Mastering No-Gi De La Riva: Insights from the Buschkamp Bros
The De La Riva guard has long been a staple in gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but adapting it for no-gi scenarios opens up a world of fluid, high-paced attacks. The Buschkamp Bros, renowned for their creative and battle-tested approaches, break down several effective no-gi variations in their instructional video. This guide dives deep into their methods, providing step-by-step breakdowns, key details, and tips to integrate these into your MMA, BJJ, or submission grappling game.
Whether you're defending from bottom in sparring, competing in no-gi tournaments, or training for MMA rounds, these moves emphasize control, off-balancing, and transitions. We'll cover entries, sweeps, guard retention, and attacks—everything you need to make De La Riva a weapon in your arsenal.
Why No-Gi De La Riva Works in Modern Grappling
Traditional De La Riva relies on gi grips for deep hook control, but no-gi demands adjustments like sleeve wreaths, underhooks, and friction-based grips. The Buschkamp Bros highlight how these changes lead to faster entries and explosive sweeps, ideal for the slippery no-gi environment. This guard shines against upright opponents, wrestling-heavy styles in MMA, or when you need to invert without losing momentum.
Pro Tip: Build your no-gi DLR on strong hip mobility and core strength. Pair it with wrestling for MMA applicability—use it to counter takedown attempts or launch from turtle positions.
Entry #1: The Basic No-Gi De La Riva Setup
Start seated with your opponent standing in front of you. The Bros emphasize a low, athletic base to avoid being stepped over.
1. Foot Placement: Hook your outside foot behind their lead leg ankle, pushing the shin across their thigh for control. Your other foot stays flat on the mat, knee up for support.
2. Grip Fighting: Instead of a collar grip, secure a sleeve wreath around their pants or calf. Your opposite hand grips behind their knee or thigh.
3. Posture Break: Pull their knee while pushing with your hook foot to load their weight onto one leg. Circle your hips slightly to off-balance them forward.
This entry is gold for MMA because it neutralizes their base quickly, setting up sweeps or back takes. Practice against pressure to simulate wrestling entries.
Sweep Variation: The Knee Cut Sweep
Once in position, transition to offense:
- Load Phase: Pull their gripped leg hard while framing their hip with your free hand. Rotate your hooking foot to the inside of their thigh.
- Explosion: Shrimp your hips explosively, kicking your bottom leg through for a knee cut motion. Your top leg drives up to block their base.
- Finish: As they post, chain to an underhook and roll them over your shoulder.
The Bros demo this against resistant partners, showing how to chain it into a back exposure if they defend. Useful in BJJ comps or MMA scrambles.
Advanced Entry: Inverted De La Riva with Backstep
For more dynamic play:
1. Invert early by posting your free hand and lifting hips.
2. Switch your hook to a deep thigh grip—no gi means using your calf for wraparound control.
3. Backstep with your supporting foot to pull them into your guard.
This keeps aggressive wrestlers at bay and flows into leg entanglements, a staple in modern no-gi like ADCC rulesets.
Training Drill: Partner stands and shoots takedowns; counter with this entry 10x per side. Add resistance to mimic live rolls.
Guard Pass Defense: Retaining with Shin Control
Opponents will try to flatten you out. The Bros teach:
- Shin Shield: Slide your hooked foot up to their hip bone, creating a barrier.
- Grip Switch: Release the sleeve and hunt for a cross-face underhook.
- Hip Escape: If they pressure, pummel inside and recover half guard.
This retention is crucial for no-gi where grips slip—practice against torreando passes common in Muay Thai clinch work transitioning to ground.
Attack Chain: Arm Drag to Omoplata
From solid DLR:
1. Feint a sweep to bait their post hand.
2. Arm drag across your body while kicking the leg high.
3. Rotate to omoplata grip, trapping the arm.
The Bros flow this seamlessly, adding a no-gi omoplata roll for the sub. High-percentage in MMA scrambles or kickboxing ground-and-pound defense.
Sweep #2: The Lasso Switch Sweep
Adapt lasso elements sans gi:
- Wrap your leg lasso-style around their arm/thigh.
- Pull with both hands on their trailing leg.
- Explode hips for the sweep, landing in side control.
Real-World Application: In BJJ no-gi, this beats bigger opponents. For wrestling cross-training, it disrupts double-leg setups.
Bonus: De La Riva to X-Guard Transition
A high-level chain:
1. From DLR, disengage the hook and slide under to X position.
2. Grip their far ankle and opposite hip.
3. Lift and trip for the sweep.
The Buschkamp Bros stress timing—use when they step wide. Perfect for competition prep or MMA guard pulling.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- Mistake: Weak Hooks → Fix: Drill calf pressure; think 'squeezing the tree trunk'.
- Mistake: Static Hips → Fix: Constant circling to unweight them.
- Mistake: Poor Grip Hygiene → Fix: Always fight for underhooks first in no-gi.
Integrating into Your Game
Start slow: Shadow drill entries 5 mins daily. Progress to positional sparring (DLR only). For MMA, combine with sprawls; for pure BJJ, chain to berimbolos. The Bros' style is versatile across disciplines—test in kickboxing clinch escapes or wrestling pummeling.
Film your rolls to self-critique. Consistency turns these into instincts.
These no-gi De La Riva moves from the Buschkamp Bros offer fresh tools for any grappler. Elevate your bottom game—browse quality no-gi apparel and gear at Apollo MMA to support your training.
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