Triangle from De La Riva Guard

Triangle from De La Riva Guard is a finishing attack built around a handful of repeatable controls. The opponent has the bottom player's collar gripped while squatting back and refusing to come on top of De La Riva. Another common starting shape: the opponent reacts to the De La Riva off-balance by jumping the hooked leg over the bottom player's head to clear the hook. The ideas that hold it together are redirect sideways not forward, use opponent's collar grip against them, and pre-load the attack so the opponent's escape is your entry.

The triangle chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Move the De La Riva hook behind the opponent's knee so they cannot reset their base. Push the gripping collar to the side rather than trying to pull forward, sending the opponent off-axis. Swing the free leg over the trapped shoulder and lock the triangle from the side angle. Anticipate the jump-over and bring the free leg up to meet the head as the opponent crosses. Trap the near arm across the centerline and lock the triangle with the legs. Slide the De La Riva hook from inside to behind the opponent's knee. Push the opponent sideways with the cross-collar grip rather than pulling them forward. Stretch the butterfly-style hook behind the knee to control distance. The bottom player has routed the De La Riva hook behind the opponent's knee, pushed the collar to the side, and locked a triangle on the side angle.

Later in the triangle, redirect sideways, scoop the head before triangle, and hook behind the knee tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Trying to bring the opponent forward when they are loaded back, instead of taking the side angle. Releasing the collar grip too early and allowing the head to escape the line. Continuing to pull on the collar when the opponent is loaded back, instead of redirecting sideways. Failing to scoop the head with the inside leg before swinging the triangle leg. The high-percentage version of triangle from de la riva guard is the one you can still chain when the first squeeze is defended.