For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the most important component of the gear is its uniform called GI. It is an ultra-lightweight garment which is typically a general uniform of all kinds of martial arts. In fact, it is like armor to the body of the fighter. There are several types of GI in the market all of which have various traits to look at. GI’s are made of best comforting and lasting material. There are a couple of points to note before buying a BJJ GI. The points look in the best BJJ GI are the fabric of the GI, the size of the GI, the durability of the GI, the shrinking trait of the GI, and the weight of the GI. Following are the available Best BJJ GI in the market.
Best BJJ GI
Gold BJJ Jiu Jitsu Gi – Ultra Strong Gold Weave
Not many manufacturers make it past the giants that have been in the business for far too long but Gold BJJ are the ones that have proved this statement to be false in the case for good quality gis. This is gi that is versatile enough to be used in tournaments and daily practice alike. The brand has taken the market by surprise with their product because of its simple yet effective quality and performance
Their Gold weave BJJ GI is considered to be the best because of superior durability and amazing feel. Gold BJJ, Jiu Jitsu Gi is outfitted with an eye-popping sugar skull pattern, Inspired by Dia de Los Muertos. This Gi comes with gi pants that are ripstop but at the same time Ultra light and more breathable than traditional cotton gi pants. This Gi is also available on Gold BJJ website.
Sanabul Essentials V.2
Sanabul is a very renowned company that produces best BJJ products. This GI is one of the latest Sanabul designs which is claimed to be light-weight which means that the fighter will not be burden by the weight of the GI. The fabric of this GI is preshrunk which means the GI will not shrink after its first wash as usually other GI’s do. New fighters usually mistake at this point as they are not aware of this quality.
This GI has the anti-microbial and anti-odor quality which makes it one of the best choices in the market. This GI keeps fungal infections and bacteria away after a sweaty fight. Also it is very durable so once it is bought then the fighter does not have to worry about buying another GI for a long time. One good thing about Sanabul Essential V.2 GI is that it is cheap in price.
Flow Kimono Air
This GI is made of cotton pearl weave that has the trait of extreme light-weight. It is comfortable and breathable so the fighter will be at ease while fighting and training. The pearl weaved fabric makes this GI very durable and last longing. This GI is also preshrunk, so the person owning this GI does not have to worry about shrinking problem.
Fuji All-Around
One of the most sold GI on the market. It is not very light-weighted but it is not problematic as the cotton blend in the fabric is very comfortable that makes it very easy to move while fighting. This is a very durable GI and is claimed to last longer than any other GI. The fabric of this GI is cotton made. The price of this GI is a bit more expensive than the others.
Tatami Zero G V3 GI White A3
The Tatami Zero G V3 GI is one of the lightest GI in the world. It is specially made for professional athletes as it is one the best GIs in terms of durability. It is made of pearl weaved material. This GI also has the trait of anti-moisturizing effect so it does it get all sweating while fighting or training. This GI does not lack behind in terms of style and affordability, it has everything to offer for a complete GI gear.
Hayabusa Shinju 3.0
Hayabusa is a very well-known BJJ product producing company with very remarkable gear components. The Hayabusa Shinju 3.0 is as tough as it comes and it very light-weighted. It is very durable and it is designed to last long. The fabric of this GI is pearl weaved cotton which makes is really comfortable and easy to move in. It is available in multiple colors and is fairly affordable.
Best BJJ Gi brands
The world of BJJ gis is really big. There are many great jiu jitsu gi brands out there. Obviously, they all case to be the “best”. However, what is the „best” is relative to everyone’s personal preferences, previous experiences, etc. Still, below you will find some really amazing brands producing BJJ gis.
Kingz
Kingz Kimono’s are now one of the most respected BJJ Gi & Jiu Jitsu brands in the market. Since opening in 2011 Kingz provides customers with a variety of different gis. They sell both male, female and children’s gis in a lot of colors, types of weaves, etc. Kingz offices are in the U.S. and the UK, because of that, they can ship their products directly to you no matter where you are in Europe.
Why choose Kingz? They say their BJJ gis are different and they innovate, experiment, test, and then test again. Kingz gis are also good quality and can last really long. The design of them it’s simple but nice. Also, they have an eye for detail, Kingz gis are well finished. Price range: 80 to 150 Euros. They’ve got sizes for females from F0 to F5 and for men from A0 to A4, but with special height and large options, for people with less standard body type.
Tatami
Tatami is the other well-known gi brand in the market today. Tatami Fightwear was established in 2009 with the goal of addressing the need for high-quality Jiu Jitsu products at affordable prices. From day one they wanted to develop innovative products and support the growth of the sport and make it accessible to a wide-ranging audience.
They currently have a very large selection of various BJJ gis for men, women, and children in a variety of different color schemes to choose from. In their offer, they have basic gis, as well as more fancy ones, whit kinda decorative, artsy collars and insides. Right now they even got Slayer inspired Gi.
They ship worldwide and prices range from 50 to 120 pounds. For men, they got gis from size A0 to A5 with special large options. For women, sizes are limited to the only F1 to F4.
Venum
Venum is another strong and kinda iconic BJJ gi brand operating since 2005. As they say, Venum has something unique to offer, something original, sometimes provocative – but at the same time authentic, like the fighters. The Venum adventure has grown steadily since its creation and continues to expand worldwide.
The company is known for extreme quality and high attention to comfort. They got high-quality BJJ Gis for men, women, and kids. They have a slightly smaller selection of gis models than previous brands. Mostly they have basic ones, but you can also find some fancier limited gis in Venum offer.
Venum provides Gis in different sizes from A0 to A4, C0 to C3 and F1 to F4, in various colors and prices (80 to even 220 Euros). They got three warehouses in strategic locations: Paris, France (Europe), Los Angeles, CA, USA (North America), Hong Kong, China (Asia) and they ship worldwide.
Fuji
Last, but for sure not least – Fuji Sports founded in 1969. The company’s foundation is based on history and tradition. Fuji has become one of the best jiu jitsu gi brands, as well as one of the most recognized brands in BJJ over the past 50 years. Fuji’s products are high quality that is built to last. The company puts an extreme focus on quality, functionality, and affordability.
They provide gis for men, women, and kids. The design is elegant and simple. However, you can still be a little bit crazy with Fuji’s gis, because, for example, they got a pink one. Unfortunately, there are no many types of gis, they got only a few models.
Fuji’s gis came in a very wide range of sizes. For men, it’s A0 to A6, with special height and large options. It is one of the few brands with equally wide sizes for women. Female sizes also start from W0 and end in W6. Prices range from 100 to 180 dollars and they ship worldwide.
History of the BJJ Gi
The Gi wasn’t invented for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was, instead, invented for a highly related martial art that is considered as the main ancestor of BJJ. This is the martial art of Judo. The story goes that the founder of this martial art, Jigoro Kano. Thought of the idea of providing his students with a unique piece of clothing. This was all the way back in the 1800s. He made the link between the facts that Judo’s techniques require grabbing and that the human skin isn’t exactly highly grabbable. Also, regular clothes tend to tear themselves apart under the devastating pulling and pushing pressure that can be developed by a Judo practitioner over them.
So, Jigoro Kano created the first prototype of the Gi as we know it today. He was heavily inspired by the Japanese traditional clothing – the kimono. The first version of the Gi for Judo had longer sleeves at the legs and arms and was a bit baggier. Also, Jigoro Kano used heavy materials for the purpose of resisting the aforementioned pressure that the practitioners apply on the garments. And this is how the original Gi was created.
After a while, the martial art of Judo was taught by Mitsuo Maeda to some Brazilian students – the most important of them being the Gracies. They, in turn, started the early process of development of what is known today as the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Gi underwent some changes. It became a lot slimmer and tight around the limbs. This is the version of the BJJ Gi as we know it today.
BJJ GI – Important element of training Jiu-Jitsu
BJJ schools follow the code set by the earliest practitioners of this martial art. And one of the most important elements of the code is that the practitioners have to wear a Bjj Gi. This is the uniform, so to speak, of all the BJJ practitioners. But the Gi isn’t only specific to the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The practitioners of many other martial arts and sports also use it. Below you will find out some more information about the history and other interesting facts about BJJ’s garment – the Gi.
Getting your own Best BJJ GI
As you may know, capitalism has its good sides and bad sides. The good side is that if there is demand – there is supply. The explosion of the popularity of martial arts such as Judo and BJJ had a dramatic influence on the market. Many companies started creating and selling Gis. This means that you won’t find it a hard task to buy a Gi that you can use for BJJ practice and tournaments. However, the bad side of capitalism is that you can’t always trust the suppliers. They may try to swindle you out of your money while selling you a subpar product.
In all cases, not all BJJ Gis are created of equal quality. Some can be torn by just pulling on them for a while at the weak areas. Others are all but bulletproof and will serve you for years without ever tearing. The main advice that we can give you is that the price is one of the best advisors when it comes to the quality of the Gi. The higher the price – the better the quality, though this is not always the case.
You may want to look for brand names as well. Finally, you can ask some of the more knowledgeable practitioners on where to get a quality Gi. Your instructor will usually be able to tell you where you can get one such Gi. Just be careful, as some instructors are known to swindle their students by selling them low-quality Gis for high prices. In the end, your best bet is to learn more about the process of determining the quality of clothing – including the Gi. If you know this, then you’re much less likely to make a mistake.
How to Choose the Best BJJ GI
The factors in choosing your BJJ gi is one of the most crucial aspects of your practices, especially if you are going for competitions or tournaments. You would need gi that is durable, easy to work in and is approved by the competition authorities since most people are not aware that they are a thing when it comes to the competitive scene. Selecting your BJJ gi without any research is like going into battle without a weapon but we can solve this issue by looking into some things that can determine what BJJ is best for you. Given below are the factors that you should consider when purchasing the best BJJ Gi.
The Cost
The first thing that you would need to consider is your budget, the more money you have, the higher the quality of the gi you will be getting. BJJ gi can cost about $50 to $300 or more, it all comes down to the material used in their making and the brand that puts it out. Other factors include the thickness of the collars, design and sometimes the colors but material plays a huge role here. The gis that is marketed as being made from Hemp or Brazilian Cotton go for more than your usual gis, similarly, the gis that comes from other places like Pakistan cost less.
The brand can also influence the cost of the gi because they have been in the business for long and have made a big name for themselves amongst the BJJ community, these are also called specialty brands and their products are costly but the quality they have is amongst the best. If you are unable to get a BJJ gi then you can opt to go for Judo Gi as they are cheaper; make sure that the selection you make is IBJJF approve so that you can compete in it.
Weave Types
The strength and durability of the gi you select will be determined by the material and the weave. There are different types of weaves that make up the gis and each one has their own cost, mobility, weight, and advantages. Determining the type of weave, you want is crucial for your own techniques, there are many types of weaves but let us take look at the description of some of the most common ones:
Single Weave
One of the least expensive weave but it is great for hot weather as it is pretty lightweight. However, it is not very durable as it has only 300 to 550 gsm and your opponents can grab a hold of it easier.
Double Weave
A double weave is simply two single weaves combined, thereby making it more durable and denser. This will also prevent the opponents from latching onto it easily but the downside to it is that it retains heat, especially rough on the skin in hot weather, and is heavier which impacts mobility.
Gold Weave
A gold weave is a double weave that is relatively lightweight, making it the middle ground between double and single weaves. Gold weave also tends to shrink more as they are pretty loose but the 500 – 1050 gsm makes them very strong and consistent.”
The Size of the Gi
Knowing the size of your gi is as much important as knowing the material since it is also one of the major factors that the authorities look into for competitions, if the gi you have on does not fit the size description then you can’t participate in the competition. It is also worth mentioning that the gis shrinks down to 10% in size after you wash them, so select one that is not too tight when you initially wear it otherwise it will be too tight, add discomfort and possible restrict your movement.
Each company has a size chart for their own gis and reading it can be confusing as they use an alphanumeric system but it becomes clear when you know what the alphabets and numbers stand for. The letters A, F, and M represent Adult, Female and Children respectively, the numbers range from 0 to 6. There are also size variations including S, H, L, XL which represent Short, Husky, Long and Extra Long respectively.
Collars and Sleeves
The collar and sleeves are another things to consider since they can impact your performance when you are sparring or training. The sleeves of your gi should not hang loose since it can get in the way if you extend your limbs leading to some sort of entanglement. When it comes to the collar, then there is some gis that has a thicker one and a thinner one; a thicker collar makes it harder for your opponent to submit you with a collar choke while the thinner collars are more comfortable to wear and allow for easier rolling. There are also two materials make up the collar of the gi, most gis is made up of cotton while some are filled with rubber. The advantage of the rubber filling is that they are faster to dry and reduce the growth of mold on the gi.
Competition Legal BJJ Gi
Color
If you are planning on purchasing a gi that you want to use for tournaments, then you would need one that is approved by the IBJJF. There are a set of rules that the gi needs to abide by if you are to use it competitively; it is done so that everyone can be on equal ground and not have any sort of advantage. One of the rules is the color, you cannot have a gi that has a different color other than white, black or royal blue and also the collar should not have a contrasting color.
Fabric
The fabric that the gi should be made of is cotton or a cotton hybrid weave, it should not be too think to prevent your opponent from gripping it, the sleeve should be wide enough to allow 4 fingers to be slipped easily, must reach the wrist and should be 5 cm away from it when you stretch out your arms while the trousers should reach the ankles. An exception for the material comes for juvenile adult and masters categories where the gi jackets should be made out of a woven fabric, the trousers either out of cotton twill or a ripstop fabric and the collars either with EVA or another rubber fabric.
Check also:
- Best BJJ Knee Brace 2018
- Cheap BJJ GI for Everyone’s Pocket
- Best BJJ Books for Beginners 2018
- Affordable Jiu Jitsu Mats for Home
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