BJJ Gi Buyers Guide | All You Need To Know

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Buying a BJJ gi is relatively simple, once you know what you’re looking for.

There’s nothing worse than buying a gi and it’s the wrong size, or it’s uncomfortable, or just plain wrong.

If you’re in a hurry, you can jump to my recommended products or head over to Tatami where they’ve got a bunch of sales on at the moment.

In this post, we’ll look at:

1. When you should buy a new gi and how much you should pay for it
2. How many gis you should own and how long they should last
3. How heavy your gi should be and what color you should buy
4. How to measure yourself for the perfect fit and what size gi is best for you
5. Finally, what to wear under your gi

ALSO READ: How To Wash Your Jiu-Jitsu Gi Without Shrinking It

When Should You Buy A New GI?

Buying a new gi is awesome! I’d have a new one every week if it was up to me.

So I use the following criteria for deciding when I need a new gi (use it, don’t use it):

1. Firstly, do I have a gi? If no, buy a gi.
2. Does my gi still fit? If no, buy a gi.
3. Can I get the stink out of my gi in the wash? If no, buy a gi.
4. Is my gi torn or worn through? If yes, buy a gi.
5. Do I train more than one day in a row? If yes, buy a gi.
6. Do I compete? If yes, buy a gi.

That last one is important.

It’s always best to take two gis to a tournament, preferably two different sizes.

Tournament refs measure your gi to avoid short sleeves and pants that are hard to grip.

Having a gi that’s close to the limit and one that’s larger than necessary ensures you never get turned away because your gi doesn’t make the cut.

How Much Does A Jiu-Jitsu Gi Cost?

The price of gis fluctuates widely, from as little as $65 to as much as $199. You could pay even more for brands that do custom designs. Going any cheaper than $65 isn’t worth it, the fabric simply doesn’t last. A good quality gi that you can use for both training and competition should cost around $100.

Paying any more than $90 – $150 for a gi is more about style than it is practical.

Best BJJ Gi Under $80

Best BJJ Gi Under $100

How Many Gis Should You Own?

How many gis you own depends mostly on how often you train. If you train every other day, one gi should be enough because you’d have enough time between training sessions to wash and dry it properly. If you train on consecutive days, it’s best to have at least 2 gis to alternate between sessions.

Having said this, most of my teammates own many more gis than they actually need.

With all the amazing gi designs currently out there, it’s difficult NOT to want your own collection of gis.

How Long Does A Gi Last?

If you train 1 – 2 days a week, your gis should last up to 5 years or longer. But what if you train more often?

Here’s a useful guide for how long a good quality gi should last:

Days Per Week	Average Gi Usage
1 – 2	Up to 5 years
3 – 5	2 – 3 years
6 – 7	1 – 2 years

How long your gi lasts depends on the following factors:

1. The quality of your gi
2. How often you train
3. How well you take care of your gi

If you’re able to cycle between multiple gis, this will help to extend the life of each of your gis.

7 Things To Consider When Choosing Your BJJ Gi

Here are the basic factors to consider when looking for your next gi:

#1 What Is Your BJJ Gi Size?

Use this guide to decide which size works for you:

Size	Weight	Height
A0	132 – 155 lbs 60 – 70 kg	5’4″ – 5’6″ 162 – 168 cm
A1	154 – 170 lbs 70 – 77 kg	5’5″ – 5’7″ 165 – 170 cm
A2	170 – 192 lbs 77 – 87 kg	5’7″ – 5’10” 170 – 178 cm
A3	192 – 220 lbs 87 – 100 kg	5’10” – 6’2″ 178 – 188 cm
A4	220 – 253 lbs 100 – 115 kg	6’1″ – 6’4″ 185 – 193 cm
A5	253 – 287 lbs 115 – 130 kg	6’2″ – 6’5″ 188 – 195 cm
A6	287 – 320 lbs 130 – 145 kg	6’4″ – 6’7″ 193 – 200 cm

ALSO READ: [Calculator] Find Out How Many Calories You Burn Doing Jiu-Jitsu

#2 How Does Your Gi Fit?

The only thing worse than drowning in an oversized gi, is a tight gi that doesn’t let you move.

The gi sizes above aren’t always going to work, because some 6-foot guys for example are much skinnier than others.

Use this guide to make sure your next gi fits correctly:

How To Measure Your Gi Jacket And Pants

The main parts you’ll want to measure to ensure your gi jacket fits perfectly are:

1. Wingspan – Wrist to wrist
2. Length – Below your butt to your neck
3. Chest – Armpit to armpit

Similarly, you’ll want to ensure your gi pants fit perfectly too:

1. Waist – Side to side
2. Length – Ankle to waist
3. Hips – Hip to hip

Gi Measurements Chart

Now that you have your measurements, use the following chart to pick the perfect fitting gi for you:

Size	Jacket	Pants
A0	Wingspan: 157cm Length: 74cm Chest: 53cm	Waist: 50cm Hips: 54cm Length: 94cm
A1	Wingspan: 158cm Length: 75cm Chest: 54cm	Waist: 54cm Hips: 58cm Length: 96cm
A2	Wingspan: 165cm Length: 78cm Chest: 56cm	Waist: 56cm Hips: 61cm Length: 99cm
A3	Wingspan: 170cm Length: 82cm Chest: 61cm	Waist: 59cm Hips: 64cm Length: 102cm
A4	Wingspan: 178cm Length: 86cm Chest: 65cm	Waist: 62cm Hips: 67cm Length: 106cm
A5	Wingspan: 187cm Length: 90cm Chest: 68cm	Waist: 64cm Hips: 69cm Length: 109cm
A6	Wingspan: 192cm Length: 92cm Chest: 72cm	Waist: 67cm Hips: 72cm Length: 112cm

ALSO READ: [Ultimate Career Guide] How To Make Money In Jiu-Jitsu Without A Gym

Are Your Gi Sleeves The Right Length?

To avoid overly short gi sleeves that are difficult for your training partners to grip, the IBJJF has ruled that there should be a maximum gap of 5cm (2 inches) between your wrist joint and the start of your gi cuff:

Are Your Gi Pants The Right Length?

You’re also required to have a maximum of 5cm (2 inches) gap between your ankle bone and your pant cuff:

#3 Which BJJ Gi Weave Is Best?

When deciding what type of BJJ gi you want to buy, you should consider the weave as well.

Especially if you’re competing, some types of weave are illegal in BJJ competition.

The weave also determines the weight of your gi, because some have more cotton per square inch which makes it heavier.

Below are the types of BJJ gi weaves currently available:

#4 How Much Does Your Gi Weigh?

The weave of your gi is what determines its weight. The more material per square inch, the more your gi will weigh. Most BJJ gis weigh between 3 lbs (1.4kg) and 5 lbs (2.3kg). Competition gis can be as light as 2 lbs (0.9kg), which helps when you’re trying to cut weight.

If you’re only training Jiu-Jitsu as a hobby, don’t worry too much about the weight of your gi.

It’s all about what’s comfortable, and what you can train in for hours at a time.

#5 What Is The Best BJJ Gi Cut?

There are two main gi cuts on the market, fitted and classic.

Fitted BJJ Gi Cut

The fitted cut is the most comfortable type of gi, they feel almost custom-made if you find the right size.

If you’re competing, make sure that your fitted gi sticks to tournament rules because they can get very close to the limits of IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) regulations.

Fitted BJJ gis are more difficult to grip because they have less excess fabric to grab, so they tend to be more geared towards advanced BJJ practitioners.

Classic BJJ Gi Cut

Classic fit gis are the most common gi cut on the market.

All gi manufacturers will make classic fit gis as standard because they fit most people well and tend to be IBJJF approved.

If you’re new to BJJ, the classic cut gi is for you.

How Tight Should Your BJJ Gi Be?

If you’re simply training BJJ as a hobby, your gi can be as tight as you want (within reason).

More officially, the IBJJF have ruled that there should be a minimum of 7cm gap between your arm or leg, and your gi.

Again, this is to avoid your gi being too tight for your opponent or training partner to grip.

#6 What Color Gi Should You Get?

Choosing your gi color is very much a personal choice, but there are a few factors to consider. The most important factor is how your gi will age. Normally blue and black gis will age slightly better than white gis because they tend to show stains and fabric damage quite easily.

White gis also tend to be more work to maintain, especially if you’re looking to keep it looking white for longer.

If you’re like me, you probably have one in every color, because why not?

Does The Color of Your GI Matter In BJJ?

Competitors must stick to the standard white, blue, and black gis for competition. You can get turned away at a tournament if your gi color is wrong, so always check tournament rules before showing up. If you don’t compete, the color of your gi doesn’t matter at all.

In fact, you get to choose from a HUGE range of really cool and colorful gis.

Like these awesome NASA themed gis, or even pink if that’s your thing.

Can You Wear A Black GI Or Is It Disrespectful?

Some people get confused between black gis and black belts.

It’s absolutely disrespectful to wear a black belt if you’re not one, but it’s fine to wear a black gi – even as a white belt. Black gis are relatively new, since white and blue have always been more traditionally accepted. However, black gis have become just as common in gyms and even in competition.

Here are the 3 main gi colors used in BJJ, but they’re by no means the only options on the market:

White BJJ Gi

These are the best-selling white gis currently on the market.

Their prices do change over time, so I recommend checking their prices on Amazon (links below):

Black BJJ Gis

Black gis are great for hiding dirt and sweat stains that would make lighter color gis discolor over time.

Blue BJJ Gis

In my opinion, there are two types of BJJ practitioners.

Those who OWN a blue gi and those who WILL own a blue gi.

It’s the workhorse gi, the one you’ll always see in competition or worn by coaches at your gym.

#7 Which Gi Design Is Best?

The design of your gi refers to the gi branding and patches you might add later on.

Again, for competition, it’s best to keep your design simple (while only using black, blue, or white gis).

Especially if you want to add team or promotional patches, which according to IBJJF are only acceptable in the following areas:

If you’re a hobbyist, feel free to get as creative with your gi design as you want.

Some modern BJJ gis have designs inside them, so you can get really nerdy with it.

Here’s an awesome Samurai Gi by SHOGUN:

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