How to Wash a Jiu Jitsu Gi
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a highly dynamic, and systematic form of submission grappling. The art has two main versions, the first is called No Gi where students will wear shorts and a rashguard, the second is the traditional Gi, where students will wear a specialised jacket and pants called a Gi. BJJ dates back to the early 1900's where the first breed of Jiu Jitsu fighters would train and compete in the Gi. Both versions of Jiu Jitsu are relatively the same, except for the main difference where students are allowed to grab hold of the Gi uniform. In Gi Jiu Jitsu students can grab the pants in order to pass the guard, or they can grip onto tufts of the jacket including the lapel to set up a variety of submission finishes. There are many chokes that students can perform using the Gi, as the lapel acts like a rope which can be used to choke their opponent, and force them to tap.
What this article covers:
- The Origin of the Gi
- Why Is the Gi More Beneficial to Learn than No Gi
- What Is the Best Kind of Gi to Wear
- How to Wash the Gi
- The Importance of Washing the Gi
It is very important that students know how should a jiu jitsu gi fit, as this is vital in keeping an advantage over their opponent. Students that have a properly fitted Gi will usually have very little slack within their lapels, making it harder for their opponent to grip onto their uniform, and in turn making it harder to submit, or gain an advantage. Wearing a loose fitting Gi means that a student's opponent will find it easier to grab hold of the lapel, and use it to wrap around the students limbs, or neck. There are many different aspects within the Gi style of Jiu Jitsu that all students need to be made aware of, and as they journey through the belt ranking system, they will discover all of these principles.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE GI
The history of the Gi dates well back to ancient Japan, where many karate and Jiu Jitsu masters wore the kimono. Over the years the Gi was passed down from generation to generation, until a Japanese educator named Kano Jigoro began forming his own style of kodokan judo, which incorporated elements of Martial Arts from all over the country. Kano passed his knowledge on to many of his students including his prized pupil Mitsuyo Maeda, who later traveled to Brazil, and handed down the art to the famous Gracie clan. Helio, and Carlos Gracie began training in Japanese Jiu Jitsu, before developing the art into their own style of ground fighting called Gracie Jiu Jitsu. From here history shows that the Gracie clan altered the Gi due to the bagginess of the judo Gi. The BJJ Gi was born, as the garment was made tighter to fit around the athlete, making it harder for opponents to grip onto the fabric. Throughout the years Gracie Jiu Jitsu eventually turned into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as it reached a worldwide market. Nowadays the evolution of the Gi has seen exciting new technology like different kinds of weaves, and reinforced stitching to keep the Gi's extremely lightweight, but exceptionally durable. As the art continues to evolve, so does the Gi's, as nowadays more and more innovative garments are being produced by famous manufacturers like Hayabusa, Venom, Hyperfly, Tatami, and Elite.
WHY IS THE GI MORE BENEFICIAL TO LEARN THAN NO GI
There are many differences of opinion when it comes to which version of BJJ is more important to learn. In the modern era many students are gravitating towards training purely in No Gi, and this is mainly due to the significant rise in popularity with events like the ADCC. There is also a correlation between No Gi, and some of the more advanced submissions that are allowed like heel hooks. However students that train purely in No Gi and avoid training in the Gi are doing their Jiu Jitsu a disservice. If a student becomes extremely advanced with No Gi principles, it can become increasingly hard to then switch over to the Gi and have the same influence.
There is a significant difference between judo and jiu jitsu gi uniforms, as the Jiu Jitsu Gi is a much tighter fit. Students that train predominantly in the Gi will discover a whole nother side to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. There are infinitely more techniques accessible in the Gi, compared to the No Gi version of BJJ. in the Gi, students will use a series of lapel wraps to execute sweeps, and a multitude of choke holds. It can be significantly harder for students to move freely when training in the Gi, and this is due to the fact that opponents have a greater chance of stifling students when they are stuck in control positions. In the No Gi version, students will slip through the gaps much more easily, whereas in the Gi students will have a rougher time trying to escape. There is one aspect that is a certainty, and that is when a student becomes masterful in the Gi everything is transferable into the No Gi version of BJJ. It is as simple as switching a pocket grip for a wrist grip, switching a collar grip for a necktie, and switching a belt grip for an under hook or an over hook. Mostly every movement that a student will learn in the Gi can be performed in No Gi, but many of the No Gi moves are much harder to pull off in the Gi discipline.
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WHAT IS THE BEST KIND OF GI TO WEAR
There are many different types of BJJ Gi's that athletes can wear. Finding the best fitted Gi is always the tricky part, as first of all a student needs to know their measurements in order to source the right fit. There are different kinds of Gi's that students should research, and it highly depends on whether the student is just training, or is using it for competition. There are extremely lightweight Gi's that are made out of a single weave, but the downside is that they are not as durable as other styles of Gi. The double weave is an extremely durable Gi, but can be a little heavy to use in competition. There are other weaves like the gold weave, and the pearl weave that combine durability, and lightweight to make these Gi's more accessible for BJJ competition. Another good Gi is made out of a weave called the aero weave, which is similar to a pearl weave with its durability, and lightweight, but has the added bonus of more breathability within the Gi, meaning it is more comfortable, and can acclimatise more easily to conditions.
The Hayabusa Pearl Weave has been scouted as one of the best lightweight Gi's going around. The Gi has a 420 gsm pearl weave jacket, and an 8 oz ripstop combination of cotton, and polyester in the pants. All the seams are reinforced, and are pre treated for color fading prevention. The Gi comes pre washed so it has a less likely chance of shrinking after purchase. The Gi is a high quality pearl weave garment that is IBJJF legal in every sense of the word. The Hayabusa company are high quality Gi manufacturers that are the perfect fit for anyone. From the complete beginner, to the seasoned veteran, this Hayabusa Gi is one of the premier options going around today. There is a wide variety of colour options including all IBJJF legal colours, as well as new fresh colours available. The Hayabusa Pearl Weave is a lightweight Gi that is absolutely perfect for all body types. There are strategic reinforcements throughout the whole Gi including the lapel, making this Gi extremely durable for such a lightweight option.
The Venom Elite 2.0 is one of the most durable Gi's in the modern era of BJJ grappling. This Gi incorporates a 450 gsm Pearl Weave fabric in the jacket, while sporting a 280 gsm ripstop fabric with reinforced stitching at the inside of the leg, and the ankle circumference. This is another Gi that is IBJJF approved, and has become one of the premier options for athletes all over the world. This Gi is still fairly lightweight, but is perfect for competition due to the extreme durability of the Gi. This Venom Gi is one of the toughest on the market, as it has been reviewed as one of the hardest Gi's for an opponent to grip onto. The Venom Elite has additional features like advanced moisture management, ripstop technology throughout the whole garment, and reinforced slots into the jacket, making this Gi sturdy in every form of the word. The downside to this outstanding Gi is that it does not come cheap, but if a student wants the best of the best, then paying a little bit of extra money should not be a problem at all. This Gi remains one of the best choices for Jiu Jitsu competition throughout the whole BJJ community.
HOW TO WASH THE GI
Training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can become quite a sweaty affair, as all students will work extremely hard, which causes them to perspire. Wearing a Gi can be stifling, especially in summer, and it is vitally important that students wash their Gi's. All academies have an extremely important rule, and that is to wash your Gi after every single class. The first step in washing a Gi is to know not to leave it to marinate overnight, as the germs and odors will be harder to remove the next day. It is important to always wash a Gi in cold water, at roughly 90 or 100 degrees, this is to stop any kind of shrinkage. Sometimes a student will buy a Gi that is slightly too big, and will need to know how to shrink a bjj gi, and in this case the Gi can be washed in 110 to 120 degrees, which will help to shrink the Gi slightly. It is important to remember that Gi's are made of cotton, and cotton does shrink in hot water, so students should never wash their Gi's in hot temperatures.
The use of normal washing powder will suffice in washing a Gi. Students can also add fabric softener if they would like their Gi's to feel softer, and smell nicer. Sometimes Gi's will have blood stains, or sweat stains, and the best way to remove these stains is by scrubbing the stain in cold water, and then allowing the washing machine to do the rest. It is important to remember never to use bleach, as bleach will ruin a student's Gi, this is a cardinal sin of washing a Gi. The last step, and probably one of the more important ones is to not put a Gi in a dryer, as this will certainly shrink the garment. The best way to dry a Gi is to hang it somewhere, allowing it to dry naturally. Another important aspect to remember is to not hang a Gi directly in the sunlight, as this will fade a student's Gi. The only time that a student can use a dryer for the Gi, is when they change the dryer settings, and use no heat. Remember the Gi can still only be put in the dryer for a short amount of time. Although this can work to help dry a Gi, it is not recommended, but there is always the time where a Gi needs to be dried quickly.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF WASHING THE GI
Training in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy comes with its own set of expectations of a student. Personal hygiene is one of the most important aspects surrounding the art of BJJ. It has always been an unspoken rule that all students must come to training showered, and cleaned, so they don't pass on any germs they may have on their skin. The same concept is applied to all BJJ uniforms including the Gi, the belt, and the No Gi uniform. Washing a Gi is one of the most important prospects when dealing with athletes training in an extremely sweaty environment. If a student does not wash their Gi, and comes to train the next day the results can be disastrous for the whole camp. There are many germs, and bacteria that live inside of a dirty Gi, and a dirty belt. Washing the Gi including the belt is crucial to stopping the spread of infections like ringworm, and staph.
A common question asked by new students is how many bjj gi's should i own, and the answer will depend on the frequency of the students training. If a student is only training once per week then they only need to have one Gi, as they can wash it in time for their next class. For the students that train multiple sessions throughout the week, it can be extremely difficult especially in winter to wash your Gi, and let it naturally dry before the next Gi class. Having multiple Gi's is a great solution to this problem, as students can grab a fresh and clean Gi, while they wait for the other Gi to be washed, and dried. Another important aspect about how to properly wash, and dry a BJJ Gi is how the Gi is then treated afterwards. Learning how to fold bjj gi is another crucial step in keeping the Gi crisp, and fresh for their next training session. If a Gi is just crumpled up in the corner of the room after being dried, it can often become stiff, and wrinkled, forcing it to lose some of its shape. Keeping a Gi nicely folded will insure a longer life of an athlete's BJJ Gi, as well as instill a pride, and discipline within their own mentality.
If you enjoyed this piece, consider checking:
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- What Size Rash Guard Should I Get BJJ
- How to Wear a BJJ GI
- What to Wear to Jiu Jitsu
- How Much Does a BJJ Gi Weigh
- What Color GI for BJJ
- Do You Wear a Cup In BJJ
- Jiu Jitsu Rules
- Are There Belts in No Gi BJJ?
- Gi vs No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu
- Best No Gi Jiu Jitsu Fighters
- Best BJJ GIs
- Best Women's BJJ GI
- GJJ vs BJJ
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