What do I wear to my first BJJ class?

For a gi class, many academies lend you a gi for the first session — just bring athletic shorts and a t-shirt or rashguard to wear underneath, plus a water bottle. For a no-gi class, wear a rashguard or fitted t-shirt and grappling shorts with no pockets, zippers, or buttons. You train barefoot, so no shoes. Message the academy ahead to ask whether your first class is gi or no-gi.

A gi (also called a kimono) is the traditional BJJ uniform: a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring pants, and a belt that shows your rank. The thick fabric is part of the game — you grip your own and your partner's gi to control and submit. Beginners start in a white belt, which usually comes with the gi.

Do I need to buy a gi to start?

Usually not for your very first class, since many academies have loaner gis. Once you commit, buying your own is more hygienic and comfortable. A solid beginner gi costs about $80 to $150. Check whether your academy requires a specific color (often white, blue, or black) or its own branded gi before you buy.

What do you wear for no-gi BJJ?

No-gi means no jacket to grip, so you wear a snug rashguard (or fitted athletic top) and grappling or fight shorts without pockets, zippers, or drawstring loops that fingers can catch on. Many people add spats (athletic leggings) under the shorts. The fit is tight on purpose — loose clothing gets grabbed and gets in the way.

Do you wear shoes in BJJ?

No. BJJ is trained barefoot on the mats, which keeps them clean and lets you move naturally. Wear sandals or flip-flops any time you step off the mat — to the bathroom especially — and take them off before you step back on. Bare feet on the mat, shoes never on it, is a core hygiene rule.

What to wear to BJJ

Good news first: you do not need to buy much to start. Many academies lend a gi to newcomers, so athletic clothes and water are often enough for day one. Here is exactly what to wear for gi and no-gi, what a gi actually is, the hygiene rules that matter on the mat, and the order to buy your own gear — with honest price ranges and no upselling.

What to wear on day one

First, find out whether your first class is gi or no-gi — a quick message to the academy settles it. Then keep it simple:

Gi class: if they lend a gi, wear athletic shorts and a t-shirt or rashguard underneath. If not, wear the gi they tell you to bring.
No-gi class: a rashguard or fitted t-shirt and grappling shorts with no pockets, zippers, or buttons (fingers and toes catch on them).
A water bottle and a small towel.
Nothing on your feet. You train barefoot on the mats; bring sandals for stepping off them.

Leave jewelry, watches, and anything sharp at home or in your bag, trim your nails, and tie back long hair. That is genuinely all you need for a great first class. For the full first-timer picture, read BJJ for beginners.

What a gi is

The gi (also called a kimono) is the traditional uniform of Brazilian jiu-jitsu: a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring pants, and a belt that shows your rank. That thick fabric is not just tradition — it is part of the game. In gi BJJ you grip the collar, sleeves, and pants (your own and your partner's) to control, sweep, and submit, which makes for a slower, more technical, grip-heavy style.

Gis come in weaves and weights (single, double, pearl, and gold weave) and lettered sizes like A1 through A5 for adults. For a beginner, any well-fitting entry-level gi is perfect. Two things to check before buying your own: whether your academy requires a specific color (often white, blue, or black) and whether it requires its own branded gi — some affiliated academies do. Browse academies by their gi classes.

No-gi: rashguard, shorts, spats

No-gi BJJ drops the jacket, so there is nothing to grip but the body — the pace is faster and the style leans more on underhooks, body locks, and wrestling-style control. Because there are no sleeves or collars to grab, your clothing must be snug so it does not get grabbed instead:

Rashguard ($25–50) — a tight athletic top that protects your skin and stays put during scrambles.
Grappling or fight shorts ($25–50) — flexible shorts with no pockets, zippers, or exposed drawstring loops.
Spats ($30–50, optional) — athletic leggings some people wear under shorts for skin protection and warmth.

Many academies run both styles, and trying each tells you what you enjoy. Browse academies by their no-gi classes.

Your belt

Everyone starts at white belt, and it usually comes with your gi. Your belt marks your rank, and in BJJ that rank is earned slowly and means a lot — we cover the full progression in our belt system guide. One myth worth retiring: there is no rule that you must never wash your belt. It is cloth like the rest of your gear, and hygiene comes first, so wash it. Tie it with a simple double-wrap knot; a training partner will show you on day one.

Mouthguard and protection

A boil-and-bite mouthguard ($10–30) molds to your teeth in a minute of hot water and is a smart, cheap bit of protection once you start rolling. Always buy your own — a mouthguard is never shared. Two optional extras: ear guards (soft headgear) if you are prone to cauliflower ear, and, for some, athletic protection — check your academy's norms, since gyms differ on cups and hard guards. None of this is needed for your first technique class; add it as you begin rolling regularly.

What the academy provides

This varies, so ask when you book, but the common pattern is:

Usually provided: the mats, and often a loaner gi for a new student's first class or two.
You bring yourself: a mouthguard is a personal item for hygiene, so buy your own early even if you are borrowing a gi.
Soon after: your own gi (or no-gi kit), once you have decided to keep training past the free trial.

Because loaner policies differ, a quick message before your first visit removes all guesswork — many academies list their free trial details and what to bring right on their site.

Hygiene and mat rules

BJJ is close-contact, skin-to-skin training, so hygiene is not optional — it protects you and everyone you roll with:

Clean gear every session. Wash your gi (and rashguard) after every class; never re-wear a sweaty one.
Trim your nails — fingers and toes — to avoid scratching partners.
Shower soon after training, and cover any cut or skin condition. If you have a contagious skin issue, stay home until it clears.
Sandals off the mat, bare feet on it. Never walk to the bathroom barefoot, and never step on the mat in shoes.

A clean academy that enforces these rules is a green flag — our how to choose a gym guide covers what good mat hygiene looks like.

What to buy, in order

No need to spend it all at once. A sensible sequence:

One gi with belt (or a rashguard and shorts for no-gi) plus a mouthguard — buy once you decide to keep training.
A second gi — once you train several times a week, so one can dry while you wear the other.
A no-gi kit — if your academy runs both styles and you want to do both.
Optional extras — spats, ear guards, and a ventilated gear bag, whenever you feel like it.

All in, a starter kit lands around $100–200 and lasts for years, so it works out to very little per class. Our cost guide puts gear alongside membership prices so you can budget the whole picture. Then find your academy on the beginner-friendly list or grab a free trial and go.

Common questions

What do I wear to my first BJJ class?: For a gi class, many academies lend you a gi for the first session — just bring athletic shorts and a t-shirt or rashguard to wear underneath, plus a water bottle. For a no-gi class, wear a rashguard or fitted t-shirt and grappling shorts with no pockets, zippers, or buttons. You train barefoot, so no shoes. Message the academy ahead to ask whether your first class is gi or no-gi.
What is a gi?: A gi (also called a kimono) is the traditional BJJ uniform: a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring pants, and a belt that shows your rank. The thick fabric is part of the game — you grip your own and your partner's gi to control and submit. Beginners start in a white belt, which usually comes with the gi.
Do I need to buy a gi to start?: Usually not for your very first class, since many academies have loaner gis. Once you commit, buying your own is more hygienic and comfortable. A solid beginner gi costs about $80 to $150. Check whether your academy requires a specific color (often white, blue, or black) or its own branded gi before you buy.
What do you wear for no-gi BJJ?: No-gi means no jacket to grip, so you wear a snug rashguard (or fitted athletic top) and grappling or fight shorts without pockets, zippers, or drawstring loops that fingers can catch on. Many people add spats (athletic leggings) under the shorts. The fit is tight on purpose — loose clothing gets grabbed and gets in the way.
Do you wear shoes in BJJ?: No. BJJ is trained barefoot on the mats, which keeps them clean and lets you move naturally. Wear sandals or flip-flops any time you step off the mat — to the bathroom especially — and take them off before you step back on. Bare feet on the mat, shoes never on it, is a core hygiene rule.