BJJ uniform rules

The gi

• Colour: completely white, royal blue or black. Navy blue is not allowed.
• The jacket, trousers and collar must all be the same colour.
• Fabric: cotton or a fabric like cotton, woven in a pearl weave. It must not be too thick or hard to grip.
• Condition: no tears or repairs. The gi must be dry and clean, with no bad smell.
• No paint on the gi, except academy or sponsor logos in the patch areas.

How the gi must fit

The uniform check

Before you weigh in, an inspector (an official who checks uniforms) checks your gi and belt. You get up to 3 checks to pass.

After you weigh in, you may not change your gi before your first match. If you do, you are disqualified. After your first match, you may ask to change it. The new gi is checked again.

The belt

• It is the colour of your rank, with a black tip. A black belt has a white or red tip.
• You wear it over the jacket, wrapped twice around your waist.
• You tie it with a double knot, tight enough to keep the jacket closed.
• After the knot, each end hangs 20 to 30 cm long.

Patches

• Patches must be cotton and sewn on well.
• They go only in the allowed areas. The IBJJF rules show these areas in a picture.
• The inspector removes patches that are loose or in other areas.
• No political patches or text, and nothing offensive. Nothing that promotes violence, drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

Under the gi

• Men may not wear a shirt under the jacket, or any trousers under the gi trousers.
• Women must wear a tight, stretchy shirt under the jacket. A one-piece swimsuit or gymnastics top is also allowed.
• The women's shirt can be any colour, with short or long sleeves.
• Women may wear tight, stretchy trousers under the gi trousers, if they are shorter than the gi trousers.
• Everyone must wear brief-type underwear, in the gi and in no-gi. Thongs are not allowed.

No-gi clothes

• Rash guard (a tight, stretchy sports top): it must cover your body down to your shorts.
• Rash guard colours: black, white, or black and white, with at least 10% of your belt colour. A top fully in your belt colour is also allowed.
• Men: board shorts in black, white, black and white, or your belt colour. Tight compression shorts may go under them.
• Women: shorts, spats (tight sports leggings) or compression shorts, in the same colours.
• Shorts reach at least halfway down the thigh, and no lower than the knee.
• No pockets, buttons, zips, plastic or metal. Men's shorts may not have loose drawstrings.

In no-gi, you may not grab your own clothes or your opponent's clothes. The referee gives a penalty for it.

Nails, hair and hygiene

• Cut your fingernails and toenails short.
• Tie up long hair. Women may wear a tight, stretchy head cover with no hard parts, strings or logos.
• Hair dye or make-up that stains your opponent's gi gets you disqualified.
• Creams, oils or sticky products on your body get you disqualified. So does anything that makes your gi slippery.
• After the weigh-in, your skin is checked. For a skin problem, you need a doctor's note that it is not contagious.

What you may not wear

• Shoes on the mat, headgear, jewellery or hair pins.
• Groin cups or any hard protector.
• Eye protectors, even sports ones.
• Knee or elbow braces that make the gi harder to grip.