The importance of wearing a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi in training

Since the beginning of the UFC, many people have fallen in love with BJJ. Another impact of the UFC has been the fact that many people think that typical BJJ training is done by those wearing tight clothing, no shirts, and no shoes. This is likely due to the fact that most people only watch BJJ inside the UFC Octagon. In reality, most traditional BJJ matches, competitions, and training take place on plain old mats with people wearing a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi.

If you want to start training and learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you may want to consider purchasing a high-quality BJJ gi. This type of gi is not the typical gi worn by someone training in karate. These gis are more like those used in judo and aikido training. Due to the fact that the gi is used for throws and submissions, it is required to be ultra-durable and strong in order to survive the amount of force placed on it during training or a match.

This need for durability allows it to prevent it from easily ripping or tearing when someone attempts a technique. This also means that the uniform seams must be thicker and stronger to withstand the heavy use that occurs during training. Usually, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gis have double or triple stitches that reveal the quality of the uniform.

If you are training specifically for the purpose of self defense, you should be concerned with training more realistically. Your training should reflect real life, so if you feel you are at high risk of being attacked while wearing only tight shorts, no shirt, and no shoes by a person who is similarly dressed, then train without a gi. There are also specific techniques that use the material of a gi for a performance.

One example is a neck choke and yet another would be the ease with which an armbar can be achieved when it comes to long-sleeved clothing. Chances are, people don’t want to risk ripping their jackets or casual clothes in training. So buying a training specific Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi only makes sense if you want your training to be effective, realistic and affordable.

Some people will point out that there are dangers with a gi-only mentality. The possibility of becoming too reliant on the gi for his techniques rather than the mechanics of technique delivery being prominent is high. This argument has some validity, however you should keep in mind that a balanced training approach is better than an extreme training approach.

By training with a gi-only mentality, you will end up depending on the material for your techniques and their applications in general, creating a weak point in your defensive abilities. On the other side of the coin, if you only adopt a non-gi mentality, you will lack the necessary experience to defend and prevent techniques using the material. Things like lapel chokes and even poorly executed arm locks.

Wearing a gi makes it possible to apply more pressure on some subs like NCRs and even leg subs that might be easier to escape from if it wasn’t a non-gi situation. It would seem like good advice to take the time to think about your training methods and decide on the pros and cons of both.