Cameron Allen
So you are getting ready to go to your first no-gi BJJ class and not really sure what to wear? In this post, we highlight what to wear for no gi jiu jitsu classes.
Training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2023 is not only extremely fun but very rewarding. Not only do you get to learn an awesome skill but you get the chance to connect with other people who just want to get better. In BJJ, there are two styles of play, gi, and no-gi.
What To Wear For No Gi Jiu Jitsu Class
The best thing to wear for no-gi training sessions is the following for men and women:
Men
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- Rash Guard
- Board Shorts or BJJ Shorts (Athletic shorts without pockets)
- Underwear
- Spats or Leggings (Optional)
Women
- Rash Guard
- Sports Bra
- Leggings
For both men and women, you have the option to wear more protective gear if you please. If you have a bad knee that you do not want to hurt further, consider getting a knee brace to wear. If you do, we highly recommend going with Anaconda Fightwear BJJ Knee Braces, they are hands down the best on the market and the only brace we personally use.
Men, you can always wear a cup too if you are afraid of getting hit in the family jewels. In my three years of training, it has maybe happened one time though so it may be an unnecessary purchase.
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Rash Guards
Rash guards are athletic clothing that is an essential item to have for your no-gi BJJ attire. Personally, we recommend having a couple of pairs in your closet so that you have a continuous rotation of gear to choose from.
It should be noted that after every training session, you should be washing every bit of gear that you have. It is unacceptable to come to class smelling like yesterday’s training session. Please be respectful of the gym and to your training partners.
Grappling Shorts
Your grappling shorts should not have pockets or metal zippers hanging from them. We want to protect our teammates on the mats at all times and shorts with pockets, velcro, or metal sticking out have the potential to seriously damage someone while training.
No Gi Jiu-Jitsu is much different than what you will expect and see in the traditional gi classes. Rash guards are worn both in no-gi BJJ class and gi classes. If you do not have a clean pair of grappling shorts you can wear gi pants as well.
Optional Protective Gear for BJJ
There is a good amount of protective gear that you can wear to no gi training. If you want to protect specific joints or just want to keep away from any risk of skin infections we highly suggest that you get a couple of the listed items below.
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Athletic Tape
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Kneepads, Knee Sleeves, Or Knee Braces
If you have knee problems it is suggested to get a couple of knee braces while training. At the end of the day, BJJ is a very physical sport and accidents do happen. Let’s do our best to protect both ourselves and those that we choose to train Brazilian jiu-jitsu with.
BJJ Spats
Spats are my personal favorite things to wear for no-gi classes. Please, wear shorts over your spats while training though, no-gi and jiu jitsu in general is not just a sport that men can enjoy. You can find a simple pair of leggings here:
What Is A GI?
We have talked about it quite a bit in this article but what is a gi anyway? A Gi is better known as a kimono in other forms of martial arts. It is a heavier set of clothing that is typically worn over top of a rash guard. Gi’s are like a heavier version of a jacket and are known as the traditional way that BJJ was practiced.
When A GI Is Typically Worn
BJJ Gi’s are typically worn when we are participating in gi-style classes. Throughout the week, we have a set schedule where we train no-gi and gi.
What Attire Should Be Avoided At A No GI BJJ Class
While we went over the gear and attire to wear to no-gi jiu-jitsu classes let’s quickly go over what not to wear to class.
Do not wear the following:
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Flimsy T-Shirt
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Shorts with Pockets
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Non-Sports Bras
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Shorts with zippers
FUEL YOUR BODY. FOCUS YOUR MIND.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of training Jiu-Jitsu?
There are many benefits of training jiu-jitsu. The biggest benefits that I have personally seen in my time of training are the following:
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Better physical shape
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Weight loss
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Stronger mind
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Handle Pressure much better
How do I tie my BJJ Belt?
Good for you we have you covered! We see way too many white belts just winging this and not enough black belt coaches take the time to build up their white belts. Here is a video outlining how to tie your BJJ belt:
How often should I be training?
Again we have another video on this topic! How often you train BJJ depends on your goals and what you are looking to get out of your experience.
