Gear Recommendations

This page covers gear for adult classes. For kids gear, see the Parents Hub gear guide.

Your First Class

You need two things: a rash guard (or tight-fitting athletic shirt) and athletic shorts with no pockets, no buttons, and no zippers. That’s it.

If you don’t have a rash guard yet, we have loaners at the gym you can use for your first week while you figure out what to buy. After your first week, you’ll need your own. You can get one on Amazon for under $20.

No-Gi Gear

All Fundamentals classes are no-gi. Here’s what you need.

Rash guards

A rash guard or tight-fitting athletic shirt is required for class. Loose clothing like regular t-shirts can catch fingers during training, which is a safety hazard.

We sell custom GJJ rash guards at the gym. If you want to support the gym and rep some cool gear, ask about what we have in stock.

Available through the gym: We can order Fuji Flex Lite rash guards at $50 through our wholesale account. These are my favorite rash guards I’ve ever worn: great weight, comfortable, durable. There’s a $20 shipping fee on orders under $300, so it helps to coordinate with other members and order together.

If you’re buying on your own:

Budget: TSLA rash guards on Amazon (also available in long sleeve). Around $15-20. Basic but functional. The printed logo peels off over time, but the fabric itself is sublimated and holds up.
Mid-range: Gold BJJ on Amazon. Around $40. Solid quality. They run small, so consider sizing up.
More about rash guard specs

Long sleeve vs short sleeve: Personal preference. It is slightly easier for training partners to grip your wrists in long sleeves. Not a big difference either way.

Ranked rash guards: Some rash guards use colors that correspond to belt ranks. You can wear whatever you want, but if you wear a purple rash guard, people will assume you’re a purple belt. Black does not carry that connotation.

Material and weight: Rash guards range from very thin (Manto) to fairly thick (Inverted Gear, Phalanx, Tatami). I like a middle-ground weight. Some have a silicone waistband at the bottom to prevent riding up. Nice feature, not essential.

Fit: You want them relatively tight. Sizing varies between brands and even between batches from the same brand, so there’s no reliable “Brand X fits body type Y” rule.

“Jiu jitsu” vs surfing rash guards: Minimal real difference. Grappling-specific ones are sometimes cut longer to prevent riding up and cost significantly more.
More brand notes

These are my personal opinions based on what I’ve worn or heard reliable feedback on.

Worth considering: 93 Brand (decent mid-range), Sanabul (good quality for price, limited designs), Fuji Flex Lite (my top pick by far), Origin (made in America, expensive but nice), Hayabusa (well made, pricey)

Fine but nothing special: Elite, Inverted Gear (thick, which some prefer), Scramble (thick, been around a long time), Phalanx (thick, long track record)

Overpriced for what you get: Shoyoroll (low quality, hype-driven pricing), VHTS (middling quality, very expensive), Few Will Hunt, Hyperfly, Progress, Jiujitiero

Avoid: LXB (all marketing budget, poor quality, falls apart)

Shorts

As long as your shorts don’t have pockets, you’re good. Fingers get caught in pockets and get hurt. Also avoid shorts with velcro closures; the stiff patches are irritating during grappling.

We sell custom GJJ shorts at the gym.

If you’re buying your own:

Budget: Soccer shorts from any sporting goods store. They won’t be cut specifically for grappling, but they work and cost a fraction of grappling-branded options.
Mid-range: Gold BJJ shorts on Amazon. Around $35. Good quality, though they run longer than most people prefer these days (5” inseams are more popular now).
Premium: Cruz Combat. Made in the USA, custom to order. These are my favorite shorts. They’re a premium brand and priced accordingly, but the quality and fit are worth it. Also worth looking at: Fuji Flex Lite shorts, which have the best construction I’ve tested (currently only in 7” without side slits).

Some people wear compression shorts underneath as a base layer. Shorts with built-in liners exist but tend to be constrictive if you have larger thighs.

Spats: Some people like training in compression pants. Men, please wear shorts over spats on the mats. We have loaners if you need one.

Gi Gear

You don’t need a gi for the Fundamentals program. If you want to try a gi class in the Advanced program, you can borrow a loaner for your first two sessions. After that, you’ll need to buy your own or pay a $5 loaner fee per use.

Loaners stay at the gym. Please don’t take loaner gear home, even to wash it for us. We need it available for the next class.

My top picks for a first gi:

Budget: Hawk gi on Amazon. Decent construction, 350gsm pearl weave, fraction of the cost of most gis.
Mid-range: Gold BJJ Aeroweave on Amazon. 275gsm ultralight. I haven’t worn one personally, but people I trust rave about it.
Gym pick: We sell the Fuji Ultralite 300 at the gym for $125. It’s my favorite gi by a mile. Comfortable, lightweight, durable. Same wholesale arrangement as the rash guards: $20 shipping on orders under $300, so coordinating with other members saves everyone money. We’re hoping to order custom versions with our logo in 2026.

If you want to be able to return your gi easily after wearing and washing it, stick with Amazon options or 93 Brand, which has the best return policy in the business.

What to look for in a gi

Type: Get a jiu jitsu gi specifically. Judo gis have looser sleeves and tend to be very thick (you’ll overheat). Karate/TKD gis are too flimsy and will rip.

Thickness (GSM): Measured in grams per square meter. I’d recommend under 325gsm for the jacket. Lighter gis are far more breathable and comfortable in a hot gym. Modern weave technology means lightweight fabrics can still be plenty durable.

Jacket weave: Pearl weave is the most common and a good default (lighter than double weave, sturdier than single weave). Jackets can also be fully lined, partially lined, or unlined. Unlined is the most breathable.

Pants: The two main types are ripstop (stronger, lighter, less likely to tear) and cotton twill (softer, more comfortable). Most people are happy with either.

Material: Almost all gis are 100% cotton. A few brands (Origin, Elite) use synthetic blends.
Sizing guide

Gis use a letter-number system. Adults are “A” (A0 through A5, higher = larger). Kids are “C” or “M” with sizes ranging from 000 to 3.

Modifiers: “L” for tall/lanky builds, “H” for shorter/wider builds. Some brands offer women’s cuts designated with “F.”

Fair warning: sizing varies significantly between brands and sometimes between different models from the same brand. If fit is important to you and you’re ordering online, choose a seller with a good return policy.
Colors and restrictions

We have no restrictions. Patches from other gyms, tie-dye, whatever you want. Just keep decorations family-friendly.

My recommendation: avoid white gis. They look great new but discolor over time. Black and blue mats bleed vinyl dye onto fabric. Black and royal blue gis are timeless and still look sharp after years of use.
More gi brand notes

Top picks (covered above): Fuji Ultralite 300 (gym favorite), Hawk (budget), Gold BJJ Aeroweave (ultralight)

Worth considering: 93 Brand Hooks series (decent quality, great return policy, runs slightly large), Inverted Gear Ultralights (280gsm, I’ve worn mine for 6+ years), Hayabusa (well made, runs slightly large), Origin (made in America, expensive)

Decent but heavy: Tatami, War Tribe, Maeda (I have one I love but only wear in winter)

Overpriced for what you get: Shoyoroll (poor quality, hype pricing), Albino & Preto (same playbook as Shoyoroll), Hyperfly, Jiujitiero, Kingz (inconsistent quality), Roll Bliss

Avoid: Elite Sports (see this breakdown), Sanabul gis specifically (their double weaves are very heavy and their ultralights aren’t that light; their no-gi stuff is fine), Manto gis (not impressed with quality, runs large)

General Notes

No pockets, no velcro, no jewelry on the mats.
Wash all new gear before wearing it to class. Some fabrics (especially gis) bleed dye on the first wash, which stains our mats.
Wash your gear after every single use. For the full breakdown on keeping your training clothes fresh, check the Hygiene Rules and Stink Prevention Manual.
Undergarments: Wear compression shorts or athletic underwear under your shorts. Cotton boxers bunch up and get uncomfortable fast. Women should wear a sports bra. Avoid anything with clasps or hooks that could scratch a training partner.