de La Riva Guard for No-Gi

[Greg W]

great discussion guys!!! I can't believe I have never seen that Mendes video before. One of my goals for 2013 is the DLR/spiral/x guard game. I work it when I can, but going slow. This is one of my goals for the Midwest training camp, get somebody to work with me for a few to build a stronger base to build from. It is like trying to build a house on sand right now, the details are so foreign to me from my traditional GI strong collar grip control game to my now strong clinch game, letting go and spinning under is just strange to me. I have some guys now that are really avoiding my clinch game now figured out that staying fast and free is the way to go, giving me more oppourtunities to work on DLR/spiral/x game but usually get passed. I figure it because my limbs don't all have a job yet. I will say that I do think learning good, solid DLR/Spiral/x from a video is almost impossible. Way too many details to have the constant attacks that is needed to make it effective.

[Josh Passini]

great discussion guys!!! I can't believe I have never seen that Mendes video before. One of my goals for 2013 is the DLR/spiral/x guard game. I work it when I can, but going slow. This is one of my goals for the Midwest training camp, get somebody to work with me for a few to build a stronger base to build from. It is like trying to build a house on sand right now, the details are so foreign to me from my traditional GI strong collar grip control game to my now strong clinch game, letting go and spinning under is just strange to me. I have some guys now that are really avoiding my clinch game now figured out that staying fast and free is the way to go, giving me more oppourtunities to work on DLR/spiral/x game but usually get passed. I figure it because my limbs don't all have a job yet. I will say that I do think learning good, solid DLR/Spiral/x from a video is almost impossible. Way too many details to have the constant attacks that is needed to make it effective.

I have a bunch of go tos from xguard but spiral and DLR are still in the the testing phase before I can say they are in my game.

[Liquidrob]

I don't think going for footlocks is the best idea against a good de la Riva and spiral player, if you have strong hooks and keep them off balance like you should when they go for footlocks it makes it easier to sweep and take the back IMO

[Josh Yelverton]

I think Bobby hit the nail on the head. Personally, I like spiral better, but they both play off of each other. Having a strong DLR will usually make your spiral stronger as well and vice-versa.

[Brent Smith]

I have a personal nerd strategy of looking at it. I look at my guard as a castle and the passer as the siege army. You will always use catepults, trebuchets, and archers first. You wont let them start battering the gate or storming the wall just so you can poor your vats of boiling oil, then release the arrows. Dlr and spiral are your longest range weapons from guard. I make them get past it. Then I got the oil waitin for them. And spearmen atop the wall after that, then my main force if they breach the wall or the gate. If I can kill everybody with my archers and call it a day Im happy in a competitive roll. In training I like to work all because baby Jesus knows i need it.

Wow I really like that analogy. A lot.

I don't think going for footlocks is the best idea against a good de la Riva and spiral player, if you have strong hooks and keep them off balance like you should when they go for footlocks it makes it easier to sweep and take the back IMO

If you think of the finishing steps on a toe hold its actually quite a smart technique to go for. If your leg is bent, like it would be in spiral, the toe hold is pretty much done as soon as the figure 4 grip is put on.

[Kurzy]

I just want to say, Bobby, that I appreciate all your posts in this thread.

[Liquidrob]

Wow I really like that analogy. A lot.


If you think of the finishing steps on a toe hold its actually quite a smart technique to go for. If your leg is bent, like it would be in spiral, the toe hold is pretty much done as soon as the figure 4 grip is put on.

Yeah, I use that toe hold also against spiral also, but I think in the end it works better as a fake to set up a pass sometimes or just make them think a bit, I'm talking more about guys rolling through and just going all out on footlocks, giving up there base and sitting on the de le riva for a knee bar, stuff like that

[bobby rivers]

I just want to say, Bobby, that I appreciate all your posts in this thread.

I love jj and the people that love it. It's my pleasure Kurz.

[bobby rivers]

Yeah, I use that toe hold also against spiral also, but I think in the end it works better as a fake to set up a pass sometimes or just make them think a bit, I'm talking more about guys rolling through and just going all out on footlocks, giving up there base and sitting on the de le riva for a knee bar, stuff like that

I agree. If they even look at my toes im transitioning or forcing them to address their base. It is a legitimate threat though.

[VJ Bella]

Yeah, I use that toe hold also against spiral also, but I think in the end it works better as a fake to set up a pass sometimes or just make them think a bit, I'm talking more about guys rolling through and just going all out on footlocks, giving up there base and sitting on the de le riva for a knee bar, stuff like that

There is a rolling toehold there... A super easy low risk calf crush off De la riva (believe Einstein also showed this somewhere but can't remember where) that you can couple with a pass and step back knee bars that can also be used for calf crushes, heel hooks, ankle locks, cloverleaf etc. As with anything else it needs to be set up properly, it's all bait for the fish