Understanding Reverse De La Riva Guard

When the opponent establishes reverse De La Riva position, they place an inside leg hook with the same-side hand gripping the toes. Failure to monitor and control both of the opponent's legs allows them to execute a sickle sweep or tripod takedown, resulting in a loss of position and points.

Initial Defense and Positioning

Upon stepping into the pass as the opponent establishes reverse De La Riva, the passer must immediately monitor and press both legs while maintaining heavy, athletic pressure from a distance. The passer leans away to kill foot drive while transitioning chest-to-chest and head-to-head without elevating excessively or sitting back.

Eliminating the Knee Shield—Method One

With chest-to-chest positioning established, the passer grips the opponent's ribs to press and the knee to lift, then shifts the body smoothly without creating excessive space. Moving into a same-side knee cut with the head on the floor and shoulders connected eliminates opportunities for the opponent to re-establish the knee shield or execute a counter.

Securing Position After Knee Shield Clearance

Once the knee shield is neutralized, the passer places both knees on the floor and removes the opponent's hand by peeling it away. From this compressed position, the passer can scoop the leg or maintain control before standing, applying pressure through the knees and hips to finalize the pass.

Alternative Approach—The Shin Slide

When the knee shield proves too difficult to clear at higher levels of resistance, the passer abandons the direct knee cut and transitions to a belt or pants grip with elbows tight against the body. The passer compresses the opponent's knees, peels the hand away from the heel, and immediately executes a shin slide across the opponent's shin rather than cutting over the knee.

Shin Slide Mechanics and Leg Drive

As the passer's knee slides across the opponent's shin, the back arm falls to the floor to close space while the passer drives forward using the feet rather than allowing the legs to contact the ground. The passer maintains tight control of the opponent's legs throughout the transition and drives hard into the corner to secure the dominant passing position.

RDLR - Passing (Knee Cut - Shin Slide)

Flux MMA

Shin Slide Pass

2 min read·6 key moments·PT5M46S video

Key Takeaways

•Understanding Reverse De La Riva Guard
•Initial Defense and Positioning
•Eliminating the Knee Shield—Method One
•Securing Position After Knee Shield Clearance

Knee Cut vs Shin Slide

Related Techniques

Butterfly Pass Floating Pass Half Mount Pass Half Stack Pass Lemon Squeeze Pass

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about shin slide pass?

This video covers understanding reverse de la riva guard, initial defense and positioning, eliminating the knee shield—method one. It provides detailed instruction from Flux MMA.

How long does it take to learn shin slide pass?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 6-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.