Underhook from De La Riva Guard

Underhook from De La Riva Guard is a transition between related positions built around a handful of repeatable controls. Bottom player has a De La Riva hook around the standing partner's lead leg, with grips on the sleeve and either ankle or collar. Another common starting shape: bottom in De La Riva guard with the DLR hook and a same-side underhook controlling the lead leg. The ideas that hold it together are sequencing grips, angle, and entry as one motion, hip control precedes back exposure, and the underhook keeps the top player from running away during the invert.

The underhook chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Wedge the knee or shin behind the partner's near knee for control. Secure strong sleeve, collar, or pant grips before initiating the rotation. Drive the spin under the partner's hips while keeping the back tight to the mat. Thread the inside hook to lock the back ride. Off-balance the partner's hips with directed pulling pressure. Pull the underhooked leg toward the chest as the invert starts. Drive the head under the hips to commit the rotation. Use the cross collar pull to draw the partner's upper body forward. The attacker has completed the rotation onto the back of the partner, chest-to-back with at least one hook and a building seatbelt grip.

Later in the underhook, redistributing weight before attacking creates the opening for the next move, controlling both the inside and outside space of the leg shrinks the partner's options, and obstacles, not strength, win the position tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Releasing the controlling grip too early lets the partner re-square and recover posture. Staying flat instead of getting the hips beneath the partner's center. Fighting the loaded leg head-on. Letting the underhook drift loose so the partner can clear the leg. The high-percentage version of underhook from de la riva guard is the one you can still chain when the next position is contested.