De La Riva Guard

De La Riva guard is a classic open guard where the bottom player hooks one leg around the outside of the opponent’s leg, using it to off-balance and manipulate their posture. The opponent’s sleeve or ankle is often controlled with the hands, creating leverage for sweeps, submissions, or transitions to other guards.

This guard is highly effective in both gi and no-gi competition, offering continuous offensive options while maintaining defensive safety. De La Riva is particularly useful against standing opponents, as it disrupts balance and opens pathways for leg entanglements or back takes.

Developed originally by Ricardo de la Riva, the guard has evolved to include numerous variations such as reverse De La Riva and single-leg De La Riva, making it a fundamental component of modern guard systems. Mastery of this position requires precise hooks, grips, and timing.