All Japan Grip Fighting Secrets by Ken Gunji
If you’ve ever struggled with losing grip exchanges or getting dominated in the hand fight, this video with Ken Gunji, All Japan silver medalist, will change your game.
Shintaro Higashi brings Ken onto the mat to break down the micro-details of elite grip fighting—from controlling the sleeve with downward pressure to preventing your opponent from climbing up your lapel. These aren’t just drills. These are battle-tested methods from Japan’s pro judo league.
“If I go over, he blocks with his wrist. If I go under, he switches. Either way, I can’t get a good bite. That’s high-level grip control.” — Shintaro Higashi
Watch the full video here ↓
1. Don’t Just Grab—Anchor and Adjust
Gunji opens by adjusting the opponent’s gi before engaging. Why? Because lowering the opponent’s sleeve sets up dominant downward pressure. If the sleeve is high, you end up pulling. If it’s low, you can press.
“I always adjust the gi before I grip,” Gunji explains. “Then I push down. It’s easier to break posture and harder for them to respond.”
This is followed by a cross-body push that disrupts wrist structure and makes traditional grip breaks nearly impossible.
2. Wrist Blocks, Rail Disruptions & Climbing the Lapel
When Shintaro tries to regrip from underneath, Gunji bends his wrist and rotates his elbow upward—blocking the regrip path while anchoring the gi.
“If I grip normally, they slide up like a rail,” Gunji says. “But if I bend my wrist and lift the elbow, it disrupts the rail.”
That wrist and elbow lift prevents sliding and lets Gunji climb the lapel with control, returning to good posture while denying space.
3. Downward Pressure as a Weapon
Downward pressure isn’t just defensive. Gunji uses it to bait reactions and launch attacks.
In one sequence, Gunji applies tension to the sleeve, waits for Shintaro to push back, and then releases pressure, launching an uchimata off the reaction.
“He puts weight into my arm, and I instinctively push back. That’s when he releases and enters. Clean. Perfect timing.”
It’s a masterclass in using tension, timing, and psychology to create predictable reactions and finish explosively.
4. High-Level Sequences: Cut, Anchor, Climb, Enter
Throughout the video, Gunji demonstrates a powerful sequence:
Cut the sleeve
Anchor your grip with wrist rotation
Climb the lapel
Wait for pushback
Release and enter for the throw
It’s not just technique—it’s a system. A system that works for judoka and jiu-jitsu players alike.
Final Thoughts: Grip Fighting Is the Foundation
Most athletes try to force their favorite throw, but without dominant grips, your technique never gets off the ground. What Ken Gunji shows in this video is how to build a system from the grip up, one that applies in gi judo, no-gi wrestling, and even in the stand-up game of BJJ.
Want to Train with Gunji?
Kensuke Gunji is now available for private lessons at Kokushi Budo Institute in New York City.
Follow him at @kenjudonyc
Book a session or come train with him in person to experience the technique firsthand.
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