Leg Drag Drill to Pass De La Riva by Greg Hamilton BJJ 1/2/3 Drag the Leg and Pass

The "leg drag" as a named passing mechanic, distinct from the broader category of passes that involve redirecting an opponent's leg, appears to have gained significant prominence in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional material and competition strategy around the mid-2000s, with various practitioners often credited with popularizing or systematizing it. While the underlying physical actions of controlling and shifting an opponent's leg to clear a guard are certainly not new, the specific nomenclature and its conceptualization as a primary passing system gained traction during this period. Leandro Vieira of Checkmat, for instance, is frequently cited for his refined use of the leg drag, particularly from around 2007 onwards, though he did not invent the fundamental movement.

Before this specific naming, many similar passes would have simply been categorized as part of an overarching strategy of clearing the legs to gain side control or mount. The development of specialized guard positions, such as the De La Riva guard, which is the focus of the video from Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu DFW, naturally necessitated the evolution of specific countermeasures. The De La Riva guard itself, named after Ricardo De La Riva, a black belt under Carlson Gracie, became a foundational open guard in the late 1980s and early 1990s, offering intricate control of an opponent's lead leg. Its increasing prevalence in competition, particularly through the 1990s, spurred innovation in passing.

The "sickle sweep" from De La Riva guard, for example, which relies on breaking the passer's posture and creating an angle, forced passers to develop ways to maintain their base and posture while simultaneously clearing the leg that anchors the guard. The leg drag serves this purpose by often creating immediate hip-to-hip pressure and opportunities for back takes or quick transitions to side control, frequently bypassing the complex entanglement associated with other passes. This move shifted the dynamics from a more static, grinding approach to passing, common in earlier eras, toward a more dynamic, position-based pressure system.

While the technique itself is now a staple, often taught early in a student's development, it is worth considering whether the emphasis on specific named "passes" sometimes oversimplifies the more fluid and adaptable nature of grappling. Does the systematization of techniques into discrete named actions, like the "leg drag," sometimes inadvertently limit a practitioner's intuitive understanding of pressure and leverage, perhaps by encouraging a linear, step-by-step approach rather than a more organic response to an opponent's movements?

My coach has been having us drill a very similar sequence for the past few weeks, though we usually end in a knee slice after the leg drag rather than directly side control. I'm finding the hardest part is getting the initial grip on the pants, especially if my opponent is already defending their DLR. I keep getting stuck trying to clear the shin, and it feels like I'm giving them too much time to recover.

It's interesting to hear Mat Historian talk about the naming of the leg drag. I always just thought of it as a fundamental pass, but I guess everything has its origin story. I'd be curious to know what the higher belts think about setting up the leg drag from a standing position versus starting on your knees. I feel a lot more stable on my knees, but I wonder if I'm sacrificing speed.

I usually modify leg drag entries to protect my knees. At 53, with a few cartilage tears from my running days, I prioritize positions that don’t put direct lateral pressure on my joints. Instead of a direct drag that squares me up, I often use a standing pass where I clear the leg and then circle to the other side, ending in a knee cut. It's slower, but much safer for me. Coach Greg at my academy taught me this adaptation last year, and it’s made a big difference in how long I can stay on the mats without pain. It’s all about training around the body you have.

It’s interesting to see the leg drag being highlighted again for passing De La Riva. While Marcus mentioned his coach using a knee slice finish, the direct side control from a leg drag is something I remember seeing in footage from the mid-90s. Renzo Gracie himself, and people like John Danaher from that era, were definitely emphasizing controlling the leg to clear the guard, sometimes almost jumping straight to side control. It’s not a completely modern innovation, even if the specific "leg drag" *name* for the position became more common later. Rolls Gracie was, by reputation, incorporating a lot of wrestling movements into his jiu-jitsu, which would have naturally included moving an opponent's legs out of the way for a pass.

The focus on pant grips for the leg drag is pretty specific to the gi. In no-gi, you're looking at different hand placements, often cupping the back of the knee or the ankle, which changes the entry and the forces involved. It's less about the static control of fabric and more about maintaining momentum and off-balancing. For no-gi, getting to a strong body lock or even just pinning the hips after the drag is usually the goal, rather than relying on a direct side control from a gi grip. Guys like Craig Jones use that momentum to transition straight into leg entries or back takes, not just a static top position.