What to Wear to Your First No-Gi BJJ Class
For your first no-gi BJJ class, wear a fitted rashguard or a close-fitting athletic shirt, plus shorts with no zippers, pockets or metal. Take off all jewelry, trim your nails, and bring sandals and water. That covers almost every gym. The rest of this guide explains why each piece matters, so you walk in ready and put your whole first class into learning.
What should you wear on top for no-gi?
A rashguard is the standard top. It fits tight, so your partner can't grab it, and it protects your skin from mat burn.
For a tee to wear on the way to class, read BJJ T-Shirts: How to Choose a Tee for Training and Life Off the Mats.
If you don't own one yet, a fitted synthetic gym shirt works for a first class. Avoid a loose cotton t-shirt. It will get pulled over your head the first time someone takes your back.
What shorts should you wear to BJJ?
Wear fight shorts or board-style shorts with a secure waistband. Look for three things: no zippers, no pockets and no exposed metal. Zippers and snaps can cut a training partner, and fingers and toes catch in pockets.
Many grapplers wear compression shorts or spats underneath for extra coverage. That's optional for a first class but worth buying once you start training regularly.
Can you wear leggings or spats?
Yes. Spats are compression leggings made for grappling, and most gyms welcome them. They protect your knees from mat burn and keep your legs harder to grip. Plain athletic leggings work too, as long as they're thick enough to stay opaque when you stretch.
What should you leave at home?
- Jewelry. Rings, earrings, watches and necklaces can tear skin or get caught. Take everything off, including small studs.
- Shoes on the mat. Wear sandals to walk from the locker room to the mat, then step out of them at the edge. Street shoes never go on the mat.
- Long nails. Trim your fingernails and toenails short. Your partners will notice.
- Strong scents. You'll be close to people for an hour. Skip the heavy cologne or perfume.
What should you bring in your gym bag?
Pack water, a towel, sandals, a hair tie if you have long hair, and a spare shirt for after class. A plastic bag for your wet gear keeps the rest of your bag dry on the way home.
Do you need to buy everything before your first class?
You don't need to. Show up in the closest thing you own to the list above, and ask the coach what the gym prefers. Most gyms have a few house rules, such as a required rashguard color or a no-cotton rule. You'll learn them faster by asking than by guessing.
Once you know you'll keep coming back, buy one good rashguard and one pair of fight shorts. That pair covers you for most of your first year.
Gear for your first year on the mats
The Kuzushi Kit ($80) pairs the Kuzushi Pulse Rashguard with the matching Kuzushi Fight Shorts, so you have a full no-gi set in one order. The Pressure Fight Shorts ($45) stretch through takedowns and scrambles, and the waistband stays locked in whether you're drilling or going live.
Pressure is a privilege, so put it on.
