Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a form of martial arts and it trains people in self-defense, patience, self-control, and the deliverance of combat moves with precision.
Those who are fans and enthusiastic practitioners of this sport know that there are further two types of forms of training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; GI Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and No GI Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The main difference between the two is primarily in the uniform. However, because of this simple change of outfit, the entire method of training for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu changes.
Although traditionally the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is performed in a proper GI, in its more modern form especially when training for the MMA, athletes do not wear the traditional GI instead they wear a No GI uniform in which they wear shorts and a rash guard.
With this slight change of uniform the entire technique of performing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu changes.
While wearing the traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu GI, since it’s designed like a robe or a kimono, you get many opportunities of grabbing your opponent and grapple them.
However when you are not wearing the traditional GI and are dressed in NoGI shorts and just a rash guard then the techniques of tackling your opponent change significantly. So let’s learn about these differences in detail:
More Resistance in GI BJJ
Because of the way, it’s designed the Kimono style GI uniform and the material that it is made of, cotton or denim, tends to slow down the athletes once they start to sweat since this makes the uniform wet. Since the uniform is now heavier and wets the speed of the athletes does not count instead now their training techniques and attacking tactics become a lot more important in determining who is performing well and who is not.
Because of this when learning and training in the traditional form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the main focus is on combating techniques and how to wait for the perfect opportunity to strike your opponent.
When learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while wearing the traditional GI the athlete has to be much more focused and mentally present at all times.
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Not only will this train beginners to concentrate but it is an excellent form of mental exercise as well. The athlete has to concentrate on its opponent’s every move and has to be very quick in grasping any opportunity they can get to deliver an attack.
This encourages mind and body connection and is an excellent form of body, mind, and soul coaching for a beginner.
Of course, this further means that when doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with No GI then there is a lot less friction so the faster and quicker the athlete is on its foot the better they will be performing. The technique changes completely.
But that does not necessarily mean that one form is better than the other. Both are excellent forms of learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
More Gripping Opportunity in GI BJJ
When training in GI Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the athlete can get many opportunities to grip their opponent firmly and grapple them tactfully.
However, there are proper ways of delivering these moves to ensure that an athlete can tightly ground their opponents and make the most out of their skills while training wearing the GI.
On the other hand when an athlete is not wearing a GI then the tactics change again; now the athlete has to work very hard to try and get a hold of their opponent to tackle them and lock them firmly on the ground.
The attacks and the way that these attacks are delivered; are changed significantly depending on what form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is being practiced.
More Strangling Opportunities in GI BJJ
Strangling your opponent in different ways is also an important part of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wearing the traditional GI will present the athlete with many opportunities to deliver such attacks.
This is an excellent way of teaching beginners about self-defense and areas you can attack your opponent most efficiently.
However without the GI delivering these attacks becomes more complicated because the athlete does not have a GI to provide with sufficient opportunities, so the training and tactics change as well.
The real question is that now that we know the differences of training with and without the GI then which is better for beginners? The answer for this as we have determined is that training with and without the GI is important.
At first, we suggest learning the traditional way so you can learn the proper techniques and forms. Also learning without the GI and then coming back to learn with the GI is far more difficult.
NoGI Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training is more similar to wrestling than the traditional martial arts. So it’s more focused on delivering attacks and winning.
Also for everyday life since it’s difficult that your attacker will be wearing a GI, knowing NoGI moves on such attackers for self-defense will prove to be more beneficial.
Thus it is important to learn the traditional form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but for competitions and everyday life knowing NoGI is just as beneficial.
