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IntermediateDe La Riva Guard Inversion
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About This Technique
Technique Name: De La Riva Guard Inversion
Japanese Name
N/A
Position
- Open Guard
Top or Bottom
- Bottom
Description
The De La Riva Guard Inversion is a sweeping and position-transition technique used primarily in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is an advanced variant of the De La Riva Guard and involves inverting your body to create leverage and disrupt your opponent's base, leading to a sweep or back take.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Establish the De La Riva Guard
- Start in the Open Guard position.
- Your opponent is standing with one leg between your legs.
- Use your leg on the outside to hook around the opponent's inner leg with your foot (this is your De La Riva hook).
- With your other leg, hook or place it on the opponent’s far hip or thigh to maintain distance.
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Control the Position
- Use your same-side hand to grip your opponent’s ankle or pants near the inner part of the near-side leg being hooked.
- Your other hand can control the sleeve or collar for better posture control.
-
Initiate the Inversion
- To invert, start by moving the hand that holds the opponent's sleeve across your body. This helps create enough space for movement.
- Shrimp your hips out slightly to make room.
- Begin lifting your hips off the ground by pressing into your opponent with your legs.
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Execute the Inversion
- Feed your head underneath your opponent's leg which is being hooked by your De La Riva hook.
- Tuck your chin close to your chest as you roll over your shoulders.
- Maintain a tight shoulder roll without losing the hooking leg.
-
Complete the Rotation
- As your body rotates under your opponent, switch your positions of control.
- Use your legs to continue elevating and spinning underneath.
- Maintain firm grips throughout to keep your opponent off balance.
-
Achieve the Sweep or Back Take
- By coming out on the other side, use your grip on the leg to tilt or off-balance your opponent.
- Capture the far leg if aiming for a sweep: use your inversion momentum to roll them down onto their back.
- For the back take, harness the rotation to sit up and climb onto your opponent's back as they defend.
Tips
- Constant pressure with your De La Riva hook is essential, providing control and leverage.
- Flowing smoothly with momentum during the inversion is key to avoiding stalls mid-technique.
- Explore combining it with other guard types to enhance dual-threat dynamics.
Conclusion
The De La Riva Guard Inversion is a sophisticated maneuver that requires practice to master but offers significant reward by leading into dominant positions. Practitioners should focus on balance control and smooth transitions to add this technique effectively into their repertoire.
How to Execute
# De La Riva Guard Inversion from Open Guard
## Setup
- **Initial Position Details**: Start in open guard with your opponent standing in front of you. Your hips should be mobile, and your shoulders should be on the mat.
- **Grips and Controls Needed**:
- Establish a De La Riva hook with your outside leg. Insert your outside foot behind your opponent's lead leg, hooking around their calf.
- Use your same-side hand to grip your opponent's ankle or lower pants near the ankle.
- With your opposite hand, aim to control your opponent's sleeve or collar, depending on your reach and preference.
## Steps
1. **Create Distance**:
- Slightly extend your De La Riva hook leg to off-balance your opponent. Use your grips to manage distance and maintain control.
2. **Position Your Non-Hooking Leg**:
- Place your non-hooking foot on your opponent's hip on the side where you have the De La Riva hook. This will help maintain distance and serve as a pivot point.
3. **Prepare for Inversion**:
- With your hand controlling your opponent's ankle, ensure you have a firm grip. Use your free hand to post on the mat, helping initiate the inversion.
4. **Invert Your Body**:
- Tuck your chin and begin to roll underneath your opponent. Use the foot on their hip to push your body into an inverted position. Your head should move towards their far leg.
5. **Roll Underneath**:
- As you roll under, keep your De La Riva hook tight and your grips secure. Your goal is to move your hips beneath your opponent's center of gravity.
6. **Reposition Your Feet**:
- As you complete the inversion, reposition your non-hooking foot from their hip to their far leg, creating a new hook behind their knee.
7. **Complete the Sweep or Transition**:
- Use your grips and hooks to destabilize your opponent and either complete a sweep to end up on top or transition to another guard position such as X-Guard or deep half guard.
## Key Points
- **Important Details to Remember**:
- Maintain strong grips throughout the technique to control your opponent's posture.
- Keep your De La Riva hook tight to prevent your opponent from easily stepping out.
- **Common Mistakes to Avoid**:
- Avoid inverting without controlling your opponent's posture, as this can lead to getting passed.
- Do not lose the De La Riva hook during the inversion; it is crucial for maintaining control and setting up sweeps.
- Ensure your inversion is smooth and controlled to avoid getting your guard passed during transitions.
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