Should I Train Gi Or No Gi? (Which One Is Right)

[@ZOreactions]

Dude!!! this channel is awesome!!! So many channels focus solely on technique... I love the fact this channel attacks the mental side of Jiu Jitsu as well... Thank you so much!

[@usmcsports]

Agree and likewise: thank you

[@clashlord9273]

You should check Ramsey Dewey he does the same, but for everything martial arts

[@harddyx2916]

Been doin No Gi for 5yrs.MWFS No gi and Gi sundays only.and now im doing Gi training for 1yr.its awesome!haha.took me this long to appreciate Gi game.the reason for that is,it so hard to do Gi laundry all the time.lol.thats the worst fight of my life in jiujitsu,Gi laundry!hahaha

[@Chewjitsu]

Man you're telling me about the laundry. They never tell you that when you become a bjj instructor. I run through laundry like it's my job. Actually, at this point it's kind of a part time job for me.

[@harddyx2916]

Wow!that's amazing man! The hard part in doing gi laundry is squeezing all the soapy water from inside out.coz from where i came from(.e.g.philippines) we dont have much access to dryer.or if we do,we only use them to dry the gi after 3-4 washes manually/bare hands.thats why its difficult for me to do gi laundry.😀

[@MrMZaccone]

The answer is, if you live anywhere where people wear coats half the year ... do both.

[@thaiganlee9442]

facts, my mindset

[@thuglincoln7699]

to me they're both just flavors.i love ice cream, but i don't eat the same flavor every time, but some people ARE like that. What's important is that we all like icecream. What was i talking about?

[@mrjuse5470]

There is value in training both. A Gi is made to simulate clothing. Most times in a real life self defense situation people will be wearing clothes. Its good to know how to use an opponents clothing against them as well as know how your clothing can be used against you. No Gi makes your jiu jitsu cleaner as you can't rely on grabbing cloth and sinking some moves can be tougher because people can slip out. No Gi will help you refine your moves and make them more precise. Both methods def have value. Both are fun. Both can help you in a competition as well as a street fight. Do it all!!!

[@Chewjitsu]

I totally agree. The gi is way more realistic to clothing than what people might think. It's important to know how to use it and work around it. Likewise, just like you said, it's important to know how your Brazilian Jiu-jitsu works without the gi on and without grips to help. You have to use just your body. Which in turn will help you when you come back to the gi.

[@mrjuse5470]

I def agree. Love your videos too man. Not sure how I stumbled on them but you have great technical tips and I like your jiu jitsu philosophies. You have a high jiu jitsu IQ and you articulate your points very well. I also like how open minded you are to absorbing styles and really believe in the individual journey of jiu jitsu rather than trying a one size fits all philosophy. You dont come across all machismo and full of yourself, you have a good humble teaching style. I also like how you put yourself in the shoes of others while you explain things too. The world though the eyes of a white belt verses a purple is so different. Understanding this and teaching with this in mind helps information not get lost in translation. Anyway wanted to tip my hat and let you know I am a fan. Keep it up. If I ever come out east perhaps I will stop in for a day! Salute

[@robertgalloway3923]

Love your videos! As a catch wrestler who does jui jitsu tournaments your videos keep me open minded.If there was a jits gym closer i would certainly do both.The ball training applies very well to all grappling and i will certainly add that into the weekly schedule.

[@Chewjitsu]

Thanks Robert! Being open minded and learning as much as possible is the way to go! I'm glad you liked the ball drills as well. Those things wear me out.

[@Chewjitsu]

Mr Juse, I appreciate the kind words man. Means a lot. I'm glad I don't come across as full of myself. I definitely don't want to be preachy. If you ever find yourself in KY be sure to let me know and you have a place to train.

[@Siper2]

This is a master at work. Calm, thorough explanation with introspective viewpoints from multiple perspectives, yet firm with advice on how to move forward. I'm here for the philosophy, please keep it up. :-] -Kung-fu practitioner

[@Chewjitsu]

Glad you enjoyed it brother.

[@sdotbell]

I think finding value in both is important. I love both Gi and No Gi. I train both.. I am pretty busy so I usually only train 2 days a week but I have very particular and focused training in those two days. I love techniques that translate both to Gi and No Gi.. so when I train everything I use I can use in both or has a Gi and No Gi equivalent. I've also been granted instructor privileges so I've started showing techniques when my instructor needs someone else to teach so I love sharing that practicality with my teammates. Love the Channel Chewy (also because this is the name of my cat 😂) great vid!

[@carlbjorling6058]

Same. I was introduced to BJJ 1 year ago by a brazilian friend. I try to do both every week even if my friend was encouriging me to learn only gi after he knew I liked and wanted to train both equally. I think some people should be a bit more open minded.

[@mason2376]

Great Vid Man! I love your teaching philosophy and that BJJ isn't a one way street. Many avenues to be taken with the art.

[@Chewjitsu]

Thanks brother! Absolutely. It really comes down to the person who has learned the art and how they plan to express it.

[@BboyTurok1990]

When I tried BJJ I started with Nogi because I didn't have a Gi at the time. Thanks to someone who had a gi and gave me one for free I tried gi class. Honestly for me Gi is helpful to get the basics and train right so that when I go to nogi it will be easier. Both are definitely fun that's for sure.

[@williamraschke7770]

This is a good take on Jiu Jitsu. I was shunned from a Jiu Jitsu school and my so called family because I choose to leave that Gi school and go No Gi... I'm really bitter and a little angry at this team, and instructor. After I talk to this instroutor personally face to face man to man and say this isn't working for me I want to go back to No Gi. He turns his back on me and so does this batch of people I considered my family. I would say this is what is making the sport or Jiu Jitsu in general bad.

[@Crystals10000]

thats sad to be honest...you should find a more mature gym thats a pitiful thing to do both are good >.>

[@UNITDW]

I think that, particularly for guys that are less athletic, people should get a good basis in the gi before moving over to no-gi. Especially if your gym has you sparring pretty early because I know a lot of people who have stopped going to jiu jitsu because they hate getting fucked up in the early days of sparring, and I feel that in the Gi, things are a bit slower and it is easier for less athletic guys to keep up with the pace, it's less aggressive if you will and newcomers will appreciate that for sure.

[@arkaboh5532]

I have been doing BJJ No-Gi for 5 months now. In my opinion, if you just want it for self-defense and want to be able to in less than a year, go for No-Gi. during the 5 months, I learned how to choke, leg lock which nobody can get out of once I got it set up and leg lock which a person would tap before he can kick my face even if I'm in a position where it possible for him to kick me because the pain is just too great and I also learn how to set arm lock from any position and at many situations. I also learn how to take down a standing person when I'm on the ground. I also learn how to take down a person while standing. I learned how to put a person on the bottom when they are on top of me and a technique to keep that person at the bottom no matter how much that person struggle or how strong they are. Also, no-gi is fast paced just like in a real fight. You will get used to catching the hand or setting up arm lock while a person throwing punches at you or set up a leg lock when you in a position to and setting up the choke and all those good stuff when you are in a fast-paced fight. My confidence to defend myself against anybody had never been this high. I also taking Muay Thai on top of it because it involves kicking, kneeing, elbowing, and punching. With Muay Thai, I can fight short distant where I can clinch and throw knee and elbow and also fight long distance where I can throw punches and kick and create distant with a TEEP where you kick directly at a person abdomen. With the knowledge of no-gi BJJ and Muay Thai at my disposal, I can take the fight to wherever I feel fit that going to protect me more. I actually spar with my bjj partner at home to see what will work in a real fight and what will not. Those are my experience and my opinion and my tip.

[@DKsupreme69420]

I’m glad I came across this video I just joined a bjj gym and don’t no if they offer no gi classes or not but I feel comfortable now if they don’t or only occasionally do it. As someone who got interested in BJJ via the JRE podcast/ Eddie bravo the ideas and concepts put forth by eddie seem solid but inaccessible unless you happen to live in a city with a 10th planet gym

[@ChristopherWalkenPUA]

I trained at a school where there were both gi and no gi classes. My instructor generally preferred no-gi since he was originally a wrestler, however he said that while rolling no gi, he could tell if his partner had a solid gi foundation because they tended to be more methodical and focused on the small details while rolling no-gi.

[@davidcordova5386]

Got my third stripe on my white belt recently which qualifies me for some more classes. I'm so excited!

[@denverstapleton7621]

i train both honestly, however, primarily for street self defense, no wrong way either way you look at it ;)

[@abc80s74]

Thank you for asking brother.

[@Daluris]

I love your honesty and insight and I too have heard so many varying perspectives but am really loving No Gi and feels more natural and free flowing to me which is truly amazing but do have a Gi just in case ;) Appreciate it and keep up the good work!

[@DanielJBarnett]

Anyone who claims that no gi has less fundamentals at is less technical than gi is simply wrong. It has different fundamentals. Some of the fundamentals in the gi that you learn simply do not work in no gi. It's not because gi is less technical, but rather because gi is different

[@quasar4601]

They're very different and vast majority of people train in the GI. I only train NO-Gi because i hate uniforms and I like the Wrestling Components.

[@quasar4601]

Plus THE NO-GI has far less complex guard and its just closed guard and half and maybe butterfly. The GI has like 20 types of guards that are just hard for me to grasp

[@bobbydabutcha]

@@quasar4601 Plus a lot of Gi guards aren't all that great because you can just get punched in the head (MMA) lol

[@abc80s74]

I did gi only. I just thought the No gi had far less fundamentals when it came down to the gi matches. keep up the great knowledge and info on your channel oss.

[@julieorr9672]

I love the morning outdoor videos.

[@Chewjitsu]

Maybe I should do a few more from time to time. :)

[@SlagleEsquire]

such a nice format for these videos, keep it up

[@albertcastro409]

I like the way you teach and give Advice to your viewers. And I will do no gi later. I have done striking arts before. This will be something new for me. Be new to this art.

[@carlbjorling6058]

I currently live in Manchester UK. I have always wanted to start at a combat sport or martial art for years but because of one or other reason I never did until a good brazilian friend told me about BJJ and that I should join the gym he was going to. I fell in love with the sport from the very first day and after few weeks I decided to assist to a nogi class as I was really curious to see how it was. After my first day I liked it even more than the gi classes, but because I like both I decided to do both every week. Well this brazilian friend I have kept encoureaging me to train only gi since he knew I had the intention to know more about nogi and going to its classes. I have told him many times he should try it because it is quite fun and it is complementary to gi. He says he does not like nogi even if he has never given it a try. And he keep telling me I should learn gi as an answer when I tell him how much I enjoy nogi. I feel like some people are a bit closed minded about it and as you said like if they were kind of betraying the "real" jiu jitsu. I find it quite stupid as at the end of the day you are limitating your potential.

[@FNDG1]

Thanks for this point of view and this advises. I've trained for the first time with the Gi yesterday and it makes jiu jitsu pretty different than with no Gi I'd say, because of the heat you feel there inside, the friction from the pants and the jacket, the chockes that come earlier, the neck is much more vulnerable with the Gi... while with no Gi I feel like your technique must be slicker to be effective... That's my first impression, but I'm 8 months experienced so ... :)

[@Chewjitsu]

If you haven't done one. When you first start, it's uncomfortable and our knee jerk reaction is to not want to do it. But if you give it time, you'd be surprised at how fun it can be. I know when I came back from nearly 6 months of MMA focus and not wearing the gi. When I put it on, I hated it.

[@Eembuster]

I tried gi and no gi, and I love gi, but I love no gi a lot more. I still do both, but for me it's no gi as much as possible, as it's what i prefer.

[@theodorewurz8424]

Where I train we do integrated grappling arts (Catch wrestling and Bjj). We don't train gi bjj, but there are similar things happening in our school where we have the two arts integrated and taught together. Some guys find that the bjj game suits them (and we do have several guys who are purple belt and up in formal bjj), other guys find that catch wrestling suits them better and then there are a few guys who really are 50/50 between the two. The bjj guys have good guards and sweeps and go for submissions such as triangles a lot, where as the catch guys have more of a top game oriented approach and go for the more "catch type" submissions, such as many different toe holds and neck cranks etc. We don't start on the mat, so everyone has to learn to wrestle from the feet, pulling guard is generally frowned upon, but some guys do it. We don't do "pure" bjj (no gi, wrestling from the feet, leg locks and neck cranks are always in play) and we don't do "pure" cacc (although we train pins, we don't train to use a pin as a win). My point is that options are good, they make people better. Whether it be gi and no gi bjj or bjj and cacc.

[@Crystals10000]

I just got my 1st stripe 3 days ago (white belt) I am excited to do no gi and mod 2 in order to make my bjj more diverse...I think the best option for being ready for more scenarios is do gi and no gi

[@TaxEvasi0n]

I started training in the gi, and eventually started training nogi. But most of the classes are gi, so eventually I'd come back to it. And I remembered how much fun the gi can be. I'll always prefer nogi but I can't ever say nogi is not the way to go. I personally think everyone should try both aswell. It's all jiu jitsu at the end of the day :)

[@BigHairyYeti87]

Great explanations man.

[@Jenna-lr4wj]

My advice on this is try both. I love both

[@wardog0327]

I love your videos, dawg!

[@IDWIE]

My experience is that no gi is a better test of fighting skills

[@MikeSaathoff]

Would you advance someone in rank that didn't train in the gi? I've found most schools will let you roll either but treat the no-gi only guys differently when it comes to rank.

[@ggabe2865]

I've been training in Kempo for 6 years but recently I've started focusing more on grappling. The way I see the Gi, no Gi thing is that you should train with a Gi as a sign of respect but would shouldn't use your Gi in matches how you wouldn't be able to use a regular shirt. So for instance i don't do lapel chokes because a shirt is too stretchy to choke someone like that.

[@gabet3754]

I am currently a white belt in gi jiu jitsu and I’ll wait a year before no gi. I wanna learn more sweeps and chokes

[@jasonm9264]

I love training both. I started with no gi for some time. Now I’ve come around to gi and like it more. They are somewhat different. I know there are higher belt ranked people I can roll pretty evenly with in no gi. Put a gi on and they are dominant. Advance in both and have a more well rounded game.

[@DarthRane113]

so i just started at my school and one of my concerns was that gi would not translate well to practicality in self defence and the way a lot of the more experience belts explained it is the gi helps a lot more with understanding the concepts of chokes and body control. So when you transfer to no gi. you adjust where as going no gi to gi doesn't translate as fluidly because there are more options that they havent peacticed with and so don't fully understand and in some situations. can still apply like for example if someone is wearing a thick hoody that can act as a g when using it as self defence

[@Chewjitsu]

Honestly John, I think it all comes together and helps. Both are useful for self defense and both have inherent benefits to them when compared to there other. But it's all Jiujitsu in the end.

[@johnnyroe8053]

you remember elliot hulse

[@TheShadowolf1987]

I like doing both at my gym we do Gi but one day a week is no gi and I believe GI is more defense and no gi is more offense

[@mistersonnen848]

Gi to help with defence, no gi to help with offence

[@Nurzhigit]

You are really good coach!!! I really train from you. Please invite me to your academy))

[@Chewjitsu]

Our gym doors are open to anyone who stops by. No invitation needed!

[@tomwolfe7782]

Chewjitsu What city are you based out of?

[@CatfishHeaven777]

Really wanna see what a real world situation would be like, go to small mma glove practice. You’ll figure out quickly that what normally works In jujitsu won’t work when you’re getting punched in the face. My gym has small glove Thursday’s. All grappling either from standing or wall with lighter punches. Not hard enough to do damage but hard enough to make you protect yourself.

[@mattdeslauriersnc]

That's for me, why I Think combat jj is so important for self defense. X chokes are cool, but nobody is smashing you in the face while you do it.... tradition is beautiful and important but bjj is and will continue to evolve

[@kentuckyrex]

I do both when gi and no gi are scheduled. I'm a rookie, very new. but I see benefits to both of them. first hour and 15 minutes, gi. trying to focus on transitions and pressure and using your partners clothing to your advantage. it has a definite self defense benefit, and MAN will you sweat (plus my wife thinks it's hot in a different way). no gi, all about the grips. and it's a mixed class of bjj guys (we're already warmed up), judokas, wrestlers. I'm getting OWNED in both right now (once again, I'm new and easily one of the smallest guys there). but there's benefits to both that I hope I never have to choose.

[@kentuckyrex]

our classes are 2.5 hours long, btw. Half gi, half no gi, being my point.

[@quasar4601]

I know what you mean lol. I only do no-gi and I am very good at tapping lol

[@JohnDoe-nk1dd]

I am really want to start some Jiu Jitsu training after I graduate college in December but I have a bit of a dilemma. I would prefer gi and maybe some no gi but there is a 10th Planet nearby but they are no gi and the other place has an elderly female teaching BJJ. I'm thinking of just driving to somewhere around 30 minutes away but man that is a ton of gas money. Maybe 10th Planet will incorporate gis back in or something.

[@phetogomaloka5753]

Every comment on this video is a paragraph long

[@greatguy423]

phetogo maloka That's so not true! Check your comment.

[@tomwolfe7782]

Great Guy You beat me to it.

[@badassoptic]

Sometimes I just tell myself to do more gi, but at least one class with no gi per week.

[@slowcheetah7769]

Never understood why people say gi is less realistic. Its definitly far more realistic. Unless you are at a pool party or something

[@MrCholoPants3415]

Wot. It's only "more realistic" if the person is wearing a collared shirt. I suppose you could do a shitty collar choke against a t-shirt, or a shitty version of spider-guard with a longsleeved shirt, but good luck doing that in real life when adrenaline is pumping... The shirts will rip. "Unless you're at a pool party or something" This was funny as fuck, I enjoyed the analogy, but to counter that argument you could equally say.... "No-Gi is far more realistic unless you're at prom or a wedding."

[@slowcheetah7769]

Slootyboot people wear hoodies, jumpers, jackets all the time. Can choke the fuck out of people with all of those. Maybe if ya live in cali or somewhere no gi is fine, people dont need coats. Lol

[@MrCholoPants3415]

Fair enough. I live in florida. It's all T-Shirts and shorts, or T-shirts and pants (if they aren't braindead about clothing, but that's rare.) So we're in a situation that proves a combination of both gi/no-gi is the best way to learn jiu jitsu for self-defense. No-gi is infinitely better for MMA, it's not even a competition. I'm sure we could both agree on that one, because it's not even subjective. MMA competition is shirtless, with boardshorts that you're not allowed to hold onto.

[@slowcheetah7769]

Slootyboot agree with all of that mate. Should def train both to be an all round good gappler. Dont get me wrong, i like no gi too, just train 95% gi. Only really get no gi once a month or so, when our main guy comes down from Belfast. Think we can both agree that knowing either means, you know more than the meat head at the bar. Which us why i train.

[@MrCholoPants3415]

Hell yeah, it helps against the average meat-head. You get to defuse fights without throwing a single strike (meaning no issues with cops), and you also get to embarrass them in front of everyone... basically having them beg you to let them up, because the obvious alternative is either a broken bone or being choked to death

[@zevdez1004]

I try to train in Gi as much as possible because I suck at it.

[@kailmarinomendez7773]

Great video! ;)

[@abc80s74]

well said brother

[@Chewjitsu]

Thanks!

[@andyturner4398]

Hey Chewy, I'm more than likely to practice the Jiu Jutsu striking. thats been happening this term in like one on one sessions, but I was wandering if there was anything I could do intermittently to prepare myself for takedown or whatever

[@focusnfight]

the question is..can you get belts by just doing no gi or do you have to do gi as well? asking for me because I much prefer no gi and I basically only do that.

[@macaluso48]

Gi all day everyday so no need for no gi unless you doing mma or competing in no gi. Gi stimulates the essence of Jiu Jitsu which is self defense were a Carlson Gracie lineage school and we train self defense and rolling with strikes

[@cookingwithaz]

What is the “better” one ? If there is a term as such lol. Or doesn’t it matter?

[@bobbydabutcha]

I feel that learning with the Gi first sets up the fundamentals of BJJ right off the bat and you can always convert to over/under hooks and head control later on with No Gi.

[@TS-jd9qs]

What fundamentals would not be covered by no gi?

[@bobbydabutcha]

@@TS-jd9qs I feel that you just learn about control differently via collar and sleeve grips etc. , everything else is pretty much the same in terms of movements, breaking posture, taking/making space etc. I like the Gi because of more options of collar chokes but head and arm chokes are also fun (Anaconda, Darces, Neck ties etc.)

[@mikepearson2988]

ive been training for two years. i have one mma fight i usally train in the gi 2 or 3 times a week and im always going back and forth whether i should train in the gi or not. i was wondering your opinion on does gi jits really benefit you in a mma since you cant use all the grips, spider guard and etc.

[@jeffreyg8275]

Judo, BJJ GI AND NO GI. I think they all mix well for me.

[@bigswole2907]

No gi!

[@bundy4prez462]

Oh boy. Where should I park my car?

[@HaveAGoodDayFk.U]

what i learned over the years is no gi is typically for people that Wanna fight in mma cause the techniques you use with the gi are a lot different then techniques with no gi, such as in mma you can't grab someone's gi by the collar or wrist and use that against them cause in mma (cage fighting) they don't wear a gi. but if you wanna learn jiu-jitsu and just learn how to do jiu-jitsu and Wana get into shape and learn self defense then it's easier to use a gi cause then you can use their gi against them to get certain control and pull off certain things that you couldn't do if they weren't wearing a gi... I totally Messed up what I was saying hope you get the gist of it lol

[@tim707max]

if the place I train at only trains in the gi. could i just not use any of the gi grips while training to simulate training no gi or would that not make any sense?

[@jhendkap.2340]

I couldn't decide so I do both! Muahahaaa!

[@quasar4601]

I do notice at my gym that some people do BOTH. I only do no-gi

[@MS-ot9mn]

Hi chewy my name is bob, and I have a bob question. Should I train gi or no gi?

[@abc80s74]

had my first tournament on Sat no gi went first I thought there wasn't gonna be many gi matches. the funniest thing was was that about 80 percent of of no gi were higher rank blue purple belts. when gi started those 80 percent were lower ranked as far as gi lol.what do you think?

[@Chewjitsu]

Bits hard to say. It could be sandbagging. But if the no Gi was broken up by time. It could be that they are a blue belt who's been training for a long time. How'd your matches go?

[@Italiangentleman2394]

I train both but I prefer no gi

[@calebpatterson7645]

4:00 never knew the digestive system was in my cheek

[@Chewjitsu]

Yeah, it's a little known fact. Starts in the cheek. 😉

[@abc80s74]

maybe some sandbagging bu the No gi struggled when it came to the gi. lost both matches I weigh 235 my first guy weighed 390lbs lol I got thrown the kimura on me. second match did ok I got arm trangled good exp for blue belt now I know what to expect I would of fought a bit different as far as my approach. it was awesome. I'm 47 I was the oldest guy lol

[@Chewjitsu]

Damn. The open weigh divisions are always tough to deal with. So much of a weight difference. Glad you got some good experience. That's the most important thing. Keep up the hard work!

[@abc80s74]

Thank you made realize got to stop being lazy and step up the cardio not a young guy anymore can't just get by lol thank you for the ecouragement.

[@ananda_miaoyin]

Do both but remember, in the Winter, everyone wears a gi.

[@MrCholoPants3415]

Love the video, but those teeth man. What happened, shit. Glorious haircut though, and glorious video so that's all that really matters lel.

[@anthonygarcia3960]

Lol!! He was a Mma fighter. He is the real deal.

[@norigib6186]

I like to wear my Gi. Because when I wear it, I know I’m doing Jiu Jitsu. Its kinda a ritual almost. I try to alternate though.

[@WolframtheBlessed3499]

Gi sucks. It allows very unrealistic grips and moves only possible with a canvas jacket , so NO it doesn't mimic street clothes.

[@quasar4601]

I like NO-GI because it has less guard crap and more wrestling

[@thebladespawn]

is it cheaper to do no gi? poor ppl want to know

[@makesomebacon]

Well u don't have to buy a gi so yeah

[@godeater6382]

meow

[@rickysnow400]

Those teeth....

[@AlexAlex-jc7mc]

What the fuck is a GI in the first place? Please, if you are talking about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and creating your own words in American, be sure to explain what the fuck it's. I am Brazilian and I do Jiu Jitsu and never heard about that shit.

[@tomasclutterbuck2038]

Alex Alex the gi is the japanese word for what brazilians call the Kimono.

[@leandrog2785]

He did not create any words. The word gi is japanese and it means a kimono for martial arts. Kimono just means a type of clothing and not specifically for martial arts. Every gi is also a kimono.