Berimbolo
The berimbolo is an inverting back take from De La Riva guard: you off-balance the passer, roll under, and come up on their back. It looks acrobatic but is really a systematic way to convert a De La Riva hook into the most dominant position in BJJ.
From hook to the back
The berimbolo starts when you load the passer onto one leg with a De La Riva hook and a grip on the belt or far leg. As they post to recover, you invert underneath and rotate to their back, often arriving at the hooks or a crab ride on the way.
A system, not a trick
The berimbolo only works as part of a system: the De La Riva entry, the back take, and the answers for when the passer defends by dropping their hips or running. Mapped out, it is a reliable competitive position, not just a flashy one.
Community flows for Berimbolo
- Closed Guard Mastery — Modern sport BJJ from closed guard. Fundamental sweeps and submissions into inverted transitions, leg entanglements, and back takes. Chaining attacks when…
- Inverted Guard Game — De la riva into inverted guards, back takes, and leg entanglements. Flowing between positions and capitalizing on reactions.
- Berimbolo Back Takes — No-gi back hunting from de la riva via berimbolo. Forcing your opponent into vulnerable positions & capitalizing on every reaction to get behind them.
- Inverted Half Guard — Every bottom position funneled into half guard, then inverted entries, leg entanglement transitions, & berimbolo-style back attacks to get offensive.
- Berimbolo Back Attacks — De la riva into back attacks through inversion. Read opponent reactions & chain berimbolo variations to get behind them
Frequently asked questions
What is a berimbolo?
An inverting back take from De La Riva guard. You off-balance the passer, roll underneath, and come up on their back.
Is the berimbolo only for the gi?
It is most common in the gi because of the grips, but no-gi versions exist using the legs and waist instead of grips. In no-gi it pairs with single-leg X and the leg lock game.
Is the berimbolo good for beginners?
It is usually learned after the basics of De La Riva and inverting are comfortable, since it depends on both. Once those are in place it is very high-percentage.
From the blog
Map your own Berimbolo game
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