If you’ve just started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu then you will be new to the world of washing and drying. Sometimes, people joke that part of being a black belt involves expert levels of washing gis as a result. In short, it’s an essential part of practicing BJJ and should be taken quite seriously. It isn’t just a matter of respect for you and your training partners, it’s also a matter of health and hygiene.
Sadly, if you’ve been training for a while then you’ll have probably bumped into someone whose gi stinks at some point which can be quite gross. If this is the case, you shouldn’t feel bad in declining to roll with them if it’s that bad and if it’s awful, then the teacher shouldn’t allow them to train in the gi. To make sure you don’t fall into this trap, read on for more information.
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How often should I wash my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi?
Ideally, you should wash your gi as quickly as possible after you’ve trained. The reason being is that the longer it stays unwashed, the dirtier it gets. This will make is more likely to smell and if it’s a white gi, it leaves more time to turn yellow due to sweat stains. As you’re going to have to wash it anyway at some point, you may as well get into the habit of washing it as quickly as possible when you get home.
This means that really, you should always be washing your gi after training with no excuses. No one wants to be that guy whose gi stinks. And trust me, if you think your own gi smells a little, the reality is that your training partners will notice it’s even smellier.
Why should you wash your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi?
As mentioned, the issue of smelling is not nice for your training partners. In some bad cases, people have not washed their gi after days of training and it’s down right nasty. However, away from smelling bad there is the issue of hygiene. In brief, bad bacteria love unwashed clothes and your gi will be covered in sweat from yourself and others. This breeds dirt and bacteria that can lead to infections.
These infections include the likes of ring worm which can shut down a gym for weeks and is highly contagious. Ultimately, it’s your own selfish fault if you’re the reason for this due to laziness or ignorance when it comes to washing your gi.
Secondly, and more seriously – there’s also the issue of staph and MRSA. Staph loves to live in dirty environments such as unwashed gis or BJJ mats. If this gets into an open wound no matter how small, it can cause MRSA. This can result in hospitalization and in some extreme results even death. Again, don’t be the guy who brings this on others.
As previously stated, it also smells bad and will eventually yellow your gi if it’s not washed enough. Although these are trivial matters in comparison, it’s still not nice. Speaking on the matter of yellow gis, sometimes people just happen to sweat more, or their sweat stains more. Obviously, this isn’t their fault so even if a gi is yellow, you should give people the benefit of the doubt until you’re sure they’re not washing it enough.
Can I ever get away with not washing my gi?
Usually, the worst culprits for not washing their gis are people in the beginner’s class. This is because they don’t understand the severity of staph and also they may be ignorant on the subject. As well, they’re more likely to only own one gi which means less time for washing as they can’t use a gi rotation policy.
One common scenario is when people don’t feel the need to wash, which is somewhat debatable. For example, imagine doing a 60 minute class with a light warm up and then drilling with no sparring. Especially in a cool environment, you may not sweat onto your gi. If your drilling partner doesn’t sweat either, then you may feel no need to wash your gi.
The reality is though, that during this situation you will sweat a little. Not only this but you’ll also be rolling around on a mat that is probably filled with all sorts of invisible germs. This means that to be cautious, you should still wash your gi. Most of the time, you will sweat to a degree though, which means you should be washing your clothes anyway.
As referenced, people will notice the smell of a funky gi. Stale sweat has a very distinct aroma and the same goes for rash guards too.
What is the quickest way to wash and dry my gi?
In a perfect world, you’d live in a climate like Brazil or Texas where you could wash the gi and then it’s dry within a couple of hours due to heat and sunlight. However, this sadly isn’t the case for everyone. If you live in colder countries like the UK or Scandinavia, then drying can be a bit of a pain.
To dry things as quickly as possible without the option of hanging things outside (if it’s cold or you live in an apartment), then you may opt to use a drying rack. These days you can buy these for relatively cheap prices and they can also generate heat. The issue is with this is it may take a while and use energy. As well, make sure it’s situated near a window as otherwise it can generate dampness and mold.
Alternatively, you can always use a drier or go to a laundromat if you’re short on time. For those living in major cities, this is a life saver.
As for washing, it’s really down to personal preference. In some cases if you use soap and water, you can give your gi a hand wash in a sink. The issue with this is it takes significantly longer to dry as your clothing will be sodden as opposed to wet. Use this method when it’s particularly sunny outside.
Otherwise, stick your gi in a washing machine for roughly 30 minutes or so. This will be enough to get a good wash and make it clean. To go further, you can also add detergent which will make it smell nice and fresh too.
What if I don’t have time to wash my gi?
If this is the case and you’re training regularly and committed, then buy another gi and rotate them with one being worn and the other being washed and dried at the same time. If you’re strapped for cash, then check out the cheapest gis here.
Alternatively, if it’s really that much of an issue then you can always focus on training no gi instead. One of the benefits of this is that it’s literally just a rashguard and shorts and that’s it. These are lightweight and easy to wash and dry. Usually, they dry in about a quarter of the time that it takes to dry a gi. Whilst this may sound extreme compared to training in the gi, it’s more selfless than training in the gi after you’ve been sweating in it for hours.
Remember to wash your gym bag
Bizarrely, some people don’t wash their gym bag which is quite stupid. Imagine putting a fresh gi in your bag but the bag hasn’t been washed in weeks or months. Undoubtedly, it will smell from the times you’ve put your gi in the bag after training.
As a result, by the time you go to train, your gi will be dirty before you even begin. It may not smell or look dirty, but remember bacteria is microscopic. With this said, cleaning your gym bag is a must too and although most people don’t clean their bags daily, it’s still a good and respectable habit to get into. For those wanting a good gym back, this one does the trick and is very durable.
How often should I wash my belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
This is again a commonly asked question. The answer is that ideally you should be washing it every time that you train with your gi. Sadly, there’s a lot of superstition regarding your belt and some people say that you can lose your BJJ powers if you wash it.
This is obviously not true but also unhygienic. Thinking about it logically, it’s a bit daft to go through the trouble of washing your gi but leaving your belt. Once you go back to train, the reality is that the belt will be covered with germs and although it’s not as big a surface area as the gi, it’s still going to spread illness. Because of this, wash your belt as frequently as your gi – it makes complete sense.
Conclusion
In conclusion, washing your gi is very important when training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Even if you’re a nice guy but you have a stinky gi, your team mates will start resenting you for it. This is understandable too, given that unwashed gis can and do carry diseases.
With this in mind, it’s not just a matter of etiquette, it’s actually a matter of health too and if you don’t wash your gi regularly, it can literally put your friends in hospital. Therefore, use whatever methods listed above…but above all remember to wash your gi whenever you’ve trained.
