Do I need a gi for no-gi jiu jitsu?

No. No-gi jiu jitsu is trained in shorts and a shirt, not a gi uniform. A traditional gi costs anywhere from $80 to $200, but 10th Planet Airlock in Bastrop, TX trains no-gi exclusively, so you will never need to buy a gi to train there.

Can I wear a tank top to jiu jitsu?

It's best to wear a shirt with sleeves rather than a tank top. In jiu jitsu, a training partner's face often ends up very close to your body, so sleeves are more considerate. A t-shirt or rash guard is the standard choice.

Why can't I wear shorts with pockets to jiu jitsu?

Pockets are a safety hazard in jiu jitsu. Fingers and toes get caught in them during grappling, which can cause jammed or broken fingers. Zippers and buttons can also scratch a training partner or catch on skin. Beginners can start in whatever athletic shorts they own, but should switch to pocket-free grappling shorts as they keep training.

What to Wear to Your First Jiu Jitsu Class

For your first jiu jitsu class, wear athletic clothing without zippers, buttons, or pockets. A t-shirt and shorts or leggings works perfectly. For no-gi jiu jitsu, that’s all you need. No uniform. No special gear. Nothing to buy before you walk in.

Book a free class at 10th Planet Airlock if you’re ready. Here’s the full breakdown if you want the details.

What to Wear to Your First Class

A t-shirt or rash guard. Something you can sweat in that fits reasonably close to your body. A regular cotton t-shirt is fine for day one.

Shorts or leggings. Athletic shorts work great. Leggings or spats work great. At first, you’ll wear shorts with pockets because you don’t own fight shorts yet. That’s fine. Eventually in your training, you need shorts with no pockets. At first, just wear no zippers, no buttons, and no drawstrings hanging loose.

Flip flops or Crocs for the parking lot. You’ll be barefoot on the mat, and shoes never touch those. But you need shoes for the bathroom (gross if not). Something easy to slip on and off is ideal.

That’s the whole list. Bring a water bottle if you want one.

Why No Zippers, Buttons, or Pockets

This one is a safety thing. Jiu jitsu is a close-contact grappling sport. Fingers and toes get caught in pockets, and that’s how you end up with a jammed or broken finger. Zippers and buttons can scratch your training partner or catch on skin during a scramble. Or ruin our beautiful mats.

Basketball shorts with deep pockets, cargo shorts, and anything with a metal zipper are the most common offenders. If your only athletic shorts have pockets, you can still train, but plan to grab a pair without them before your next class.

What to Avoid

Tank tops. We say this with love: your training partner’s face is going to be very close to your armpit at some point. Keep your pits to yourself and wear a shirt with sleeves.

Baggy cotton. Loose clothing gets grabbed, tangled, and stretched out. It also soaks up sweat and gets heavy fast. Fitted athletic material is more comfortable for you and for whoever you’re rolling with.

Jewelry. Take off rings, watches, necklaces, and earrings before class. Jewelry can catch on skin or clothing and cause a real injury.

Anything you love. Jiu jitsu is hard on clothes. Things get stretched, snagged, and occasionally torn. Don’t train in your favorite clothes.

The Hygiene Part (Please Read This)

Jiu jitsu means being in extremely close contact with other people for an hour. Everyone in the room is trusting everyone else to show up clean. This is the one piece of gym etiquette we ask everyone to take seriously.

Shower before class if you can. Especially if you’re coming straight from work or a job site.

Wear deodorant. Every time.

Trim your fingernails and toenails. Short. This is the single most common cause of scratches and cuts on the mat, and it’s completely preventable. If your nails are long when you show up, a coach is going to ask you to trim them. Save yourself the moment.

Clean training clothes every session. Wash your gear after every class. Never wear the same shirt twice between washes.

Brush your teeth. When someone is controlling your head from side control, they’re close enough to know.

None of this is complicated. It just matters more in a sport where your face ends up six inches from someone else’s.

What You’ll Want Once You Keep Training

If you decide jiu jitsu is for you, here’s the gear most people pick up over their first few months:

A rash guard. A rash guard is a tight-fitting athletic shirt made of quick-drying, flexible material. It protects your skin from mat burn, keeps sweat off your training partners, and doesn’t stretch or snag the way cotton does. Most people get one or two once they start training regularly.

Grappling shorts or spats. Shorts designed for grappling have no pockets, a flat waistband, and enough stretch to move in. Spats are tight leggings worn under shorts that protect your legs from mat burn.

A mouth guard. Recommended once you start rolling regularly. Cheap insurance for your teeth.

You can check our jiu jitsu glossary for definitions of any gear terms you’re unfamiliar with. And your coaches will point you toward good options at every price point when you’re ready.

Some gyms require you to wear their gear. Not here. Wear what you want. That said, we do have gear you can wear if you wanna look like you’re on the team.

You Don’t Need a Gi

Traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is trained in a gi, a heavy cotton uniform that costs anywhere from $80 to $200. We train no-gi jiu jitsu in Bastrop exclusively at 10th Planet Airlock, which means you will never need to buy a gi to train with us. Shorts and a shirt is the whole uniform.