Understanding The De La Riva X
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Standard De La Riva·JonThomasBJJ
The De La Riva X is an extremely powerful guard system used at the top black belt level by the likes of Nicholas Meregal…
Standard De La Riva
Genusスタンダードデラヒーバ(Sutandādo Dera Hība)
TransliterationTranslation: standard De La Riva
Overview
The Standard De La Riva establishes the classic DLR guard with the outside hook wrapped around the opponent's lead leg, foot behind the knee, near hand controlling the ankle, and the far hand gripping the collar or sleeve. [1] This is the base DLR guard configuration from which all DLR attacks originate — sweeps, berimbolo entries, back takes, and transitions to other guard positions. [1],[2] The standard DLR provides a comprehensive platform for both gi and no-gi guard play. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
De La Riva guard is one of the most commonly played open guards in IBJJF competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Using the legs and hips to control the opponent from the bottom — maintaining distance management and attack angles
Joints Involved — Hips (primary engine for sweeps and attacks), knees (framing and hooking), ankles (secondary hooks)
Force Vector — Pulling, framing, and hip-escaping — creating angles for attacks while preventing passing
Positional Mechanic — The guard is an active offensive position — leg control compensates for bottom positioning by threatening sweeps and submissions
Position & Entry
From seated or supine position — Maintain distance with feet on the opponent's hips or legs, hands controlling grips or collars
From closed guard break — When the opponent opens the closed guard, transition to open guard by establishing foot and grip controls
Variants
Spider guard — gripping both sleeves with feet on the biceps for distance control
De la Riva guard — one hook behind the opponent's lead leg with opposite foot controlling
Lasso guard — lasso grip wrapping the leg around the opponent's arm
Collar-sleeve guard — controlling collar with one hand and sleeve with the other, feet active
Videos
Basic De La Riva Sweep for White Belts with Position Details
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Standard De La Riva·Chewjitsu
Today's question is from Andrew who requested a De La Riva Sweep. In this video I first talk about some basic ideas of…
De la Riva Guard Basics & 4 Great Options
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Standard De La Riva·Knight Jiu-Jitsu
This video shows the basics of de la Riva guard, one of the most useful and versatile guards in BJJ. From this position,…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The Standard De La Riva is a fundamental open-guard position that emphasizes controlled placement of one leg on an opponent's thigh or hip while maintaining grip control, typically from a standing or semi-standing context. Chewjitsu establishes the basic mechanics: the practitioner hooks the inside of the opponent's leg with the foot while controlling the ankle and heel, prevents knee-turning by maintaining heel position, and uses a cross-grip on the sleeve combined with same-side hip control for entry. Knight Jiu-Jitsu and JonThomasBJJ both stress the critical principle of creating distance between hips before attempting position refinement, with JonThomasBJJ emphasizing that greater distance allows easier leg lacing and that lateral body positioning increases reach. All three instructors agree on grip priorities—sleeve and collar grips are preferred for off-balancing—and highlight that control precedes technical execution. Chewjitsu presents the hook sweep as a primary finishing technique from the position, noting the danger of exposed ankles during the sweep exit and advocating for a combat-base recovery. Knight Jiu-Jitsu demonstrates multiple attacking pathways including triangles, armbars, and back takes via the Baratoplata motion, while JonThomasBJJ details deep-lace variations (De La Riva X) with options for sweeps, single-leg transitions, and back controls. All instructors consistently treat Standard De La Riva as a position requiring proper entry methodology, maintained tension throughout, and awareness of defensive counter-attacks before pursuing offensive techniques.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Chewjitsu — Basic De La Riva Sweep for White Belts with Position Details: Defined foundational grip mechanics (cross-grip sleeve + same-side hip), detailed heel control to prevent knee turning, explained common entry from standing guard break, demonstrated the hook sweep with combat-base exit, and warned against exposed-ankle vulnerabilities during execution.
- Knight Jiu-Jitsu — De la Riva Guard Basics & 4 Great Options: Emphasized the shallow hook as initial establishment, described collar grip as higher-control option after sleeve control, detailed triangle setup when arm goes under during pull, introduced deep-hook back-take mechanics, and presented Baratoplata as an advanced finishing sequence.
- JonThomasBJJ — Understanding The De La Riva X: Stressed distance creation as prerequisite for deep-lace positioning, articulated side-body positioning to increase leg reach, detailed hip-pressure and knee-shield mechanics for space generation, presented multiple grip setups (far-sleeve, collar, double-sleeve, reverse De La Riva transitions), and demonstrated sweep and back-take finishes from laced positions including single-leg and crab-ride options.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — ground...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points por...
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — no penalty for playing guard
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Standard de la Riva execution: from open guard against a standing opponent, hook the near leg behind their lead knee (outside to inside), grip their far sleeve with the hook-side hand, and control their ankle with the other hand (Ricardo de la Riva, competition legacy)
✓Step 1: the opponent stands in your open guard — identify their lead leg
✓Step 2: thread your near leg behind their lead knee from outside to inside, placing the instep on their inner thigh
✓Step 3: grip the far sleeve with your hook-side hand (this prevents them from circling away)
✓Step 4: control the near ankle with your bottom hand (this prevents them from retreating)
✓Step 5: with the hook, far sleeve, and ankle control, threaten: DLR sweep, berimbolo, or back take
✓The four-point system: hook + far grip + near ankle + active hips = complete DLR control
✓Drill: partner stands, establish DLR and attempt one sweep — 5 reps per side
Common Mistakes
!Hooking without the far-side grip — the opponent will simply step around the hook
!Not controlling the near ankle — ankle control prevents retreat and maintains range
!Placing the hook too deep (past the knee) — the instep should be on the inner thigh, not wrapped around the entire leg
!Using a straight hook instead of an angled one — the hook should pull at a diagonal for maximum off-balancing
!Not using the free leg to push the opponent's hip — the non-hooking leg manages distance
!Playing DLR with the upper body flat — sit up or angle for better offensive leverage
!Not training the transition from DLR to berimbolo — this is the modern competition chain
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Achieve Guard Contact — establish leg control around or against the opponent
2Control Grips — secure sleeve, collar, or wrist control for manipulation
3Manage Distance — use legs and grips to control the range and prevent passing
4Threaten Submissions/Sweeps — create offensive threats to keep the opponent reactive
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] The Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2003)
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] The Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2003)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility, active legs, grip management
Favours
long legs for distance control and guard retention
Key muscles
hip flexors, adductors, quadriceps, core, grip
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need distance from my opponent to get a good de la riva lace?
When you're close to your opponent's hips, your leg gets jammed up and you need longer reach to lace effectively. Counter-intuitively, the further away you are, the easier it is to lace because your leg has to travel less distance.
How should I position my body when lacing the de la riva hook?
Get on your side when lacing—this gives your leg more reach than staying flat. Creating distance and getting on your side are the two key mechanics to establish a strong lace.
Where should I hit on my opponent's hip after lacing?
Hit high on the hip; if you hit low, the lace is much easier for your opponent to slide off, and they may also be able to backstep toward a knee bar.
What's my next move right after I lace the hook?
Immediately sit up and grab the armpit material on the same side—this prevents your opponent from pushing your feet down and escaping the position.
What's a basic sweep option once I have a stable de la riva position?
One of the easiest sweeps is to switch to a single leg grip, or you can grab the cross lapel high and use a technical stand-up to complete the sweep.
How do I control my opponent's heel in the de la riva hook?
You don't need to rip the heel to the side aggressively; instead, maintain control so that if your opponent tries to turn their knee out, you can hold their foot in place to stop that movement.
How does the Standard De La Riva work?
The Standard De La Riva establishes the classic DLR guard with the outside hook wrapped around the opponent's lead leg, foot behind the knee, near hand controlling the ankle, and the far hand gripping the collar or sleeve. This is the base DLR guard configuration from which all DLR attacks originate — sweeps, berimbolo entries, back takes, and transitions to other guard positions.
Where does the Standard De La Riva come from?
The standard De La Riva guard is the foundational position developed by Ricardo De La Riva, representing one of the most influential guard innovations in BJJ history. It remains one of the most widely used and effective open guard positions in competition.
Is the Standard De La Riva legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Standard De La Riva?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
How do I set up the Standard De La Riva?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Guard Contact → Control Grips → Manage Distance → Threaten Submissions/Sweeps.
How do I defend against the Standard De La Riva?
Standard counters include: Guard Pass — systematically work to clear the legs and establish a dominant position / Leg Pin — control one or both legs to neutralize guard retention / Pressure Passing — use heavy chest pressure to flatten and immobilize the guard player.
What are the variants of the Standard De La Riva?
Common variants: Spider guard (gripping both sleeves with feet on the biceps for distanc…); De la Riva guard (one hook behind the opponent's lead leg with opposite foo…); Lasso guard (lasso grip wrapping the leg around the opponent's arm); Collar-sleeve guard (controlling collar with one hand and sleeve with the othe…).
How effective is the Standard De La Riva in competition?
De La Riva guard is one of the most commonly played open guards in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard De La Riva?
Top errors to watch for: Hooking without the far-side grip — the opponent will simply step around the hook / Not controlling the near ankle — ankle control prevents retreat and maintains range / Placing the hook too deep (past the knee) — the instep should be on the inner thigh, not wrapped around the entire leg / Using a straight hook instead of an angled one — the hook should pull at a diagonal for maximum off-balancing.
What are other names for the Standard De La Riva?
The Standard De La Riva is also known as Sutandādo Dera Hība, Classic DLR, Standard De La Riva Hook, Full DLR.