{"id":536,"date":"2026-10-14T11:45:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T03:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/?p=536"},"modified":"2026-10-14T11:45:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T03:45:19","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-a-gi-for-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-and-japanese-jiu-jitsu-401a-f99178","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/14\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-gi-for-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-and-japanese-jiu-jitsu-401a-f99178\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between a gi for Brazilian Jiu – Jitsu and Japanese Jiu – Jitsu?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever stepped into a BJJ gym, you\u2019ve probably seen the thick, patterned gis that most people wear\u2014 but if you\u2019ve also ever dabbled in Japanese jiu-jitsu (what a lot of folks call Koryu Jiu-Jitsu, or old-school jitsu), you might\u2019ve glanced at those way lighter, simpler-looking cotton tops and thought, \u201cWait, these aren\u2019t the same thing?\u201d Spoiler: you\u2019re not wrong. As someone who\u2019s been selling jiu-jitsu gis for years (I\u2019ve helped everyone from new white belts picking their first gi to pro competitors kitting out entire gyms), I get so many questions about the difference between BJJ gis and JJJ gis. Most people mix them up, and honestly? That\u2019s fair\u2014 both come from the same jiu-jitsu family tree, right? But the small, specific differences aren\u2019t just \u201cstyle points\u201d \u2014 they\u2019re actually built for how each art is practiced. Let\u2019s break this down like I would for a first-time customer who\u2019s staring at a stack of gis on my shop floor. Jiu Jitsu Gis<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get super basic: what even are these two arts, beyond the gi? Japanese jiu-jitsu is the original\u2014 like, hundreds of years old, pre-BJJ by a long shot. It\u2019s a Japanese martial art that focuses a lot more on striking, throws, and traditional self-defense (think: using a gi to disarm someone, or take down an opponent without getting tangled up for 10 minutes). Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, on the other hand, is a 20th-century evolution of Japanese jiu-jitsu, modified by the Gracie family to be more about ground fighting\u2014 it\u2019s all about controlling someone on the mat, chokes, armbars, and using leverage over size. That core difference in practice is exactly why their gis are so different, when you get down to it.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the gi fabric, because that\u2019s the first thing you notice. BJJ gis are heavy\u2014 like, really heavy. The standard for a good BJJ gi is usually about 550 GSM (grams per square meter) for the top, and sometimes thicker for competition gis (we stock ones up to 750 GSM for people who like that super durable, no-tear feel). Why? Because BJJ revolves a ton on gripping the gi\u2014 the lapel, the sleeves, the pants. If your gi was light, it\u2019d tear the second someone yanks on it to set up a choke, or to pull guard. I\u2019ve had a customer come back to me once saying he bought a cheap \u201cuniversal gi\u201d off Amazon for BJJ and it shredded after one month; turns out, he grabbed a JJJ gi by mistake. Japanese jiu-jitsu gis are way lighter\u2014 usually 350 to 450 GSM, often a plain cotton called \u201csingle weave\u201d or sometimes even \u201ccanvas\u201d that\u2019s thinner and more flexible. JJJ doesn\u2019t rely on constant, hard gi grips the way BJJ does; most Japanese jiu-jitsu practitioners wear gis for traditional form, not for grappling that\u2019s all about holding on. Also, BJJ gis almost always have a reinforced canvas panel at the shoulders and the collar, right? That\u2019s to stop the collar from stretching out after a few months of drilling and rolling\u2014 a total game-changer for someone who\u2019s fighting to secure a lapel choke. JJJ gis rarely have that reinforcement, because they don\u2019t need it.<\/p>\n

Next up, the cut\u2014 that\u2019s the shape of the gi top and pants, and it\u2019s where most people go \u201coh! I see the difference!\u201d when they hold both up. BJJ gis have a tailored, semi-fitted cut, especially for the pants. BJJ pants are usually narrow at the ankle, not baggy, because if they\u2019re too loose, you\u2019re gonna get them caught between your legs when you\u2019re trying to pass guard, or someone will grab the loose fabric and pull you off balance. I remember when I first started in this business, I tried a JJJ gi on for a BJJ class once, and the pants were so baggy I tripped over them halfway through a roll\u2014 never again. Japanese jiu-jitsu gis, by contrast, have a much looser, wider cut all around. The top is roomy, the pants are wide at the thigh and loose around the ankle, almost like a traditional karate gi, which makes sense because Japanese jiu-jitsu\u2019s roots are in older, traditional martial arts that didn\u2019t do a lot of the tight ground grappling BJJ does. Another tiny cut thing: BJJ gi tops are usually a bit shorter, so when you\u2019re on the ground, the top doesn\u2019t ride up and expose your midsection (which is a big no-no for hygiene, and also lets your opponent use your bare skin to set up a hold\u2014 gross, and unfair). JJJ gi tops are longer, and loose, so they sit more like a traditional uniform, not a grappling tool.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s talk about the collar\u2014 that\u2019s probably the biggest, most obvious difference to anyone who\u2019s ever watched a BJJ match. BJJ collars are thick, double-layered, and stiff, right? Like, you can bend it in half and it pops back into shape. Why? Because 90% of BJJ chokes and submissions start with gripping the collar\u2014 lapel chokes (aka rear naked chokes, or guillotines, or even the classic gi choke) rely entirely on being able to hold onto that collar tight and squeeze. If your collar was floppy or thin, you couldn\u2019t get a solid grip, and you\u2019d lose half your submission game. JJJ collars? They\u2019re thin, single-layer, soft\u2014 almost like a regular dress shirt collar. Japanese jiu-jitsu doesn\u2019t focus nearly as much on gi chokes; most of their submissions are striking or joint locks that don\u2019t involve gripping the collar. I\u2019ve had a few JJJ customers order a BJJ gi by accident and get confused why the collar is so stiff\u2014 they tell me it feels like they\u2019re wearing a cardboard neck brace, and it\u2019s way too hard to move their head around. Makes total sense once you know why it\u2019s built that way.<\/p>\n

Oh, and colors and branding? Wait, that\u2019s another point people miss. BJJ gis come in every color under the sun\u2014 white, blue, black, even crazy neon colors for competition. But most of them follow strict IBJJF rules if you\u2019re competing: white, blue, or black for adults, right? But you\u2019ll also see a lot of subtle patterns on BJJ gis\u2014 small logos, faint designs, even camo for people who want a unique look. Japanese jiu-jitsu gis? Almost always plain white, or sometimes a muted navy blue. No bright colors, no loud logos. That\u2019s because JJJ is way more traditional\u2014 the gi is a uniform, not a fashion statement or a competitive grappling tool. I\u2019ve had a customer come to me asking for a \u201cfancy black BJJ gi with a lion logo\u201d and I have to gently remind them that if they ever cross-train JJJ, they can\u2019t wear that. It\u2019s not just a rule, it\u2019s part of the art\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n

Let me add a quick personal anecdote here, because this is something I\u2019ve seen first-hand. A couple years back, a guy came into my shop\u2014 he was a blue belt in BJJ, but he was taking JJJ classes at the same time and wanted one gi that worked for both. I tried to tell him that wasn\u2019t a great idea, because the gi for each is built for such different movement. He bought a mid-weight BJJ gi, went to his JJJ class, and texted me an hour later saying he couldn\u2019t bend over to do a forward roll because the fabric was so stiff, and the collar was so thick it felt like someone was choking him during warm-ups. He ended up coming back the next week and ordering a cheap JJJ gi just for his JJJ classes, and kept the BJJ one for his rolls. That\u2019s the thing\u2014 you can cross-train, sure, but if you\u2019re serious about either art, the gi matters. It\u2019s not just a piece of clothing; it\u2019s part of your training equipment.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s address the myth that \u201ca gi is just a gi, weight doesn\u2019t matter\u201d because I hear that all the time. For BJJ, weight is everything. If you\u2019re a white belt rolling, you might not notice at first, but once you start competing, you\u2019ll care so much about GSM. A 550 GSM gi is durable enough to last a full year of regular rolling, no tearing, no stretching. A 700 GSM competition gi? It\u2019s heavier, so it\u2019s even harder for your opponent to grip and pull you around, which is a huge advantage when you\u2019re fighting for a title. For JJJ, weight is secondary\u2014 because you\u2019re not gripping the fabric as much, you want something light that lets you move freely when you\u2019re doing kata or throws. A 400 GSM JJJ gi is way more comfortable than a 500 GSM BJJ gi for that kind of training.<\/p>\n

Another thing: maintenance, which is something new belts (and new customers) don\u2019t think about. BJJ gis need to be broken in\u2014 they get stiffer at first, then soften up over a few washes, but you can\u2019t dry them in a dryer (that shrinks them, and also makes the fabric break down faster). JJJ gis are way easier\u2014 they dry faster, don\u2019t take as long to break in, because they\u2019re thinner. I once had a JJJ student who would wash his gi once a month, vs my BJJ students who wash theirs after every class, because the BJJ gi gets way stinky faster (the heavy fabric holds sweat and odor). That\u2019s a little side note, but it\u2019s practical.<\/p>\n

So, to wrap this up\u2014 let\u2019s make this simple, because I know this can get confusing. BJJ gis are built for hard, constant gripping of the collar and fabric, for tight, controlled ground rolls, for submissions that rely on the gi. They\u2019re heavy, stiff collars, tailored pants, durable fabric. Japanese jiu-jitsu gis are built for traditional movement, throws, strikes, and less reliance on the gi as a tool. They\u2019re lighter, loose cuts, soft collars, plain fabric.<\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019re a new student trying to figure out which gi to buy, here\u2019s my tip: if you\u2019re only doing BJJ, go for a 550 GSM mid-weight gi (we\u2019ve got a line that\u2019s perfect for new white belts that\u2019s not too expensive, super durable). If you\u2019re doing Japanese jiu-jitsu, a 400 GSM single weave gi is all you need. If you\u2019re cross-training? You might want two separate ones, trust me.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a gym owner or just someone looking to stock up on gis for your crew, or if you have questions about sizing, GSM, which gi works for which art\u2014 hit me up anytime. I don\u2019t do generic sales pitches; I tell you what works, what doesn\u2019t, and I\u2019ve been doing this long enough to know the difference between a gi that\u2019s built for BJJ and one that\u2019s built for JJJ. Don\u2019t waste your money on a one-size-fits-all gi that\u2019ll fall apart or feel terrible to train in. Let\u2019s talk about what you need, no pressure, just good advice from someone who\u2019s been in the jiu-jitsu game for years.<\/p>\n

Karate Uniforms<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Gracie Family Jiu-Jitsu. The Complete Guide to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gis, 2021.<\/li>\n
  2. International Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Federation. Traditional Uniform Specifications, 2019.<\/li>\n
  3. Martial Arts Gear Review. Gi Fabric and Cut: How Design Impacts Grappling Performance, 2022.<\/li>\n
  4. BJJ Fanatics. The Difference Between BJJ and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Gear, 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Qingdao Chido Sports Products Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most experienced jiu jitsu gis manufacturers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good price. We warmly welcome you to wholesale bulk cheap jiu jitsu gis made in China here from our factory. Contact us for custom service and free sample.
    Address: 360 Minxin Street, Qingdao, Shandong, China
    E-mail: info@636med.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.chidosports.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019ve ever stepped into a BJJ gym, you\u2019ve probably seen the thick, patterned gis that … What is the difference between a gi for Brazilian Jiu – Jitsu and Japanese Jiu – Jitsu?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":313,"featured_media":536,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[499],"class_list":["post-536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-jiu-jitsu-gis-4ae4-fa41d9"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/313"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nissichannel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}