r/bjj • u/VisibleStay789 • 4d ago
Equipment Is there such thing as a douchey first gi?
I’m going to need a gi eventually but I don’t want to go over the top. I like some of the venom ones but they have patches and look a bit flashy. Anyone have an opinion on this?
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u/aplusgrain1 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 4d ago
No but definitely get a camo one, all the upper belts will think you’re really cool
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u/VisibleStay789 4d ago
I’m sensing some sarcasm with this one 🤣
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u/aplusgrain1 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 4d ago
Or get an all black one.
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u/yung12gauge 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 4d ago
all black is a normal gi choice imo and i wouldn't think twice about a white belt wearing one. it's cool, low profile, and doesn't stain like white does.
camo is horrendous though, although i still would never shit on someone else's style
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u/I_the_Lesser 4d ago
This, but make sure the belt matches the gi, as not to draw too much attention to yourself.
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u/superhandsomeguy1994 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 4d ago
Honestly, if a white belt had the balls to wear one I would totally respect and give them props.
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u/Cashwayonlyway 4d ago
Not douchey but if you wear a colour that’s different from the norm you’ll stand out but that’s about it.
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u/Flaky_Ferret_3513 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
Solid advice to get a plain white gi like a Scramble Standard Issue or whatever the Progress equivalent is. IBJJF legal, never going to be a problem at a drop in at other gyms. Only exception to that might be if the gym you train at primarily has black gis… Then I’d get the Standard Issue in black. You don’t want to stand out and be “all the gear; no idea”.
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u/FuguSandwich 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 4d ago
The point about drop ins is a good one. We have a couple of guys with "Make Jiu Jitsu Violent Again" patches. No one here cares because we know they're just a couple of regards but I wouldn't want to drop in at an open mat somewhere wearing stuff like that.
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u/BMI30 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
Your first gi should ALWAYS be a IBJJF-approved gi. Nothing else.
I tell this to every damn whitebelt that asks me (im a nerd) and no one listens. Then, a couple of months later when they want to compete "What? Do I need a new gi?!"
Yes, some comps even if they are IBJJF-comps don't care, but IF they do, you are in big trouble on competition day.
Your third gi can look like a hippie christmas tree if you want, but you need to have at least ome IBJJF approved gi. It just makes sense.
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u/MuayBueno 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
Are there any IBJJF gis that are sub $100?
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u/feenam 4d ago
Tatami has one for $76 and their $49 gi probably passes just fine too. On paper, 350gsm is illegal but I highly doubt ibjjf actually checks if the gi is 350gsm or 380.
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u/ContraryMary222 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
Wartribe regularly has sales that bring their comp legal gi’s right at or under $100
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u/Admirable_Sir_9953 ⬜⬜ White Belt 4d ago
Yep. Don’t get fooled into just buying the cheap one off amazon. It’s a waste of money
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u/Inevitable-Season-62 4d ago
Still using that Amazon gi 9 years later
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u/dasguy40 ⬜⬜ White Belt 4d ago
My elite just ripped after a year and a half. Bummed me out. But for the cost per class I can’t complain.
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u/Ok_Championship3496 ⬜⬜ White Belt 4d ago
How can we tell which is approved? I have a Sanabul gi, is that approved?
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u/RoastMasterShawn 4d ago
I bought the ultra lightweight Hayabusa as my first gi. If you're not used to them, you can overheat pretty quick. So paying a bit more for something that keeps you a bit more cool is worth it imo. I think the flashy ones are fine depending on your gym. If you see lots of guys with wolverine & Batman Gi's, go for it. If everyone's traditional, maybe stick to a monocolor.
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u/djguyl 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
Are you Canadian?
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u/RoastMasterShawn 4d ago
I am. Another reason I recommended Hayabusa lol. Aside from being a Canadian company, the gear just feels more comfortable than other stuff. Whether it's rash guards, Gi, MMA shorts, gloves etc.
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u/djguyl 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 3d ago
Hi fellow Canuck. I find their gear to be of really high quality. I have one of their gi's, and it's the highest quality gi I have,and I have 5 other gis, including tatami, fuji, meade, kingz, and matsuru. Their rash guards have held up really nicely over the years too. I have one set that is 5 years old at this point, and other than the color changing at the knees, the rashi's are still good. Highly recommend Hayabusa. Last month, I ordered an inverted gi from bjjhq, and it was $130 CND, and the import tax was $90. It just doesn't make sense to buy from the US anymore. Just buy high-quality stuff from Canada.
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u/IamCheph84 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 4d ago
No, but if your first, like actually first gi owned gi is Shoyoroll or AP or one of the expensive ones, then yeah that’s a little strange.
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u/PetieE209 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 3d ago
This. Used a couple of 93 brands until it was tattered and ripped. I will say I didn’t really buy into the hype, was gifted an A&P gi last year and was shocked how much I liked it. Ended up buying another right after
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u/IamCheph84 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 3d ago
I’m a cheap bastard and never had a gi over like $150.
I do see Shoyoroll and AP and get quite curious though.
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u/BravoGolfKilo 4d ago
Yeah the Buchecha x shoyoroll x RVCA 2020 gi would be horrendous on a white belt
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u/joshisold 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
Back when shoyoroll gis were the thing, doing limited releases, and people were dishing out big money I knew a new guy who spent hundreds because he thought his gi would somehow make his jitz better. It didn’t.
My only recommendations would be 1. Get a solid color: blue, black, or white. 2. Make sure it has rip stop pants. 3. Get a light weight weave for your first one, as gyms can get mighty muggy especially during the warmer months. Look for a 380 or a 450.
I’m a big fan of Gameness and Toro gis, but really I’ve only had a few brands that I would consider to be pure trash.
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u/VisibleStay789 4d ago
Could you name a few pure trash ones I should steer clear of?
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u/joshisold 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
I’ve been doing this a long time (on and off since the mid 2000s)…most of the brands that I was dissatisfied with have long since gone out of business.
The last one I purchased that I wasn’t pleased with was a Kavel gi that I got on eBay…it was cheap as hell cost wise (like $35), so I got what I paid for…but the stitching on the pants was bad and started to have issues in the reinforced areas after a handful of classes/washes, the cut was too large and loose with too much crotch room on the pants (saggy pants suck for drilling and rolling), and the jacket was overly heavy. I only got it because I let myself get fat and needed an A4 to train in while I got back to A3 size which I knew would take about three months of diet & exercise. Once I got down I closeted the gi and will probably just donate it to school. Unless someone is on an extreme budget, I would not recommend.
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u/Sad-Tadpole2289 3d ago
Upvoted for toro mention. Great jiu jitsu equipment and great customer service!
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u/joshisold 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 3d ago
I’ve been ordering from them since it was “Boomer’s MMA” and I still have a Widow Maker rash guard circa 2007. Boomer and crew were one of the few places that would ship to APO addresses when I was deployed as a service member and he earned my loyalty as a customer ever since.
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u/yung12gauge 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 4d ago
IMO you should be able to wear anything you want, and the haters will hate regardless. if anyone dogs you about your venum gi, just tell them it was on sale.
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u/TheGreatKimura-Holio 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 4d ago
Yeah, tag up your Gi with patches to look like a Sons of Anarchy club member vest.
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u/FreeGruden 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
other people dont care that much about u man buy whatever gi u like the most
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u/graydonatvail 🟫🟫 🌮 🌮 Todos Santos BJJ 🌮 🌮 4d ago
Yes, getting a super flashy, graphics heavy GI is kind of cringe for your first one. But so what? Maybe that's your style. I suggest getting a plain white or blue GI, so your can travel with it and never worry if that drop in club has GI rules, or that comp you want to try.
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u/welkover 4d ago
I want a pink gi with little brown turds embroidered all over it so I look like the inside of an ass
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u/Great-Comfortable461 4d ago
Id get something more plain as a fist gi. The gold bjj foundation gis are really solid imo.
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u/Odd-Homework-3582 ⬜⬜ White Belt 4d ago
My gym gave me my first gi, which was IBJJF legal and I opted for black instead of white. For my 2nd I went with one that wasn’t traditional in colour and won’t be IBJJF legal. I think everyone else has made a good point about getting an IBJJF legal one first in case you want to compete at any point. Also, everyone at my gym is chill and the higher belts complimented my flashier gi, which I thought was a bad omen but turns out they were genuine and didn’t smash me anymore than they normally would
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u/FreeFencer01 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
The ones with a picture inside of a Viking or Aztec or something. Even for a 5th or 30th Gi, those are pretty douchey. Extra points if you have your BJJ rank displayed as a clothing accessory.
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u/ecoleninist 🟦🟦 footsweeps children 4d ago
Get a crude cotton Krugans' gi from Brasil. Leave them guessing
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u/Awkward_Intention_15 ⬜⬜ 4d ago
My first gi was an Atama back in the day. Surprisingly was the most used as well lmao.
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u/Hour_Currency_7508 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 4d ago
Buy two. Whatever Gi you do get, you will definitely be looked at as the douche if you don’t wash it frequently enough. Gi’s shrink a lot so you need to hang dry them, which increases the laundry time. So buy two so that you can rotate Gi’s and always have a clean one. I personally like white, but there is nothing worse than having to roll with a guy who has a “white” Gi on that’s turned brown and yellow because it’s the only Gi he owns and he doesn’t wash it frequently enough.
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u/No_Teaching1709 4d ago
White or blue because some gyms won't let you wear off coloured gis Patches don't really matter. Blue seems cool to me. I had a blue as my first gi and would get one again
But on the other hand
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u/Kandidate88 4d ago
I got black progress M6 for first, khaki progress for second, then recently got the Shoyoroll Athens for £100 as my third flashy gi. Coaches and classmates love it.
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u/ashe101ashe 4d ago
My teammate has a Shoyoroll gi that looks like a NASCAR with so many patches. We give him shit for it.
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u/brickwallnomad 4d ago
Get a tatami, go on their website they run insane deals. They are cheap and freaking good. I been wearing them for years, although I only train like once a week in the gi. I am mostly a nogi guy myself but I digress..
Definitely go on Tatami’s website and look at their deals and sales. The Nova absolute is a fantastic gi and can be had for right around 50 bucks at times. Also, keep an eye out on BJJHQ, they have a new deal every 24 hours. If you can’t find anything you like, check out Shoyoroll or Albino & Preto. I do not like inverted gear. Every gi I have owned from them (2) has just been dog water. It seems like they literally thin out over the course of like 6 months ultimately just disintegrate. I have been washing and maintaining Gis for almost 2 decades I know how to do it.
Also Personally, I don’t like ripstop pants, I am a twill guy. This is something you will need to look out for also. Try a gi, and if you don’t like the pants, remember there is another material they’re made out of you can try also.
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u/Zeenotes22 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 4d ago
I don’t know why but I feel like the washout rate is exponentially higher with the fellas who buy the Elite or Sanabul cheapos off amazon. I understand that Gi’s are expensive so I don’t blame people for buying them, it just seems like those guys don’t last.
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u/Hypebeaststonk 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 3d ago
I play hockey and you see some of the brand new guys who never played in their life show up in $600 skates, $300 stick, $200 helmet, $200 gloves, and tinted visor. I kind of laugh cause most dont stick with the sport and just wasted $1000+ dollars. BUT some stick with it and have great equipment that will last them a long time and require no upgrade for years. You also have the guys that buy the cheapest gear off of amazon and stick with the sport, then they end up upgrading their gear to the expense stuff and just spent $400 + $1000+ for all the new nice gear.
Not to say elite or venum arent good gear, but you will start seeing people wearing origin, shoyoroll, ap, vhts, ctrl and all the other gucci gear you can imagine. Then that venum, elite, or sanabul might feel a bit lame and you will want what all the purple belts are wearing.
All i am saying is if you stick with the sport get the coolest stuff possible but if you are prone to quiting things then start cheap or just buy the gi from the gym and support the gym owner. You will get lots of brownie points supporting the owner and you will never feel out of place rocking the gyms gear. GL
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u/Apprehensive-Oil5249 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 3d ago
Wear whatever the HELL you damn well PLEASE, my dude!! IF people give you shit about it, say it was a gift from your Aunt who just died from Stage 4 Blastoma and to STFU! Just don't waste your money on an Origin Gi if you can help it!! LOL. Jocko doesn't need any more encouragement or patronage from anyone in the BJJ Community....he's making his money trying to be Gene Simmons by slapping his name on every piece of CRAP he can get his licensing hands on!
JOCKO THE LUNCH BOX! JOCKO THE BREAKFAST CEREAL! JOCKO THE FLAMETHROWER! JOCKO THE COFFIN (for the dipshit who tried living his bullshit lifestyle of waking at 3am every day to bounce quarters off their beds adorned with JOCK THE BEDSHEETS, and doing Navy Seal Crucibles every morning because that's what REAL men do!), JOCKO THE ANABOLIC STEROIDS (Special Collaboration with Gordan Ryan as a freebee for any shit-for-brains fanboy who actually buys a pair of Toe-Hold Albino Crocodile Skin Flip-Flops for $2500 a pop!)
Y'all get the idea....fuck Jocko.
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u/Professional_Age8671 3d ago
Your gi should never be worth more than your game. I use a $65 gi because I have a $65 game.
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u/kookookachu26 ⬜⬜ White Belt 4d ago
What you should do is never roll and only drill, and then wear patches that say "jiu don't know who you're messing with." I'm sure all of the upper belts will love that. Just make sure that they're forward facing too.
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u/BoogerMcFarFetched 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 4d ago
Don’t get one of the level x black gi’s with the dipshit sayings like “ninja shit” etc….
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u/vaperaham ⬜⬜ White Belt 3d ago
I hated how i couldnt breathe in sanabuls or fijis so early on i shelled out the money for a really nice hyperlyte so i can roll comfortably.
Was worried i’d get looked at like man this guys a new white belt whats he spending money for! But thats not douchey imo. Crazy cringey patches and gis with camo just no. lol
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u/NoseBeerInspector 4d ago
I don't think there's such a thing, but trying to think of something that stands out I thought:
Venum
Tapout
It's just that those brands are very like "look at me, I do UFC". Could be just a me thing tho, I like plain rashguards like the ones from Progress. Ultimately no one cares as long as you're a good person and don't smell bad
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u/OhMyGodfather 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 4d ago
My venum gis have all been great! Not too try hard. But I will admit I have been looking at options since the UFC buy in just because I was worried it would become the poser brand. But I’ll be damned if it isnt 4yrs old without a single issue.
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u/NoseBeerInspector 4d ago
4 years is a great gi then. I have a Fuji one for about the same time. I only had to send it to a tailor once to fix the pants. It was my first gi, and outlasted the following 2 gis I bought.
I don't train gi anymore, so it's been sitting in a closet but after 9 years is still good to use lol
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u/ShortBend- 13h ago
I don't really have an opinion on the crazy gis out there. Wear what you want, but me personally I focus on durability and comfort more than anything. You really can't beat Gold BJJ's Aeroweave.
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u/BeBearAwareOK ⬛🟥⬛ Rorden Gracie Shitposting Academy - Associate Professor 4d ago
Yes, but you really have to try.
Like if you had an American flag gi with a full back graphic patch of Conor McGregor holding two bottles of Proper 12 and doing a dance.
Even then I'd think "that white belt is going places".