The format of these DVDs, which average 30-35 min each, is exactly the same as the Sperry tapes; they are filmed in the same room with exactly the same production quality. Sperry usually performs a move, and then it is repeated several times from different angles.
Someone said that these tapes are almost as good as Sperry and 100% cheaper. I couldn't agree more. In fact, it is a tradeoff between number of moves and explanation with small details. After watching these tapes, my advice would be to get Sperry Vale Tudo 1. FIRST, BEFORE this series. That way, you have a grasp of many of the techniques or basic principles presented; I would advise getting Sperry Vale Tudo 1, then De La Riva or Sperry Vale Tudo 2. In fact, I feel that this series is an EXCELLENT follow up to Sperry's first and second series. On their own, these tapes might suffer from a lack of explanation.
Volume 1 - Takedowns
Let me start off by saying that I liked Sperry's takedown tapes a good bit. I feel Sperry showed some excellent takedowns as well as superb advice on what to do if your opponent is up against a wall or fence. That being said, I watched this tape. De La Riva starts out showing how to enter if your opponent throws a jab. Once in, De La Riva does a single; I don't know the name of it. Basically, he would to wrap both arms around the opponent's left leg, step back with his right leg, and pivot to his right. This results in a quick takedown to achilles lock.
De La Riva then goes through the stance and some footwork. This section seemed a little out of order to me; I figured this should go before the takedown to submission. No big deal, though. Now, De La Riva goes back and teaches this same takedown. Then Grosso puts on some gloves and shin pads, so the two can spar. De La Riva's goal is to take Grosso down; I didn't like this section. It seems that Grosso was trying NOT to hit De La Riva. De La Riva seems to "block" a few of the punches and then shoot. The other shoots, he comes in behind his own punches or Grosso's missed kicks. De La Riva does a nice double or two and a few leg trips. I don't like the "block" approach to shooting. I feel that actually intercepting someone else's punch is "iffy" at best. I think if you are going to shoot, either come in behind one of your strikes, behind one of their retracting limbs, or keep your distance and shoot when they commit to striking. "That's all I got to say about that."
Now De La Riva goes BACK to his single and shows it in more detail. De La Riva shows what to do if this move fails; this ends in a figure 4 toe hold. Now, these are good takedowns, BUT they leave you too open to be sprawled upon; De La Riva shows these literally bent over at the waist with legs nearly straight. These DO have their time and place, but use them accordingly. In all fairness, if you can pull this technique off, you are in a good position for a standing achilles. I feel this would be better if he were to penetrate further and lowered his legs to remain more upright, but what do I know? It is interesting, he does not use the single he shows in his "sparring" session. He then shows how to get the back from the single position; several takedowns are shown from here, one ending in a knee compression and one ending with you taking your opponent's back.
De La Riva now shows how to enter behind your own punches. Once tied up, he shows a takedown similar to the one Ken Shamrock used on Pat Smith in UFC 1. A really nice combo was when your opponent scoots his hips out to avoid this takedown; you simply move your hands up behind his head and knee him. When he jerks back from the knees, you do a double. De La Riva also shows a whizzer from this position to kneeing your opponents face to guillotine.
There were some really nice takedowns, with very little overlap with the takedown's Sperry shows. I feel that Sperry does a better job showing how to enter, and De La Riva does not address when your opponent is against a wall at all. That being said, every takedown De La Riva uses ends in a submission. As I said earlier, I really liked some of the takedowns/combos shown here. This is certainly a good if not great collection of relatively easy takedowns, though lacking in how to get in, IMHO.
This instructional DVD set is for sale in the Sherdog Shop for $79.99.