How to Secure the Sleeve in Right vs Left Stance

Understanding the Right vs Left Dynamic in Judo

In a right vs left stance matchup, the sleeve grip becomes one of the most critical battlegrounds. Since each athlete’s power hand and lead leg are on the same side, control over the inside space is often the deciding factor in who dictates the pace of the match.

Shintaro explains, “Every now and then we’re battling for this inside-outside position, but sometimes we mutually agree—I like inside, you like outside.” That moment of agreement can open the door for technical strategy, rather than brute grip fighting. But often, the battle continues with subtle exchanges—pushing, posting, peeling—until one athlete gets the advantage.

Whether you want inside control or prefer playing from the outside, understanding how to isolate and secure your opponent’s sleeve is the key to unlocking dominant positions and high-percentage throws.

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Techniques to Break Pressure and Control the Sleeve

A common challenge in grip fighting is dealing with downward pressure from your opponent. If they’re pressing your sleeve or wrist down and preventing you from initiating, it can feel like a stalemate. One of the tricks Shintaro demonstrates is releasing the grip momentarily to break their pressure and redirect the exchange.

“When Kevin is causing me a lot of trouble here, I may take this hand, turn the hand over, and release it—not to give him the underneath, but to release this downward pressure,” Shintaro says. As the opponent lifts their arm to regain control, that’s the perfect moment to enter into an attack or resecure a better grip.

Once you have the sleeve, the next step is turning their shoulders to limit their options. “If I can grip the sleeve and he cannot regrip, now I have an advantage—big advantage at that,” he explains. From here, options like Ouchi Gari, Kosoto Gari, or Sasae open up immediately. The key is keeping their sleeve pinned and preventing any kind of regrip.

Strategies for Grip Shortening and Sleeve Dominance

Another high-level trick involves shortening your opponent’s sleeve during the initial grip fight. By manipulating the jacket’s positioning, you can make the material harder to reach and easier to control.

“You’ll see this a lot on the international circuit,” Shintaro explains. “I bring this hand up and bring the sleeve down. Once I bring this elbow back down to my lat, look how short this material is.” This small adjustment can have a major impact—if your opponent has less sleeve to grip, you’re naturally harder to control.

Many outside players use this to their advantage, adjusting the gi downward with pressure on the sleeve and upper arm. This makes the inside sleeve shorter and keeps the outside player safer from quick regrips or sudden attacks.

One advanced option Shintaro mentions is grabbing the far side collar instead of going across the center line. “If I go over and try to fish for that sleeve, I might not reach. But I can definitely grab the collar and start turning his shoulders from there.”

Turning Grip Advantage Into Attacks

Once the sleeve is secured and the opponent’s shoulder is turned, it’s time to launch your offense. With a dominant sleeve grip and a strong frame, Shintaro shows how to use that control to create angle and threaten multiple throws.

“If I could completely control it, it is okay if this hand is past the midline,” he explains. “But if he regrabs my sleeve, I definitely want this hand past the center line toward me.”

Controlling this sleeve not only prevents regrips but opens up cross-body throws like Sode Tsuri Komi Goshi, Tomoe Nage, and Yoko Gake. Shintaro also stresses how maintaining tension on the sleeve—keeping it short and pinned—can shut down your opponent’s ability to defend or counter. “Try to regrip my sleeve. There’s no more slack. It’s going to be very difficult.”

By isolating the sleeve and controlling posture, even in a mirrored stance like right vs left, you create favorable exchanges and force your opponent into reactive positions. Mastering these details can be the difference between stalling out and dominating the grip exchange.

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