Buying Your First Jiu-Jitsu Gi

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Buying your first gi can be as exciting as it is overwhelming. Before you buy, it is wise to understand the history, rules, The Hangout Jiu-Jitsu Club guidelines, and some advice for buyers.


History

The word “gi” is a contraction of the Japanese word keikogi, meaning practice clothes. The gi has been worn in martial arts for many centuries, beginning with karate and was later adopted by Jigoro Kano in the late 1800s for judo. When judo was introduced to Brazil in the early 1900s, the tradition of wearing a gi continued. At this time, the terms “judo” and “jiu-jitsu” were used interchangeably, so it is not surprising that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu adopted the gi as their training uniform. The tradition of the gi continues today.


Legend has it that the gi was developed to help disguise martial arts practitioners in Okinawa, Japan, after martial arts and the use of weapons were outlawed around the late 1400s. Martial arts were practiced at night, under the cover of darkness. The white cotton gi was designed to imitate pajamas, as both garments shared a loose and baggy fit, which would allow practitioners to pretend to be asleep in their pajamas.
 

Rules

The modern jiu-jitsu gi has fairly strict regulations imposed by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), a for-profit organization that hosts a large share of tournaments around the world. IBJJF gi rules are as follows:

Material: Cotton or cotton-like fabric that is woven with no tears or mending.
 
Measurements: The skirt of the top should reach the athlete’s thigh. Sleeves reach no more than 5 cm from the wrist when arms are extended outward, parallel to the ground, forming a “T.” Pants should reach no more than 5 cm above the ankle bone. Lapel thickness should be no more than 0.5 inches. The collar should be no more than 2 inches wide. Sleeve opening at the “T” position should be no more than 2.75 inches. See image below.*
 

Color: Must be a solid color; the pants, top, and collar of the gi must match. Only white, royal blue, or black gis are allowed.

Belt: 1.5 to 2 inches wide with a black tip (white through brown belts) or red or white tip (black belts). Long enough to wrap around the waist twice and be tied using a square double knot tight enough to close the top. Once tied, the ends of the belt should hang 8 to 12 inches.
  
Undergarments: Use of a shirt under the gi top is prohibited, except for women, who must wear rash guards. No leg coverings may be worn under the pants except for women, who may wear spats. All athletes must wear brief-type undergarments.
 
Groin Protection: Prohibited in competition.
 
Patches: Too complex to describe, so look at this picture for authorized patch locations.* 


The Hangout Jiu-Jitsu Club Guidelines
 
Many, if not most, jiu-jitsu academies have their own rules and guidelines. If you're a student of the Hangout Jiu-Jitsu Club, please be considerate of ours.

The IBJJF establishes rules only for the tournaments they sponsor and is not a governing body of jiu-jitsu at large; this is a fact misunderstood by many. Therefore, at The Hangout Jiu-Jitsu Club, we allow some flexibility.

Express yourself. Look, gis often shrink over time, especially if worn a lot. We would rather you spend your money on knowledge (classes and seminars) than on a new gi just because it’s a little short or has a minor tear. As for colors, we welcome self-expression in class; however, if you attend one of our seminars or special events, attend any type of class at another academy, or add patches with the Hangout logo to any gi, it must be a solid color (no tie-dye, patterns, etc.).
 
Shirtless training is gross. Nobody wants a sweaty chest and belly on them while they’re trying to improve their skills. The Hangout Jiu-Jitsu Club requires a shirt or rash guard (men and women) be worn at all times, even in the gi. Shirtless training is prohibited at all times. No exceptions.
 
Hide the tenders. Wear appropriate bottoms. At no time should any male or female student risk exposure of their buttocks or genitals, directly (slippage) or indirectly (printing). There is no such thing as a wardrobe malfunction, only poor planning.
 
Protect the tenders. The Hangout Jiu-Jitsu Club not only supports the wearing of a cup, we encourage it. Why? Google search images with this phrase: “blunt scrotal trauma.” You’re welcome.
 
 
Advice to Buyers

“Oof. That’s a lot. I’ll just take up knitting, or maybe Pankration so I can wrestle naked.”

We hear you. Thankfully, gi manufacturers and retailers want your money, so they make it rather easy. A shopper would have to go out of their way to buy a jiu-jitsu gi that is not IBJJF compliant, provided they’re mindful of the color rules. Since this is your first gi, we recommend you follow two rules: spend as little money as you can and buy a gi that includes a white belt with a black tip.

There are a few ways to save money.

  • Don’t pay more than $100 for your first gi, especially when a high-quality gi can be purchased for less than $60 with free shipping. We recommend using Amazon Prime, so if the gi doesn’t fit, you can return it for free. Not an Amazon Prime member? No worries; that’s why we make friends. No friends? Then pay close attention to the sizing charts and the reviews. While most gi manufacturers have similar sizing profiles, there are outliers, so be warned.
  • Don’t pay more than $100. Yes, we already said this, but many will ignore the advice because a blue belt on the interwebs told them otherwise. Here’s the deal: the hottest $400 gi is not going to make you any better at jiu-jitsu or make you any better looking, but it will make you look like someone who fell for a good marketing strategy or bad advice.
  • Buy a used gi. If you’re poor or have ever been poor, you’re already a step ahead of us. Look at eBay and Mercari for deals, but keep in mind that you may have to buy a belt separately.

  • Buy from your local academy. Not only does this show support, many times you will get a quality gi at a fraction of the price of retail, and it will likely already have patches.

  • Ask your coaches if they know of any good deals. Any practitioner with more than three to four years of experience is inundated daily with emails offering discounts, coupons, and clearance items. It is likely that a gi manufacturer has closeout models on sale at a 50% discount or higher.


Summary

So what did we learn? History is cool, know the rules, save money, and don't listen to people with more money than sense.


* Photo credit: IBJJF and International Judo Federation website


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