Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has two divisions: Gi and No Gi, each with unique characteristics, styles, strengths, and grappling techniques. Deciding which one to choose between BJJ Gi vs. No-Gi goes beyond what sports attire to wear. Understanding the logic and techniques behind BJJ will help you focus on what to learn and develop with your skills.
Discover which form suits your BJJ journey better: Gi or No Gi. Learn how clothing styles shape skill development, techniques, and execution in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Find out which suits you best!
Which form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is better?
Each form—Gi and No-Gi—emphasizes different aspects of the art. One form may favor specific physical attributes, while the other allows you to focus more on fundamental grappling skills. Understanding these distinctions can help you choose the style that aligns with your goals and abilities.
What is Gi BJJ
Gi BJJ focuses on achieving a dominant position, controlling the opponent, and using this progression to secure a takedown via submission. The kimono (uniform influenced by Japanese Jiu-Jitsu) serves as an extension of the body during grappling, which adds complexity to maneuvers, almost as if you’re contending with more than one opponent.
What is No Gi BJJ
No Gi emphasizes body control, speed, and adaptability. With clothing no longer a factor, it introduces more excitement through added submission rules, which enhance its appeal.
With no clothing grips allowed, No Gi, also called “sans kimono,” introduces excitement through added submission rules and faster-paced games with rapid position changes. This style relies purely on the competitor’s ability to combine strength with techniques.
Why is there a distinction between BJJ clothing in practice?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has evolved from traditional Jiu-Jitsu into a modern sport with continuously developing techniques.
As traditions shift, the surrounding systems—such as movement approaches and body mechanics—also adapt. Removing the traditional kimono has further influenced the evolution of grappling techniques and skills, reflecting BJJ’s transition into a dynamic, modern sport.
Organizations like NAGA establish distinct rules for Gi and No Gi competitions to maintain fairness. GI competitors face only other GI players, while No Gi competes exclusively within their division.
Distinction in Materials and Features
As you learn how to understand the compositions of the BJJ attires, you can also gain insight into how to practice BJJ in each form. Then, you can choose the better BJJ style for your journey.
Gi Uniform Features & Fabric
Submission techniques often involve gripping the opponent’s clothing to gain control, highlighting the traditional style of BJJ.
- Jacket: The Kimono jacket is often made of durable cotton fabric for comfort and to withstand tight pulling and grips.
- Collar: The collar (a.k.a lapel) is often designed to be stiffer and thicker by adding rubber or thin foam to prevent the material from choking its wearer, especially when competitors pull or control the collar.
- Gi pants: The BJJ gi pants are like the jacket. They’re made with lightweight cotton fabric but reinforced for durability. They include a drawstring or elastic waistband for a secure fit.
- Weight and thickness: Gis vary in weight (light, medium, or heavy), with competition Gis usually being lighter for more effortless movement. Thickness is regulated for durability and comfort.
- Weaves and patterns: Common weaves include single weave (lightweight), double weave (heavier, more durable), pearl weave (balance of weight and strength), and gold weave (traditional, durable). The patterns include stitching and patches that often relay branding.
No Gi Clothing Features & Fabric
The traditional style of Jiu-Jitsu evolved into a modern adaptation that forgoes traditional sportswear from Japan. This is where the term “No-Gi” originates, sans the kimono. Essential No-Gi clothing consists of a rash guard, shorts, and leggings.
- Rashguard: Typically made from polyester, spandex, or a blend of both, a rashguard helps keep moisture off the skin. It also protects against rashes, mat burns, and bacterial infections.
- Shorts: BJJ shorts are designed for unrestricted movement. They are typically made without zippers or pockets for safety and crafted from stretchy materials to accommodate grappling techniques.
- Leggings (Optional): Compression leggings are worn for additional protection. Although optional, wearing them beneath the shorts will likely protect against friction, mainly when you’re still getting used to the mat.
- Fabric: Ensure No-Gi attire is lightweight, stretchy, and breathable for comfort, sweat control, and enhanced mobility.
Things to consider: gi vs no gi
What matters when choosing between No-Gi i BJJ and Gi BJJ is knowing what will help you improve your grappling skills more. You might master one in a year, and you can condition learning the other next. Having the proper perspective and attitude toward each style matters.
There are things to consider when choosing which form of BJJ to focus on.
Importance of GI for Training & Practice
Using the fabric as an extension of the opponent allows you to see situations with more technical precision and solid defensive skills. The Gi aspect of BJJ gives huge importance to developing specific skills:
- Develops techniques for grips
- Builds precision positional changes
- Allows control by maneuvering the opponent’s clothing: sleeves, hems, and collars.
Importance of No Gi for Training and Practice
No-Gi BJJ adds complexity by removing the fabric for control, forcing you to think more strategically. It emphasizes:
- Faster gameplay
- Developing speed in grappling
- Improving reflexes and response time
Differences in Techniques
Differences in techniques prevail between Gi BJJ and No Gi BJJ. One way to look at these is how they focus on specific attacks and defense techniques.
Gi Styles: Attacking and Defending
Gi attacks keep it traditional, with submission as the final piece of executing the opponent from the game. Of course, this progresses from securing control of the grips of sleeves, pants, collars, or the opponents.
To defend is to break away from them and keep the opponents reading their grip from the kimono.
- Attack Techniques like spider, lasso, and worm guard are Gi-specific, leveraging the fabric for control and sweeps.
- Defense against grips and avoiding being controlled by the opponent’s use of the Gi.
- Neutralize g lapel attacks or control the opponent’s grips to prevent submissions.
No Gi Styles: Attacking and Defending
No-gi practitioners rely on leverage, proper framing, and precise angling instead of gripping or holding on to the clothing. Attack techniques include detailed hooks, targeting joints, and effectively utilizing small arms, legs, and hip extensions.
Maximizing these elements allows the match to finish faster, as No-Gi lacks the grips and controls of a Gi. This encourages a more straightforward yet agile approach to grappling.
- No-Gi techniques for attack and defense demand more intensive body control and grips.
- Standard submissions include guillotines, heel hooks, and rear-naked chokes, which do not require clothing.
- Fast-paced transitions and scrambles are often used to exploit openings.
- Defense emphasizes breaking body locks, pummeling to regain control, and using speed to escape submissions.
Differences in Rules: BJJ Gi vs No Gi
The rules for how each practitioner fights with a specific format differ, influenced by the connection between clothing structure and tournament regulations.
Gi Rules: Permitted vs. Prohibited
Permitted:
- Gripping and manipulating the opponent’s Gi (e.g., collar, sleeves, and pants).
- Gi-specific submissions like lapel chokes, Ezekiel chokes, and techniques using the jacket or belt.
Prohibited:
- Grabbing the opponent’s fingers individually to break grips.
- Using the Gi to cover the opponent’s face or obstruct breathing.
- Heel hooks and knee reaping are typically prohibited in most Gi tournaments (depending on the competition ruleset).
No Gi Rules: Permitted vs. Prohibited
When you remove the kimono, No-Gi BJJ closely resembles wrestling. Two fighters grapple, alternate dominance, and attempt takedowns until one is entirely defeated. However, don’t mistake No-Gi BJJ for wrestling; the two differ significantly, particularly in rules. While wrestling allows a broader range of moves, BJJ restricts many techniques commonly used in wrestling.
Permitted:
- Basic grappling moves and most fundamental BJJ techniques are allowed.
- Submissions like arm locks, triangle chokes, guillotine heel hooks, leg locks, and guillotine chokes.
- Basic grappling and positional moves like mount back control
Prohibited:
- Gripping or manipulating clothing (both your own and your opponent’s).
- Specific leg attacks, like knee reaping, may be restricted in beginner divisions.
- Using oily or slippery substances to gain an unfair advantage
- Slamming
- Heel hooks are prohibited for beginners and younger division (for advanced only)
Pros and Cons: Gi vs No Gi
BJJ Gi and No-Gi have advantages and challenges, but practitioners may struggle if they don’t apply the skills with a deep understanding. To excel in either form, one must recognize the current stage in their BJJ journey and identify what they aim to develop.
The Gi BJJ Pros and Cons
The Gi is ideal for honing precision and grip techniques. With its traditional roots, it offers a time-tested discipline perfect for those aiming to enhance their competition experience and progress through the belt system.
If you’re not a fan of BJJ’s traditional, slower-paced style, training in the Gi might feel tedious and discourage you from continuing. Additionally, techniques that rely on Gi grips and pulling clothing may have limited practicality in real-world self-defense situations.
The No-Gi BJJ Pros and Cons
Practitioners often consider no-gi more practical and applicable to real-world scenarios. Its fast-paced nature appeals to extreme sports enthusiasts. Additionally, No-Gi is more cost-efficient, as it doesn’t require the maintenance of a kimono, which can be expensive and require special care.
Instead, rash guards and leggings are easier to find, use, and maintain.
However, due to its intense and fast-paced techniques, No-Gi may not appeal to older practitioners. In terms of application, it can feel overly aggressive for regular self-defense scenarios and is more suited for those pursuing MMA.
Which One is More Effective for Self-Defense?
Self-defense is situational and requires adapting to the circumstances and the attacker’s responses. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you can train in both Gi and No-Gi styles, with the key being balancing and applying each form effectively.
No Gi is generally more effective for self-defense because it mirrors real-life situations where an attacker likely isn’t wearing clothing suitable for gripping. It emphasizes body control, speed, and adaptability.
Gi training can still be beneficial for learning to control an opponent and building foundational skills that transfer to No Gi.
Conclusion
Gi and No Gi BJJ offer valuable skill sets that complement each other. Gi emphasizes technical precision, discipline, and traditional values, while No Gi hones speed, mobility, and real-world applicability. Practitioners don’t have to choose exclusively; training in both provides a well-rounded understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, No Gi might offer a more practical advantage for self-defense and modern grappling scenarios. Your choice should align with your personal goals, interests, and lifestyle.