Double Sleeve Guard Top represents the passing position when facing an opponent who has secured bilateral sleeve grips while on their back. This is one of the most common guard configurations in gi BJJ, where the bottom player controls both of your sleeves at the wrists or forearms to create distance and maintain a defensive barrier. The top player’s primary objective is to break these grips systematically while advancing position, requiring excellent grip fighting, posture control, and strategic movement. This position demands patience and technical precision, as rushing against strong sleeve grips often results in sweeps or submission attempts. The key to success lies in understanding grip hierarchy, creating angles to diminish the effectiveness of the sleeve controls, and using strategic pressure combined with grip breaks to advance. Many world-class competitors have built entire passing systems around defeating the double sleeve guard, making it essential knowledge for any serious practitioner. The position serves as a gateway to numerous passing sequences and requires both physical attributes (grip strength, posture) and tactical awareness (timing, angle creation, pressure application).
Position Definition
- Top player maintains upright posture with hips elevated above opponent’s guard, preventing lower body from being pulled into bottom player’s offensive range while maintaining balance through posted hands or controlled grips
- Bottom player controls both of top player’s sleeves at wrist or forearm level with bilateral grips, creating a frame that maintains distance and prevents top player from achieving dominant grips or closing distance effectively
- Bottom player’s legs are positioned either with feet on hips, knees bent with shins across, or in dynamic movement patterns to prevent top player from achieving knee cut, leg drag, or other passing entries while maintaining the sleeve control framework
Prerequisites
- Opponent has established both sleeve grips while maintaining guard position
- Top player has achieved standing or combat base posture above the guard
- Sufficient distance exists between players due to bottom player’s sleeve control and leg positioning
- Top player maintains balance and posture despite bilateral sleeve grips
- Bottom player is on their back with active guard retention using legs and sleeve controls
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain strong upright posture with chest forward and hips back to prevent being pulled forward into submissions or sweeps
- Systematically break grips using proper grip breaking mechanics rather than relying purely on strength
- Create angles and circular movement to diminish the effectiveness of the sleeve grips and create passing opportunities
- Control the distance by managing your own sleeve position and preventing bottom player from establishing additional controls
- Use strategic pressure and timing to advance grips on opponent’s legs, belt, or collar while managing their sleeve controls
- Prevent bottom player from establishing foot-on-hip or foot-on-bicep controls which strengthen their guard retention
- Transition between different passing approaches based on how bottom player adjusts their leg positioning and sleeve grip depth
Available Attacks
Toreando Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Knee Slice Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Stack Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Long Step Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
X Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Double Under Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains strong double sleeve grips with feet on hips creating maximum distance:
- Execute Grip Break → Combat Base (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Toreando Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent has sleeve grips but legs are in dynamic movement without stable foot placement:
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Long Step Pass → Side Control (Probability: 45%)
If opponent loses one sleeve grip or weakens bilateral control:
- Execute X Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Stack Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts to transition to different guard variation or sweep:
- Execute Pressure Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Shortest Passing Path to Submission
Double Sleeve Guard Top → Toreando Pass → Side Control → Mount → Americana
High-Percentage Control Path
Double Sleeve Guard Top → Knee Slice Pass → Side Control → North-South → Kimura
Back Attack Path
Double Sleeve Guard Top → Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Pressure Passing Path
Double Sleeve Guard Top → Stack Pass → Side Control → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 35% | 5% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 50% | 10% |
| Advanced | 70% | 65% | 15% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before pass attempt or position change
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The double sleeve guard represents a fundamental problem in guard passing that must be solved through systematic grip hierarchy understanding. The opponent’s sleeve grips create a distance management system that prevents you from achieving dominant controls. Your primary objective is not merely to break these grips through strength, but to render them ineffective through superior positioning and angle creation. The key principle is recognizing that sleeve grips lose their power when you create angles perpendicular to the direction of their pulling force. By circling and creating angular pressure, you force the bottom player to constantly readjust their grips, creating windows of opportunity for passing entries. The biomechanical reality is that wrist-level grips are weaker than elbow-level grips when you rotate your arms internally while stepping to angles. This systematic approach to defeating the double sleeve configuration involves understanding grip strength vectors, positional hierarchy, and the concept of creating passing angles that minimize your opponent’s defensive advantages. The practitioner who masters these principles can pass the double sleeve guard with technical precision rather than relying on athletic superiority.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, the double sleeve guard is one of the most common defensive configurations you’ll encounter, especially at higher levels where people understand guard retention. My approach is aggressive and based on overwhelming the grips through constant pressure and movement rather than trying to break them statically. I look to immediately establish my own grips on their pants or belt while accepting their sleeve grips temporarily, then use powerful toreando-style movements to throw their legs side to side. The reality is that strong sleeve grips become much less effective when I’m controlling their leg positioning and creating lateral movement. I’m constantly switching between different passing angles—toreando, knee slice, leg drag—forcing them to defend multiple threats simultaneously which naturally weakens their grip focus. When I do break grips, I prefer the elbow post method where I post my elbow on their thigh while rotating my wrist, combined with forward pressure. The key is never giving them a moment to settle into a comfortable defensive rhythm. I’ll fake passes to one side to get reactions, then explode to the other side when their grips adjust. This high-pressure, multi-directional approach has given me consistent success against world-class guard players who rely heavily on sleeve control.
Eddie Bravo
The double sleeve guard is interesting because it’s very traditional gi-based defense, but the principles of defeating it apply to no-gi as well when people are trying to maintain distance with wrist control. My approach is to make them uncomfortable with their own grips by getting really low and heavy, almost like I’m going to dive into their guard, which forces them to either give up grips or accept me getting closer than they want. I’m also a big believer in the stack passing approach from here because when you stack someone properly, their sleeve grips actually work against them by preventing them from creating the space needed for hip escapes. I like to fake the toreando pass to get them thinking about lateral movement, then suddenly change levels and drive forward into a stack. Another 10th Planet principle is using the twister hook or calf slicer threat from certain passing positions, which makes them think about leg entanglement defense rather than maintaining sleeve grips. The creativity comes from mixing traditional passing with leg lock entries—if they’re focused on sleeve grips and preventing you from passing, they’re often not thinking about you sitting back for a straight ankle or transitioning to 50-50. The modern game requires being unpredictable and multi-dimensional in your passing approaches.