Is it the best bjj move ?
The De La Riva guard is one of the most dynamic and effective positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, widely used by top practitioners to maintain control, sweep, and submit opponents. Named after Ricardo de la Riva, this guard provides both offensive and defensive opportunities, making it an essential tool in any BJJ athlete's arsenal. In this post, we will explore 10 powerful moves that you can use from the De La Riva guard to improve your game and dominate your opponent.
1. De La Riva Sweep
The De La Riva Sweep is a classic move that leverages the hooks and grips of the guard to off-balance your opponent. To perform the sweep, you need to maintain strong control over your opponent's far leg with your foot while using your other leg to elevate and drive them to the mat. When executed correctly, the sweep can easily transition into a dominant top position.
2. De La Riva to Back Take
One of the most powerful transitions from De La Riva guard is the back take. By controlling your opponent’s hips with your grip on their ankle or pants, you can use a quick motion to transition to their back. It’s crucial to stay tight and maintain control over your opponent’s upper body while using your hooks to secure the back and initiate the submission game.
3. De La Riva to X-Guard
The X-guard is an excellent follow-up position to the De La Riva guard, providing greater control and an opportunity for sweeps or submissions. To transition into X-guard, you need to shift your body under your opponent, positioning your hips behind their far leg and securing their leg with your own. This creates a powerful control position where you can sweep, submit, or transition to other positions.
4. De La Riva to Triangle Choke
The De La Riva guard not only offers sweeps and back takes but also a submission opportunity. The triangle choke is one of the most effective submissions from this guard. By using your opponent's posture and positioning, you can feed their neck with your legs while locking the triangle choke. The key is to create angles and use their movement against them, tightening the choke and securing the submission.
5. De La Riva to Single Leg X-Guard
The Single Leg X-guard is another strong option for transitioning from De La Riva guard. From the De La Riva, you can pull your opponent’s leg toward you while simultaneously shifting your hips underneath them. This position gives you excellent control and numerous sweep options, making it difficult for your opponent to escape.
6. De La Riva to Leg Drag
The leg drag is a powerful technique used to pass the guard while staying in a dominant position. By using the De La Riva guard, you can pull your opponent's leg across their body and toward your own, forcing them to fall to their side and making their guard less effective. This move can be an excellent setup for advancing to side control and establishing a dominant position.
7. De La Riva to Lasso Guard
The Lasso Guard is a variation of the De La Riva guard where you use your leg to hook your opponent’s leg. From the De La Riva, you can secure the lasso by looping your leg around their far leg, allowing you to control their movement and prevent them from passing your guard. This position is great for creating sweeps or submissions and adds another layer of control to your game.
8. De La Riva to Armbar
The armbar from De La Riva is a submission that can be used when your opponent attempts to push or posture up to pass the guard. By isolating their arm and placing your body in the correct angle, you can quickly transition into the armbar. The key is to maintain pressure on the opponent’s arm while using your legs to control their posture.
9. De La Riva to Omoplata
The Omoplata submission can be a sneaky yet highly effective move from the De La Riva guard. From the De La Riva position, you can initiate the Omoplata by rotating your body under your opponent’s arm while keeping tight control. It’s a great move for when your opponent tries to defend against your sweeps or back take. Once you lock the shoulder, the submission is quite difficult to escape.
10. De La Riva to Knee Bar
The knee bar is a submission that targets your opponent's knee joint. From the De La Riva guard, you can control your opponent’s leg and transition into a knee bar by shifting your body and isolating their leg. This submission is particularly effective when your opponent tries to stand or disengage from your guard. The key is to maintain control over their leg while securing the knee for the submission.
Conclusion
The De La Riva guard is a versatile and powerful position that offers numerous sweeps, submissions, and transitions. By mastering these 10 moves, you can significantly enhance your BJJ game and become more unpredictable and dangerous on the mat. Whether you're looking to dominate your opponent with sweeps, submissions, or back takes, the De La Riva guard is a foundational position that can take your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the next level.
Start incorporating these techniques into your training, and you'll soon notice how much more effective and confident you become in your De La Riva guard!