I found an interesting blog where the author, Keith Owen, has three long posts arguing the merits of gi vs. no-gi:
To Gi or Not to Gi? – That is the question – Part 1
To Gi or Not to Gi? – That is the Question Part 2
To Gi or Not to Gi? – That is the Question Part 3
I agree with many of his points and I also think there is beauty and practicality inherent in both methods.
One point that he brought up is the idea that those who practice no-gi jiu-jitsu or grappling have no idea where they stand. I agree. I have been taking BJJ for a few years at different no-gi academies and I would like to have earned rank. I also know that there are many chokes and techniques that the gi allows. Even though I have a few years experience, when I do join a school that wears the gi I will have to start from the beginning.
Owen also wrote that, in his experience, he has seen many no-gi schools instructors that were unprofessional or lacking in techniques. I can’t argue with that, yet, in my limited experience with academies, I have found instructors to be very technical and who have earned their stripes through BJJ, MMA, wrestling, Judo, etc. However, some choose to follow the no-gi route.
I also think that so many students go to no-gi schools because of the lack of availability of traditional BJJ schools. Further, many no-gi schools do extremely well in preparing their students for competitions and MMA.
Filed under: BJJ, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Grappling, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo
We have gi and no-gi classes, although my schedule leads me to train almost exclusively with a gi on. I know Ivan Salaverry’s school up in Seattle trains exclusively no-gi, but I’m not sure whether he awards rank or not. I guess I’ve always presumed that they do based on Eddie Bravo’s example and am surprised to learn that this isn’t the norm.
I have trained under blue, purple and brown belts but never a black belt in BJJ. I am unsure if they were able to award belts at all. I would assume that whoever they trained under could do so, but without the gi I doubt that the traditionalists would promote people who don’t use the gi.
Rolling without rank does tend to show that people are doing it for the love of it though.
As Bruce Lee once said:
“Belts are only useful for holding up your pants.”
I agree with you Justin. If it were just about the belt I would have stopped a long time ago because I have no way of obtaining one.
However, it would be nice to evaluate my progress. In BJJ it is difficult to lie about your belt rank….
hey im just getting in to jiu jitsu and waht is the diffrence between gi and no gi
Kellon,
The gi is the traditional Kimono (uniform) worn by most martial artists. The Karate gi, Judo gi, etc. The guys in this link are wearing a gi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOdlb31tibY
No-gi refers to submission wrestling without the uniform. Usually consists of rash guards, board shorts or just regular workout clothes. In BJJ or Gracie Jiu-jitsu it people train in both. In submission wrestling people usually train no-gi.
I find No-gi students who are not ranked don’t have any limits on learning and tend to learn faster because they dont mentaly cap thier learning and progression by the rank they are at. Without rank a student has no learning barrier to stop at such as the next belt.
Good point!
I practiced no gi for a couple of years before training in the gi. When I finally grappled against blues, purples and brown belts with the gi, I was doomed. But without it, I was pretty even with the blues, purple belts had a real hard time or could only dominate me by position and I could give a brown belt a fit. Many times I could avoid being tapped altogether.
More practical submissions in a “street fight” training “no gi”
What do think? Or have I opened up a can of worms? Although i have never grappled in a street fight I could imagine it would fricken hurt rollin around on your back on bitumen
My instructor will occasionally teach street versions of things; you know, the mean way of doing things (not tournament legal) Id stick to take downs to knee on belly. I don’t think anyone would teach you to roll around on pavement.
you do a take down and then finish it and run.
There’s also T shirt chokes that believe it or not are much more brutal than being choked with a Gi.
run because if you do to well you can be looked down on by police for hte fact tht your a martial artist. Plus he might have friends.
agree with your points 100%. that’s why i prefer takedown arts overall – for the overlap with “street” practicality. i like gi bjj for the “art” aspect — just doing it for its own rewards.
My gym trains both no gi and gi
we have belt ranks signified on our uniform rash gaurds by a stripe on the shoulders that has the color of your belt. Our no gi class is also kind of an MMA class; being that we train mostly no gi jiu jitsu in it but we also train how to come in striking for the take down and incorporate wrestling (Judo, Greco and free style) moves. They are really good for connecting your stand up to the ground game. Of course we only use the practical moves from wrestling. No suplexes.
The issue of learning caps doesn’t seem to be present in my gym because we mix it up all the time. Maybe some people have that problem but i think its more of a mental block they inflict on themselves.