Proper Gi Maintenance

By Corey Kuropas, December 30, 2016

If you’re new to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there’s a few things you’ll need to know right on from the get go. You have to learn how to perform the techniques. You have to learn on how to check your ego. And you have to learn proper gi maintenance. Taking care of your Jiu Jitsu gi is incredibly important. Besides the fact that the kimono deserves respect as it goes back over a hundred years in martial arts history, it is also important for hygienic reasons. You need to take care of your gi so that you can stay healthy, your training partners can stay healthy and that your kimono can keep up with you and your training. Here are some tips on how to maintain your BJJ uniform.

Use cold water & NO bleach

What many people do not realize is that you have to use cold water when cleaning your gi. This will help make sure that the uniform does not significantly shrink in the cleaning process. Also you have to make sure that you use a proper detergent and never use bleach. Bleach can seriously damage your gi. I know people think of using bleach to make their white kimono’s stay white, but all that bleach will do is harm your gear. Use a normal detergent that you use on your everyday clothes. It will work just fine.

Air dry

Once your kimono is cleaned, you’ll need to dry it. But do not throw it in the dryer as you would with your other clothes. You will be tempted to, but it will shrink your gi beyond belief and it will not fit you anymore. Many of the modern kimonos say that they are pre-shrunk, but that does not mean it is okay to thrown it in the dryer. Hang it up on a line or hanger. You can also hang it up it front of a window, as the sunlight will dry it more quickly and can kill any excess bacteria. The color might fade a little, but at the same time, that will show that your uniform is being used as much as it can!

Bring it to a tailor for patches

People love to deck out their Jiu Jitsu kimonos. People love to put patches of their school, their team and their association on their kimonos to properly represent themselves and where they come from. Patches can make your uniform stand out in training and competition. But don’t try to sew the patches on yourself. The kimono is made out of tough material and they need to be put on professionally. Many tailors/dry cleaners will put patches on for relatively cheap so don’t cheap out!

Get a gi that says something about you. Get one that looks good and that you’ll be proud of wearing. Your gi will be part of your training for a long time so it is important to take care of it. BJJ Fanatics has a bunch of awesome gi’s in stock.

Click here to see their fantastic Impassable brand kimonos!