Blue Belt De La Riva Guard Pass Sequence
Blue Belt
IBJJF Legal — Gi Only
IBJJF
The De La Riva guard is one of the most common guards you will encounter at blue belt. This sequence takes you from breaking their grip to establishing side control, using pressure passing principles that work at every level. Estimated read: 8 min.
Prerequisites Before You Start
- Comfortable with basic shrimping and hip escaping
- Can retain side control for 30+ seconds against a resisting partner
- Understands the four fundamental guard pass positions (standing, knee-cutting, over-under, toreando)
- Has drilled fundamental grip fighting for at least 2 weeks
Pass Sequence
- Break the De La Riva grip. Control opponent's ankle with one hand and post on their hip with your other hand. Step your inside leg through to free your passing knee. Do not rush — a failed pass from De La Riva often ends in a triangle or omoplata.
- Establish knee-on-belly pressure. Drive your knee into their solar plexus while controlling their inside leg with your shin. Keep your base low and hips heavy. The pressure should be uncomfortable — if your partner can breathe easily, you are not heavy enough.
- Clear the hook and control the far hip. Remove their De La Riva hook by stepping your leg over the top. Grab the far hip with both hands and walk your body across to flatten them. This is the transition — your partner will try to recover guard here.
- Secure side control and advance to mount. Once side control is established (head-and-arm position or nsemi-closed guard), step over the head to advance to mount. Keep weight distributed to prevent escape sweeps. Do not rush to mount if side control is not stable.
Common Mistakes
- Rushing the grip break. Trying to pass before breaking the De La Riva grip leads to being swept or submitted. Take 3-5 seconds to break grips properly.
- Standing completely upright. Tall passing is the most common mistake at blue belt. Stay low with your hips below your shoulders, even in standing passes.
- Not controlling the near hip during the clear. If your partner keeps their near hip posted, they can recover full guard. Control both hips before stepping over.
- Skipping the knee-on-belly step. Attempting to go straight from grip break to side control leaves you vulnerable. Each step in the sequence exists for a reason.
Drilling Tips
- Positional drilling rounds: Start each partner in De La Riva guard. Passer's goal is to reach side control. 5-minute rounds with 30-second resets. Alternate who starts in De La Riva.
- Resistance scaling: Week 1-2: partner provides 50% resistance, focusing on correct grip fighting. Week 3-4: partner provides 80% resistance. Week 5+: full resistance with submission awareness.
- Speed progression: Start slow enough to execute each step with correct technique. Speed increases only after position is stable. A slow correct pass beats a fast incorrect one.
- Film your rounds: Record 2-3 positional rounds per week. Compare your passing mechanics at the start vs. end of a 4-week cycle. Look for the step where you are most likely to get countered.
Competition Footage Timestamps
3:42
Andre Galvao vs. Cobrinha — 2009 Pan ADe La Riva pass to mount (tournament footage)
IBJJF
7:15
Rafael Mendes — toreando passing sequence vs. De La Riva guard (no-gi footage)
ADCC
12:08
Blue belt division — knee-on-belly transition point (IBJJF World)
IBJJF Worlds
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