Jiu Jutsu Gi Jargon Made Simple for Brand-New Students
On your first day, somebody says “pearl weave,” somebody else says “ripstop,” and a third person asks if your cuffs are legal. You nod and smile, and you have no idea what any of it means. Welcome to the club. Every sport has its own secret language, and uniform shopping is full of it. If you have ever typed jiu jutsu gi into a search bar and wondered whether the odd spelling would trip you up, relax. Most shops will still show you what you need, and the sport you are after is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This guide is a friendly word list for your jiu jutsu gi. Each term gets a plain explanation and a note about why it matters, so you can read a product page like a pro.
Words You Will See on the Tag
These are the terms that show up on labels and product pages. Learn them first, and the rest gets easier.
GSM
GSM means grams per square meter. It tells you how heavy a piece of cloth is. Think of paper. A thin sheet of printer paper and a thick sheet of poster board are both paper, but they feel very different. A bigger GSM number means thicker cloth. Our men’s jacket is 450 GSM.
Weave
The weave is the way threads are knit together. Different weaves feel different, wear differently, and cost differently. You will hear names like single, gold, and pearl.
Pearl Weave
Pearl weave is a popular middle choice. It is tough enough to handle grabs and light enough to wear for a whole class. Our men’s jackets use a pearl weave.
Pre-Shrunk
This means the cloth was washed at the factory before it was sewn. It is made to keep its size when you wash it at home. The fabric on our gis is pre-shrunk, so you are less likely to get a surprise.
Why This Word Matters
If you see cloth that is not pre-shrunk, plan for it to get a bit smaller. Many people end up choosing a different size just to make up for that.
Words for the Parts of the Gi
Now let us look at the gi itself. Knowing the parts helps you spot a strong one.
Lapel and Collar
The lapel is the thick strip around your neck that runs down the front. Partners grab it, so it needs to be firm. A stiff, thick collar keeps its shape and does not flop. Ours is built that way.
Cuffs and Hems
The cuffs are the ends of the sleeves. The hems are the ends of the pants. They take a lot of rubbing against the mat, so they should be stitched with care.
Reinforced Stitching
This means extra thread has been sewn into the spots that wear out first, such as the collar, knees, and cuffs. Our GIS has reinforced stitching in those spots.
Ripstop
Ripstop cloth has extra threads woven in a pattern across the fabric. If it gets a small tear, the tear stops instead of spreading. Our pants are ripstop.
Drawstring
This is the cord at the waist of the pants. Our pants use a cotton drawstring. Tie it in a simple bow and make sure the knot is flat.
Words You Will Hear in a Shop
When you start looking for gear online, you will meet a few more terms. Some people get so curious that they type things like brave jiu jitsu into a search bar to see what comes up. The brand on our shop is Bravo, and a quick look through brave jiu jitsu style gear pages will show you gis, belts, rash guards, and shorts for men, women, and kids in one spot.
Custom
Custom gear is made to order. Teams and academies can pick their own colors and logos, and some people use custom sizing when standard sizes do not fit well. Custom items take longer to ship and cannot be returned, so check the details twice.
Wholesale
This means group pricing for bigger orders, like a club ordering gis for its members. Wholesale pricing is available at our shop.
Compliant
When a listing says compliant, it means the gi is made to follow a certain set of rules. Our grey gi listing, for example, says it is IBJJF standard compliant.
Words About Fit
Fit is where a lot of people get tripped up. These terms help you decode it.
The A-Scale
BJJ gis use sizes that look like A0, A1, A2, and so on. They are not the same as shirt sizes. Our men’s sizes run from A00 to A6, so there is a wide range to match different bodies.
Size Chart
This is the table that matches your height and weight to a gi size. Use it. Do not guess from your usual clothes.
Sleeve and Pant Gap
The gap is the little space between the end of the cloth and your wrist or ankle. A small gap is normal. A big one is a sign the size is wrong, and some events check it.
Break-In
Break-in is the time it takes for stiff new cloth to soften. A new gi feels like cardboard at first. After a few washes and several classes, it loosens up.
Words Around the Mat
Your gi is part of a bigger set of gear. Here are the words that come up most.
Belt
The belt shows your rank. New students usually start with white. It should wrap around your waist twice and end in a flat knot.
Rash Guard
A rash guard is a snug athletic shirt. People wear them in no-gi classes, and some wear one under the gi jacket.
Spats
Spats are tight athletic pants. They protect your legs from scrapes during no-gi training.
No-Gi
No-gi means training without the jacket and pants. You wear a rash guard and grappling shorts or spats. Shorts for this style should have no zippers or pockets.
Care Words You Should Know
A few more terms will help you keep your gi looking good.
Cold Wash
A cold wash means water under about 30°C (86°F). It is gentle on cloth. Add a mild soap, and skip bleach and fabric softener.
Air Dry
Air drying means hanging the gi in open air instead of putting it in a hot dryer. Keep it away from harsh sun. If you must use a dryer, pick the lowest heat.
Overwashing
This is washing too often. It wears out the fibers. Wash when the gi needs it, and take it out of your bag right after class so it does not get musty.
Putting It All Together: A Sample Product Page
Here is how the words look in real life. A good page might say a gi has a 450GSM pearl weave jacket, a stiff thick collar, reinforced stitching, ripstop pants with a cotton drawstring, pre-shrunk cloth, and sizes from A00 to A6. Now you can read every part of that sentence, and you know what it means for you.
Our men’s gis come in white, black, blue, brown, green, navy blue, and yellow, with prices from $79 to $109, depending on size. We ship within the United States. Regular orders usually go out in about five to seven days, and custom gear takes around one to two weeks. Orders of $300 or more ship free, and you get a tracking number once your package is on its way. For regular items, check the refund policy for the time limit and valid reasons. Our support team is available 12 hours a day, six days a week, at support@bjiujitsu.com.
You Speak the Language Now
Next time someone at the gym talks about weaves, weights, and gaps, you can nod and mean it. The goal was never to memorize every word. It was to make the shopping part feel less scary so you can get to the fun part, which is training. Keep this list handy, and come back to it whenever a new term pops up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell jiu jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the usual spelling, and you will also see jiu jitsu and jiu-jitsu. Some people type jiu jutsu by mistake. Shops and search tools usually understand all of them.
What does gi mean in jiu jitsu?
The gi is the uniform. It has a jacket, pants, and a belt that shows your rank.
Is a gi the same as a kimono?
People sometimes call it a kimono, but the proper word for a BJJ uniform is gi. It is cut and made differently from a traditional kimono.
Why are BJJ gi sizes labeled A1, A2, and so on?
BJJ brands use their own size scale instead of shirt sizes. Our men’s sizes run from A00 to A6, and custom sizing is available for bodies that sit between sizes.
What does IBJJF standard compliant mean?
It means the gi is made to follow IBJJF rules. Our grey gi listing says it is IBJJF standard-compliant. For other events, always check the current rule book.