What to Wear for BJJ

Nothing can be more exciting than wearing your BJJ gear and working out in your first session. Whether you are a beginner or a BJJ pro, there’s a gear checklist that will help you put together the best gear that you’ll need and want. 

You might have heard about its benefits in some videos, or been introduced to them by a friend who convinced you to get BJJ. Nonetheless, you made the right choice! 

Through this article, you will explore the traditional and non-traditional BJJ gear and style. Read further and get to know its amazing details. 

Protective Gear:

Let’s begin with the protective gear required for BJJ. It’s a common string between traditional and non-traditional BJJ, and also the most important part. 

1. Mouth Guards 

Since BJJ is a 100% contact sport, protection must be a priority while training or when competing in events. Although training is not about striking, there are some takedowns, and you always try to keep the opponent close. So accidents might happen, and protection is necessary. 

To protect yourself, it is imperative to wear a mouth guard, an important accessory that helps prevent injuries. The quality depends on the type and brand of the mouth guard. Mouth guards are made of rubber or a thermoplastic material. Also, it’s not mandatory to wear a mouth guard all the time during training. You can take breaks and use it later for optimal protection. 

2. Headgear

What if your outer ear gets swollen or bruised? An accidental strike or pulling the head out of chokeholds can lead to cauliflower ear. It causes friction, leading to the skin separating from the cartilage. 

Consequently, the ear looks mangled due to the calcification of blood filling up the cartilage and skin. Cauliflower ear is not only painful but doesn’t look good and can impede hearing. To prevent this condition, ensure using headgear or ear protectors. 

3. Groin Protectors

We highly recommend using groin protectors, as the groin is highly exposed in a variety of BJJ techniques and movements. It is very easy for a foot or knee to plant in an area where you least want it! 

Groin supporters come with support or the cup standalone. Make sure to get a good supporter for the cup as it ensures a snug fit to the body. This is especially important because if the cup shifts to a wrong position, the groin protector can transform into a groin assaulter. 

4. Knee Pads

While practicing BJJ, you will obviously put a strain on your knees. This happens because of regular landing, posturing, and twisting on them. Besides, popped kneecaps and bruised knees are not new in BJJ.

To prevent this, you must use knee pads or knee braces. When looking for knee pads or knee braces, look for something that is low key and flexible. Besides, not every knee pad is available in a pair. Review your order before making the payment. 

Traditional BJJ Attire: 

The BJJ Gi, often known as the Jiu-Jitsu Kimono, is for the traditional training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In Japanese, the word ‘gi’ is derived from ‘keikogi’ or ‘dogi,’ which means uniform in training. It is essential to own a ‘gi’ made for BJJ, as there are other ‘gis’ available for various martial arts. 

BJJ Gi is made from a tough material that is durable yet lightweight. It comprises a jacket and pants. 

BJJ Belt

Besides the Gi, the BJJ attire comprises a belt. It is more than a fashion statement and is used to tie the Gi jacket, to keep it in place. A belt also signifies expertise and ranking within the BJJ. Beginners start with a white belt and continue through blue, purple, brown, and black. The ranking system is different for children. 

You can wrap the BJJ belt around the waist and still have enough length to tie it off. The belt usually contains a black bar on one end where the stripes indicate the progress in between belt levels. Choose the same size for your belt as your ‘gi’. 

Non-Traditional BJJ Attire:

Practicing BJJ without a costume has become increasingly popular and more respected than before. The style of BJJ that uses ‘gi’ as the uniform is the ‘No-gi Jiu-Jitsu.’ The attire for no-gi practitioners includes rash guards and grappling shorts. Let’s know more about them.  

Grappling Shorts

We also know grappling shorts as MMA shorts, fight shorts, and Vale Tudo Shorts. They are important for no-gi BJJ. These shorts are perfect for the techniques and movements of BJJ. 

Grappling shorts don’t slide off easily, so there’s no need to worry about holds, grabs, and pulls. They allow for flexibility and do not contain any metal objects like zippers that might cause damage to you or your opponent. There are two different styles of these shorts, while one looks similar to a loose board short, the other, i.e., the Vale Tudo style is generally fitter. 

Rash Guards

Rash guards are essential for BJJ. Often made of a moisture-wicking material, a rash guard helps draw moisture away from the body, leaving a cooling effect. It also provides thermal insulation for easy airflow, which creates cooling around the torso and arms. In addition, rash guards limit skin to skin contact, thus preventing skin-borne diseases. You can also wear them under the ‘gi’. 

Conclusion:

You might want to be a professional fighter or just want to get in better shape. Irrespective of the reason to join BJJ, buying a professional gear will help you stay motivated and committed. 

When you invest in accessories and ‘gi’, you automatically feel compelled to take action and perform at your full capacity. By learning BJJ, you will not only get a healthy body but also learn valuable self-defense techniques. Just ensure to stay comfortable with a perfectly sized ‘gi’ and protective gear.