Gi or No-gi, that's the question: Find out what fits you better

June 27, 2023

Unlike other martial arts, Jiu-Jitsu is a single combat style that encompasses two different modalities: gi and no-gi. Introduced in the hot summer days of Brazil, during which the cotton jackets were left aside in favor of a training session without excessive cloth, the no-gi modality is now present in most tournaments and keeps gaining popularity with each passing day.

If you’re a newcomer to the mats, it can be challenging to decide which style of competition fits your skills. Meanwhile, a veteran might be great in one modality but struggle with the other. With that in mind, we have set aside the key differences between gi and no-gi, highlighting the main techniques employed in each of them. Check it out below!

Gi - Finger grips, lapel entanglements, and rich details

The oldest and most traditional form of Jiu-Jitsu, fights in the gi are the true foundation of the gentle art. With a multitude of options that start with the many grips that can be employed in any one position, the possibilities are endless with the cotton jacket and pants. Fighting for a dominant grip is a battle in of itself, given that dominating the right part of your opponent’s body might be the difference between advancing to a better position or being on the receiving end of a counterattack.

While grips on the sleeves and pants are commonplace here, the use of collars to stabilize and strangle is also largely employed, and that’s before we even mention the dangerous lapel edges, which can be used to tie the arms and legs of the adversaries at any point of a match. The time each athlete spends studying a position is on full display during gi fights, as knowledge is essential for a move to be well executed and lack of control during a transition may well lead to a quick and merciless defeat.

No-Gi - Fast pace, hand grips, and lots of spins

The no-gi duels, which have grown in the latest decades and have seen a particular spike in recent seasons, bring with them a new setting for Jiu-Jitsu fighters. In the absence of a gi to place the grips and control the opponent, no-gi is known for its fast-paced matches and more explosive movements. The finger grips - nonexistent except when used to grab the hand of the other athlete - give way to the powerful cupped hand grips, which are used in the back of the neck, the armpits, and behind the knees. For the extremities, wrist and ankle grips provide a great substitute for the cotton sleeves and cuffs used in the gi.

Another common move here is the two-hand grip to control the adversary’s hip, like a seatbelt. Submission-wise, guillotines and rear naked chokes step up to replace lapel chokes, while triangles and armbars need a little more energy to pull off, but are largely the same as the gi counterpart. Last but not least, the no-gi style is more consistent in the usage of leg entanglements, with sweeps, submissions, and takedowns being more focused on the lower limbs. Knowing how to control your opponent’s legs, for both attacking and defending, is the key aspect to being successful without the gi.

It is worth noting that, although many attributes are shared between both styles, each one has defining aspects that make a big difference in the mats. Gone are the days when training in the gi was enough to excel with and without the cloth. If you’re aiming to be a well-rounded competitor, you’ll need to put in the time and study the wealth of details that each brings to the table, and that’s not to mention how training one style might improve the other. Add a second fighting style to your training routine and watch as your Jiu-Jitsu reaches new heights!