Grappling With The BJJ Kimono

In the martial arts world, an athlete dons a BJJ kimono much like a warrior of old donned a suit of armor. And a point of fact is that both sets of gear have much in common. Ancient warriors were supported by entire industries devoted to the research, development and manufacture of armor. No less can be said for modern athletes participating in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi of today has a long and distinguished history. Similar in appearance to the judogi from which it is derived, it comes down to the modern world of martial arts through Japanese culture. The early Japanese wore two-piece, loose fitting clothing which was worn by both genders. This clothing eventually gave rise to the keiko-gi, the traditional martial arts uniform of the twenty-first century.

While a keiko-gi is similar in appearance to any martial arts uniform to the uninformed eye, there can be some significant differences. Keiko, which means practice, and gi, which means simply clothing, can mean any type of uniform used for any type of sport or discipline which is practiced regularly. In Japan, gi is a word not found used alone, but in partnership with other words. Hence, judo-gi is a garment used for practicing judo and karate-gi is of course a garment used for practicing karate. BJJ-gi is a term for a garment which has been specifically designed for use in practicing and competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The modern martial arts uniform has evolved and undergone many changes. Reinforced underarms and rubberized collars are modern introductions. In addition, seams are reinforced, some pants have reinforcements below the knees, and the seamless back while more comfortable also adds to durability.

The gi is made from cotton cloth. It's available in four distinctive grades. These are known as single weave, double weave, gold weave and platinum weave. However, these weaves are not standardized. The cotton is woven into a sturdy, pre-shrunk, rip-stop fabric. The term "gold weave" is not actually a weaver's sett but a description used referring to the appearance and feel of the fabric.

An economic first choice for a beginning student is the single weave. A gi made from this type of fabric is light weight and easily cared for. But it isn't as durable as the double weave. When a student is ready to make a commitment to the sport, increase his or her weekly practice sessions, enter into competitions and/or represent a club, then as a serious practioner an investment in double weave may be in order.

Serious competitors and instructors often choose to invest in the gold weave standard. While being a somewhat lighter weight fabric than the double weave, its longer cotton fibers lend it a luster and softness that is unsurpassed by the baser fabric of the other two weights. Furthermore, given the superior fabric, these gi also are usually of superior workmanship. Yet these garments while more comfortable and pleasing offer comparable durability to double-weave. They also tend to be more expensive. Platinum weave is a lighter weight version of this grade and is intended for summer wear.

While BJJ kimonos can come in a variety of colors, competition rules allow for blue, black and white. Jacket colors must match the pants and of course the belt must be the appropriate rank color. For demonstrations in-house and practice sessions, some clubs have established their own colors which they may encourage their members to use.

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