Gi or no-gi, rashguard, mouthguard, ear guards: the complete BJJ gear list without costly mistakes — and why hygiene matters more than any brand.
For your first BJJ class you need almost nothing: the gym lends you the gi, you just need tight clothing, a water bottle and short nails. If you stick with it, BJJ splits into two worlds — gi (with a kimono to grip) and no-gi (rashguard and shorts, no fabric to grab). Both are BJJ, but they play differently, and that decides what you buy.
Short and honest: spend little at the start. A good gi and a mouthguard last for months. Everything else comes once you know which direction your game is heading.
The difference is not just fabric. In the gi, isometric grip strength and grip endurance matter — exactly the ability that separates experienced from inexperienced BJJ people in studies. No-gi is faster and slipperier; there, pace, reaction and explosive strength dominate. Concretely: experienced grapplers hold a static gi grip for about 28–63 seconds — that is the endurance you lack first as a beginner and only build over months.
The belt, by the way, is part of the gear but not a buying decision: your colour is awarded to you at the gym, and only the white beginner belt is bought.
### 1. Which gi to buy? Prioritise fit over brand. A gi should sit tight enough that your opponent gets less fabric to grab, while leaving room to move. Cotton beginner gis (weave around 350–550 g/m² — thin and light up to thick and rugged) are durable and cheap. Check gym rules: some require white, blue or black, and many competitions only allow those colours.
### 2. Rashguard and no-gi kit A rashguard is the best early buy after the gi: it reduces skin contact and thus infection risk (ringworm, fungus). Add grappling shorts or spats (long tight leggings) for no-gi. Cotton T-shirts under the gi are fine but soak through and get heavy.
### 3. The mouthguard Heads and knees collide in scrambles. A simple "boil-and-bite" mouthguard for a few euros protects your teeth reliably. Wear it from day one — teeth do not grow back.
### 4. Protect ears and skin Cauliflower ear comes from friction and pressure on the ear — once it is there, it often stays for good. If you like your ears, wear ear guards (headgear) early. And: shower right after training and wash your gi every time. Skin infections are the most underrated gear topic in grappling.
### 5. Your post-training hygiene routine Gear is only half the battle — the other half is your routine. Build a fixed chain: shower right after rolling (not once you get home), gi and rashguard straight into the laundry bag, flip-flops on the way to the shower.
A damp gi in your sports bag is the favourite home of fungi and bacteria. Hang it up the moment you get home, never toss it crumpled in a corner. Two minutes of discipline after every session save you weeks of skin infections — and your training partners will thank you.
The biggest "gear danger" in BJJ is not the grip, it is hygiene. Long, close skin-contact time makes grappling prone to fungus, ringworm and staph. A clean gi, a rashguard as a skin barrier and showering right after cut the risk dramatically. Never train with open wounds uncovered. For suspicious skin spots: pause and get it checked, do not carry it onto the mat.
Buy two cheap gis instead of one expensive one. Sounds trivial, changes everything: with two gis you always have a clean one and never train in yesterday's still-damp gi — the best protection against skin infections. A second rashguard means no excuse, no "it's still wet".
### Should I start in gi or no-gi as a beginner? Most schools recommend starting in the gi. The fabric slows everything down, you get more time to understand positions, and the grips force clean technique. No-gi is faster and slipperier — it adds on more easily later, once the fundamentals are solid.
### What does basic BJJ gear cost? A solid beginner gi is usually in the low-to-mid range, with rashguard and mouthguard adding little. The bigger cost is the monthly membership. Start minimal: one gi, one rashguard, one mouthguard — no beginner needs more.
### What is the difference between gi and no-gi? In the gi you grip collar, sleeves and pants — the game is slower, more technical, grip-strength heavy. No-gi (rashguard/shorts) has no fabric grips, so it is faster and more athletic, with more underhooks and pace. Many train both; the principles carry over.
### Do I need ear guards? Not strictly for safety, but for looks: cauliflower ear comes from repeated friction and is usually permanent. If that bothers you, wear headgear from the start. Many experienced grapplers wear it only for hard rolling.
### How do I care for my gi properly? Wash it after every session at 30–40 °C and hang it to dry — a dryer shrinks cotton. Wash the belt with it; the old myth "your knowledge lives in the belt, never wash it" is unhygienic nonsense. A clean gi protects you and your partners from skin infections.
Base, Guard & Positional Hierarchy: The Fundamentals of BJJ