As a beginner to Jiu Jitsu, you might have many questions rushing into your head. Choosing the right gi is one of the biggest decisions a jiu jitsu practitioner can make outside of choosing which gym or school to train at. You might be wondering about the color, the material that is used, or the weave pattern. This article aims to put an end to your confusion and guide you in selecting the best beginner gi.
Understanding Gi Weaves
The weaves can pretty much give you an idea about which type of BJJ uniform is best for you. A weave of the fabric is the pattern in which threads are interwoven with the weft yarns. Here's a breakdown of common weaves:
- Single Weave: Single weave gi weighs around 500g and has a smooth feel. If you’re a beginner looking for your first gi, going with a normal single weave is likely going to be your best option. Single weave gis are common, cheap and light. They won’t last forever, but they’re easy enough to replace (possibly with something nicer) after you’ve been in jiu jitsu for long enough to tear them.
- Double Weave: The double weave jiu jitsu gi is heavier, weighing around 1300g. Double weave gis are exactly what you’d think based on their name. They’re literally twice as thick and heavy as the single weave gis, which makes them much more durable, warmer, and much more expensive. A problem with double weave gi is that it can be very rough on the skin in hot weather. One thing to keep in mind when purchasing a double weave gi is also that they tend to take longer to dry because of their thickness.
- Pearl Weave: This is one of the most popular materials used in the production of lightweight gis. Elite Sports uses the pearl weave fabric in all our gis. It allows significant airflow so training in summer is not a problem.
- Gold Weave: The gold weave material’s density is neither too heavy nor too light. This type of gi material is durable and comfortable to train. Other weaves, such as pearl, honeycomb, and gold weaves tend to provide the durability and strength of a double weave but with the lightness of a single weave.
The Importance of Fit
Arguably the most important part about choosing the right gi is finding one that fits you as it should. Wearing a perfectly fitted BJJ gi makes sure that your opponent doesn’t take any unfair advantage. Whenever you buy a BJJ uniform, make sure that it allows you to move freely in any direction. Although gis can fit as loose or tight as the wearer would like, it’s important to keep in mind that extra material means more space for a training partner or opponent to grab on to when attempting to use your own gi against you in the form of control or a choke. On the other hand, the length of a gi is imperative if you intend to compete or train at a serious academy.
So how do you pick the right size gi? With sizes ranging from I (for “infant”) to A (for “adult”) and a numerical system from the smallest 0 to the massive 6, there are gis for all sizes and shapes. Elite Sports has simplified the process of picking just the right gi size. Although each gi from each company may fit a little differently, many brands offer size charts to find exactly which option will likely work best for you. One other thing to keep in mind is that although many gis are at least somewhat pre-shrunk, they will often still shrink at least a little when washed and often quite a bit when machine dried. Most of the BJJ gis are now made with pre-shrunk cotton. Another option available in the market is shrink-to-fit gis. A major reason behind why you should always buy a pre-shrunk gi is that the other one might fit you properly no matter how many times you have washed it.
Durability and Reinforcement
One of the most important aspects of a gi is durability, and - although that can be affected by the weave, how you train, and how you care for your gi - most of it comes down to a handful of weak spots in every gi. You would be rolling, grabbing, releasing yourself aggressively while practicing jiu jitsu. As a beginner, you couldn’t efficiently test the strength of a gi. Spots like the cuffs of sleeves and pant legs, knees, armpits, inseams, belt loops, and the edges of the gi top should all be heavily reinforced with extra stitching and layers to prevent premature tearing. If even the cheapest gi doesn’t have that, it’s probably not worth it.
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One other aspect where material can matter on a gi is in the collar fill. As any jiu jitsu practitioner can tell you, the collar of a gi is one of the most important spots, and what the collar is filled with can change its size, shape, and durability.
IBJJF Compliance
You might be familiar with what IBJJF is. IBJJF has some special gi requirements to make sure the integrity of competitions is maintained. The list of rules is very detailed and only a BJJ professional can understand it properly. For instance, if your gi is shorter from the sleeves or pants then your opponent faces a hard time grabbing you. Yes, all our gis are made according to the IBJJF requirements.
Choosing the Right Color
You can buy a gi in pretty much any imaginable color, but there are limitations to what most competitions and some formal gyms will allow. As cool as a green, pink, or yellow gi may look, the safest choices as far as legality goes are black, blue, or the classic white.
Elite Sports BJJ Gi
There may be hundreds of brands out there producing BJJ gis. But, what makes Elite Sports gi stand out from others is that we design our BJJ kimonos under the close guidance of BJJ professionals.
Our ultimate BJJ gi is designed to make you stand out from the competitors. On your chest seam, an elegantly designed patch is attached. All the patches are embroidered according to the IBJJF uniform rules. The Elite Sports essential BJJ gi for men comes in preshrunk fabric and is true to fitting. This GI comes with an American or Mexican flag rashguard with a dye-sublimated design. Contrasting and reinforced stitching in seams ensures durability and strength. The Elite Sports Core BJJ gi for women is one of a kind. This BJJ gi is specially designed to fit perfectly according to the women’s body frame. We also produce top-of-the-line jiu jitsu gi for women. Made from pearl weave fabric.
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A lot of parents enroll their kids in a BJJ academy because of the vast range of benefits BJJ has for kids. Elite Sports solve this problem. It’s available in every size, from the smallest of kids to the largest of adults.
Additional Tips
The last thing any BJJ practitioner would want is to show up at the gym smelling bad or with a fungal infection from their gi. However, you can easily wash and dry your gi in a machine.
When it comes down to it, shopping for a jiu jitsu gi has no catch-all solution. The important thing when choosing a gi is realizing what’s most appropriate for what you need it for. If you’re a beginner looking to find your first gi, it’s probably best to find a cheap option that can get you through the beginning stages until you know enough to see what type of gi (or gis) you’d ultimately like to obtain. It’s important to remember that your first gi may not be perfect, and thus it’s totally acceptable to pick one up through an online retailer with the help of a size guide. For a gi you may be purchasing later in your jiu jitsu journey, it’s worth considering what’s most important to you in a gi. If you’re looking to compete and concerned with making weight, having a lightweight gi to throw on before weighing in can help on the scale. Do you need a reliable, durable, and stylish gi to practice in? Regardless of what you’re looking for, there’s a gi to meet your needs and price range.
To begin training, any kimono is suitable, buy a gi that fits and you’re good to go.
Top Pick: Fuji All Around Gi
Simply put, you can’t go wrong with the Fuji All Around as your first gi. I’m seriously impressed with the Fuji All Around gi. At this price range I would expect cost-cutting and inferior materials. The opposite appears to be true. It is made to very high standards, fits great, feels comfy to roll in and the great price makes this an absolute bargain in my opinion. I started with the Fuji All Around gi and at my size (5’0″, ~110lbs/~50kg), I actually use a kids C2. And besides, in the end, the gi really doesn’t matter.
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