Before I get started, let me explain the headline: by saying “everyone should train in the gi,” I’m not saying anything negative about no-gi jiu-jitsu. I think everyone should train without the gi too! You rarely hear anti-no-gi arguments, though. Since I’m a huge believer in the practicality of the gi and its use as a training tool, though, I wanted to write this post.
You don’t have to take my word for it, though. Take it from the best no-gi competitor of all time, ADCC champion and world champion Marcelo Garcia. He said: “I train every day in the gi, and once a week with no-gi. It is crucial to train with the gi to have the finest technique. An athlete who wants to be good in no-gi, must also train in the gi.” And he would know!
What if you want to fight MMA? Well, Marcelo isn’t the only legend who thinks the gi is important. Legendary fighter Murilo Bustamante — who won the UFC belt at age 37 — also thinks the gi is a crucial part of training for fighters. He told me so on a podcast once:
My goal as an instructor and a training partner will always be to help my teammates reach their goals. Want to fight MMA? I want you to win. Want to compete in sport jiu-jitsu? I want you to get gold at worlds. Want to train primarily for self-defense? I want you to walk around with the confidence that you have prepared yourself to feel safe. All of those are worthwhile goals. All of those goals are served well by training in the gi.
Here are three reasons I think most people should devote training time to gi jiu-jitsu:
The gi is practical for self defense. Again, not saying anything about not training no-gi, because sometimes people fight in swimwear. But most humans walk around in clothes, and it’s good to get used to having clothes on when grappling.
The gi emphasizes technique and minimizes physical attribute advantages. Physical attributes like strength, endurance and flexibility will always matter. We should always try to improve ours. But the gi, with its friction and intricacies, privileges tactics over explosion, so it forces you to pay close attention to those. It’s tougher to explode out of an arm bar in a gi! You have to do a technical escape. This makes your technical escapes better.
The gi is a useful tool for BJJ. People sometimes tell me that they only want to train no-gi because they only want to compete no-gi, or they only want to fight — and that’s cool. MMA fighters and no-gi grapplers don’t compete in the gi. But NFL players don’t compete with blocking sleds in front of them or wearing weighted vests. Yet they train using these tools. The gi is unforgiving of poor technique, and as such, it teaches proper hip movement and helps you build attributes that are helpful — even if you never put on the pajamas in competition.
There’s a fourth reason. And it shouldn’t surprise you that I endorse reason number four.
… the gi is also really, really fun. It adds an element to the game, and every time a variable is introduced, there’s more to play with and hence more to learn. Consider it an expansion pack for a board game. (Yes, I just went full nerd.)
Over the years, there have been times when I rarely trained no-gi and times when I trained very often without the gi. Having both in your arsenal maximizes your ability to compete and your technical knowledge, all the while keeping things fresh. When you want to play with heel hooks, you can take off the gi. When you want to learn worm guard, the gi is there. Why limit yourself?
Whether you train for fun or to compete, for sport or to fight, you should train in the gi. Come join the Pajama Team!
This is the fourth post in a series called the White Belt Starter Kit, advice for newer students. This series will answer some of the most common questions you might have, like how to get the most out of drilling, how to roll safely and well, how to maximize your training benefits, and how to be a helpful and valuable training partner. There will be a dozen or so posts in the series, which will be available here and updated consistently.
Want to join us on the mat? We’re offering an 8 Week Intro to BJJ class for just $150, and the first 25 registrants will receive a FREE Toro BJJ gi that retails for $155 as part of your registration. You can find the tentative curriculum for the eight-week class here. You can sign up for the Intro to BJJ class here, or you can e-mail jeff@bellinghambjj.com. The first class begins on WEDNESDAY, AUG. 8 from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. and runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays following that from Aug. 8 to Sep. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Classes take place at Bellingham MMA, 2694 Roeder, Suite 101, Bellingham, WA, 98225. The last class will be Sep. 26 at 5:30 p.m.