Most students like to train in a Gi. It is by far the most popular form of training offered in Jiu-Jitsu. Many believe that No-Gi is delegated to beginners and those that want to learn Jiu-Jitsu simply for self defense. And while it is an excellent tool for self defense, there is a lot more to it than that.

Many who practice no-gi after having spent some time in gi actually find it more difficult. Much of gi training involves holds to the gi. Either the lapel or the sleeves or other parts of the gi serve as excellent hold points to control your opponent and create submissions. This moves become exponentially more difficult when you don’t have a gi. You have to rely on grabbing writs or necks or other sweaty areas of the body to achieve the same results. Ask anyone if this is easier…

Another thing to consider is how much faster the sport is in no-gi. Without a cumbersome gi slowing you down and with the need to establish holds against the body instead of against the gi, everything is sped up considerably. This makes for a completely different feel when you are training no-gi, and actually will help improve your game when you are training with your gi.