These days in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, it almost seems like the gi and no gi are two different sports that are very different from each other. Although you still find some competitors that train both, many people stick to one or the other. A classic example of this is Gordon Ryan who is a famed no gi competitor and trains exclusively without the gi.
Although Ryan did train in the gi for several years whilst younger, he eventually dropped the kimono and hasn’t trained in it for years. It’s also fair to say that right now, the competitive no gi scene is much more popular than the gi scene.
Some argue that this is due to the fast paced environment that no gi brings, whereas the gi is much slower. However, outside the elite level of competitive BJJ, which is best for the average practitioner? Really, it boils down to your own take on things but here’s a guide between the two and why they’re so different. Without further delay, here’s the answer to the question…to gi or not to gi?
Table of Contents
The history of BJJ without no gi
To begin with, here’s a quick history lesson. For years BJJ was primarily trained in the gi and then people started training without it. Since then, the no gi scene has exploded and has threatened to dwarf the gi. Ironically, when it first began many people were disparaging of no gi and saw it as a less pure version of BJJ.
However, these days there are entire cards and events that feature no gi matches, whereas the same cannot be said for the gi. Obviously, people had trained without the gi for years in wrestling, but in terms of BJJ’s life cycle, it’s still a relatively new thing and many gyms used to only teach in the gi.
Grips
Obviously, the gi has a different type of gripping game compared to no gi and this stems from Judo. Here, gripping the gi is very important and by the time you reach black belt level, your grips should be like iron.
This just isn’t the case in no gi for clear reasons. You can’t just grip someone’s sleeve or collar and hold for several seconds. Whilst grip strength is still relevant in no gi, it’s less important. Instead, you’ll have to find a different way to out-grip your opponent which often means more reliance on underhooks and no gi grip variations. One benefit of training no gi is that your fingers will get less damaged as a result.
Washing your BJJ gear
This is a serious point, and one which isn’t mentioned much – but training in no gi is much easier where washing is concerned. Imagine living in a cold climate and having to wash your gi daily. This would cost money in terms of energy and is also a bit of a chore.
In comparison, no gi takes substantially less long to wash and dry, meaning it’s less of a headache. For someone with a busy schedule, washing the gi just adds more time to your day which can be annoying. Similarly, if you plan on traveling and training, no gi is probably less of an inconvenience.
Cost
Hands down, training no gi is far less expensive compared to the gi. Although there are some budget gis out there, they often cost a lot more than a no gi outfit. If you’re struggling for cash, you can literally train no gi in a t-shirt and shorts.
Typically BJJ gear can be quite expensive, which means you can potentially train without the gi for free if you already have shorts. This is handy, especially if you’re new and wondering whether you should financially commit to BJJ.
MMA and self defense vs competition BJJ
Let’s face it – competing in a BJJ competition is fun and exciting. It’s also good for self defense as it puts your body and mind into stress and sees how you cope with it. As the saying goes, learning to compete is a skill in itself. As it happens, you can compete both in the gi and no gi.
At the same time, no gi naturally leans towards an MMA setting which is understandable seeing as MMA is trained without the gi. It should also be added though, that both have solid applications for self defense.
For instance, even in the gi it is suited towards fighting someone in a coat or jacket. Therefore, for self defense both disciplines are fine – but for MMA you’re probably best suited to training without the gi.
Injury types
So far, a lot of the evidence leans towards no gi being superior. However, perhaps the most important factor on the list is injuries – and these seem to happen more in no gi. Possibly the most common injury you will see in the gi is broken fingers. Whilst this is irritating, it’s not going to harm your quality of life. In comparison, no gi has a lot more room for injuries with stuff like heel hooks involved.
Similarly, people seem to get more neck injuries due to the amount of front headlock and guillotine attacks. As the saying goes though, ‘no one gets out alive’, and this also applies to the gi. If training in gi or no gi, the reality is that you will pick up aches and pains over the years and BJJ does take its toll on your body.
Game plan
Another big difference between the two styles is game plan. For instance, in no gi there’s a lot more wrestling involved and getting the top position is seen as more advantageous. On the other hand, there’s generally more guard pulling in the gi and also lapel guards can also be used.
This means that although the two are under the same BJJ umbrella, in many ways they’re also very different and have their own unique strategies. It’s not uncommon for someone to be better in the gi than in no gi, and vice versa. Remember, the gi also has a lot more submissions available that use the lapel to choke people with.
Slow vs fast
It’s also largely believed that no gi has a much faster tempo compared to the gi. Again, the reason for this is grip dependent. Basically, you can slow passers or guar players down by gripping tightly and acting as an anchor. This simply isn’t the case for no gi which is much more stripped back.
There’s nothing wrong with either style and some prefer others. For instance, as an older grappler you may prefer the gi which is slower. Alternatively, a faster BJJ practitioner may opt for no gi due to the speed that it can bring.
You could also say that the gi is more controlled, with pins such as mount being slower but more submissions resulting from there. This differs from no gi which is generally more based on scrambles and is more intense as a result. Taking this to the extreme, the 10th Planet organization trains solely without the gi.
Why both are best
With all said and done though, many practitioners will still train both. It should be added that in recent times no gi has risen in popularity, but there’s still a big chunk of those who enjoy the gi.
Really, it’s down to you and your individual preferences so no one is judging you either way. Nonetheless, both have their strengths and weaknesses and if you start training the other style, you may surprise yourself and enjoy it!
