BJJ Reverse De La Riva Guard Guide: Master Sweeps, Submissions & Entries

**Establish Outer Hook**: From an open guard, insert your lead leg's foot on the outside of your opponent's thigh, creating a deep 'reverse' De La Riva hook near their hip.
**Secure Inner Grip**: Use your same-side hand to grip your opponent's pants cuff or ankle on the leg where your RDLG hook is inserted, or a cross-collar grip for posture control.
**Control Opposite Leg**: With your other leg, place your foot on your opponent's hip or bicep to maintain distance, prevent them from squaring up, and create leverage.
**Initiate Angle & Off-Balance**: Use your RDLG hook to pull and pivot your hips, creating an acute angle to your opponent's base, while simultaneously pulling with your grip to break their posture.
**Execute Sweep/Transition**: Leverage the created angle and broken posture to sweep them, transition to a crab ride for a back take, or enter into various leg attacks.

**Hip Engagement is Crucial**: Constantly use your hips to pivot and create angles; the RDLG is less about static control and more about dynamic movement and Hip Escapes.
**Grip Management**: Maintain strong, active grips on the pants, collar, or sleeve to dictate your opponent's posture and movement, preventing them from stabilizing.
**Active Free Foot**: Your foot on the hip or bicep is vital for managing distance, preventing passes, and initiating powerful hip escapes or pushes for sweeps.
**Head Position**: Always protect your head and maintain good head positioning to avoid getting flattened or passed, keeping your spine aligned.

**Berimbolo Entry**: RDLG is a primary entry point for the Berimbolo, allowing a seamless transition to a crab ride and ultimately a back take.
**Leg Drag Setup**: By controlling the opposite leg and creating a strong angle, you can easily transition from RDLG into a powerful leg drag pass.
**Calf Slicer/Ankle Lock Entries**: The RDLG hook naturally isolates the opponent's leg, providing direct pathways to various leg entanglement submissions like calf slicers or straight ankle locks.

When your opponent is standing or attempting to pass from a standing position, especially if they try to circle to your open side.
To create strong angles and off-balance opponents who are trying to maintain a strong, upright posture.
As a dynamic entry into more advanced guards like the Crab Ride or to set up back takes and leg entanglements.

**Straighten the Leg**: Opponents can straighten their leg to strip the RDLG hook, making it difficult to maintain control and leverage.
**Square Up Immediately**: Quickly squaring their hips back to yours negates the angle you've created and can flatten your guard, making it harder to attack.
**Posture Control**: Maintaining a strong, upright posture and driving into you prevents you from breaking their balance effectively, often followed by a pass attempt.