Should I do gi Jiu-Jitsu?

[Blake Coston]

I think it's a good idea to train both with a mindset to develop techniques that work both gi and no-gi. I have much more experience in the gi so I'm basically the opposite of you. I'm trying to get up to speed on my no-gi skills. When you're training gi always be aware of collar grips. There are a million chokes with the gi.

[Elisha J Baker]

I think some version of the 80/20 principle applies. If you're smart you can get most of the competitive benefits of gi training (mostly learning how to cope with the other guy's grips/gi chokes) with a relatively small proportion of your time spent in a gi. Of course you will not be as good with gi-specific techniques as someone who trains 100% that way, but if you're gonna go to gi comps I'd definitely do it. The timing of moves will be a little different as well; the cloth often imparts a time lag.

Defense is easier to learn than attack, and that's good for you in this case. Collar chokes are no joke. There are people out there whose main strategy will be to strangle you with your gi, and it's very effective. You don't have to be a master of applying them but you do need to develop defensive reflexes against them. That's the main difference *I'd* be worried about. After that, well, the rest of your defense needs to be pretty technical too; you'll notice it's harder to slip out of things in a gi.

I do try never to use any offensive techniques that rely on the gi, even when I'm wearing one. That's just me.

[John Mejia]

GI? Gross

[Amber Kamischke]

I used to only train no gi but I'd compete in the gi for more matches. Finally after getting gi choked one too many times, I started doing gi one day a week, playing my same no gi game just wearing pajamas. I've been able to learn different gi specific submissions that I was previously unaware of. I usually forget that I can grab the gi so my offense is the same but in my opinion, you need to train in the gi to learn good gi defense.

[Amber Kamischke]

I think some version of the 80/20 principle applies. If you're smart you can get most of the competitive benefits of gi training (mostly learning how to cope with the other guy's grips/gi chokes) with a relatively small proportion of your time spent in a gi. Of course you will not be as good with gi-specific techniques as someone who trains 100% that way, but if you're gonna go to gi comps I'd definitely do it. The timing of moves will be a little different as well; the cloth often imparts a time lag.

Defense is easier to learn than attack, and that's good for you in this case. Collar chokes are no joke. There are people out there whose main strategy will be to strangle you with your gi, and it's very effective. You don't have to be a master of applying them but you do need to develop defensive reflexes against them. That's the main difference *I'd* be worried about. After that, well, the rest of your defense needs to be pretty technical too; you'll notice it's harder to slip out of things in a gi.

I do try never to use any offensive techniques that rely on the gi, even when I'm wearing one. That's just me.

I agree with 100% of this. I train in the gi one day a week to learn defense but I still play my no gi game for offense. If you're going to compete in it, especially at higher levels, it doesn't hurt to train in it a little.

[bobby rivers]

I am confused by anybody who drives 5hrs to do 50% of a competition for 80-90% of the price.

At every comp there are only a few guys/gals who do both and do it well. The others are specialists who either go home after nogi or show up fresh for gi. Me, ima grappler. I dust my gi off and see if someone can collar choke me. If you have the mat time what's the worst that could happen? Lose? Oh wellz.

[NotReady]

I feel like gi and no gi put stress on different muscle groups. Gi fries my grips whereas no gi my back and biceps from clinching/squeezing. If you told me I had to train 2 days back to back, I would always mix it up so I can mix it up while staying on the mat.

The only people who tell you that you HAVE to do gi to get good are people who have devoted tons of time to training in the gi.

If the gi was so crucial to getting technical in no-gi grappling, wouldn't wrestlers be putting on gi jackets to train in as a regular thing?

[NotReady]

^sorry meant to stay mix it up so I can recover while staying on the mat...active recovery.

[David Rosado]

You're a white belt bro. Any mat time is good mat time.

[NotReady]

You're a white belt bro. Any mat time is good mat time.

I agree, but the only thing to look out for there is that white belts (and lots of other belts) can grip the gi like a drowning person grabbing a life vest, which slows things down, which prevents you from moving and learning movement.