De La Riva Guard Fundamentals
BJJBJJ App Team·⏱️ 2 min read·🔄 Mar 31, 2026
☰Contents
Master the de la riva guard in BJJ: hook placement, grips, sweeps, berimbolo entries, and back takes from DLR guard.
Contents
What Is De La Riva Guard?
De La Riva (DLR) is an open guard position where the bottom player hooks the outside of the opponent's lead leg with their inside leg. Created by Ricardo De La Riva in the 1980s, it's one of the most versatile and widely used guards in gi BJJ.
DLR Hook and Grip Setup
- DLR hook: Inner leg hooks around the outside of their lead leg (ankle to knee area)
- Standard grips: Sleeve or wrist control on the far arm + pants grip on the near leg
- Extended DLR: Post your free foot on their hip to control distance
Core Sweeps from DLR
| Sweep | Direction | Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-Up Sweep | Toward them (roll through) | Break their posture, sit up to underhook |
| Overhead Sweep | Over their head | Free foot on hip, lift and roll overhead |
| Kiss of the Dragon | Invert to back take | Deep DLR + far sleeve → spin to back |
DLR to Berimbolo
💡 Modern DLR: The DLR guard is a berimbolo entry platform. Deep DLR grip + far hip control → invert → berimbolo to back is the signature modern sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is de la riva guard only for gi?
DLR is primarily a gi guard due to the cloth grips needed for control, but a no-gi version exists using wrist control and ankle grabs. The gi version is significantly more reliable.
What is the kiss of the dragon technique?
The kiss of the dragon is a back-take from DLR where you invert (go inverted/upside-down) while controlling their far sleeve and roll to their back in one fluid motion.
How do I defend against de la riva guard?
Leg drag pass is the most effective — drag the DLR leg to your hip and pass. Torreando and knee cuts also work by quickly addressing the hook and clearing it before the DLR player establishes control.