With the popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu exploding over the past decade, the market for training apparel has responded in kind. As a result, there are hundreds of Gi manufacturers available and choosing an appropriate Gi can be confusing for someone new to the sport. Many schools offer a basic Gi to new students – something to keep in mind.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gis come in multiple weave types, all of which affect the cost and the way the Gi will shrink, wear and hold up to punishment.
The basic style Gi is the Single Weave. This type of wave is very popular because of its lower cost and comfort. This is obviously a great gi for someone starting out in BJJ as it won’t break your bank and is fairly comfortable. The drawback to a single weave Gi is that it is easy for your opponent to grip and hold on to while rolling.
The next style Gi is the Double Weave. A double weave gi is basically twice the material of a single weave Gi. Double weave Gis have more stitching and are much more durable. They are much harder for your opponent to grip and hold on to – but they cost more and are much heavier, especially once you start sweating.
The next and last style of Gi is the Gold Weave. The gold weave was created to combine the best attributes of the single weave and the double weave in a single Gi. The result is a Gi that is strong and durable, difficult to grab and hold on to, while remaining lightweight and comfortable. As a result, gold weave Gis are very popular for competitions. The only drawback is that you will pay a premium for this type of Gi.
There are MANY other proprietary weaves out there. I’ve seen Gis labelled “Pearl Weave”, “Honeycomb Weave”, “Platinum Weave”, “Ripstop Weave” and a number of others. These are not industry standards and tend to fall somewhere in between a single weave and a gold weave.
Those are the important attributes to consider when buying a BJJ Gi. Each manufacturer will have their own sizing and washing instructions as some Gis are pre-shrunk and some are not. There are also a very wide array of colors, patches and patterns to consider when buying a Gi. Whatever suits your fancy and personality is fine – just keep in mind that some sanctioned competitions will require competitors to wear traditional colored Gis.
Keeping the above guidelines in mind will help make your Gi selection stress-free and ensure you spend your money on a quality product.
To start your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in the Hudson Valley, give us a call at 845 392 8495. Make sure to ask about our 30 Day FREE trial. This offer is only available for a limited time, so act now!