The Best Jiu Jitsu 'Gi'
...aka "Kimono"
A "Gi" is about using what you've got in a grappling match.
And you never know what that might be. Your opponent might be wearing a hoodie, a leather jacket, a t-shirt... who knows? But grappling with a Gi teaches you how to use all of it to your advantage. You will choke people with their clothing (just as you will be choked by your own), and you will build the keen ability to just grab stuff. Those of us who have grappled with 'high level' Gi Jiu Jitsu players know how horrible it is; you feel as though you can be choked at any moment, by any conceivable grip on your apparel. It's truly humbling.
Anyhow, here are my recommendations:
So far, this is the only brand of Gi that I've used that hasn't eventually ripped. A Gi is not a 'permanent' item... but it's always nice to get some miles out of it.
Here are the things to take into consideration when buying a gi:
The primary concerns are 'lightness' vs 'heaviness' and durability. Heavy gis are thicker and more rigid, which makes them a little bit harder to grip. It also makes you hotter when you're training, and excess heat = physical failure.
I personally like a lighter gi, that fits as tightly as possible while remaining within the IBJJF ruleset measurements. This keeps me cool, and if I need to break someone's grips off, I will rely on my technique to do it.
