Every new grappler hits the same fork in the road: gi or no-gi? They’re two sides of the same art, but they feel different to train, reward slightly different skills, and need completely different kit. This guide breaks down what actually separates gi from no-gi BJJ — grips, pace, rules and gear — and gives you a straight answer on which to start with.
The quick version
Gi BJJ is trained in the traditional kimono — a heavy cotton jacket, trousers and a belt. You can grip the fabric, which makes for a slower, more technical, control-heavy game. No-gi BJJ is trained in a rash guard and shorts or spats, with no fabric to grab. It’s faster, sweatier and leans on body control, speed and scrambles. Same core art, different flavours — and most serious grapplers end up doing both.
What is gi BJJ?
The gi (or kimono) is the uniform Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grew up in. The thick jacket and trousers aren’t just tradition — they’re tools. You can grip your opponent’s collar, sleeves and trouser legs to control them, set up chokes, and slow the pace right down. That extra friction makes gi a deeply technical, almost chess-like game where position and grip-fighting decide everything.
Because you can hold someone in place, gi tends to suit a methodical, patient style. It gives beginners more time to think — to recognise a position, understand why a technique works, and react before the next exchange. The trade-off is that grips can stall the action, and the lapel-based attacks you learn don’t transfer directly to a shirtless context like MMA.
What is no-gi BJJ?
No-gi strips all of that away. With nothing to grab but the body itself, you control opponents using underhooks, overhooks, head position, wrist control and constant movement. Sweat makes everything slippery, so submissions and positions have to be tight. The result is a faster, more explosive, more scramble-heavy game.
No-gi is also the format most associated with MMA and modern submission grappling — the showcase event being ADCC, the sport’s biggest no-gi tournament. If your long-term goals point toward MMA or you simply prefer a high-pace game, no-gi is your natural home.
The key differences at a glance
- Grips: Gi lets you grip fabric (collar, sleeves, trousers). No-gi only allows body grips.
- Pace: Gi is slower and more control-based. No-gi is faster and more dynamic.
- Game style: Gi rewards patience and grip-fighting. No-gi rewards speed, pressure and scrambling.
- Submissions: Gi adds collar and lapel chokes. No-gi leans more on leg locks and front headlocks.
- Rules: The main gi ruleset is governed by the IBJJF; no-gi competition spans IBJJF, ADCC and others, often with more permissive leg-lock rules.
- Kit: Completely different — see below.
The gear is the biggest practical difference
This is where the two styles split most obviously — and what you’ll need to buy depends entirely on which you train.
For gi training you need:
- A BJJ gi (jacket and trousers)
- A belt (usually included with the gi)
Sizing a gi correctly is its own skill — the A0–A6 system catches everyone out at first. Our BJJ gi size guide walks you through it.
For no-gi training you need:
- A rash guard — protects against mat burn and keeps things hygienic
- Grappling shorts — no pockets or zips, four-way stretch
- Spats (optional) — worn alone or under shorts for extra leg protection
You can see everything for no-gi in one place in our no-gi collection.
So which should you start with?
Here’s the honest answer most coaches will give you: train whatever your gym runs most. Consistency beats format every time at the beginner stage — the best style to start with is the one you’ll actually show up for three times a week.
That said, if you genuinely have a free choice:
- Start with gi if you want to build rock-solid fundamentals. The slower pace and extra grips give you more time to recognise positions and understand the “why” before the speed of no-gi makes everything harder to read. Many coaches argue gi makes you a more technical grappler in the long run.
- Start with no-gi if your goals are MMA-focused, you prefer a faster game, or you know you’ll get bored of the slower, grip-heavy pace. There’s nothing wrong with starting here — plenty of world-class grapplers did.
There’s no wrong answer. The two styles feed each other: gi sharpens your technical detail and patience, no-gi sharpens your speed and scrambling. Train both for a year and you’ll be a far more complete grappler than someone who only ever did one.
The bottom line
Gi and no-gi aren’t rival sports — they’re two expressions of the same art, and most grapplers end up loving both. Gi is the technical, grip-fighting, patient game. No-gi is the fast, slippery, scramble-heavy game. Pick whichever your gym offers most, get the right kit for it, and just start rolling.
Brand new to all of this? Our beginner’s BJJ kit checklist tells you exactly what to buy for each style. Or dive straight into the full BJJ range — and remember, the team at our Aylesbury and Central London (Waterloo) stores are grapplers themselves and happy to help you kit out for either game.