based on picture 12/17, i'd leave it as is... the sun likely hits everyhting for plenty of time to power growth up and down that plant.. you are all good.
if you do defoliate, leave at least 1-2 leaves at any 1 node.. open up from top-down. you are trying to great a 360-degree sphere of light hitting all levesl of the plant -- but don't sacrifice ... no leaves at nodes = crap growth until it grows back. even crappier bud growth - ignoring all other factors.