Men's Contact Sports

A gi is the traditional uniform worn for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other grappling disciplines, consisting of a heavyweight jacket, reinforced trousers and a belt denoting rank. Wearing one signals participation in the sport's formal, grip-based discipline, where the fabric itself becomes part of the contest: opponents grip the jacket and trousers to control position and execute technique. Built from reinforced weave to withstand constant pulling and gripping, a gi has to survive repeated, high-tension contact without tearing. It is functional kit first, tradition second, though the two are inseparable in the sport.

It is called a gi, or sometimes a kimono, consisting of a heavyweight cotton or cotton-blend jacket, matching trousers and a coloured belt indicating rank. The jacket uses a reinforced, often woven or pearl-weave, fabric dense enough to withstand constant gripping without tearing under load. No-gi grappling, by contrast, is trained in a rash guard and grappling shorts or spats, without the jacket, for a faster, lower-friction style of contact. Which one gets worn depends entirely on the discipline being trained.

The jacket should sit close to the body, without excess loose fabric hanging that gives an opponent extra material to grip, and be belted securely at the waist. Trousers should sit at a length that clears the ankle without excess bunching underfoot. The belt wraps twice around the waist and ties with a square knot, sitting flat rather than twisted. Fit matters more than most sportswear: too loose, and grips find purchase everywhere; too tight, and movement through technique is restricted.

For gi training, wear the full gi: jacket, trousers and belt, with a rash guard underneath for hygiene and to reduce direct friction against the skin. For no-gi sessions, a fitted rash guard and grappling shorts or spats replace the jacket and trousers, built from a stretch, moisture-wicking construction that will not restrict movement through takedowns and ground work. Whichever discipline, the kit should be close-fitting and durable, since grappling puts sustained, repeated stress on every seam.