JIU JITSU - COLLAR AND SLEEVE SWEEP
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Collar-Sleeve Sweep·East Midlands BJJ
Try our Collar and Sleeve Sweep from the open guard with our tutorial. Tired of opponents dropping their weight down th…
Collar-Sleeve Sweep
SubFamily襟袖スイープ(Eri-sode Suīpu)
HybridTranslation: collar-sleeve sweep
Overview
The Collar-Sleeve Sweep subfamily covers sweeps from the collar-sleeve guard, where the guard player controls one collar and one sleeve while using the feet to manage distance and off-balance the opponent. [1] The collar-sleeve guard is one of the most versatile gi guard positions because the combination of collar and sleeve control gives the guard player both push-pull capability and prevents the opponent from posting. [1],[2] Collar-sleeve sweeps typically use foot placement on the hip or bicep combined with the grip controls to off-balance and sweep the opponent. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The collar-sleeve guard was developed in gi BJJ as one of the primary open guard systems, with practitioners like Leandro Lo bringing it to the forefront of competitive grappling with his dominant collar-sleeve game. [1] It remains one of the most effective gi guard positions at all competition levels. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Collar-sleeve sweeps use the collar and sleeve grips to off-balance and sweep from open guard. [1]
Lineage
Developed in gi BJJ competition as part of the collar-sleeve guard system. [1]
Competition Record
Commonly scored in IBJJF competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Breaking the opponent's leg control to advance to a more dominant position
Joints Involved — Hips (posture and pressure), knees (opening the guard with knee-in or standing), hands (grip fighting)
Force Vector — Forward pressure (stack/smash) or backward posture (stand-up break) to open the closed guard
Passing Mechanic — Once the guard is opened, speed passing, pressure passing, or toreando passing advances the position
Position & Entry
From guard (bottom) — Off-balance the opponent using grips and hip movement, execute the sweep to reverse position to top
From half guard — Secure an underhook, drive into the opponent and execute the sweep
From butterfly guard — Use the butterfly hooks to elevate the opponent, then direct them to the side to complete the sweep
Videos
The Tootsie Roll Sweep and defence of the guard with collar and sleeve control
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Collar-Sleeve Sweep·JM Modern Jiu Jitsu
The Tootsie Roll Sweep and defence of the guard with collar and sleeve control For more exclusive content, sign up at h…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The collar-sleeve sweep family encompasses techniques where a practitioner maintains grip control on the opponent's collar and sleeve while executing sweeps from open or butterfly guard positions. The unifying principle is using these dual grips to control posture and prevent base establishment, creating mechanical advantages for hip displacement and leg-driven reversals. Strategic selection among variants depends on opponent behavior: JM Modern Jiu Jitsu emphasizes the collar-sleeve grip's role in guard retention and defense against knee-slice passes, demonstrating how maintaining collar control prevents the opponent from solidifying position even under pressure, with the sweep emerging opportunistically when the opponent over-commits to passing by circling the guard. East Midlands BJJ frames the technique within an open-guard progression where standing opponents drop their base to defend against overhead sweeps, triggering a transition to same-side collar-sleeve control with foot placement on the bicep; from this lowered position, the sweep becomes mechanically favorable due to reduced base stability. Both instructors stress that collar-sleeve control functions primarily as a defensive anchor that naturally opens sweep entries—the grips themselves prevent the pass while creating the geometry needed for efficient hip displacement and leg extension. The choice between defensive guard recovery versus committed sweep execution depends on opponent commitment level and base stability.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- JM Modern Jiu Jitsu — The Tootsie Roll Sweep and defence of the guard with collar and sleeve control: Demonstrated collar-sleeve grip application against knee-slice and toreando-style passes, emphasizing grip maintenance as primary guard defense mechanism; showed how sustained collar control prevents opponent solidification and enables both guard recovery and opportunistic sweeps when opponent circles wide.
- East Midlands BJJ — JIU JITSU - COLLAR AND SLEEVE SWEEP: Presented collar-sleeve sweep within open-guard progression, focusing on same-side grip configuration and foot-on-bicep placement as setup; explained mechanical advantage triggered when standing opponent drops base to defend overhead sweeps, enabling high-percentage leg-driven reversal.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive/transitional technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— UWW — Legal
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Collar-sleeve sweeps use a collar grip and sleeve grip from open guard to control the opponent's posture and base, then sweep them using leg hooks and hip movement (Cobrinha, Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle, 2013)
✓The collar-sleeve guard uses one hand on the collar (controls posture) and one hand on the sleeve (controls the posting arm)
✓The basic collar-sleeve sweep: pull the opponent forward with the collar grip, push the hip with the foot, and scissor the legs to sweep
✓Collar-sleeve guard offers sweeps, triangles, omoplatas, and armbars from the same position — it's a submission-sweep hybrid
✓The sleeve grip is the critical control: if the opponent can't post their hand, they can't resist sweeps
✓Feet placement: one foot on the hip, one foot on the bicep — this creates a spider-guard hybrid
✓The collar-sleeve guard works primarily in gi — the grips require the gi collar and sleeve
✓In competition, collar-sleeve guard is one of the most aggressive open guard systems
Common Mistakes
!Not maintaining the sleeve grip — the sleeve grip is the most important control; never release it
!Keeping both feet on the hips — one foot should be on the bicep for arm control
!Pulling with the collar without using the feet — the feet and grips must work together
!Playing collar-sleeve from too far away — keep the opponent within sweeping range
!Not threatening submissions — the sweep works because the opponent fears the triangle or omoplata
!Only sweeping in one direction — collar-sleeve offers multi-directional sweeps
!Using collar-sleeve in no-gi — the grips are gi-specific; develop a no-gi alternative
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Control Grips — establish the controlling grips needed to load the sweep
2Off-Balance — shift the opponent's weight to the target direction
3Execute Sweep — apply the sweeping mechanic to topple the opponent
4Follow to Top — ride the sweep momentum to establish top position
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Guard (Joe Moreira & Ed Beneville, 2008)
1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, 2001)
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, 2001)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
timing, hip power, off-balancing skill
Favours
strong hips and active legs for sweeping leverage
Key muscles
hip flexors, glutes, quadriceps, core rotators
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What grips should I establish for the collar-sleeve sweep?
You want to secure a collar grip and a sleeve grip; JM Modern Jiu Jitsu recommends also establishing a pistol grip for added control in the gi.
Where should my foot be positioned on my opponent's arm during the sweep?
Place your foot on the bicep with nice and heavy pressure, keeping your elbow out and pulling them in so their hips come away from their heels.
How do I prevent my opponent from passing when I have collar-sleeve control?
By maintaining good collar and sleeve grips from the right angle, you can frustrate passing attempts and force your opponent to struggle with your guard rather than successfully advance.
How does the Collar-Sleeve Sweep work?
The Collar-Sleeve Sweep subfamily covers sweeps from the collar-sleeve guard, where the guard player controls one collar and one sleeve while using the feet to manage distance and off-balance the opponent. The collar-sleeve guard is one of the most versatile gi guard positions because the combination of collar and sleeve control gives the guard player both push-pull capability and prevents the opponent from posting.
Where does the Collar-Sleeve Sweep come from?
The collar-sleeve guard was developed in gi BJJ as one of the primary open guard systems, with practitioners like Leandro Lo bringing it to the forefront of competitive grappling with his dominant collar-sleeve game. It remains one of the most effective gi guard positions at all competition levels.
Is the Collar-Sleeve Sweep legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Collar-Sleeve Sweep?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player
How do I set up the Collar-Sleeve Sweep?
The standard setup chain: Control Grips → Off-Balance → Execute Sweep → Follow to Top.
How do I defend against the Collar-Sleeve Sweep?
Standard counters include: Base and Posture — maintain wide base and upright posture to resist the sweep / Grip Strip — break controlling grips before the sweep can be loaded / Back Step — retreat the leg being attacked to remove the sweep fulcrum.
What are the variants of the Collar-Sleeve Sweep?
Common variants: Standard sweep (primary off-balancing and reversal technique from the guard); Combination sweep (chaining two sweep directions to catch the opponent's adj…); Counter sweep (sweeping as the opponent initiates a guard pass attempt); Competition sweep (optimised for point-scoring in tournament settings).
How effective is the Collar-Sleeve Sweep in competition?
Commonly scored in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Collar-Sleeve Sweep?
Top errors to watch for: Not maintaining the sleeve grip — the sleeve grip is the most important control; never release it / Keeping both feet on the hips — one foot should be on the bicep for arm control / Pulling with the collar without using the feet — the feet and grips must work together / Playing collar-sleeve from too far away — keep the opponent within sweeping range.
What are other names for the Collar-Sleeve Sweep?
The Collar-Sleeve Sweep is also known as Eri-sode Suīpu, Collar And Sleeve Sweep, Collar Sleeve Guard Sweep.