SweepInverted sweep / back takeBelt: blue+Risk: moderateIBJJFADCCNo-GiSub-Only
The Berimbolo is an advanced inversion-based sweep from De La Riva guard, allowing the bottom player to transition directly to the opponent's back. It is a staple of modern guard play due to its ability to bypass traditional guard passing defenses and create high-percentage back takes.
Start
De La Riva guard
End
Back take
Prerequisites: De La Riva hook retention · Gripping the far pants/ankle · Inversion mechanics · Hip heist movement
Steps
1
Establish De La Riva Guard
Insert your outside leg as a deep De La Riva hook around opponent's far leg, while your same-side hand grips their far pants cuff or ankle. Your other hand controls the near-side collar (gi) or hip (no-gi), and your free foot posts on their hip.
2
Break Opponent's Posture
Use your De La Riva hook to pull their far leg forward while simultaneously pulling their ankle/pants grip and pushing with your foot on their hip to off-balance them and force their weight over your body.
3
Initiate Inversion
Tuck your far-side knee to your chest and roll onto your shoulders, bringing your hips underneath the opponent. Maintain your grips and keep your De La Riva hook engaged tightly around their leg.
4
Thread the Far Leg
As you invert, use your free hand to reach for their far-side pants or ankle, creating a two-on-one grip on their far leg. Your head should now be pointing toward their far leg, with your hips underneath their base.
5
Kick Through and Spin
Extend your De La Riva hook leg to create space, then use your posted foot to kick off their hip and spin your body, aiming to bring your hips behind their knee line. Keep your grips strong to prevent them from disengaging.
6
Establish Crab Ride
Release your De La Riva hook and insert both of your feet behind their knees, pulling their hips onto your shins. Maintain your pant/ankle grips to control their lower body and prevent them from turning back into you.
7
Climb to the Back
Release one grip to reach for their far-side hip or belt (gi) or waist (no-gi), and use your feet to elevate their hips, allowing you to pull yourself up and around to their back. Secure a seatbelt grip as you come up.
8
Secure Hooks and Stabilize
Insert your hooks or body triangle as you settle behind their back, keeping chest-to-back contact and controlling their upper body with your seatbelt grip.
Key details most people miss
Keep your De La Riva hook tight and active during inversion to prevent opponent from stepping out.
Your inversion angle should be deep enough that your hips pass directly under their base, not beside it.
Pant/ankle grips must remain strong throughout to prevent opponent from running or disengaging.
Crab ride control is critical—use your shins behind their knees, not just your feet, for maximum leverage.
Common mistakes
If you invert too shallow, opponent can sprawl and flatten you, killing the attack.
Letting go of the pants/ankle grip too early allows opponent to escape and re-square.
Failing to control both legs in the crab ride phase lets opponent turn back into you or step out.
Trying to climb to the back before breaking their posture often results in losing the angle and ending up in a scramble.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent posts their free leg far back to avoid inversion.
You do: Switch to a technical stand-up sweep or transition to kiss of the dragon.
They try: Opponent strips your pants/ankle grip during inversion.
You do: Immediately switch to a collar drag (gi) or shin-to-shin entry to maintain attack momentum.
They try: Opponent sits their hips to the mat to avoid crab ride.
You do: Transition to a leg drag or directly attack the back by climbing over their hips.
They try: Opponent turns aggressively into you during crab ride.
You do: Use your hooks to elevate and off-balance, redirecting them back into back exposure.
Drill prescription
6 rounds × 3 minutes; 50% resistance; each round, bottom player must achieve clean back exposure via Berimbolo at least 3 times—track number of successful back takes per round.
How the masters teach it
Mendes Brothers
Pioneered the modern Berimbolo, emphasizing tight grips, seamless transitions, and high-percentage back exposure.
Guilherme and Rafael Mendes (Mendes Bros)
Mikey Musumeci
Refined the Berimbolo for lighter weights, focusing on micro-adjustments and transitions to leg attacks.