Kiss of the Dragon
Reverse De La Riva back-take that inverted-rolls under the passer to seatbelt and hooks — a modern RDLR to back chain.
From Reverse De La RivaTo Back Control
Overview
Kiss of the dragon uses reverse De La Riva control to invert under the passer’s base, clear their hips, and climb to the back. It is a sweep/back-take hybrid: you off-balance their standing or kneeling lead leg, roll underneath, and emerge with seatbelt control and hooks.
#Secure RDLR
The inside hook is the engine.
- Establish reverse De La Riva on the lead leg
- Add sleeve/collar or ankle control
- Break their posture just enough to open an invert lane
- Choose kiss of the dragon when berimbolo is blocked
#Invert Under
- Invert under their hip line
- Clear the near hip corner with the roll
- Keep connection so they cannot long-step free
- Orient your chest toward their back
#Climb the Back
Hooks finish the technique.
- Lock seatbelt control
- Insert the first hook, then the second
- Prevent them from turning into you
- Only then hunt the rear-naked choke
Key Grips & Control Points
- Inside hook of reverse De La Riva on the lead leg
- Sleeve, collar, or ankle control that freezes their base
- Hands ready to seatbelt as you clear their hip corner
- Second hook insertion once the back angle appears
Timing & Movement Cues
- Invert when they posture tall over the RDLR hook
- Roll as they pressure forward into your frames
- Climb the back before they can long-step or knee-cut free
Typical Counters to Expect
- Long-step or smash that clears the inside hook early
- Heavy hip pin that kills the inversion lane
- Following your roll into leg drag or north-south
Follow-Up Options
- Seatbelt and both hooks for back control
- Body triangle when hooks are unstable
- Berimbolo or 50/50 if they stuff the back climb mid-roll
Setups & Entries
- Reverse De La Riva when berimbolo is stuffed but the inside hook remains
- Failed X-pass or knee-cut that leaves them standing over RDLR
- Granby-style retention that lands you back on the inside hook
Training Drills
- RDLR invert entries without full back finishes
- Kiss of the dragon to seatbelt hook inserts
- Berimbolo vs kiss-of-the-dragon decision rounds
Coaching Notes
- Keep the inside hook until the back angle is real
- Inversion is a path under the hip, not a flop onto the neck
- If the roll stalls, return to RDLR offense instead of forcing hooks
Related Study
Connect this movement with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
Kiss of the dragon inverts from reverse De La Riva under the passer’s hips to climb the back. Keep the inside hook, roll through cleanly, and finish with seatbelt and hooks — or return to berimbolo/RDLR if the climb stalls.