Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gi
Encyclopedia
The gi used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
was adapted from the uniform commonly used in Japanese martial arts
. It is typically composed of a heavy cotton
jacket and reinforced trousers. A cloth belt is worn over the gi, both to keep the jacket closed, and as a signifier of the skill/rank
of the practitioner. The term kimono
is sometimes used to describe the whole outfit, or occasionally just the jacket. Sizing normally follows (A0 - A7) for men's gis, but occasionally judogi sizing is used (1-7).
According to article 8 of International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
(IBJJF) rules, a competition gi must conform to these specifications:
In addition to the above requirements, pockets of any kind are not allowed in a gi to be used at tournaments.
A special gi checking tool is often used to determine acceptable measurements and fit of the gi. This tool resembles a block of wood 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 15 cm with a slit cut in the middle and is used to measure the following:
On the jacket:
On the pants:
(with reinforced seams/knees). Tough and light weight materials have started to become more popular in recent years as cooler hot weather gis have become more popular. It is common in tournaments to see competitors wearing ripstop
pants with a standard cotton gi top.
Gold Weave Cotton: This material is in-between the single and double weave with regards to weight and durability. Gold weave is a standard that was originally required for competition by the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Confederation, although this has now been relaxed to allow different jacket weaves.
Double Weave Cotton: This Gi top is made of significantly more fabric than a single weave. It is heavier, harder wearing, and is typically more expensive. The thickness of the gi can make it more difficult for an opponent to grip the fabric, but the weight of the gi (typically between 650–1050 g/m2) makes them retain more heat. The stiffness of the material can make double weaves more abrasive on the skin of opponents and wearers alike.
Ripstop Fabrics: Ripstop
fabrics are made of many different materials (cotton, silk
, polyester
, and polypropylene
, with nylon
) woven together to produce an extremely strong and light weight material that is difficult to tear or rip. Due to the weave of the material this type of Gi top can be made light weight (lighter than a single weave gi) while still remaining strong. Since this material is woven thinner than cotton gis, an opponent can more easily grab and manipulate it.
gi material has a tendency to shrink further in hot water and a hot dryer cycle. To preserve the life of the Gi care bleaching is highly discouraged, as this can weaken the fibers of the material and cause them to tear more easily. Line drying in bright sunlight is commonly suggested to help remove smells from the gi, due to the bacterial killing properties of UV light.
While most gis sold today are made of a colour fast material, some manufacturers recommend that a darker coloured gi (blue, black, red, etc) be washed with 2-3 cups of white vinegar the first time that the outfit is laundered. This helps to set the dye in the gi and will minimize fading.
with a few slight differences. Jiu jitsu regulations allow for tighter cuffs on the pants and jacket, and the skirt (section of the gi beneath the belt) is shorter. This allows the practitioner to benefit from a closer fit, providing less material for an opponent to manipulate. Team, sponsor, and manufacturer's patches are often more prominently displayed on a Jiu-Jitsu gi than would be allowed in judo. A judo gi may be worn for BJJ tournaments, but a Jiu Jitsu gi will not meet guidelines for a judo tournament.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
was adapted from the uniform commonly used in Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial arts native to Japan. At least three Japanese terms are often used interchangeably with the English phrase "Japanese martial arts": , literally meaning "martial way", , which has no perfect translation but means something like science,...
. It is typically composed of a heavy cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
jacket and reinforced trousers. A cloth belt is worn over the gi, both to keep the jacket closed, and as a signifier of the skill/rank
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ranking system
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ranking system awards a practitioner different colored belts to signify increasing levels of technical knowledge and practical skill. While the system’s structure shares its origins with the Judo ranking system and the origins of all colored belts, it now contains many of...
of the practitioner. The term kimono
Kimono
The is a Japanese traditional garment worn by men, women and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear" , has come to denote these full-length robes...
is sometimes used to describe the whole outfit, or occasionally just the jacket. Sizing normally follows (A0 - A7) for men's gis, but occasionally judogi sizing is used (1-7).
General Regulations
The only colors allowed for international championships are white, black or blue. In some jurisdictions this is relaxed to allow any single solid colour. In many clubs it is customary for practitioners who are white belts to only wear a white gi, but once a blue belt is obtained they are free to wear any colour.According to article 8 of International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation is the major and most prestigious governing body for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that hosts several of the biggest tournaments in the world, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship and European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship...
(IBJJF) rules, a competition gi must conform to these specifications:
- The gi must be constructed of cotton or similar material and be in good condition. The material may not be excessively thick or hard to the point where it will obstruct the opponent.
- Colours may be black, white or blue, no combined colors (white kimono with blue pants, etc.)
- The jacket is to be of sufficient length down to the thighs, sleeves must reach the wrist with arms extended in front of the body. The sleeve should follow the official measurements according to IBJJF (this is measured from the shoulder to the wrist).
- Belt width must be 4–5 cm, with belt colour corresponding to the practitioners rank. The belt must be tied around the waist with a double knot, tight enough to secure the kimono closed. An extremely worn/discoloured belt may need to be replaced before competing.
- Athletes are not permitted to compete with torn kimonos, sleeves or pants that are not of proper length, or with t-shirts underneath the kimono (except for females).
- A BJJ practitioner is not allowed to paint his/her gi. Exceptions can be made for teams competition.
In addition to the above requirements, pockets of any kind are not allowed in a gi to be used at tournaments.
A special gi checking tool is often used to determine acceptable measurements and fit of the gi. This tool resembles a block of wood 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 15 cm with a slit cut in the middle and is used to measure the following:
- The jacket lapel must be 5 cm thick.
- There must be at least 7 cm of room from the bottom of the competitor's wrist to the bottom of the sleeve.
- The jacket lapel must not be thicker than 1.3 cm.
Patches
According to article 13 of IBJJF rules, patches may be placed on the gi in one of thirteen different locations:On the jacket:
- Left upper arm
- Left upper shoulder
- Front right upper shoulder
- Front right upper arm
- Front below the belt
- Back below the belt
- Back below the collar and above the belt
On the pants:
- Above the front left knee
- Above the front right knee
- Below the front left knee (with at least 15 cm of space to the floor without patch to allow for grabbing)
- Below the front right knee (with at least 15 cm of space to the floor without patch to allow for grabbing)
- Along the back of the left leg
- Along the back of the right leg
Pants
Traditionally, gi pants are made of a sturdy cotton, canvas, or denimDenim
Denim is a rugged cotton twill textile, in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This produces the familiar diagonal ribbing identifiable on the reverse of the fabric, which distinguishes denim from cotton duck. Denim has been in American usage since the late 18th century...
(with reinforced seams/knees). Tough and light weight materials have started to become more popular in recent years as cooler hot weather gis have become more popular. It is common in tournaments to see competitors wearing ripstop
Ripstop
Ripstop fabrics are woven fabrics often made out of nylon, using a special reinforcing technique that makes them resistant to tearing and ripping. During weaving reinforcement threads are interwoven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern. The intervals are typically 5 to 8 millimeters...
pants with a standard cotton gi top.
Jacket
Single Weave Cotton: This is lighter and typically less expensive. It is often used for hot weather training. Being lighter weight (typically between 300–550 g/m2), this weave is not as durable as a heavier fabric.Gold Weave Cotton: This material is in-between the single and double weave with regards to weight and durability. Gold weave is a standard that was originally required for competition by the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Confederation, although this has now been relaxed to allow different jacket weaves.
Double Weave Cotton: This Gi top is made of significantly more fabric than a single weave. It is heavier, harder wearing, and is typically more expensive. The thickness of the gi can make it more difficult for an opponent to grip the fabric, but the weight of the gi (typically between 650–1050 g/m2) makes them retain more heat. The stiffness of the material can make double weaves more abrasive on the skin of opponents and wearers alike.
Ripstop Fabrics: Ripstop
Ripstop
Ripstop fabrics are woven fabrics often made out of nylon, using a special reinforcing technique that makes them resistant to tearing and ripping. During weaving reinforcement threads are interwoven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern. The intervals are typically 5 to 8 millimeters...
fabrics are made of many different materials (cotton, silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
, and polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
, with nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
) woven together to produce an extremely strong and light weight material that is difficult to tear or rip. Due to the weave of the material this type of Gi top can be made light weight (lighter than a single weave gi) while still remaining strong. Since this material is woven thinner than cotton gis, an opponent can more easily grab and manipulate it.
Washing & Maintenance
Due to the nature of wrestling/grappling and the diseases that can come from close contact between people, the Jiu-Jitsu gi is typically washed after each class. As with most cotton products, a cotton Gi must be laundered in cold water and line dried to avoid shrinkage. This is important to most Jiu-Jitsu practitioners as even pre-shrunkSanforization
Sanforization is a process of treatment used for cotton fabrics mainly and most textiles made from natural or chemical fibres, patented by Sanford Lockwood Cluett in 1930...
gi material has a tendency to shrink further in hot water and a hot dryer cycle. To preserve the life of the Gi care bleaching is highly discouraged, as this can weaken the fibers of the material and cause them to tear more easily. Line drying in bright sunlight is commonly suggested to help remove smells from the gi, due to the bacterial killing properties of UV light.
While most gis sold today are made of a colour fast material, some manufacturers recommend that a darker coloured gi (blue, black, red, etc) be washed with 2-3 cups of white vinegar the first time that the outfit is laundered. This helps to set the dye in the gi and will minimize fading.
Similarity to the Judogi
The Jiu-Jitsu gi is similar to the judogiJudogi
Judogi is the formal Japanese name for the traditional uniform used for Judo practice and competition. It is actually derived from traditional articles of Japanese clothing. Jigoro Kano derived the original judogi from the kimono and other Japanese garments around the turn of the 20th century, and...
with a few slight differences. Jiu jitsu regulations allow for tighter cuffs on the pants and jacket, and the skirt (section of the gi beneath the belt) is shorter. This allows the practitioner to benefit from a closer fit, providing less material for an opponent to manipulate. Team, sponsor, and manufacturer's patches are often more prominently displayed on a Jiu-Jitsu gi than would be allowed in judo. A judo gi may be worn for BJJ tournaments, but a Jiu Jitsu gi will not meet guidelines for a judo tournament.