De La Riva Guard
Also known as DLR, jello guard
An outside-hook open guard used to control a standing opponent's lead leg and create sweeps, back takes, and transitions.
At a glance
- Family
- Guard
- Format
- Gi
- Level
- Intermediate
- Connections
- 4 techniques
Concept
What it is
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.
Core mechanics
Key principles
- 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.
System map
How it connects
Jiu-jitsu techniques work in sequences. These are common conceptual routes in, productive next steps, and the defensive priorities that shape the exchange.
Common entries
Open guard
Attach to the lead ankle and wrap the outside hook as the opponent stands.
Guard retention
Turn a passer's lead leg into a control point while recovering square hips.
Seated guard
Connect to a leg, sit to the outside hip, and thread the hook.
Next actions
Berimbolo
Invert beneath a controlled hip to expose the back.
Tripod sweep
Disrupt both legs and the upper-body post to sit the opponent down.
Single-leg X
Move underneath the lead leg when the passer turns or retreats.
Defensive priorities
Clear the ankle grip
Free the lead foot so the guard cannot control the entire leg as a lever.
Square the knee
Recover knee and hip alignment before driving forward.
Manage the free leg
Pin or redirect the distance leg before it creates a secondary frame or entry.
Context
History and naming
The position is named for Ricardo De La Riva, whose use of the outside hook became strongly associated with his competitive guard game.
Competition connections
Athletes associated with De La Riva Guard
Keep exploring
Related techniques
Transition
Berimbolo
An inversion-based transition from De La Riva and related guards that follows the opponent's hip to expose the back or create a sweep.
Guard
Single-Leg X
A one-leg entanglement that controls the hip and knee line for sweeps, stand-ups, and straight ankle-lock attacks.
Guard
X Guard
An underneath guard that places crossed leg frames around one of the opponent's legs to control balance and expose sweeping directions.
Pass
Toreando Pass
An outside guard pass that controls the legs and redirects them away while the passer circles to the hips and shoulders.
Rules and reference sources
Rules evolve. The official organizer documents below are the source of truth for competition legality; the guide above explains the technique conceptually.