BJJ Tips: Gi v No-gi Grappling. Is the Gi Necessary?


This issue has been debated and hammered but I still find that a lot of the arguments for and against are too loaded with emotions and attachment. What I mean is that people who do or did a lot of gi training often insist that it is necessary while those from a nogi/submission grappling background insist that it's a waste of training time.

I'm not too fussed really. I feel that not only is grappling grappling, irrespective of what you are wearing, but I also have friends who prefer nogi and I liked training with them in the nogi sessions and vice versa. I say liked because our advanced sessions are now of the gi-optional variety. I also like a lot of techniques that are unique to the gi and some others that show up more often in the nogi.

I also have a few more brain sneezes on this and I've written them on the Cage Warriors BJJ Forum.

What do you think? How do you feel? Please recline on my chaise longue (made entirely from old gi material, of course!) and tell me your take on this.

Have a good weekend!

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3 comments:

Jason said...

I think if you don't learn in the gi first you are in for a big surprise when you do. Its a control issue. I blog about it along with some quotes from Royler Gracie:

http://jiujitsumap.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/no-gi-vs-gi-part-3/

I hopes this helps in your training.

Liam H Wandi said...

Thanks Jason. That's indeed true to how I feel but I think it goes beyond the control issue. I think there are experiments in the gi world that would provide genius solutions in the nogi and vice versa and people are cutting themselves short by just sticking to one.

I really like your blog so I've added it to my blog roll. Keep up the good work.

Meerkatsu said...

I come from a traditional ju-jitsu background and for me, the gi always comes first. But the infrequent times I have trained no-gi I found the transition to be not so hard and quite enjoyed it. But I reckon that is thanks to my base in the gi.