Folding Pressure Pass to Counter the De La Riva by Greg Hamilton BJJ

Alright, let's talk about this "Folding Pressure Pass" because, and I'm just going to say it, this is less a revelation and more a repackaging of something we've seen evolve for years. I saw a few comments already talking about how "innovative" this is, and I just gotta pump the brakes on that a bit.

The core mechanic here – using a deep cross-face and an underhook to fold the DLR player onto their side, then collapsing them – it’s not exactly a new phenomenon. What Hamilton's showing is a nice, clean articulation of a passing concept that really started gaining traction in the mid-2010s, particularly as the prevalence of the knee shield and DLR became almost ubiquitous in high-level no-gi. Think about how Lachlan Giles started breaking down similar concepts around 2017-2018 when he was really refining his pressure passing against leg-entanglement entries. The idea of getting that deep cross-face to deny the opponent their hip escape, forcing them flat, then creating a 'folding' action – it's all part of that same lineage.

What I appreciate is the emphasis on the knee slide *through* the DLR hook, rather than trying to clear it entirely. This is crucial. Too many people try to kick out of the DLR hook and end up giving up the back or getting swept. Hamilton's approach leverages the DLR hook itself to create the initial angle for the pass, which is smart. It turns what's usually a defensive hook into a mechanism for the passer to control the hips.

But "revolutionary"? Nah. This is more akin to a refined blueprint for a house that's been standing for a while. It’s effective, it’s well-taught, and it's a valuable tool, especially for the gi guys who often struggle with the DLR's grip exchanges. But let's not pretend we haven't been seeing variations of this against flexible guard players for half a decade. Good technique, absolutely. Groundbreaking? Not so much.

What are we really calling "new" here? The specific grip combination? The timing of the knee slide? Or just a crisper instruction on a known variable?

The notion of a "folding pressure pass" against the De La Riva guard, as demonstrated by Greg Hamilton in the linked video, prompts a historical consideration of how specific guard-passing concepts develop and are subsequently codified. While the technique itself might feel contemporary in its presentation, the underlying principles of applying downward pressure and disrupting hip movement from a standing or kneeling position against various open guards have a long and iterative history within competitive grappling.

The De La Riva guard, for instance, gained significant prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, largely attributed to Ricardo De La Riva, a black belt under Carlson Gracie, who refined and popularized the guard’s application. His initial success with the position, particularly its ability to control distance and create sweeping opportunities, naturally led to a corresponding evolution in passing strategies designed to negate its effectiveness. Early counters often focused on breaking the primary lapel grip and leg control, often through knee-slide variations or long-step passes that sought to bypass the entangled leg.

As HoG Drama Desk rightly points out in their comment, much of what is presented as novel often represents a refinement or re-emphasis of pre-existing mechanics. The "folding pressure" aspect, which appears to involve collapsing the opponent's frame and forcing their hips flat, can be seen as an extension of what was once termed "smash passing" or "pressure passing," particularly as it evolved to address more dynamic open guards. Consider the strategies developed to pass the flexible spider guard or lasso guard in the late 1990s and early 2000s; these often involved similar principles of heavy top pressure and strategic limb entanglement to nullify the guard player’s ability to create angles and leverage.

The continuous cycle of guard innovation and subsequent pass development is a hallmark of grappling’s competitive evolution. Each successful guard, from the De La Riva to the more recent K-guard or leg entanglement systems, inevitably gives rise to a wave of specific counters. The "folding pressure pass" therefore stands as another iteration in this ongoing dialogue, rather than a singular invention, contributing to the ever-expanding lexicon of techniques used to navigate the intricate challenges posed by modern open guards. The question then becomes, how distinct is this specific "folding" mechanic from earlier, conceptually similar approaches to maintaining and advancing pressure?

This folding pressure pass is solid, definitely a useful tool. My main takeaway, though, is how much time it takes to really ingrain a new sequence like this. Greg shows it well, but to get it to work live against someone who knows DLR, you're talking about drilling this a dozen times every session for a month, probably more. For guys like Mat Historian who can make it to open mats several times a week, that’s one thing. For me, with two kids and a mortgage, I get three classes a week if I'm lucky. I've got to prioritize what I'm spending my limited mat time on. It's not just the technique, it's the 12 years of muscle memory I have to override too. I'm usually just trying to hit one detail from the prior class, not a whole new pass.

My neck just doesn't bend that way anymore, so some of the head positioning Greg shows for the folding pass is out for me. I started BJJ at 47 and now, at 53, I know my body's limits. Instead of pushing my neck into those uncomfortable angles, my coach, Professor Elena, showed me how to use a slightly different shoulder angle to achieve similar pressure. It's about adapting the technique to the body you have, not the body you wish you had. I’m always reminding newer masters students of this. We drilled this modification for a few weeks, and it makes all the difference in my ability to execute without pain.

The "folding pressure pass" concept for De La Riva isn't entirely new, though the name might be. I've always thought of it as an evolution of the early 90s Carlson Gracie school's approach to leg drag entries. Carlson's guys were often about collapsing the opponent's frame and driving forward, very much a "folding" action, even if the DLR itself wasn't as prevalent then. Maeda, of course, was all about collapsing structure and forward pressure, and that's fundamental. Dave mentions ingraining new sequences, and that's key. You see similar folding mechanics in old footage of Rolls Gracie's students passing half guard, where they'd fold the knee and drive the hip through. It's a testament to how these fundamental principles reappear.

Greg’s breakdown of the folding pass is good for sure. But when he talks about "getting reps in at a high level" before a competition, that's where the reality of it hits. It's easy to say when you’re not paying out of pocket. I just competed at the IBJJF Dallas Open. Entry fee alone was $130. Then gas money, maybe a cheap hotel if you're trying to get a good night's sleep. And the "prep camps" Greg mentions? Those are usually another $50-$100 a pop for a seminar or specialized training. For a purple belt on a teacher’s salary, that adds up fast. You pick one or two comps a year if you’re lucky. So while the technique is legit, the idea that everyone can afford the "high-level reps" before a major tournament is a fantasy for most of us.