Physical and mental fitness, health and discipline are just a few of the perks that practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers. When Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was first introduced in the United States and the United Kingdom, there were quite a few outlets (online or otherwise) that offered bjj gi. Due to this, it became quite difficult to get one.

However, with the rise of its popularity, not only have more people started practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (bjj), more and more outlets have opened up since that offer variety of gis.

On one hand, this boom in gi outlets has offered ease of access; on the other hand, it has also made it difficult to choose among a vast variety of gis.

Owing the perfect uniform (gi) is important for the practice of bjj. Buying a gi is not like buying a gym outfit or joggers mainly because it is not just an outfit, rather it is an essential piece of equipment that you can use to choke your opponent or perform other tactics.

Following are five of the most important factors that you need to consider while choosing your gi:

Weaves

The number one thing you need to decide when buying your gi is which weave type you need to purchase. Following are some of the most common weave types:

Single Weave

If you are just starting out with your bjj training, then this would be the perfect gi to buy. Not only is this gi light and inexpensive, but it is also comfortable and allows easy movement.

Single weave gis are thinner which makes it easier for your opponent to grab them; however, you can take it positively and practice your grip escaping tactics.

Double Weave

Single weave gis are thinner, therefore, not durable. People with enough experience of the art should switch to double weave gis because they are durable due to high-density material.

These gis are thicker which makes it harder for your opponent to grab them. The drawback of this gi is that since it is thicker, it can retain heat which does not make it suitable to wear in the hot weather.

Gold Weave

The gold weave is for those that want benefits of both the above-mentioned gis. Gold weave gis are not only lightweight as the single weave, but are also durable similar to the double weave.

Pearl Weave

Pearl weaves are lightweight gis that are super soft. These gis are durable and allow airflow which makes them a good match for hot weather conditions.

Ripstop Weave

As the name suggests, ripstop weaves are designed to stop rips or tears before they spread through the weave. Ripstop weaves are lightweight and thin which makes it easier to grab. Another drawback of these weaves is that they do not allow much airflow.

Frequency of training

Ample information has been provided above and one can decide for oneself what kind of weave fits their requirements. Conversely, another thing to consider is how often are you planning to practice?

Consider you need to practice bjj once a week; then buying an inexpensive gi would be no problem. However, if you are training for some competition for which you need constant practice, then it is important for you to buy a durable gi which will, of course, be expensive.

An alternative to this is that you can buy two or three different gis and cycle them through your routine. This allows you to buy inexpensive gis as the effects of wear and tear are stretched to different gis.

It also helps to buy multiple gis as you can put one in the laundry and wear the clean one not being bound to just one option.

Fitting

Another major aspect of a bjj gi is its fitting. Fitting is important too because it not only affects your comfort level, but also your motivation. Every person has a different preference of fitting.

Some people prefer loose fitting while others like a baggy gi. However, if you are unsure about your choice of fitting, then try out different fittings and walk and move in them. It will help you in deciding which fitting is the best for you.

Reinforcements

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a sport in which you'll have to make a lot of sudden movements, grab and be grabbed by your competitor. In such cases, wear-and-tear is quite common.

In order to increase the durability of your gi, it is important that you reinforce stitching in the places that are most frequently affected viz. underarms, knees, thighs, chest, etc. Having your collar reinforced is also a good thing; however, make sure that it's comfortable.

Design

Lastly, the design is significant. A person expresses his/her individuality with the kind of style they choose to wear. Some people like flashy designs with a lot of intricate patterns and colors; whereas, others prefer plain gis. Whatever bjj gi style you choose, make sure you feel good about it.