I own about 10 different gis and I still have not found one that I absolutely love!  Working at the front desk of Lloyd Irvin’s Mixed Martial Arts, I get that question a lot, which gi do you prefer?  And really, it’s all about which gi you prefer, what style, what fit, heavy light, thin or thick.

My first gi I ever owned was a creamy color, and I absolutely hated it.  To be honest, I don’t even remember the name of it.  My next gi I had was a blue OTM, and I still have it!  I now have different gi’s from all kinds of different companies, and I am still trying to find the one!

Personally, I don’t like thick lapels, like the gameness one but I like the fit around the ribs/chest.  I like the Atama gi top, and then I love the Vulkan gi pants!  I ordered an Atama F3, and the gi shrunk so much, then I ordered a F4 and it hasn’t shrunk at all!  I am a complete mess.  One of the Koral gi’s that I have, the skirt is too long.  Some pants are too wide, some sit too high on the waist.  For now, the Vulkan is my favorite.  I also just got a new Hybrid gi, and it’s black with red stitching!  I can’t wait to try it out on Monday and see how it feels!

I asked Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Mike Fowler what his  favorite gi’s are.  This is what he had to say….


Mike Fowler:  “I like my gi’s to be form fitting around ribs and chest, much like Mizuno or Isami.  I like the pants to have a tapered cut, not barrel legged.  As long as the skirt is not too long, and the arms are not too tight.  I shy away from gis that stretch too much, like the ultra light gis, because when you face black belts with a good grip you don’t want your gi to be a tool for them.  The string that ties the pants together must be easily manageable, I get claustrophobic when my gi pants won’t come off.”

New to Jiu-Jitsu and trying to find a gi you love and that fits comfortably?  You may have to buy several different types of gi to find the right one.  Or, you may get lucky and your first gi is the one you cherish!