{"slug":"reverse-de-la-riva","name":"Reverse De La Riva","aliases":["RDLR","reverse DLR","inside De La Riva"],"category":"guard","format":"both","level":"intermediate","summary":"An inside-hook open guard used to manage knee-cut pressure, invert under the hips, or connect to leg entanglements and wrestle-ups.","overview":["Reverse De La Riva places a hook around the inside of the opponent's lead leg. It commonly appears when the passer turns sideways for a knee cut or headquarters position, making it both an attacking guard and a retention checkpoint.","The position has many expressions: shallow hook retention, deep inversion, kiss-of-the-dragon back takes, waiter-style sweeps, and entries to single-leg X or outside ashi. The safety of the knee depends on following the opponent's rotation rather than fixing the foot while the knee twists."],"keyPrinciples":["Track the passer's knee line with your own knee and hip angle.","Control the lead leg while framing against upper-body pressure.","Keep the hook mobile; do not sacrifice knee alignment for attachment.","Choose between inversion, distance recovery, and wrestle-up early."],"entries":[{"label":"Knee-cut defense","description":"Insert the inside hook as the passer turns the lead knee across."},{"label":"De La Riva transition","description":"Switch the hook when the passer changes stance or angle."},{"label":"Seated guard","description":"Attach to the lead leg and sit toward the inside channel."}],"continuations":[{"label":"Kiss of the dragon","description":"Invert beneath the hips and follow the far leg toward back exposure."},{"label":"Single-leg X","description":"Thread underneath the lead leg as the opponent steps or squares."},{"label":"Wrestle-up","description":"Use the hook to keep the leg close while rising to a finish."}],"defenses":[{"label":"Hip control","description":"Prevent the guard player from rotating underneath your center."},{"label":"Knee-line clearance","description":"Back-step or redirect the hook only after controlling the free leg."},{"label":"Upper-body connection","description":"Pair the passing angle with head and arm control so the guard cannot freely invert."}],"relatedTechniqueSlugs":["knee-cut-pass","single-leg-x","wrestle-up","de-la-riva-guard"],"athleteSlugs":["dante-leon","gianni-grippo","rafael-mendes","lachlan-giles"],"rulesetNote":"Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.","sources":[{"label":"IBJJF rule book and rules resources","url":"https://ibjjf.com/books-videos","type":"rules"},{"label":"ADCC official rules and legal-technique guides","url":"https://adcc-official.com/pages/adcc-rules","type":"rules"}],"lastUpdated":"2026-07-25","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/reverse-de-la-riva","markdownUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/reverse-de-la-riva.md","jsonUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/reverse-de-la-riva","relatedTechniques":[{"slug":"knee-cut-pass","name":"Knee-Cut Pass","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/knee-cut-pass"},{"slug":"single-leg-x","name":"Single-Leg X","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/single-leg-x"},{"slug":"wrestle-up","name":"Wrestle-Up","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/wrestle-up"},{"slug":"de-la-riva-guard","name":"De La Riva Guard","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/de-la-riva-guard"}],"associatedAthletes":[{"slug":"dante-leon","name":"Dante Leon","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/dante-leon"},{"slug":"gianni-grippo","name":"Gianni Grippo","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gianni-grippo"},{"slug":"rafael-mendes","name":"Rafael Mendes","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/rafael-mendes"},{"slug":"lachlan-giles","name":"Lachlan Giles","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/lachlan-giles"}],"sourceSite":{"name":"Ossmeta","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com"}}