De La Riva Sweep
Also known as: DLR Far-Ankle Sweep · Ankle Grab DLR Sweep · Balloon Sweep (adjacent)
The first sweep of the DLR system: hook deep behind their lead knee, grab the far ankle, and steer them backward over their own heels.
Sweep · Gi & No-gi · Difficulty 2/5 · Usually learned at Blue belt
Starts from De La Riva Guard as the dlr player → lands in Open Guard.
The details that make it work
- The DLR hook wraps deep — your foot reaches their far hip, turning their knee inward.
- Grip the FAR ankle (hand or sleeve-to-ankle in gi); both of their posts are now spoken for.
- Extend the hook and pull the ankle: they sit down backward; technical stand-up to the top.
Where it goes wrong
- A shallow hook at the calf that they clear with one knee turn.
How opponents counter it
- Turn the trapped knee out and backstep
- Kick the far leg free before the extension
Is the De La Riva Sweep legal in competition?
Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.
History & naming
From the guard Ricardo De La Riva built at Carlson Gracie’s academy in the 1980s.
Related techniques
All moves from De La Riva Guard · Back to Grapplepedia