Equipment

The Gi – a Jiu-Jitsu Fighter’s Armour

Most jiu-jitsu training is practised in a uniform called a ‘Gi’ or as the Brazilians call it, a ‘kimono’.
Buying your first gi can be a daunting process. There are many combinations of brands, cuts, weaves and colours to choose from.

Size and Cut

Sizing is generally the same between most manufacturers, but the cut is not. Different brands have different levels of taper around the shoulders and back. This is largely a matter of personal preference and finding a gi that suits your body type. Unfortunately it’s difficult to test this out when shopping online, so you might want to try on one of the other students’ gis at the academy.
Remember, that unless it has been pre-shrunk, your gi will get a lot tighter after the first hot wash, so keep this in mind when choosing the size. The gi should be a little baggy when you try it on, because it will drop and shrink a couple of inches in every direction after you wash it.

Thickness and Weave

The thickness of the cloth is referred to as the weave. From lightest to heaviest, the weaves are: Honeycomb, Single, Gold, and Double.
The heavier the weave and the thicker the lapels, the more difficult it will be for you opponent to grip you, and the longer the suit will last. However, the drawbacks are that if you are in a warm climate, the suit will become very hot and heavy as it becomes drenched with perspiration. It will also take longer to dry after washing.
There is an increasing trend towards ‘super-light’ or Honeycomb woven gis. These may look and feel cool to wear, but keep in mind what they were designed for – fighters entering competition who want to make weight. If you choose this as your standard training kimono it’s unlikely that it will last very long.
My personal preference is a the medium-weight gold weave gi as it is a good compromise between the heavier and lighter weaves.

Colour

Back when jiu-jitsu first began in Brazil, gis only came in white. Over the years there has been a trend towards more and more flamboyant styles such as camouflage and other wild colour schemes.
On a professional and performance level, I would advice you against being the guy with the yellow or bright red gi. It doesn’t look cool. It should be your skills which draw attention, not your gi. Stick to the classic three colours – white, blue and black. When you’ve been training for a few years and you’ve earned your dues, then maybe you can afford to be more flamboyant (i.e. dress like a clown.) Until then, try to fit in. It will help ensure that you are taken seriously and respected.

Patches

It’s cool to have a couple of patches denoting your school on your kimono. It’s not cool to look like a walking advertising quilt.

Brands

As with everything else, you get what you pay for when it comes to gis. These are not the only good brands on the market, but up until this point are the best I have used.

1. Shoyoroll
This is the Rolls-Royce of BJJ gis. The quality and detail are exceptional. The pants even have padded sections to protect your knees. The first time I tried a Shoyoroll I was so impressed with it I contacted the company and asked them to sponsor me.

2. Atama
A very reputable brand – one of the most durable kimonos available. Simple design with few patches and logos, which is perfect if you prefer a more ‘minimalist’ looking gi.

3. Lucky Gi
Lucky was the original ‘designer’ gi, and is still one of the best quality and most stylish kimonos on the market.

4. Keiko Sports
Keiko is one of the original Brazilian brands. It’s a good, solid brand without being too flashy. They also have several different cuts and weaves.

Judo Gis

I would suggest that you do not try to use a judo suit for jiu-jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu gis have tighter cuffs on the trousers and sleeves. This allows the practitioner to benefit from a closer fit, providing less material for an opponent to manipulate,

Care of Your Gi

I wash my kimonos after 1 or 2 training sessions. If I have finished training and I am not going to wash it, I will hang it up, preferably outside. The worst thing you can do is leave a damp gi in your gym bag. The dark, unventilated space will turn it into a breeding ground for bacteria and it will smell like death. You want to knock your opponent out with your moves, not with your stench.
So, whenever possible, try to hang your kimono outside in the fresh air and the sunshine. This will help keep it smelling and looking decent. I would also advise against using fabric softener when washing your gi because I feel this weakens the fabric and makes them tear more easily.

Submission Grappling / No–Gi Training

Rash Guard

T-shirts are acceptable for no-gi training, but rash-guards are far superior. They don’t tear as easily, and they don’t stretch and get caught in your opponent’s limbs. There are many, many good brands and you can find a cool one here. However, if you don’t have the money, an inexpensive surf-style rash guard will suffice.

Fight Shorts

‘Sprawl’ was the original fight short company, but there are now many decent brands on the market. If you’re on a budget, I have found that most boardshorts function perfectly well – just make sure that you don’t get ones with baggy pockets, which might cause difficulties when training.

Protective Equipment

All you really need to train is a gi, but as a beginner, you might want to consider embracing these extras.

Gum-shield

I don’t train with a gum-shield anymore, although I probably should and I would recommend that as a beginner you should seriously consider wearing one. You have a number of options, but the best is always one that’s been professionally moulded by dentist. Otherwise the inexpensive boil-and-bite ones will do fine.

Cup / Jock Strap

Again, I don’t use these anymore. I find that they just get in the way. I also found that they promoted poor technique when doing armbars and kneebars. They are illegal in competition too, so you probably shouldn’t get in the habit of wearing them.

Knee Pads

Altough these are a bit of a bitch to get on, and require frequent washing, they will save a lot of wear and tear on your knees. I haven’t seen a jiu-jitsu specific pair on the market, but in the meanwhile I use the Nike Volley Ball ones.

Ear-Guards

I used to wear these but ultimately found that they were more hassle than they were worth, and ultimately decided I could live with cauliflowered ears. If this is not an option for you and you are going to get some, I would recommend the Asics brand of wrestling ear-guards. Make sure you wash them frequently because they reek after a few heavy training sessions.