the sweep entirely
- Correction: Always create a 45-degree angle with your hips before initiating the sweep, directing the opponent diagonally rather than straight back
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Weak or passive De La Riva hook without active toe flexion
- Consequence: Hook slips off during the sweep, losing primary control point and collapsing the entire technique
- Correction: Actively pull your toes toward your shin throughout the entire technique to maintain rigid hook tension around the opponent’s thigh
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Pushing with hip foot before executing sickle motion, sequencing the actions rather than coordinating them
- Consequence: Creating space allows opponent to step back and escape the sweep before the hook can complete its arc
- Correction: Coordinate the hip push and hook scythe simultaneously so the opponent cannot adjust their base between the two actions
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Maintain upright posture with hips back to resist the forward pull of the collar grip and prevent being loaded onto the hooked leg
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Strip or neutralize the collar grip early, as this is the primary mechanism that prevents you from posting your hands to recover base
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Keep your base wide by positioning your far leg back and to the side, denying the diagonal sweeping angle the attacker needs
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Address the De La Riva hook actively by circling your hooked leg or driving your knee to the mat to reduce the hook’s leverage
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Recognize the hip angle shift as the primary telegraph - when you see the guard player angle their hips to 45 degrees, the sweep is imminent
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Use the opponent’s commitment to the sweep as a window to initiate your own guard pass before they can reset
Recognition Cues
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Guard player shifts hips to approximately 45 degrees from your centerline, creating the diagonal sweeping angle required for the sickle motion
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Strong collar grip is established deep behind your neck combined with sleeve control, indicating upper body control setup for the sweep
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Guard player’s bottom foot repositions from distance management to pushing actively on your far hip, loading the push-pull mechanism
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De La Riva hook tightens with increased toe flexion and the hooking leg begins to extend in a wide arc away from your body
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Guard player elevates their hips off the mat while pulling down on your collar, indicating the sweep execution is beginning
Defensive Options
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Step far leg back and widen base while stripping collar grip - When: Early prevention - when you recognize the hip angle shift and collar grip establishment before the sickle motion begins
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Post hand firmly on the mat on the side you’re being swept toward while maintaining low center of gravity - When: Mid-sweep reaction - when the sickle motion has already begun and you cannot widen base in time to prevent the off-balance
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Drop weight forward and drive hips into the guard player to flatten their angle and collapse the sweeping structure - When: When you feel the collar grip pulling you forward and the hook beginning to extend - use their own pull to drive into them
Position Integration
The Sickle Sweep is a cornerstone technique in the modern De La Riva Guard system and serves as a fundamental attacking option that connects to multiple advanced positions. From a strategic perspective, it represents the primary sweeping threat that prevents opponents from staying static in your De La Riva Guard, forcing them to make decisions that open up other attacks. When combined with berimbolo entries, back takes, and leg entanglement transitions, the Sickle Sweep creates a complete offensive system from De La Riva.
This sweep integrates seamlessly into a broader guard retention and advancement framework. If the sweep succeeds, you achieve mount or side control and advance through the positional hierarchy. If the opponent defends by posting their hand, you can take the back. If they widen their base, you can enter Single Leg X-Guard or X-Guard. This creates a true dilemma where every defensive option opens a different offensive pathway, embodying the concept of forced reactions that modern BJJ emphasizes. The technique also teaches fundamental concepts about leverage, angle creation, and timing that apply across multiple guard positions, making it an essential skill for developing a complete bottom game.