One of the first questions new BJJ students ask is about the gi — the heavy cotton kimono — and whether they should train with it or without it. We teach both at our academy, and each develops your game differently.
Gi training gives you grips: collar, sleeve, pants, belt. Those grips slow the game down and reward precision — you can control a stronger opponent with the right grip fighting, and an entire universe of chokes and controls opens up. No-Gi removes the grips, so the game gets faster and more slippery, built around underhooks, overhooks and body locks instead.
Which is better? Neither — they stress different attributes. Gi builds technical patience and detail; No-Gi builds athleticism, scrambling and wrestling-style control. Most serious students train both, because skills transfer in both directions.
For self-defense, each has an argument: the gi mimics grabbing winter clothing, while No-Gi resembles a summer confrontation in a t-shirt. Training both covers both worlds. Our program, headed by Professor Josimar Junior and Professor Talita Bernardo, includes Gi and No-Gi instruction for exactly that reason.
Ready to try it yourself? Book a free trial class at Matawan School of Martial Arts in Matawan, NJ — no experience needed.
Looking for kids martial arts instead? Our kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program starts at age four, and kids Karate / Taekwondo starts at five — book a free trial class at Matawan School of Martial Arts in Matawan, NJ.