{"slug":"de-la-riva-guard","name":"De La Riva Guard","aliases":["DLR","jello guard"],"category":"guard","format":"gi","level":"intermediate","summary":"An outside-hook open guard used to control a standing opponent's lead leg and create sweeps, back takes, and transitions.","overview":["De La Riva guard uses an outside leg hook around the opponent's lead leg, typically paired with ankle control and a sleeve, collar, belt, or far-leg connection. It gives the bottom player a way to manage distance while turning the passer's knee and hip alignment.","The guard is a major hub in modern gi jiu-jitsu. It connects to tripod and overhead sweeps, berimbolo pathways, X guard, single-leg X, and wrestle-ups. No-gi adaptations exist, but the loss of durable cloth grips changes the position significantly."],"keyPrinciples":["Control the lead leg at both the ankle and hip line.","Keep the hook active without overextending the knee.","Create diagonal off-balances instead of pulling straight backward.","Use the second leg to manage distance, frame, or attack the far side."],"entries":[{"label":"Open guard","description":"Attach to the lead ankle and wrap the outside hook as the opponent stands."},{"label":"Guard retention","description":"Turn a passer's lead leg into a control point while recovering square hips."},{"label":"Seated guard","description":"Connect to a leg, sit to the outside hip, and thread the hook."}],"continuations":[{"label":"Berimbolo","description":"Invert beneath a controlled hip to expose the back."},{"label":"Tripod sweep","description":"Disrupt both legs and the upper-body post to sit the opponent down."},{"label":"Single-leg X","description":"Move underneath the lead leg when the passer turns or retreats."}],"defenses":[{"label":"Clear the ankle grip","description":"Free the lead foot so the guard cannot control the entire leg as a lever."},{"label":"Square the knee","description":"Recover knee and hip alignment before driving forward."},{"label":"Manage the free leg","description":"Pin or redirect the distance leg before it creates a secondary frame or entry."}],"relatedTechniqueSlugs":["berimbolo","single-leg-x","x-guard","toreando-pass"],"athleteSlugs":["rafael-mendes","levi-jones-leary","gianni-grippo","rubens-charles"],"rulesetNote":"Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.","historyNote":"The position is named for Ricardo De La Riva, whose use of the outside hook became strongly associated with his competitive guard game.","sources":[{"label":"IBJJF rule book and rules resources","url":"https://ibjjf.com/books-videos","type":"rules"}],"lastUpdated":"2026-07-25","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/de-la-riva-guard","markdownUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/de-la-riva-guard.md","jsonUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/de-la-riva-guard","relatedTechniques":[{"slug":"berimbolo","name":"Berimbolo","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/berimbolo"},{"slug":"single-leg-x","name":"Single-Leg X","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/single-leg-x"},{"slug":"x-guard","name":"X Guard","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/x-guard"},{"slug":"toreando-pass","name":"Toreando Pass","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/toreando-pass"}],"associatedAthletes":[{"slug":"rafael-mendes","name":"Rafael Mendes","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/rafael-mendes"},{"slug":"levi-jones-leary","name":"Levi Jones-Leary","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/levi-jones-leary"},{"slug":"gianni-grippo","name":"Gianni Grippo","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gianni-grippo"},{"slug":"rubens-charles","name":"Rubens \"Cobrinha\" Charles","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/rubens-charles"}],"sourceSite":{"name":"Ossmeta","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com"}}