One of the common questions that may martial arts practitioners have is how to choose which Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi to buy. There are several factors to consider when buying this garb.
2. A popular query among those who are into martial arts is regarding
how to buy a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi. Numerous arguments combined
answer this question effectively. A perfect BJJ gi have to have all the
qualities that an artist needs and dreams.
One of the most important things to consider when buying Jiu Jitsu gi
is durability. BJJ requires a lot of gripping or throwing and a weak
garment will not be able to withstand such vigorous gameplay. There
are two kinds of jiu-jitsu gi, namely, single weave and double weave.
Double weave uniforms offer strength and robustness while single
weave gis are lighter and put lesser strain on their wearer. There
comes the dilemma though. What to choose, a sturdy Jiu Jitsu gi or a
light weight and easy to handle gi? In recent years, double weaves
have fallen out of favor among BJJ practitioners because their weight
and stiffness can be very restrictive during the games.
Today, Jiu jitsu practitioners can buy gi of
different colors. Traditional colors are blue,
black, and white. Due to reason that black
uniforms are not allowed in some competitions,
if competing in tournaments is in mind, a blue or
white BJJ gi should be chosen. There are also BJJ gis for children, and
it would be impractical to buy expensive ones because they will still
outgrow them. Additionally, children do not play this sport as hard as
adults do so a tough and high quality BJJ gi would be, to some extent,
useless for kids. When shopping for jiu jitsu gis, you also have to look
at the size. A garb that is too tight can decrease your agility
considerably. A gi that is too loose in contrast will be very
uncomfortable and will be too distracting.
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3. A good pair is usually a bit loose around the
crotch. This feature allows the fighter to do
leg movements with ease. Similarly, the
sleeves of a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi should be
checked before buying. Big sleeves are a
disadvantage to you and an advantage to
your opponent since he will have
something to grapple onto. In contrast,
narrower sleeves can sometimes encumber efforts of the player and
in extreme cases cause disqualifications according to the IBJJF
tournament rules. According to the IBJJF, the gi sleeve opening when
fully extended should be around 7 cm.
Before buying a BJJ gi, its collar should also be checked. Some collars
on gis are filled with cotton, others with rubber. The latter is
preferred though because while they’re a bit uncomfortable to wear,
they make it more difficult for your opponent to choke you. The
rubber has a slightly different feel, but dries faster and reduces
formation of bacteria too. Remember to check if the garment is pre-
shrunk because if it isn’t you should not throw it into the dryer,
especially if it already fits you correctly. Instead, you should hang it
to dry.
There is no doubt that a lot of thinking and skill has gone into each
set of jiu jitsu gi. Its color, style, cost and sturdiness are the basic
points to consider before finding a perfect gi which matches the
player’s personality and disposition.
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