Today’s lesson in Gi class focused on countering the basic defense of the top person in the De La Riva position, which is to peel the top leg away from their thigh. From the bottom person’s perspective, grab their collar, remember to maintain a firm hand grip on their ankle and keep your near-side knee high above their knee. Use the push-pull method (push with your top leg and pull on their collar) to sweep them over.

From there, you can come up for a knee slide pass, or you can keep the leg frame pushing on their far leg, roll over with your shoulder, still maintaining a firm grip on their near-side pant leg, and get your near-side leg out of the loop to come up.

What If They Base Their Hand to Avoid the Sweep?

What happens if they base their hand on the mat to avoid the sweep? Release the pant grip and hook their elbow to go for an armbar. You can also transition to an omoplata or a belly-down armbar.

I was thinking of not going to class today but am glad I came. I had a few good rolls and talked with the coach and friends later.