An Ancient Take On Gi Versus No Gi

[bjjminded]

Ancient Greek grapplers did not train in a gi either. they did however make use of some training aids that in some ways simulate our modern gi and nogi training. Please check it out...

http://thebjjmind.com/2012/11/11/an-...on-gi-vs-nogi/

[Brent Smith]

Interesting read thank you

[Josh Passini]

Pretty cool read.

[Jeremy Gould]

Great read.

[Page McGinnis]

Good shit right there, thanks for sharing

[Michael Sioda]

Very cool article & it may be relevant to the current gi vs nogi discussion to a degree. It's interesting how each ancient style stressed offense or defense. And it is certainly easier to escape in nogi compared to training in the gi so I do see that parallel too. Training a lot of nogi may help you develop explosiveness. But to answer the question at the end of the article "What do you think? Can the same be true for modern day gi and nogi training methods? (sic are they made to compliment each other)" - I'd have to say no.

Really - both of these ancient wrestling styles were nogi. There is a much greater difference between gi & nogi than between konis & palestra wrestling styles. The grips they used were largely the same, it was just harder to escape in the konis style compared to palestra because of the talc like powder they wore.

Training in the gi adds a fundamentally different set of grips, transitions, chokes & stalling options that are not possible nogi. It all comes down to your personal goals. I think that in the modern era if you compete MMA you cannot improve on nogi training by also training in the gi. Training grips, chokes, & transitions that are useless in the cage largely adds up to a waste of time for MMA. It's not that the gi techniques are not beautiful or fun or fulfilling - it's just that I don't see them as complementary or necessary to improve your nogi game.

Still...cool article - thanks for posting.

[La'akea Sanborn]

I'd have to concur with Mike

[gene k]

Very cool article & it may be relevant to the current gi vs nogi discussion to a degree. It's interesting how each ancient style stressed offense or defense. And it is certainly easier to escape in nogi compared to training in the gi so I do see that parallel too. Training a lot of nogi may help you develop explosiveness. But to answer the question at the end of the article "What do you think? Can the same be true for modern day gi and nogi training methods? (sic are they made to compliment each other)" - I'd have to say no.

Really - both of these ancient wrestling styles were nogi. There is a much greater difference between gi & nogi than between konis & palestra wrestling styles. The grips they used were largely the same, it was just harder to escape in the konis style compared to palestra because of the talc like powder they wore.

Training in the gi adds a fundamentally different set of grips, transitions, chokes & stalling options that are not possible nogi. It all comes down to your personal goals. I think that in the modern era if you compete MMA you cannot improve on nogi training by also training in the gi. Training grips, chokes, & transitions that are useless in the cage largely adds up to a waste of time for MMA. It's not that the gi techniques are not beautiful or fun or fulfilling - it's just that I don't see them as complementary or necessary to improve your nogi game.

Still...cool article - thanks for posting.

I agree. These are training aid philosophies for nogi grappling. This isn't an accurate comparison of gi to nogi, in my opinion. If they would have worn tunics or robes, then yes.