One can divide the world of guards into inside guards and outside guards.

Inside guards are defined as guards that dominate the space between your opponent’s legs.  Examples might include the butterfly guard, the single leg X guard, and the full X guard.

Outside guards dominate the space outside your opponent’s legs and include de la Riva guard, K guard, and the closed guard itself.

But everything in jiu-jitsu is cyclical.  New positions and techniques come up and everyone focuses on them, forgetting about the old stuff.

Then, inevitably, someone discovers a new spin on old positions and tears a bloody swath through their competitors with large blind spots in their repertoires.

In modern no gi grappling the inside guards are currently very popular – everyone is shooting for leglocks, and those are a little easier to do from the inside position (although there are definitely powerful leglock entries from outside guards as well).

Consequently, people focus on defending against inside guard attacks, and neglect spending time working against outside guards.

This opens up a HUGE opportunity.

When everyone else zigs, you zag.  And when everyone else is focused on inside guards, you destroy them with outside guards!

Rob Biernacki is a BJJ black belt who has developed a whole no gi de la Riva guard system, which is very much an outside guard.

He has used his deadly de la Riva guard to win both IBJJF Master Worlds AND the ADCC Open.

I’d like to share one of the most important attacks in the de la Riva system below. It’s called the ‘Shotgun Sweep’, and this one technique sets up a plethora of sweeps, backtakes, and submissions.

Check it out!

If you found that useful you might also want to check this out…

The No Gi de la Riva Formula

If you’re looking for an edge from the bottom and a great way to control a standing opponent who is just trying to run around your legs then check out The No Gi de la Riva Formula instructional by Rob Biernackithat’s available online and in app format.

It’s just packed techniques and strategies your opponent won’t see coming and won’t be able to defend..

Click to find out more about the No Gi de la Riva Formula.

Also, if you want to go a little deeper into inside vs outside guard strategies then have I got a good resource for you…

Inside vs Outside Leglock Entries

Leglock entries can be divided into inside and outside entries, and you need them both to be a high-level leglocker!

Essentially, inside entries involve you bringing a leg between your opponent’s legs, whereas an outside entry involves moving into a leglock position by going around your opponent’s legs.

Click here for a breakdown of inside vs outside leglock entries by leglock phenomenon Chris Wojcik.

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