De la Riva and reverse De la Riva
Learn De la Riva and reverse De la Riva guard: two different hooks on the same lead leg. You will learn the main sweeps and when to switch between the two.
The De la Riva hook
De la Riva guard: your foot wraps the outside of their lead leg, heel curled behind the knee. Your same-side hand holds their ankle. Your other foot goes on their far hip.
The hook and the ankle grip own their lead leg. The foot on the far hip and a collar or wrist grip stop their posture.
They stand with the right leg forward. Your left foot hooks their right leg. Your left hand holds their right ankle. Your right foot goes on their left hip.
The reverse De la Riva hook
Reverse De la Riva: your shin goes inside their lead leg, between their legs. Your foot hooks the outside of their thigh, and your knee points up.
Play it on your side, hips angled away. Your far foot goes on their hip, and your hand holds their knee or ankle.
Knee in, knee out
| Their hooked knee | Your hook |
|---|---|
| Points out | De la Riva, the outside hook |
| Turns in, toward you | Reverse De la Riva, the inside hook |
When they turn the knee to escape one hook, they walk into the other. Switching between them is the main skill of this guard.
They stand with the left leg forward. Which of your legs takes the reverse De la Riva hook?
The three sweeps
| Sweep | Guard | When |
|---|---|---|
| Rollover sweep | De la Riva | Their weight settles back on their heels |
| Tomoe nage | De la Riva | They step in close and their weight comes over you |
| Knee push sweep | Reverse De la Riva | They lean their weight onto the hooked leg |
- Rollover: outside hook on the lead leg, hand on the ankle.
- Far foot on the hip and a collar or wrist grip.
- Pull the ankle and push the far hip, so they fall back over the hooked leg.
- Keep the grip and come up on top.
Knee push sweep: lift with the inside hook and push their far knee with your free foot. Their legs go in opposite directions.
Tomoe nage: foot on their hip or belly, pull the grip, roll back and lift them over your head.
Chain the sweeps
You go for the rollover sweep. They turn the knee in and step their weight onto the hooked leg. You switch your shin inside and knee push sweep them the way they lean.
Sometimes they step back out of the knee push and lean forward over you. Put a foot on their hip and tomoe nage them.
Common mistakes
- A hook with no foot on the far hip and no upper grip.
- Reverse De la Riva played flat and square.
- Letting go of the grip during the tomoe nage.
- Keeping the outside hook after the knee turns in.
- Holding the ankle while their knee cuts across your thigh.
Train it on the Path
Reading is the first step. The De la Riva and reverse De la Riva unit has 5 short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.
De la Riva and reverse De la Riva is part of the Purple belt, included in Rolla Plus. Start free with Foundations and the white belt.