How to Fold BJJ Gi

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it's a highly energetic, and systematic form of combat sports. The art is extremely complex to learn, with its endless series of strategic movements. It takes countless hours on the training mats, blood, sweat, and tears, to reach the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. To make things even harder athletes will need to learn two different variations of BJJ, the Gi and the No Gi disciplines. Students will often wonder how should a jiu jitsu gi fit, as they navigate their way through an extremely complicated, and diverse Martial Art. There is something formidable about putting on a Gi for the first time, and tying a belt around a student's waist, as it is almost like putting on Samurai armour. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu did derive from ancient forms of Samurai fighting, so the notion of embodying the warrior spirit is highly inspiring. 

What this article covers:

• What Is a BJJ Gi 
• Different Types of Jiu Jitsu Gi's
• Proper Hygiene Practices
• The Best Way to Store a Gi

Wearing a Gi takes an extremely disciplined mind, as the stifling nature of the heavy garment can be overwhelming at times. Learning how to deal with an extremely course, and abrasive uniform takes a serious amount of time and patience. The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi can be a formidable weapon when the student knows how to use it correctly. On the flip side, the Gi must also be cared for, and nurtured, just like a Samurai would sharpen their swords. If the Gi is a weapon, then it must be treated with respect, cleaned properly, and folded and stored correctly. Students that disrespect the Gi still need maturity, and have a lot to learn if they want to become symbiotic with their Gi uniform.

3X Judo Olympian Travis Stevens is a BJJ black belt with all the knowledge you need to perfect your ground techniques in both Judo and BJJ.  Get the best of both worlds at BJJFanatics.com!

WHAT IS A BJJ GI 

The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi is a uniform designed specifically for training in the grappling arts. The Gi consists of a heavy cotton jacket, a pair of reinforced drawstring trousers, and tied together with a belt that showcases a students' rank within the art. The word Gi derives from the Japanese word keikogi, which loosely translates into ceremonial clothing. In this day, and age the Gi symbolises the modern warrior, as athletes that put on the uniform are heavily guided towards success. The Gi is different to the No Gi version of grappling, as the Gi division allows athletes to grip onto their opponents clothing. Students will use a variety of grips like pant grips, pocket grips, collar grips, lapel grips, and pistol grips just to name a few, and these grips are used to sweep, submit, takedown, control, and pass the guard of their opponents. Training in the Gi can become quite deadly, as athletes are allowed to wrap the lapel around their opponents neck, and brutally choke them. The Gi is a weapon, and can be used for many different types of strangulation. Only athletes that are accustomed to wearing the Gi, will be able to safely navigate through fighting other opponents wearing the Gi uniform. Gi fighting can become extremely hot, and smothering, as athletes have been known to tap out due to asphyxiation. This all may sound extremely deadly, and on one side it is, but on the flipside it can be taught, and learnt in an extremely safe manner, as long as a student does not show signs of stubbornness, they will be fine.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF JIU JITSU GI'S 

Since the beginning of the evolution of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the Gi has gone from one innovation to the next. It began early when Helio Gracie started altering the Judo Gi, soon the difference between judo and jiu jitsu gi became highly apparent. Helio needed to tighten the Gi around the torso of the athlete, to make it harder for an opponent to grab hold of their Gi. Since that evolution the Gi has gone from strength to strength over the course of the last century. Nowadays Gi manufacturers have state of the art technology to help with many aspects within the Gi like durability, breathability, comfort, antifungal and antimicrobial prospects. The first type of Gi to look at is the single weave Gi, which is an extremely lightweight Gi designed specifically for beginners. This Gi is a very affordable choice, with the only real downside is that a single weave Gi can tear easier, and stretch out of shape when put under the intense pressure of a BJJ match.

The double weave Gi is a much thicker weave, which translates into an extremely durable Gi. Many high level athletes wear the double weave Gi, because of its thick exterior, meaning it becomes harder for an opponent to grip hold of the lapel. The double weave is an extremely durable Gi, with the only downside to such good quality, is the extremely high price that it fetches. There are other weaves that are more technologically advanced like the gold weave, and the pearl weave, as they both combine elements from the single, and the double weave. The pearl weave has become one of the premier choices of many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners around the world, due to its extreme durability, while still keeping a lightweight,  and comfortable option. This means that competitors have less weight to cut for any competition they decide to enter. Another weave that has become extremely popular is the aero weave, as this Gi is much like the pearl weave, except with the added bonus of the weave being stitched into a diamond formation, which allows for greater air flow, making this Gi so much cooler in the summer, and a much more comfortable fit all round.

These days most Gi manufacturers put antimicrobial, and antifungal technology into their Gi apparel. This means that an antimicrobial is basically an agent that kills microorganisms, and stops their growth. This is a built in mechanism that helps stop bacteria, and fungi from growing inside of a Gi, which in turn can translate into infections like staph, and ringworm. Air flow technology is another great way that Gi manufacturers can reduce the risk of bacteria festering inside of a Gi, as the athletes that wear these Gi's find them extremely breathable, making for a much more comfortable fit during the warmer months. The evolution of the Gi really has come in leaps and bounds, and everyday more and more research is going into helping further innovation within the construction of Gi technology.

There are many different brands of Gi manufacturers, as famous labels like Tatami, Hayabusa, Hyperfly, and Venom, make extremely durable, comfortable, affordable, and beautiful Gi's. Students that are thinking about purchasing a new Gi will often ask does gi colour matter in bjj, and according to IBJJF standards, they do. The IBJJF will only allow three coloured Gi's for competition, and that is white, black, or royal blue, so if students are thinking about competing they may want to consider one of these three colours. There are other competitions that will allow any type of Gi colour, and students are free to wear whatever colour they want inside their own training academy. These days there is an extremely large range of different coloured Gi's, as every famous brand is trying to market the newest, and hottest prospects in the world.

Customised Gi's are now available to students all over the world, as Gi manufacturers are allowing students to add their own logos to help promote themselves. There are many different creative brands of Gi like Tatami that offer extremely exuberant graphics on their Gi's, in particular a gorilla playing chess. Other Gi brands like Hyperfly have an extensive range of different Gi's that meet the different needs of students. Hyperfly is synonymous with sponsoring athletes, as their brand is growing stronger every day. Most Gi brands will sponsor Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes in a bid to help market their own Gi apparel. Just like Kingz Kimonos, not only do they make Gi's, but rash guards as well, and sponsor the famous No Gi superstar Gordon Ryan. Braus is another exceptional brand of apparel that is an Australian company, but is now reaching all corners of the world. Their innovative manufacturing has seen some of the most affordable, durable, lightweight, and quality Gi's going around. Braus are also major sponsors of many up and coming BJJ athletes, including the Brazilian born Australian champion Roberto Dib Frias.

PROPER HYGIENE PRACTICES 

Hygiene is extremely important when talking about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As scary as it can be, BJJ academies can be a breeding ground for infections like staph, and ringworm. All Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies will extensively clean their mats with disinfectant, and bleach, to make sure that all bacteria is killed off after every single class. The problem is human error, as many students may come to class carrying different types of infections. Some students may not even know they have staph, or ringworm, and will pass it on to other training partners in their academy. This is why it is extremely important to shower before a student comes to training, and make sure they are wearing shoes whilst off of the mats. Otherwise bacteria can be transported from the ground onto the mats. This is an extremely important notion, as students will be face down rolling on the mats, and these germs, and bacteria can infestate a person's skin. The same bacterias will be found underneath a students fingernails, so it is also important to keep all of their nails trimmed, and filed to help decrease the risk of bacteria spreading.

The main carrier of bacteria, and germs, is a BJJ practitioner's Gi. Students must learn how to wash a jiu jitsu gi correctly, so they can stop any growth of bacteria within their Gi. This is also just as important for their BJJ belt, as the belt just like the Gi, will harbour many nasty, and unwanted bacteria. Just like a rash guard, a Gi must be washed in cold water, or it will shrink, so it is important to only set the washing machine to 100 degrees maximum. Normal washing powder, or detergent can be used, along with fabric softener is a good way to get a nicer fresh smell within their Gi, and a softer feel. Once the machine has done its job, the job is not over, as the Gi needs to dry in a correct manner. If a student puts a Gi in the dryer on heat, then this is how to shrink a bjj gi. To avoid any kind of shrinkage, students must hang their Gi's up out of the sun so there is no fade, or stiffness within their Gi. This is the best way to dry a Gi, so it pays to have a few spare Gi's in case it takes a couple of days to dry.

THE BEST WAY TO STORE A GI

Storage can be just as important as cleaning the Gi itself. After a Gi has been washed, and dried it is really important how it is treated. Some students may chuck their Gi in with all the other clean washing, leaving it all crumpled up. Although this has no significant meaning, it can leave the Gi stiff and misshapen. When a Gi is dried, because of how much does a bjj gi weigh, it will naturally dry straight, and in shape. This is a perfect opportunity to respect the Gi, and keep the contours of its shape intact. Students that do this will have a longer lasting Gi, with a comfort level to last through the years. Some students may decide to hang all their Gi's up in their closet, and this is perfectly acceptable. What is always nice to see is a neatly folded Gi, as this is how many students store their Gi's on their shelves. Remember a Gi will always need to be packed into a sports bag, and taken to competition, or training, so it is important that students learn how to fold the Gi correctly.

3X Judo Olympian Travis Stevens is a BJJ black belt with all the knowledge you need to perfect your ground techniques in both Judo and BJJ.  Get the best of both worlds at BJJFanatics.com!

Folding a Gi can be tricky at the best of times, and the main issue that causes a nuisance to students is the jacket will open up as they try to fold it. The best way to fold a Gi is to place it down on its back, and level up both sides of the jacket. Once a student has this Gi looking nice, they can then carefully turn it over, placing the front of the Gi on a flat surface, with the back of the Gi facing up in the air. From here each shoulder, and bottom corner of the GI is folded parallel, forming a straight line from the shoulder down. Each sleeve is then folded on top of each shoulder, almost forming a nice rectangle. The bottom of the Gi is then picked up and lifted towards the collar, remembering to flatten out each part of the Gi as it is folded. When the Gi is then turned back over, there should be a nicely folded Gi looking square and lush. 

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