Jiu Jitsu Gis

What is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi?

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi is a training uniform that was adapted from the keikogi, which loosely translates to “practice clothes.” According to an article on the history of Keikogi, “Keiko” stands for ‘practice’ and “gi” represents ‘clothes’ (Gatling, 2021). Therefore, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi describes the dress, clothes or uniform used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). It is made up ofa heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring trousers, and a belt that helps communicate one’s rank. Some BJJ schools require the pants and jacket to have the same color, whereas others do not require them to match. Other BJJ academies do not use a gi and they instead focus on nogi jiu-jitsu. A gi may be white, blue or black.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi can be traced back to feudal Japan where traditional martial arts practitioners wore various variations of the gi. The arrival of Mitsuyo Maeda, a globally renowned Japanese judoka, in 1914marked the introduction of jiu-jitsu in Brazil. Maedatravelled around Brazil fighting challenge matches and teaching judo before finally settling in Belem in 1920 when he met and friended Gastão Gracie, a Scottish businessman and politician. Maeda was trained in judo by Jigoro Kano. He referred to it as Kodokan jiu-jitsuinstead of judo, which helps explain the origins of the name Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Three of Maeda’s students, Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie and Luiz França, would become the founders of what is now known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Gracie family played a significant role in popularizing and spreading BJJ across Brazil, South America and beyond. BJJ is now a self-defense and combat sport technique that is recognized worldwide. In addition, various BJJ elements have been adopted into other fighting techniques, such as mixed martial arts and US Army Combatives.

Selecting the Right Gi for Training and Competitions

Success in Brazilian jiu-jitsu heavily depends on one’s ability and flexibility when grappling or trying to escape from a hold. An indecorously fitted gi may limit one’s movement and capacity to challenge an opponent during training, which makes functionality just as important as style when selecting the best gi for training and competition. However, selecting the best gi is not an easy endeavor and there are countless brands on the market, each marketing themselves as “the best.”Examples of highly rated gi brands include Fuji, Shoyoroll, Tatami, Gameness and Koral, and one can also select either brand based on fit, fabric durability, and practitioner’s preference. Most of these gi brands offer cuts that accommodate both a woman’s and a man’s frame, thus recognizing the differences in fit and comfort needs. Finding the right gi that suits one’s body shape can enhance comfort, freedom of movement, and overall performance in BJJ training and competitions.

According to IBJJF rules (article 8), competition gisshould be made up of cotton or similar material that is not only robust but also comfortable against a practitioner’s skin. The material should not be excessively hard or thick to the point of obstructing an opponent and the colors must be either blue, white, or black. Competitors are not allowed to mix up or combine the colors, for example, a white top with black pants.The type of weave is also crucial as it helps determine the weight and strength of a gi. Single weave gis tendsto be less durable and lighter than double weave gis, thus making them ideal for athletes close to their weight limit category. A competition gi should properly fit an athlete without being overly tight or loose around different parts like ankles and wrists.

Particularly, the jacket should be sufficiently long up to the thighs and its sleeves should be no more than 2 cm from the wrist when one’s arms are extended in front of the body. Lapel thickness should be about 1.3 cm, 5cmfor the collar width, 7 cm for the cuff width and the skirt length should be no longer than 2.5 cm. Further, gipants should come to no more than 2 cm above the anklebone. The belt should have a width of 4-5 cm and its color should indicate a practitioner’s rank and progress in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (Brendan, 2020). Gis used in tournaments should be of proper length, and not be torn, painted or have pockets.

Advantages of Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi

People who train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu can be distinguished based on how they prefer to grapple, which is defined by what they put on when training. Some prefer to train in a gi while others do not. Most nogi jiu-jitsu practitioners use rash guards during training because it is not intrusive when grappling on amat (Zivanovic, 2020). Other nogi practitioners prefer training in compression shirts that are made of spandex and are snug fit. For the lower body, athletes wearshorts with spats or leggings beneath the shorts.

Whether it is a woman’s gi or a man’s, training in the right gi allows athletes to either support or control a tackle because the gi offers additional control points for one to establish, strip, and reestablish grips. For example, the spider guard, which is a versatile and dynamic BJJ position, is a position or technique that depends on the gi. In this position, one controls their opponent’s arms with both their legs and arms by grabbing each sleeve and placing the sole of their feet at the crease between an opponent’s forearms and biceps. One should position oneself on one side so as toreinforce their control by utilizing the position of their body.

Additionally, grappling in a gi allows a practitioner to set up submissions like the loop choke and the bow and arrow choke through grips. A gi is also advantageous because it makes it easier for one to control their opponent from various angles, positions and grips. This may include maintaining topside control, guard passing or even tackling an opponent from their back position. In short, BJJ practitioners can use grips to maintain a dominant position, apply choke techniques or execute throws, takedowns and submissions. For example, in the bow and arrow choke, an athlete can use their opponent’s lapel to choke them while positioning their body perpendicular to the opponent, thus making the choke stronger. Likewise, sleeve grips can help one protect themselves from an attacker’s punches by controlling or manipulating an opponent’s arms. Pant grips can help one set up grappling attacks against their opponent by facilitating control and manipulation of an opponent’s lower body.

Nogi Jiu Jitsu or Gi Jiu Jitsu?

Key Differences

There are two key variations within Brazilian jiu-jitsu: giand nogi, but BJJ has traditionally been practiced and performed in a gi. Nogi jiu jitsu is the newer variation and is performed without the gi. Distinctly, practitioners can grip either their opponent’s gi or their own to perform a broad array of techniques, including simple guard passes, complex sweeps and several submission moves. Coate (2024) observes that most new grapplers find it surprising that a competitor can use their own giagainst them to apply chokes. Even though the ultimate goal of Jiu Jitsu remains the same – control an opponent from a dominant position before putting them into submission – gi jiu-jitsu is often much slower and more complicated than nogi jiu-jitsu. Nonetheless, the giis not just for show because it can help a fighter when they are positioning themselves or performing various moves like grappling and throwing.

As the name indicates, the art in nogi jiu-jitsu is similar to that in gi jiu-jitsu, but grapplers wear fitting athletic clothes such as those used during submission grappling bouts under the brand One Championship. Athletes often gravitate to their favorite brand for consistent quality, durability and fit. Unlike nogi jiu jitsu, gi jiu jitsupractitioners are allowed to grip an opponent’s gi, which makes nogi jiu jitsu more fast-paced, with numerous scrambles and position changes. Further, a wide array of submission holds like twisters, heel hooks, and neck cranks are only allowed in nogi jiu jitsu or submission grappling tournaments. A fighter needs to employ wrestling-based techniques while being mindful of their balance, body movement, and hand position to triumph(Zivanovic, 2020).

Pros and cons of gi and nogi

Those thinking of joining Brazilian jiu-jitsu often ask themselves which one is the best: gi or nogi? Many jiu-jitsu instructors tend to recommend practicing only in gito learn the foundations of Bazilian jiu-jitsu. However, many find nogi jiu jitsu more exciting and fun compared to gi jiu jitsu because it is faster and includes submissions not permitted in gi jiu jitsu. Gi jiu-jitsupredominantly employs leverage and technique to control and submit an opponent through a wide range of positions. Besides, gi jiu jitsu focuses mostly on positional dominance coupled with a good sense of movement and timing. This aspect is important in MMA where grapplers are allowed to control the pace of a fight while positioning themselves to defeat their opponent.

Nogi is also commonly used in submission grappling tournaments that allow practitioners to compete without using a gi. The IBJJF has restrictions on the type and number of leg-based attacks that practitioners can employ in gi-based competitions. It is for this reason that you will find people shying away from gi jiu jitsu due to its lack of dynamism which is evident in nogi jiu jitsu.Notwithstanding, training in gi can help one develop more defensive skills because of the various places to grab onto and the friction the gi creates requires a high skill level. At the same time, the friction the gi creates can be used to compensate for sloppy submission techniques. In short, nogi jiu-jitsu emphasizes body control, pressure, and athleticism over grips, whereas gitraining requires more grip strength and offers additional control through fabric manipulation.

Depending on who you ask, nogi jiu jitsu may alwayscome second due to its strong focus on athleticism. Notwithstanding these opinions, one should choose the style they think works best for them and their goals.Even though technique is still predominant in jiu-jitsu, being athletic can greatly improve a practitioner’s game in nogi grappling. If one is a beginner and they are planning to primarily practice BJJ then they should start with gi jiu-jitsu as it will help them develop their grip strength and technical proficiency. Conversely, nogi jiu-jitsu is suitable for those preparing for advanced competitions like the MMA or whose primary goal is to develop self-defense skills. Besides, nogi jiu-jitsu is highly recommended for advanced athletes as it aligns closely with the requirements of sports like MMA. Nogijiu-jitsu is preferred in MMA because of its effectiveness in controlling and submitting opponents, especially considering its fast-paced environment. Ultimately, the best BJJ style depends on a practitioner’s goals and preference for either gi or nogi training.

Do both styles complement each other?

Nogi jiu jitsu and gi jiu jitsu are both amazingly importantin BJJ. While gi jiu-jitsu focuses on the significance of leverage and technique, nogi jiu-jitsu emphasizes speed and agility. This makes both styles beneficial and complementary because they both focus on the same thing – improving a practitioner’s grappling skills. Further, nogi practitioners can use gi jiu jitsu to improve their overall grappling skills because it involves a great deal of technical knowledge and skills. Fundamentally, grappling nogi or gi should yield similar results or feel the same because the end goal is to grapple to improve on positioning and opponent submission. No matter the style one prefers, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a great way to develop a practitioner’s overall grappling skills. Some professionals argue that there is nothing like the “best jiu-jitsu,” a claim that many can easily go along with because if one focuses their BJJ purely on body mechanics then they should have great grappling skills whether they are in a gi or not.

Final Thoughts

It is important to know that gi and nogi are both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and are both effective in building a practitioner’s self-defense form and self-confidence. Whatever style one decides to practice, they should ensure that they are training with an intent to develop grappling skills that are well-rounded. It may take a lifetime to learn all BJJ techniques, so one should focus on what works best for them or pick the best elements of both. Besides, each style has its unique challenges and benefits that may help a practitioner develop a deeper understanding of BJJ. It is also worth noting that most BJJ schools encourage students to train in both gi and nogi to develop a well-rounded skill set adaptable for self-defense and competition.

References

Brendan. (2020, March 20). IBJJF GI regulations decoded. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi Reviews. https://gireviews.net/ibjjf-gi-regulations-decoded/

Coate, B. (2024, March 15). The differences between GI and no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu. ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. https://www.onefc.com/advice/the-differences-between-gi-and-no-gi-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/

Gatling, L. (2021, March 10). The History of the Keikogi / Dōgi. Dragon Spirit Ju-Jitsu. https://dragonspiritaylesbury.co.uk/education/the-history-of-the-keikogi/

Zivanovic, T. (2020, December 10). Gi vs. no gi jiu jitsu: The ultimate guide. Medium. https://medium.com/martial-arts-unleashed/gi-vs-no-gi-jiu-jitsu-the-ultimate-guide-e7d509b6c00e