Berimbolo
Berimbolo — inverted rolling from De la Riva, RDLR, 50/50, seated guard. Exits to back control, crab ride, leg entanglements.
Adapted from the original page. Grappling.Games did not write this. Sources.
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The berimbolo is an inversion — a rolling, hip-under-the-opponent movement that repositions the bottom player from a guard context into the opponent’s back or into a leg entanglement. It is not a hold or a sustained position in itself. It is a dynamic transitional state: the moment of inversion between the entry guard and the exit position.
On this site, berimbolo is treated as a positional hub because the inversion creates a distinct decision point with multiple exits. Understanding berimbolo means understanding what you are trying to reach, not just how to roll.
The defining characteristic of berimbolo is the hip-under movement: the bottom player inverts their hips underneath the opponent, turning to face the opponent’s back while the opponent is still above. From this inverted state, the bottom player can:
Continue to crab ride (truck position) as the primary exit
Emerge directly at back exposure if the opponent does not scramble
Enter leg entanglements (ashi, cross ashi/saddle, 50/50) if the opponent defends by stepping out
Re-enter 50/50 or backside 50/50 in a scramble, creating the double-berimbolo chain