What Is a Gi in BJJ? (And Why TNT Trains Without One)

A Gi in BJJ is the traditional uniform worn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — a heavy cotton jacket, drawstring pants, and a colored belt that marks your rank. The word comes from the Japanese keikogi (“training clothing”), and the Gi is the uniform most people picture when they imagine Jiu-Jitsu: two grapplers in thick white kimonos, gripping each other’s collars and sleeves.

At TNT MMA Training Center, our No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy at 1515 W Deer Valley Rd in North Phoenix, we don’t use the Gi at all — we train No-Gi exclusively, in rashguards and shorts. This guide, written by Professor Scott Tannenbaum (a 6th degree black belt under Rigan Machado), explains exactly what a Gi is, what its parts do, why some schools build their whole game around it, and why we made the deliberate choice to train without it.

The short version: the Gi is a real, technical, beautiful way to practice Jiu-Jitsu — but it’s a uniform no attacker on the street is wearing. If your goal is practical self-defense and MMA, the Gi can actually train habits that don’t transfer. That’s the reasoning behind TNT’s No-Gi-only program, and it’s why hundreds of North Phoenix students train with us.

What Are the Parts of a BJJ Gi?

A BJJ Gi has three pieces, and each one becomes part of the game:

• The jacket (top). Thick, reinforced cotton with a stiff collar and durable sleeves. In Gi Jiu-Jitsu, the collar is used for chokes and the sleeves are used to control your opponent’s arms.
• The pants. Heavy cotton or ripstop with a drawstring waist. The pant legs (cuffs) are gripped to control the hips and legs during sweeps and guard passing.
• The belt. A colored belt that holds the jacket closed and signifies rank — white, blue, purple, brown, and black, with stripes marking progress in between.

Every one of those surfaces is a handle. That’s the defining feature of Gi training: the uniform gives both players dozens of grips to fight over, which makes the game slower, more methodical, and intensely technical.

Why Do Some Schools Train With the Gi?

There are genuinely good reasons traditional schools love the Gi, and it’s worth being fair about them.

The Gi slows everything down. Because there are so many grips, exchanges happen at a slower pace, which gives beginners time to think and lets smaller, more technical grapplers control larger opponents. Many coaches argue the Gi is the better long-term teacher precisely because it punishes sloppy technique — you can’t just scramble out of a well-set collar choke.

The Gi is also tied to Jiu-Jitsu’s tradition and the IBJJF competition circuit, where the Gi is standard. If your goal is classical sport Jiu-Jitsu, belt promotions in the traditional system, and Gi tournaments, training in the Gi makes sense. We respect that path completely — it’s just a different goal than the one most of our students walk in with.

Why Does TNT Train Without the Gi (No-Gi)?

We teach No-Gi exclusively for one simple, honest reason: nobody attacks you in a Gi. A real assailant is wearing a t-shirt, a jacket, or nothing you can reliably grip. If your entire game is built on collar and sleeve control, you’ll instinctively reach for handles that aren’t there when it actually matters.

No-Gi removes the uniform and teaches you to control a resisting person with what’s always available — underhooks, head position, wrist control, body locks, and pressure. It also leans harder into wrestling and clinch work, which matters because most real encounters start standing. That’s why we built our entire No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program in North Phoenix around the street first and the scoreboard second. No-Gi is also the format of all modern MMA — UFC, Bellator, and every pro promotion compete without a Gi.

Do You Need a Gi to Start at TNT?

No — and that’s part of the appeal. Because we train No-Gi, there’s no $150 kimono to buy, no belt to keep track of, and no laundry-heavy uniform to maintain. To start at TNT, you just need a rashguard (or a fitted athletic t-shirt), grappling shorts or spats, and a mouthguard for sparring. We train barefoot on the mats. Show up clean, train hard, go home — that simplicity gets beginners on the mat faster and keeps the focus on skills, not gear.

Gi vs No-Gi: Which Is Better for a Beginner?

For most adults in North Phoenix who want practical self-defense, fitness, and maybe a path toward MMA, No-Gi is the more directly useful starting point — it teaches the version of Jiu-Jitsu that transfers to real life, and there are fewer grip variables to memorize early on. The Gi is the better fit if your goal is traditional sport Jiu-Jitsu and IBJJF competition. Either way, the fundamentals — posture, base, frames, escapes, and hip movement — are identical, so you’re learning real Jiu-Jitsu from day one. The best way to decide is to feel it: your first class at TNT is free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a Gi in BJJ?
A: A Gi is the traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uniform — a heavy cotton jacket, drawstring pants, and a colored belt that marks rank. The word comes from the Japanese keikogi, meaning “training clothing.” In Gi Jiu-Jitsu, the collar, sleeves, and pant cuffs are all used as grips to control and submit an opponent, which makes the game slower and more grip-dependent. TNT MMA Training Center in North Phoenix trains No-Gi instead, using rashguards and shorts, because that style transfers more directly to real-world self-defense and MMA.

Q: What does a BJJ Gi cost?
A: A quality BJJ Gi typically runs from about $80 to $200, plus the cost of belts. One advantage of training No-Gi at TNT is that you skip that expense entirely — all you need is a rashguard, grappling shorts, and a mouthguard. There’s no uniform to buy, maintain, or replace as you grow, which makes getting started simpler and more affordable.

Q: Is Gi or No-Gi better for self-defense?
A: No-Gi is better for self-defense because real attackers don’t wear Gis. A game built on collar and sleeve grips fails when an opponent is in a t-shirt or jacket. No-Gi teaches you to control a person using their body, head, and limbs plus your own pressure — tools that are always available. It also includes more standing wrestling and clinch work, which matters since most real encounters begin on the feet. This is the entire reason TNT trains No-Gi exclusively.

Q: Do I have to wear a Gi to do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
A: No. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be trained with or without the Gi. No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu uses the same submissions, escapes, and positions but is practiced in a rashguard and shorts instead of the uniform. At TNT MMA Training Center, every class is No-Gi, so you never need to buy or wear a Gi. The technical principles you learn are real Jiu-Jitsu — just applied without the uniform’s grips.

Q: What do the belt colors in a BJJ Gi mean?
A: In the traditional adult system, the belts progress white, blue, purple, brown, then black, with stripes marking progress between ranks. The belt holds the Gi jacket closed and signifies experience and skill. In No-Gi training, the same ranking knowledge applies, but the day-to-day focus is on technique and performance against resisting partners rather than the uniform itself.

Q: Where can I train No-Gi BJJ in North Phoenix?
A: TNT MMA Training Center is North Phoenix’s 100% No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy, located at 1515 W Deer Valley Rd, Suite B-105, Phoenix, AZ 85027, near the I-17 and Deer Valley Rd. We’re led by Professor Scott Tannenbaum, a 6th degree black belt under Rigan Machado, and we serve students from Deer Valley, Anthem, Cave Creek, Glendale, and across the North Valley. Your first class is free.

Written by Professor Scott Tannenbaum, 6th degree black belt under Rigan Machado | TNT MMA Training Center, North Phoenix. We teach No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu exclusively at 1515 W Deer Valley Rd, Suite B-105, Phoenix, AZ 85027 (4.9★, 101 reviews). Book your free first class or call (623) 262-2772.