Does anyone have any advice for passing the variation of Reverse DLR pictured here: (Usually the guy in the blue gi will put his left leg under the Reverse DLR hook to brace it and further trap my leg) I have trouble with a knee slice because my ankle is controlled and I can't get a good angle. I can break the grip if my ankle is grabbed, but I have a much harder time breaking a pant leg grip. But regardless of my ability to break the grip, my leg is so trapped up that it seems very easy to just regrip it. I have trouble smashing the legs to the outside because the outside leg can easily be put on the ground to shrimp and take away the angle (it looks like the guy in the picture is doing just that). I also commonly end up stepping too far forward with my free leg which inevitably gets underhooked causing me to get swept. General strategy or specific passes would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Saulo has a couple passes for this guard in his book (p. 281-283). I haven't had to face this guard so I don't have any personal experience, but both involve smashing the legs together. The second might work better if smashing the legs is difficult, as you mention. If you don't have the book, basically, it involves gripping both knees, stepping forward with the left foot (based on pic above) all the way over the head, sitting on that top knee while driving the hips forward, and then basically sliding down while rotating into reverse kesa. It's called the "Floating Pass" and it looks kinda crazy in the pics, like riding a bull. He mentions that you have to commit to it, no hesitation, just drive your hips forward, step over, sit and smash. Obviously tough to describe in text, but maybe that'll help.
With the hand on the outside? Switch hands, with your left hand grab his lapel near the top and with your right hand grab his hand on your ankle and rip it UP, then kick right into the long step pass discussed in the Gui Mendes thread that is floating around. Keep holding the hand and use that grip to block his top leg as you back step. The "stepover" pass is rocking but simply too risky unless your opponent's hands are tied up or he already has underhooked your leg, in which case launch right into it.
