The art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a specialized form of martial arts, one which also requires a specific uniform or attire. If you are active in some type of martial arts or just a big fan or enthusiast of shows such as the UFC, you may have seen the Jiu Jitsu Gi a few times. This attire originated from Japanese martial artists and was soon incorporated into the art of fighting in Brazil. The cloth is mainly composed of heavy cotton made jacket with reinforced trousers. Traditionally, the Gi is worn with a cloth belt over it. This is to maintain the jacket from opening as well as serves as a symbol of the rank or skill of the martial artist. The Jiu Jitsu Gi is identical to Judogi, however, it has tighter cuffs on the leg part of the attire and on the jacket. This design enables the martial artist to gain from a tighter or more secured fit, offering reduced material for the opponent to grab and control him/her.

When watching the sport of mixed martial arts on your flat screen, you’ll usually notice some patches or designs that are prominent on the outfit of the participant whenever he/she steps out of the locker room and into the ring. These patches signify the sponsors of the martial artist as well as his/her team. So the more patches, symbols and logos you see on the Gi, the more popular and successful the wearer is in the business. In terms of Judo, the complete attire or just the jacket is called a kimono rather than a Gi.

Jiu Jitsu Gi in International Competitions

In terms of international events and competitions, there are certain colors that are allowed for a Gi. These are white, blue and black. However, in some places, they allow any single color to be used in the Gi. There are also several regulations regarding a Gi used in a competition, which have been formulated and employed by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation or IBJFF. These include the construction of the Gi, which is to be made from cotton or any identical material and is to be in prime condition when worn. The components used should not be too thick or rough to the point that it can disrupt the performance of an opponent. The colors used for the Gi should be solid single colors only and no combinations of any sort. The jacket is to be designed in substantial length from top to bottom. The width of the belt should be 4-5 centimeters only, with the belt color made in relation with the martial artist’s rank. Individuals are not allowed to compete with damaged kimonos and gis during a competition. Furthermore, those with non-standard length sleeves and pants will also be unable to join the competition.

It saddens me to report that our dojo’s favourite pub for after-training drinks burnt down Thursday night. What really guts me is that we weren’t able to go to it this past week. There are reports that they’ll be rebuilding the pub but it looks like we’ll have to find a new regular place for a while. See the complete story with videos of the fire.