Reverse De la Riva

What This Is

Reverse De la Riva (RDLR) is an open guard hook position in which the bottom player’s outside leg threads to the inside of the top player’s lead leg, with the foot hooking behind the same-side knee or lower thigh. This is the mirror image of the standard DLR hook, which wraps the outside of the lead leg. The difference in hook placement creates a different leverage angle and, critically, a different set of exit routes.

Like DLR, RDLR is covered here for its no-gi utility only. Neither position is a sustained control position without a gi — the hook geometry is the same, but the grip that would anchor it (collar grip in gi) does not exist. RDLR’s no-gi value is as a transitional position: a junction point from which the bottom player routes to K-guard, standard DLR, leg entanglements, or the reverse tripod sweep.

This distinction matters. Practitioners who approach RDLR as a position to hold will find it does not hold. Those who approach it as a moment to move from will find it useful.

The primary no-gi applications are:

• K-guard entry — the most important no-gi use of RDLR; creates inside heel hook geometry
• Reverse tripod sweep — pulling the lead leg back while extending the free leg
• Inversion to 50/50 — rotating under when the passer steps over
• Transition back to DLR — when the passer retreats or repositions

The Invariable in Action

The RDLR hook maintains the foot line just as the DLR hook does — by occupying the space at or behind the lead knee. The difference is directional: the inside hook blocks inside advances (knee cut, double-leg step), while DLR’s outside hook blocks outside advances. When the passer pulls their lead leg free and steps to the outside, the RDLR hook is no longer at the line — the bottom player must transition to DLR or re-establish.

RDLR failures are frequently caused by the bottom player turning away — either when the passer pressures or when the inversion sequence begins. Maintaining head and hand orientation toward the passer is essential throughout. The bottom player who turns away during an RDLR to K-guard transition loses the ability to track which leg they are attacking and which way the passer is reacting.

In RDLR, the grip on the passer’s ankle, shin, or knee replaces the elbow connection. In no-gi, this grip is often a shin grip on the hooked leg or a collar tie on the nearest arm. If both the hook and the grip are lost simultaneously, the bottom player is exposed — the passer has free advance on the inside line.

The RDLR hook’s leverage on the inside of the lead leg gives the bottom player partial influence over the passer’s hip on that side. The K-guard entry builds on this: by inserting the second hook on the inside thigh (the K-guard position), the bottom player escalates from partial hip influence to direct hip control — and from there, inside heel hook attacks become structurally available.

Entering This Position

From De la Riva Guard

When the passer steps their lead leg to the inside — attempting a knee cut or inside advance — the DLR hook naturally repositions to the inside. The bottom player allows the lead leg to travel across their body, re-threading the hook to the inside of the knee. This is primarily a reactive transition: the passer’s movement creates the RDLR angle.

From Seated Guard

Against a passer whose lead leg is already to the inside of the bottom player’s position, the RDLR entry can be established directly: bottom player rotates toward the lead leg, threads the outside leg inside the knee, and establishes the hook. A shin or ankle grip on the same leg accompanies the hook. This is a deliberate entry rather than a reaction.

Passer in Staggered Stance

When the passer stands in a staggered stance with their lead foot forward and inside (common in passing setups that prep a knee cut), the RDLR entry is available directly from seated guard. The bottom player engages early — before the passer initiates their pass — to establish the hook and grip on the lead leg.

From This Position

K-Guard Entry (primary no-gi use)

K-guard is the most valuable continuation from RDLR in no-gi and is the primary reason to develop the position. From RDLR, the bottom player inserts their free leg’s knee to the inside of the passer’s near thigh — creating the “K” shape — while maintaining the RDLR hook and adding an ankle grip. This double-hook position controls the passer’s lead leg from two points, which creates the geometry for an inside heel hook attempt.

The K-guard entry requires a hip shift toward the passer’s lead leg side. The bottom player cannot reach the second hook without re-positioning their hips. The hook goes in during the shift, not after settling.

See: K-Guard

Reverse Tripod Sweep

Against a passer who is standing with their lead leg inside the bottom player’s hook, the reverse tripod sweep is available. The bottom player pulls the hooked lead leg backward (toward themselves) with the grip while extending the free leg to the passer’s far hip or stomach. The passer is rotated over the lead leg.

The sweep is most effective when the passer’s weight is loaded on their lead leg. If they have shifted weight to their rear leg, they can simply step back out. Read the weight distribution before committing.

See: Reverse Tripod Sweep

Inversion to 50/50

When the passer attempts to step over the bottom player’s body — a common response to RDLR — the bottom player can invert toward the stepping leg and enter 50/50. The rotation is under the stepping leg: the bottom player drives their inside hip through and catches the stepping leg with their inside hook as the passer passes over. 50/50 is established when both players have one leg in each other’s guard.

Timing is critical. Early inversion (before the step is committed) misses the entry. Late inversion (after the step has passed) leaves the bottom player behind the passer.

See: 50/50 Guard

Return to De la Riva

When the passer disengages or repositions to the outside, the bottom player can transition back to DLR by re-threading the hook to the outside of the lead knee. This can happen multiple times in a single exchange. The two positions function as a system that covers inside and outside passer advances.

See: De la Riva Guard

Common Errors

Treating RDLR as a holding position

RDLR does not hold in no-gi. Attempts to sit in the position without moving to K-guard or another exit will result in the passer simply stepping out and passing. The position is a moment to act from, not a base to settle into.

Inserting the hook without a grip

The inside hook alone is not enough. Without a grip on the ankle, shin, or leg, the passer can pull the hooked leg free. The grip and hook must be established simultaneously or the hook has no anchor.

Turning away on the K-guard entry

The K-guard entry requires the bottom player to rotate their body toward the passer’s lead leg. A common error is rotating the body away during this movement — which loses sight of the passer and creates a back exposure. The head stays facing the opponent throughout.

Attempting the reverse tripod with rear-loaded passer

The reverse tripod sweep requires the passer’s weight forward on the lead leg. Attempting it when the passer is weight-rearward will fail — they step out rather than fall over. Test the weight distribution with a small pull before committing to the sweep.

Shallow hook depth

A shallow RDLR hook — catching only the lower shin rather than the back of the knee — gives the passer more range of motion to step out and reduces the leverage available for both the sweep and the K-guard entry. The hook should sit at the crook of the knee when possible.

Drilling Notes

RDLR is most productive when drilled as a sequence rather than a static entry. Recommended isolated reps:

• DLR to RDLR transition: Partner simulates a knee cut; bottom player re-hooks inside. Drill both the hook and the grip catch simultaneously.
• RDLR to K-guard: From established RDLR, insert second hook and ankle grip. Start with partner holding still; add movement resistance once the entry path is clear.
• RDLR reverse tripod sweep: Partner standing; bottom player times the pull-and-extend. Add a weight-loading variation — partner intentionally loads and unloads the lead leg so the bottom player reads when the sweep is available.
• RDLR to 50/50 on step-over: Partner steps over slowly; bottom player inverts and catches. Focus on the timing of the rotation relative to the step.

The DLR/RDLR system is worth drilling as a continuous loop: DLR when passer advances outside, RDLR when passer advances inside, with transitions triggering off the passer’s movements. This builds the reactive quality the position requires.

Ability Level Guidance

RDLR is rated Developing. It requires a working understanding of seated guard, the DLR hook, and the K-guard structure before the RDLR transitions yield anything in live rolling. A practitioner who does not yet understand K-guard mechanics will reach the RDLR position and have no profitable exit.

Recommended sequence: learn DLR first, then learn K-guard mechanics independently, then learn RDLR as the bridge between them. Approaching RDLR before either is established leads to stalling at the hook with no continuation plan.

At the Proficient level, the DLR/RDLR system becomes a reliable reactive framework against standing passers. At Advanced, the inversion entries and K-guard-to-heel-hook continuations become available as primary weapons.

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