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Frequently asked questions about BJJ

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Question #1: What is the Difference Between Gi and No Gi?

Brazilian jiu jitsu is traditionally practiced in the gi. A gi is a uniform that enables students to practice choking and controlling each other with articles of clothing. It is much more sturdy than your average hoodie or t-shirt and is designed for performance.

In no gi training, students generally wear a rash guard and shorts or spats. The clothing is not used for choking or controlling, and baggy items should be avoided to protect fingers and toes from getting caught up and broken. When I’m training no gi, I try to cover as much skin as possible to prevent skin infections and wardrobe malfunctions. I would prefer to not have a hairy armpit or bare thighs touching my face or neck and I’m sure most people feel the same way, so that’s something to consider when you’re choosing what to wear to class. Generally, no one cares what anyone else actually looks like at BJJ.

 You can buy your Gi on our website or at the school.

Question #2: What is the Perfect Age to Start a Child in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

I’ve been teaching kids martial and especially BJJ for a long time now.  Let’s put it this way, I started martial arts in the very early to be more specific in November of 1999 Anyway.  So I guess I may know a thing or two about teaching kids BJJ. In particular I have mainly taught kids as young as 3 1/2 to 7 years.  In my experience, the closer you can get to four years old, the better chance your child will have a positive experience starting BJJ.  There are a few key areas parents should consider when starting a BJJ class.  First, does your child have enough verbal communication skills that they can communicate their needs and desires to the instructor?  For example:  they need to be able to ask and answer basic questions during class.  This will also include basic communication with others students and coaches as well. Bathroom Trained:  Most BJJ classes are 45 minutes to one hour long.  Most instructors will require your child be bathroom trained enough to successfully finish an hour class.  Classroom participation:  Being shy or outgoing is okay.  It only becomes a challenge if your child is so shy they refuse to participate or if they are so “high energy” that they cannot focus enough to participate in learning.  BJJ is a “contact sport”, so your child needs to be somewhat prepared to wrestle and have physical contact with other children.  A great instructor will introduce grappling and contact over time.  But nevertheless, there will be contact. Remember, there’s no real perfect way to figure out if your child is ready but to give it a try.  The best way to get started is to call a school and schedule an appointment for a trial class (our schools offer a free trial class).

 Question #3: Why Train with the Gi?

The gi game obviously has a lot more to it. Everything that can be done without the gi can be done with it, making it a more complex game. Additionally, taking away the gi allows physical attributes such as size, strength and slipperiness to come into play with greater effect due to the lack of levers and friction. Working with the gi is generally considered more of a “thinking man’s” game. Not that no-gi isn’t, it’s just that the gi removes many physical advantages and ads more techniques. For now, you should view your kimono(gi) as a set of training wheels. As you develop a higher level of proficiency, you will learn to perform Jiu-jitsu techniques both with and without a gi. For now, the gi will add a level of sophistication to your game that will result in you as a student becoming a more advanced and technical fighter.

 Question #4: Do people get injured a lot in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Not at all! You'll  be training in an extremely supportive, safe environment. No one wants to hurt anyone - and no one wants to get hurt. While injuries happen from time to time (just like with any sport), they're the exception - not the rule.

 Question #5: Should I get in shape before joining a BJJ school?

No, you should do BJJ to get in shape!

If you told me “I want to get in shape so I can ride a bike,” I’d tell you “You ride a bike to get in shape!” The same is true for BJJ. Doing an activity is the best way to get in shape for it.

“Getting in shape first” is a very common excuse for not starting BJJ sooner, and it is usually hiding the real fear: being afraid of embarrassing yourself and looking foolish in front of others. This fear is common, as is its sibling: wanting to be good without ever doing something before.

I’ll ruin the suspense right now and let you know that even people who are in shape have trouble starting BJJ. You also won’t be good at BJJ without ever doing it, no matter how many UFC Fight Nights you’ve watched.

BJJ is an activity unlike anything a person normally does. Even if you could run marathons and climb mountains, BJJ will challenge you in different ways. (It works both ways too–being good at BJJ doesn’t make you good at marathons or mountain climbing).

People who say they want to get in shape before starting BJJ rarely take steps to do it. If they weren’t motivated enough to start BJJ, it’s unlikely they will start working out or going to a fitness gym either.

To be honest, I’ve never seen someone who could legitimately say they needed to get in shape before starting BJJ. They would need to be so morbidly obese or frail that a doctor would tell them not to. They have bigger problems than “getting in shape” if that’s the state their life’s in.

Learning BJJ techniques and sparring against people is a very fun, interesting and exciting way to get in shape. It beats running on a treadmill while listening to your Pandora playlist, or being that creepy guy who lift weights in his garage with the door rolled up.

Pizol, Black Belt.