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)
Key Attacking Principles
- 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
- Control opponent’s posture with collar or sleeve grip to prevent posting and create additional sweeping force when pulled
- Create diagonal sweeping angle approximately 45 degrees from opponent’s centerline rather than sweeping straight backward
- Use your bottom leg to push opponent’s far hip while hooking near leg, generating opposing vectors that eliminate all base options
- Time the sweep when opponent’s weight shifts forward onto the hooked leg or when they lift their far foot to step
- Maintain constant tension in your hook throughout the entire motion to prevent any adjustment or recovery by the opponent
- Follow through by coming up on top immediately after the sweep using your collar grip to pull yourself forward
Prerequisites
- De La Riva hook established on opponent’s near leg with active toe flexion pulling toes toward shin
- Strong collar grip behind the neck or sleeve control at the wrist to manage posture and prevent posting
- Bottom foot positioned on opponent’s far hip or thigh for distance management and push leverage
- Opponent is standing or has elevated posture in your guard, creating the necessary distance for the sickle motion
- Hips angled approximately 45 degrees from opponent’s centerline to create proper sweeping leverage
- Sufficient space to extend legs for the sweeping motion without obstruction
Execution Steps
- Establish De La Riva control: Secure your De La Riva hook by threading your right leg behind opponent’s left leg with your foot hooking around their thigh. Pull your toes toward your body to tighten the hook. Simultaneously, place your left foot on their right hip or thigh for distance management and establish a strong collar grip with your right hand.
- Grip the collar and control posture: Establish a deep collar grip with your right hand, getting as far behind the neck as possible. Your left hand should control the opponent’s left sleeve at the wrist or elbow. These grips work together to prevent your opponent from posting their hands when swept and keep their posture broken forward.
- Create the sweeping angle: Shift your hips to your right side to create an angle approximately 45 degrees from the opponent’s centerline. This angle is critical as it allows your De La Riva hook to function as a powerful lever. Your body should form a ‘C’ shape with your head moving away from the opponent’s hooking leg.
- Execute the sickle motion: Simultaneously perform three coordinated actions: (1) Extend and scythe your De La Riva hook in a wide arc away from the opponent’s base, (2) Push strongly with your left foot on their far hip to drive them backward and across, (3) Pull down and toward you with your collar grip to break their posture completely. The hooking leg should sweep in a motion that resembles a sickle cutting through grass.
- Drive opponent backward: As the opponent begins to fall backward, maintain strong pulling pressure with your collar grip while continuing to extend your De La Riva hook. Your hip push leg should fully extend, creating maximum distance and preventing any last-moment posting attempts. Keep your hips elevated off the mat to maintain sweeping pressure.
- Come up on top: As the opponent hits the mat, immediately release your hook and use the momentum to come up into mount or side control. Your collar grip helps pull you forward as you establish top position. Drive your chest forward and establish heavy shoulder pressure immediately to consolidate your position before the opponent can recover their guard.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Mount | 50% |
| Success | Side Control | 15% |
| Failure | De La Riva Guard | 25% |
| Counter | Open Guard | 10% |
Opponent Counters
- Opponent posts hand on mat to prevent being swept backward (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Switch to taking the back by following their posted arm and climbing up their body, or transition to an omoplata attack on the posted arm → Leads to De La Riva Guard
- Opponent steps back with far leg to widen base and resist the diagonal sweep (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately transition to X-Guard or Single Leg X-Guard by collecting the near leg with your bottom leg and adjusting your hook position under their hips → Leads to De La Riva Guard
- Opponent drops weight down and pressures forward into you to flatten your hips (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Switch to Kiss of the Dragon by inverting under them while maintaining your hook, or transition to Reverse De La Riva Guard and attack the back from underneath → Leads to Open Guard
- Opponent grabs your pants at the hooking leg to strip the De La Riva hook (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Use the grip to load them more onto that leg, making the sweep even more effective, or transition to berimbolo by inverting toward the grip side → Leads to De La Riva Guard
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary mechanical difference between the Sickle Sweep and other De La Riva sweeps? A: The Sickle Sweep uses a wide, arc-shaped sweeping motion with the hooking leg (resembling a sickle cutting) rather than a linear push or pull. This scything action combined with a diagonal angle creates a more powerful off-balancing effect that’s harder to defend with posting. The wide arc removes the opponent’s near leg entirely from their base structure, creating a rotational off-balance rather than a linear one.
Q2: Why is creating a 45-degree angle with your hips crucial for the Sickle Sweep’s success? A: The 45-degree angle allows your De La Riva hook to function as an effective lever by positioning your body perpendicular to the opponent’s primary base leg. This angle ensures that when you execute the sickle motion, you’re sweeping the opponent diagonally backward where they have the weakest base structure. Sweeping straight backward allows them to easily post hands or step back with their far leg, but the diagonal angle compromises both defensive options simultaneously.
Q3: Your opponent posts their hand on the mat as you initiate the Sickle Sweep - how do you adjust? A: When the opponent posts their hand, immediately transition to attacking their back by following the posted arm and climbing up their body while maintaining your De La Riva hook. Alternatively, you can attack an omoplata on the posted arm or use the posting moment to transition to Single Leg X-Guard. The key is recognizing the post as an opportunity for a different attack rather than continuing to force the sweep against a stabilized base.
Q4: How does the collar grip function during the Sickle Sweep execution? A: The collar grip serves three critical functions: (1) it prevents the opponent from posting their hands by controlling their upper body posture and pulling it downward, (2) it creates additional sweeping force when pulled down and toward you during execution, and (3) it provides the primary grip to pull yourself up into mount or side control after the sweep completes. A deep collar grip behind the neck is most effective as it gives maximum control over their posture.
Q5: What is the optimal timing window for executing the Sickle Sweep? A: The optimal timing is when the opponent shifts their weight forward onto the leg you’re hooking, typically when they step forward to begin a pass or when they adjust their stance. This weight commitment makes it nearly impossible for them to step back to recover base. Additionally, the moment they lift their far leg to step is ideal as they’re temporarily on one leg. Advanced practitioners can force this timing by using their grips to pull the opponent’s weight forward before sweeping.
Q6: Your opponent steps their far leg back to widen their base as you begin the sickle motion - what is your best response? A: When the opponent widens their base by stepping back, the Sickle Sweep becomes very difficult to complete. The best response is to immediately transition to X-Guard or Single Leg X-Guard by collecting their near leg with your bottom leg, threading under their hips, and adjusting your hook position. Their widened stance actually makes these transitions easier because they’ve committed weight to the far leg, making the near leg lighter and easier to load onto your hooks.
Q7: Why must the hip push and hook scythe happen simultaneously rather than sequentially? A: Both legs must extend simultaneously because they create opposing vectors that eliminate all defensive base options at once. If you push with the hip leg first, you create space that allows the opponent to step back before the hook can complete its arc. If you hook first without pushing, you lose the power generated by the hip extension and the opponent can post on their far side. The simultaneous extension creates a pinching effect that collapses their base from two directions, making it structurally irrecoverable.
Q8: What grip adjustments should you make for the Sickle Sweep in no-gi situations? A: In no-gi, replace the collar grip with a grip on the opponent’s far ankle or a two-on-one wrist control on their near arm. The ankle grip variant is particularly powerful because pulling the far ankle toward you while executing the sickle motion eliminates their ability to step back entirely. You can also use an overhook or underhook on the near arm combined with a collar tie. The mechanics remain identical but the gripping strategy shifts to controlling limbs rather than fabric.
Q9: How do you consolidate top position immediately after completing the Sickle Sweep? A: As the opponent hits the mat, immediately release your hook and use the momentum combined with your collar grip to pull yourself forward into mount or side control. Drive your chest forward and establish heavy shoulder pressure before the opponent can frame or insert their knee. Your first action on top should be to secure an underhook or crossface to prevent them from turning into you. If you land in mount, immediately settle your hips low on their abdomen and grapevine their legs to prevent the upa escape.
Q10: Why is active toe flexion critical throughout the entire Sickle Sweep motion? A: Active toe flexion (pulling toes toward your shin) creates rigid structural tension in your hook, preventing it from slipping off the opponent’s leg during the dynamic sweeping motion. A passive hook with relaxed foot muscles will collapse under the resistance of the opponent’s weight and base, causing the sweep to fail at the critical moment when maximum force is being applied. The flexed toes lock the hook in place around the opponent’s thigh like a carabiner, maintaining contact throughout the full arc of the sickle motion.
Safety Considerations
The Sickle Sweep is generally a low-risk technique when practiced correctly, but certain safety considerations should be observed. When drilling with a partner, communicate clearly about resistance levels and ensure they know how to fall safely backward when swept. The person being swept should practice falling with proper breakfall technique, keeping their chin tucked and slapping the mat with their arms to dissipate impact force. Avoid executing this sweep explosively during initial learning phases as uncontrolled falls can cause head or spine injuries. When your partner posts their hand to defend, do not force the sweep as this can result in wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries to the posted arm. Instead, transition to alternative attacks. Ensure adequate mat space behind your partner before attempting the sweep to prevent them from hitting walls or other practitioners. In training environments, tap if you feel your balance completely compromised rather than risking an uncontrolled fall. When practicing at higher resistance levels, both partners should be warmed up properly with particular attention to hip flexibility and leg strength preparation.