My week in a BJJ Gi...

Some Kenpoist gi’s are viewed as being pretty generic.  

​They’re usually black or white and occasionally there is a rebel that wears what we call salt & pepper (black top and white bottom or vice versa). To be honest what sets Kenpoists apart from other systems isn’t the gi, it’s what’s on the gi.  Kenpoist gi’s are usually covered in patches, ranging from variations of Kenpo crests, dojo’s they’re affiliated with or distinguished patches earned in study or competition.

Me in my Kenpo gi and patches.

At our Dojo, we are only permitted to wear black or white.

​There’s never really been an issue with this policy. 
I own black and white gi’s, some covered in Kenpo regalia and some blank.  A part of me has always been secretly jealous of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gis.  You see them everywhere; in every color imaginable and some with beautiful embroidering.

Come on, who doesn't want a pink gi?

I was slightly perplexed and alarmed when Elite Sport asked me to try out their Elite Sports Ultra Lite BJJ Gi.  I have never studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and didn’t know what to think of a BJJ gi.  The fact that it was Blue was even more bewildering.

​I knew next to nothing about BJJ gis. ​

​Before I agreed to testing the gi, I consulted my good friend Jason Bennett a 4th Degree Black belt in American Kenpo and Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
 
After looking over the gi link, Sifu Bennett told me,
“I have separate gi’s for Kenpo and BJJ because of the weight.  Nice gi though, it will last a long time.  Try it.” 
​

If I had any hurtle to overcome it was wearing a gi too heavy that would restrict my movement.

I hoped that with it being an Ultra Lite, it wouldn’t make that big of a difference.  My Sifu concurred and gave me permission to wear the gi regularly on the mat for one week to test it in sparring, group technique classes and forms.
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This is what I concluded.

My gi was durable and reinforced and moved fine my stand up and striking in sparring class.  However, due to the inseam of the pants, there was a loss of height in my kicks.  Which forced me to focus on my upper body and handwork.

My son & I after sparring in my Elite Sports BJJ gi.

The truth is, wearing the gi during sparring was an eye opener.  I’m not going to be wearing a karate gi every minute.  I might be in jeans, cut off shorts or even a mini skirt… and THEY could limit my kicking ability as well.  An attacker on the street isn’t going to care.  Sparring outside of my comfort zone reminded me of that.

​​If you are a karate practitioner and plan on trying out a BJJ gi there’s one other thing you should be prepared for…  
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​Your fellow peers grabbing you.

There’s something about the weave of the fabric and the thickness of the seems that makes you just want to grab, hold on and possible either throw or shake a person wearing a BJJ gi. 
​

 I know this because that is exactly what all my friends wanted to do to me. ​

​During technique class, we practice our techniques on each other by mock attacking one another.  Usually this is based off punches and kicks.  Suddenly, everyone had this uncontrollable urge to no longer punch or kick me but rather grab and drag me. 

It was slightly unnerving.  

A gentle version of me testing the gi.  We didn't want to alarm anyone.

It was as if, amongst all my training of how to respond to a real physical threat, I had lost my sense of how it would feel to be grabbed and dragged by an attacker much larger than myself.  It was a humbling sensation of not quite helplessness but more of the possibility of losing control of the situation.  Everyone has a plan until they’ve been hit—or grabbed.

It was surprisingly fun...

​After its first wash, I felt the truest way to test the movement of this gi was to wear it during forms class.

When it was finally time to wash my gi, I was a little worried how it would hold up. What I really liked about the Elite Sports BJJ gi was it came pre-shrunk.  I’ve never had a karate gi shrink on me before, but I had been warned that BJJ gi’s usually do shrink in the first 2 washes.  There were no problems there.

For those not familiar with forms, they are an exercise in movement and basics.

  I was used to working forms in my lighter gis.  Wearing the heavier gi and going through the movements was like walking through water.  It’s not uncomfortable or impossible to do; it just creates a little extra resistance. 

Though I would wear a regular karate gi during competition or testing to guarantee maximum performance, I feel going out of my comfort zone with the BJJ gi was a fun alternative with some pro’s in training.
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Sometimes we get stuck in the same monogamous routine of training. 

This comfort zone creates a false sense of security that limits us from pushing our boundaries and find out our true capabilities.

Me in my Elite Sports Karate Gi

If you are in the market for a new gi, be sure to visit Elite Sports website or check them out on Amazon.  Don’t be confused with their sizing for the “Kids” Karate Gi.  I was sent a size 4, and it actually fits a little long.  Links are provided below.

Elite Sports