Part one of the RDLR instructional was so helpful, I can't wait for part 2, and I love this transition. My gym plays a lot of X guard so getting there from RDLR like this will be helpful
it works in self defense, but like anything you need a certain level of understanding to it to combat punches think similarly to closed guard, positional control or less broadly postural control can help you evade punches and close distance to transition to a more advantageous position. part of it here in this situation was that leg press to break the base and force the hand to the ground to prevent falling of course similarly to closed guard or any technique really, theres plenty of examples of it working when the person knows what they're doing (or the other person completely doesn't know), but theres also examples of it NOT working when the person doesn't have an adequate understanding to practically apply de la riva (inclusive of punching too). good question though, its nice to pick up on what you may want to avoid in terms of habits or learning time
