What Do You Wear Under a Jiu-Jitsu Gi?

The gi is the traditional uniform that many practitioners wear while training jiu-jitsu. After learning about this unique garment, many beginners wonder what they should wear under a gi.

Typically, jiu-jitsu practitioners wear at least one layer of clothing under their gi. Clothes under a gi help reduce irritation and keep your body covered when your gi moves. However, several options exist for what you can wear under a gi, and certain competitions and gyms may have rules about those clothing items.

This article will reveal some of the best clothing options for you to wear underneath a jiu-jitsu gi. We’ll look at options for upper and lower-body garments and consider what you should wear under your gi for a BJJ competition.

Clothing to Wear Under a Gi During Jiu-Jitsu Training

Generally, you’ll want to put on at least one clothing item on both your upper and lower body before you put on your gi. Let’s begin by addressing what you can wear on your upper half.

Upper Body Clothing to Wear Under a Gi

Here are the three options that most practitioners choose from when deciding what to wear under their gi jackets:

• T-shirt

• Rash guard

• Nothing

Let’s now consider the advantages that each of those clothing options offers you.

Wearing a T-Shirt Under Your Gi Jacket

Wearing a t-shirt is perhaps the easiest option for what to put on under a gi jacket. Any standard cotton t-shirt, or any other shirt you’d wear to work out, should work just fine. Such shirts are easy to find, which is what makes them such a popular option.

The downside to wearing a t-shirt under a gi is that many t-shirts are not form-fitting. A loose shirt under a gi will work, but you can expect it to get twisted or tangled at times during your training.

You may also choose to wear a sports bra under the shirt you wear beneath your gi. Doing so is a matter of personal choice. As long as the bra has no hard or sharp components, it should be safe to wear while training.

Wearing a Rash Guard Under Your Gi Jacket

Another popular option for what to wear under a gi jacket is a rash guard. Rash guards are form-fitting, which means they won’t shift much while you train. As the name implies, rash guards are an excellent way to prevent the skin rashes that a gi can cause.

Rash guards come in both short-sleeved and long-sleeved options, each of which can fit well underneath a gi jacket. Rash guards also work well as a stand-alone upper body garment for no-gi jiu-jitsu.

Wearing Nothing Under Your Gi Jacket

Some practitioners wear nothing at all underneath their gi while they train. However, this approach has some downsides. The most obvious disadvantage here is that without a shirt, your skin will be exposed to the rough inner surface of your gi. This can lead to rashes and other skin irritations.

The other downside is that some practitioners may find it unsanitary to wear nothing under a gi jacket. It’s not hard to imagine that some of your training partners may not be keen on coming in close contact with your bare chest and all the free-flowing sweat and hair it may host.

Such unsavory aspects of jiu-jitsu are unavoidable, to a degree. But wearing a shirt under your gi can make the training experience a bit cleaner and more enjoyable for all those involved.  

By contrast, there is some benefit to wearing nothing under a gi. Mainly, you won’t overheat as quickly as someone who is wearing a rash guard or t-shirt.

Lower Body Clothing to Wear Under a Gi

Regarding the lower body, there are also three standard items that most practitioners use when choosing what to wear under their gi pants:

• Underwear

• Athletic shorts

• Spats

What you wear under your gi pants is a private matter. What’s most important is that you wear something. You can always wear a pair of regular underwear under gi pants. Some practitioners will layer athletic shorts on top of that before putting their gi pants on. Similar to a rash guard, spats are another effective clothing option to keep the skin on your lower body free from irritation.

What to Wear Under a Gi During Competition

During training, you’ll have more flexibility over what to wear under your gi. However, in competitions, there may be specific rules about which garments are allowed. The best way to know what to wear under your gi before a competition is to review the competition rules and regulations.

Some competitions make it illegal to wear nothing under your gi jacket, while others may specify a type of shirt you must wear. Rules about what to wear under your gi pants are less prevalent, but it is generally assumed that you’ll wear at least a pair of underwear.

As usual, the most crucial goal in training is to keep you and your partners safe. As is the case with your entire training wardrobe, the clothes you wear under your gi pants should remain in line with that primary goal.

What’s the Benefit of Wearing Clothes Under a Gi?

Wearing clothes under your gi is not primarily a matter of aesthetics. Instead, clothes under a gi offer you a few functional benefits while you train. Here is what wearing clothes under a gi provides you:

• Reduced skin irritation: A layer of clothing will prevent your gi from rubbing and irritating your skin.

• Protection for your gi: Clothing absorbs some sweat before it reaches your gi, which makes washing your gi easier and can increase its overall longevity.

• Coverage when your gi moves: During jiu-jitsu training, it’s common for your gi to shift. Having clothes on under your gi ensures your body remains covered while you train.

Clothing under a gi may not be the most enticing topic in jiu-jitsu. But as the list above shows, having a set of clothes to wear under a gi does give you plenty of advantages while you grapple.

Conclusion

Before you put on your gi, you need to know what to wear underneath it. Beginner jiu-jitsu practitioners can refer to the information above to gain a firm understanding of which clothing items are best.