To Gi or not to Gi?

[Jay Evans]

I'm starting up some BJJ lessons, trained so far only with James Saville, we have to start seeing other people soon so I thought I'd start sampling classes in my area!

But I dunno what to do about the Gi business?! I'm ideally looking to train for No Gi grappling matches as I find them fun! getting hit isn't my kind of thing at the moment.

[Creely]

i love nogi but i find gi work more of a challenge i love teaching gi because of all the little details that make the game so beutifull

i would find a club that does both gi and nogi you could have a blast that the two of them then mate

[boxingbrit]

I'd do whatever is conveniant and you enjoy:)

[Jay Evans]

i love nogi but i find gi work more of a challenge i love teaching gi because of all the little details that make the game so beutifull

i would find a club that does both gi and nogi you could have a blast that the two of them then mate

I never thought about it that way, reason I enjoy BJJ / Grappling is because it seems so technical, maybe the Gi would add to that :O!

Sounds like a plan finding both!


I'd do whatever is conveniant and you enjoy:)

Grappling <3, can't be getting hit in the face!

[Rob T]

Advantages of the gi;

It slows things down - in nogi, guard passing tends to be a scramble... when you're first starting that makes learning to use specific techniques much harder.

It really helps with defence as there is no easy way to just pull out of a sub, in nogi you can quite often slip out due to sweat. So training with the gi on makes you more aware of not getting caught in the first place.

I also think it helps you get to grips with balance breaking quicker.

Down points are that you might get used to always having grips (which won't be there in nogi) and it's much easier to control posture in the gi, which can then translate badly to nogi and moreso to MMA.

Training with the gi makes you better quicker imo, but as has been said - do what you enjoy.

[Jay Evans]

Advantages of the gi;

It slows things down - in nogi, guard passing tends to be a scramble... when you're first starting that makes learning to use specific techniques much harder.

It really helps with defence as there is no easy way to just pull out of a sub, in nogi you can quite often slip out due to sweat. So training with the gi on makes you more aware of not getting caught in the first place.

I also think it helps you get to grips with balance breaking quicker.

Down points are that you might get used to always having grips (which won't be there in nogi) and it's much easier to control posture in the gi, which can then translate badly to nogi and moreso to MMA.

Training with the gi makes you better quicker imo, but as has been said - do what you enjoy.

True, I'll try out both!

Gi does sound interesting and I I like the swushy noise it makes when you pretend to be Jackie Chan ........... what you know you tried it lol.

Joking aside, I've trained No Gi with James so far, his teaching has done me well so far, he's extremly fast and can get submissions from anywhere so its made me really alert haha! getting tested by him today :D .... in other words he wants to break my morale haha.

[wagon]

much warmer in a gi which is awesome in the winter:D

[Firebird]

I used to do Gi but do only No Gi now. No gi is the style i much prefer to roll, there is too much stalling in the gi and i prefer the quicker pace. I also prefer the no gi techniques as they need to be much tighter and accurate.

Gi can be fun but the skin loss on fingers is terrible!!!

[Jay Evans]

Funny you say that Wagon, the gym I was at today rolling / grappling with James was so damn freezing, was thinking "It's a shame my gear so thin" haha.

Get what you mean too Firebird, I had alot of fun with the pace, be strange if it slowed right down.

Ring we trained in is major hardcore, my elbows and knees will hate me! blood on my t-shirt from god knows where! hopefully its Savilles :D

[piratebrido]

If no gi is what you like then do no gi. People say that you get more technical faster in gi, but I believe you will get those results from doing what you enjoy.

[mainsy]

Say it isn't so brido?

[piratebrido]

Say it isn't so brido?

I just want to call him a poof, and this is a sure fire way of getting what I want.

[trev01]

in my experience, people who train with the gi find it easier to take it off and roll no gi, as opposed to no gi grapplers who put it on and get tied up, they then immediately decide 'i dont like this'.

im not getting into the which is better argument, but if you enjoy grappling then do both and expand your arsenal. after all they are not so far apart really.

trev

[BJJfightlad]

I'll prefer the gi training, it's so much easier to switch to no gi. The guys that train no gi have a much harder job switching to gi.

[Scott]

I've never felt that Gi grappling is any slower paced that no gi. For a while I didn't like the Gi because I kept getting tied up with it all the time, but after a while I started learning to use the gi to my advantage with open guard and pins etc, and now I just love grappling no matter what I'm wearing!

[wagon]

I've never felt that Gi grappling is any slower paced that no gi. For a while I didn't like the Gi because I kept getting tied up with it all the time, but after a while I started learning to use the gi to my advantage with open guard and pins etc, and now I just love grappling no matter what I'm wearing!

especially in your pants:D

[Scott]

Well everyone complained when I lined up butt naked didn't they?! So pants was teh next step up!

[wagon]

Well everyone complained when I lined up butt naked didn't they?! So pants was teh next step up!

not everyone lovely boy:D

[TNTtaylor]

try and find a class that does both m8,i find doing both brings ur game on loads!look at the top guys in no gi; garcia,bravo,leo veira,etc,etc. All gi players.so try and do both bud