Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Reverse De La Riva / Reverse X-Guard: Sweep #3

In this video Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Professor, Stephen "The MMA Performance Professor" Whittier, moves onto a third sweep in his "revese De La Riva," or "reverse x-guard" position. Again, this position is very effective if your opponent continues to move away from his trapped leg (in the first series of the collar and sleeve "scissor" sweep, where you had both your lower legs locked around his leg on the same side as your cross-collar and sleeve grips). and toward your back from the initial guard position.

Coach Whittier begins by noting that although the sweeps shown in this series are not exhaustive, and that there are numerous variations to grips and angles, these are the primary roots one should master from this position based on where an opponent's weight is most likely to shift.

In this sweep, as the opponent steps toward your back from the initial guard position, you again slide into the reverse de la Riva / reverse x-guard position. This time, however, your opponent does not fall forward or lean his weight back, being aware that an overcompensation in either direction will give up a sweep. Instead, he is content to keep both knees off the mat and "surf" your guard in attempt to maintain his balance. As he does so, you instead release your hand grip on his ankle and kick away with your top leg to spread his base apart until you can safely bring the foot of your bottom leg and place it on the inside of his knee.

From here, continue to apply pressure with it by extending your lower leg, and simultaneously sit up and build a base by propping up onto the elbow of you bottom arm (your opponent's other leg closest to your head will remain up on your shoulder the entire time with you underhooking it). The foot of your top leg will then go to the mat and become your supporting leg as you retract your bottom leg back in a classic "standing in base" movement as you move to a standing position.

Now your opponent will be balancing on one leg, with the other still on your shoulder. If he has not fallen already, circle until he loses his base and falls to his guard.

Coach Whittier does note a word of caution: as you circle keep the elbow of your free arm in tight to your body so your opponent can't jump triangle you.