Uniform (jacket and trousers) worn by Brazilian jiu-jitsu participants
Two Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners wearing Gis
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi is the training 💷 uniform adapted from the judo keikogi (稽古着) for use in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
A gi (着), meaning dress or clothes, is composed 💷 of a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring pants, and a belt which communicates rank.
Some schools require the jacket and trousers 💷 to be the same color, while more relaxed schools do not enforce matching top and bottom color.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi 💷 is often referred to as kimono by Brazilians.
Some Jiu-Jitsu schools avoid using a gi and instead focus on no-gi jiu-jitsu; 💷 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is an example of this.[1]
General regulations [ edit ]
Glover Teixeira wearing a black-colored gi
Kyra Gracie wearing 💷 a pink-colored gi
The only colors allowed for international championships are white, black or blue.
In some jurisdictions this is relaxed to 💷 allow any single solid color.
According to article 8 of IBJJF rules,[2] 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.
Colors 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 color corresponding to the practitioner's 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 used at tournaments.[2]
A special gi checking tool is sometimes 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:[2]
The jacket lapel must be 5 cm wide.
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 [ edit ]
According to article 13 of IBJJF rules,[2] patches may be 💷 placed on the gi in one of thirteen different locations:On the jacket:Left upper armLeft upper shoulder
Front right upper shoulder
Front right 💷 upper arm
Front below the beltBack below the belt
Back below the collar and above the beltOn 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
Fabric and weave [ 💷 edit ]Pants [ edit ]
Traditionally, gi pants are made of a sturdy cotton canvas, or denim (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.
Jacket [ edit ]
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.
Pearl Weave: The most common form of weave used 💷 in BJJ industry.
Its strong and very durable.
As the name suggests the pearl weave has the appearance of multiple strings of 💷 pearls aligned together.
This appearance is created when two sets of weft are used, one thin and tight, and one looser 💷 and wider.
The looser weft creates the appearance of pearls.
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.[3]
Ripstop Fabrics: Ripstop fabrics are made of many different materials (cotton, silk, polyester, and 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.
Closeup of double weave pattern on an HCK competition double gi.
Closeup of gold weave pattern on an OTM blank white 💷 gi.
Maintenance [ edit ]
Due to the nature of wrestling/grappling and the diseases that can come from close contact between people, 💷 the 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.
[4] This is important to most Jiu-Jitsu practitioners as even pre-shrunk gi material has 💷 a tendency to shrink further in hot water and a hot dryer cycle.
To preserve the life of the gi, 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.
Hanging the gi in direct sunlight can damage the integrity of the fabric and reduce its durability, and can 💷 also stiffen up fibres in a gi.[4]
While most gis sold today are made of a colorfast 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.[4]
It is advised to 💷 leave a gi to dry in indirect sunlight, and avoid drying in drying machines, as this can cause shrinkage.
Differences to 💷 the judogi [ edit ]
The Jiu-Jitsu gi is similar to the judogi with a few 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.
The kimono of a judo gi 💷 is generally thicker than that of a Jiu-Jitsu gi, to make it less prone of ripping in competition or training.
In 💷 jiu jitsu it's also more widely accepted to wear gis of non-standard colors such as green, black and purple, whereas 💷 in Judo only white and blue are generally accepted.
[5]See also [ edit ]
