De La Riva Guard: White Belt Biomechanical Guide

1. From a seated open guard, establish a collar grip with your right hand and a sleeve grip with your left hand on the opponent's right arm.
2. Place your left foot on the opponent's right hip, creating a frame and preventing them from closing distance.
3. Swing your right leg in front of the opponent's right leg, hooking your right foot behind their right knee joint.
4. Maintain tension on the collar and sleeve grips, pulling the opponent's upper body towards you to break their posture.
5. Keep your left knee pointed towards the opponent's hip, and your left foot actively pushing.
6. Your right foot should be actively hooked behind their knee, with your toes pointed upwards to create a lever.
7. Shift your weight slightly onto your left hip, creating an angle and enabling you to use your right leg to sweep or transition.
8. Use your left foot to push their hip away as you begin to elevate their leg with your right hook.

• Gripping the opponent's pant leg too high near the knee can lead to knee hyperextension for both parties if they drive forward aggressively. Instead, grip the pant cuff or shin area for better control.
• Extending your hooked leg straight when the opponent pushes forward can strain your knee ligaments (ACL/MCL). Keep a slight bend in your right knee and use your left foot to push their hip away.
• Trying to pull the opponent down solely with upper body strength without using your legs to off-balance them can lead to a loss of guard and potential back exposure. Focus on using your hooked leg and hip angle to create the off-balance.

1. Solo drilling: Practice establishing the grips and leg placement without a partner (5 minutes, 0% resistance).
2. Partnered drilling (no resistance): Partner stands, you establish DLR guard, practice maintaining grips and leg hook (10 reps per side, 0% resistance).
3. Partnered drilling (light resistance): Partner attempts to pass, you focus on maintaining the hook and frame with minimal pressure (10 reps per side, 25% resistance).
4. Partnered drilling (posture control): Partner tries to maintain good posture, you focus on breaking it with grips and leg mechanics (10 reps per side, 50% resistance).
5. Sweep attempts: Partner offers minimal resistance to sweeps from DLR (10 reps per side, 75% resistance).
6. Live rolling: Implement DLR guard with a willing partner, focusing on maintaining the position and attempting sweeps (3 x 3 minute rounds, 90% resistance).

• WHEN TO ATTEMPT:
• Opponent attempts a forward pressure pass (e.g., knee slice, torreando).
• Opponent is standing or semi-standing, offering a good opportunity to hook their leg.
• You are on your back in a guard retention scenario and need to create distance and control.
• PRIMARY COUNTERS:
• Knee Slice Pass Defense: If the opponent drives their knee slice, use your left foot to push their hip away and circle your right hip out, bringing your left leg to a half guard position.
• Standing Pass Defense: If they try to step around, use your left foot to push their hip and your right leg to hook their ankle, preventing them from establishing a strong base.
• Posture Up Defense: If they try to posture up, maintain collar and sleeve grips and pull them forward while using your right leg to elevate their leg, creating an off-balance.

Watch step-by-step breakdowns from black belt instructors: