Blue Belt De La Riva Guard Pass — Complete Guide
What is the De La Riva Guard Pass?
The De La Riva guard pass is one of the most important passing techniques in the blue belt curriculum. Named after Brazilian legend Ricardo De La Riva, this guard relies on an inside hook around your opponent's leg combined with a collar tie to control their posture and strip their guard systematically.
At blue belt, your training partners will begin using De La Riva consistently. Understanding how to break it — and what common mistakes to avoid — determines whether you pass their guard or spend entire rounds stuck in their spiderweb of grips.
- Minimum 2 years consistent training before blue belt promotion
- Previous promotion to blue belt from an IBJJF-certified instructor
- Solid closed guard fundamentals and hip movement
- Basic grip fighting experience recommended
- Competition experience recommended but not required
How to Pass the De La Riva Guard — Step by Step
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Step 1: Establish the inside hook
While standing, step your lead foot between your opponent's legs. Reach down and inside their thigh to grab the inside of their far leg with your lead hand. This is the De La Riva inside hook — your primary control point. Your opponent will try to retain this hook; do not release it until you have passed the guard.
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Step 2: Secure the cross-face and collar tie
With your trail hand, apply a cross-face pressure to your opponent's neck, driving their head away from you. Simultaneously grab their collar or lapel with your trail hand. This cross-face / collar tie combination prevents them from sitting up and recovering guard as you advance.
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Step 3: Break the De La Riva hook
Step your lead foot back slightly and rotate your lead leg outward to pry the inside hook open. Your opponent will resist — they are losing their primary guard retention tool. Keep your chest low and your cross-face pressure constant while you work the hook break. Do not stand tall during this step — staying low maintains control.
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Step 4: Clear the leg and establish side control
Once the hook is broken, step your lead leg over their near leg and plant your knee on their hip. Drive your cross-face hand across their chest while walking your trail leg back into a side control position. Your weight should be distributed across their chest, not crushing but preventing hip escape. You are now in side control — the pass is complete.
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Step 5: Transition to mount or back take
From side control, you have two high-percentage continuations: (1) Walk your knees up toward their shoulders while keeping your chest heavy on their chest — this produces the technical mount. (2) Shrimp out to their far side and step your near leg over their back, fishing for the seat belt grip — this produces the back take. Both are higher-percentage than staying in side control against experienced blue belts.
- Phase 1 — Solo penetration step: Practice the penetration step without a partner. Focus on knee-to-chest depth and head position.
- Phase 2 — Slow partner, grip only: Partner plays De La Riva. You establish inside hook and cross-face. No passing — just control. 5 minutes each side.
- Phase 3 — Slow partner, full sequence: Full pass at 30% resistance. Partner focuses on hip escape, not hook recovery. 10 minutes each side.
- Phase 4 — Live rounds: Full resistance. Both partners announce before the round: "De La Riva pass is the goal."
Common Mistakes and Corrections
Straightening the leg too early
Giving the opponent a straight leg creates a lever — they can extend and recover guard. Keep the leg bent until you have cleared the hip line.
Skipping grip fighting before the pass
Initiating the pass without first establishing the cross-face and collar tie gives your opponent a seated escape. Win the grip battle first.
Standing tall during hook break
Upright posture opens the underhook path for your opponent. Stay low, chest-to-chest, throughout the hook break sequence.
Crossing feet in De La Riva retention
If your opponent's De La Riva hook leg crosses behind your heel, you are vulnerable to an ankle pick. Keep the inside hook leg active and tracking your opponent's hip.
Rushing the sequence
Each step builds on the previous. Attempting to compress steps 1–4 into one motion loses structural control. Respect the sequence.
Not controlling the far wrist
Even with the inside hook and cross-face established, if your opponent retains the far wrist they have an escape window. Control both wrists before advancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What belt level is required for the De La Riva guard pass?
The De La Riva guard is typically developed at the blue belt level. IBJJF requires a minimum of 2 years training before blue belt promotion, with solid closed guard and open guard fundamentals. Blue belts should have hip movement and grip fighting experience before adding De La Riva.
How long does it take to learn the De La Riva guard pass?
Most practitioners need 2–4 weeks of focused drilling to become comfortable with the fundamentals. Competition-level mastery — reading reactions and chaining into mount or back takes — typically requires 3–6 months of consistent live training.
What are the IBJJF prerequisites for learning De La Riva?
IBJJF requires blue belt candidates to have minimum 2 years training, previous blue belt promotion, and competition experience recommended. Technically, you need solid closed guard fundamentals, basic hip movement, and grip fighting before adding De La Riva.
Can the De La Riva guard pass be used in MMA or no-gi?
Yes — the De La Riva body lock and guard concepts translate directly to no-gi and MMA. The inside hook becomes a body lock and passing principles remain identical. UFC veterans Lovato Jr. and Gordon Ryan have used these concepts in MMA and no-gi competition.
What should I drill before learning the De La Riva guard pass?
Focus on closed guard hip escapes, grip fighting from supine position, basic backward shrimping, and seated guard retention. Strong butterfly guard fundamentals also accelerate De La Riva learning.
Competition Footage — De La Riva in Action
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