BJJ stands for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. It is a martial art sport or you can say a self-defense system. Around the 1920s, a Japanese traveler Mitsuyo Maeda taught the traditional Kodokan Judo to Carlos Gracie, who was a Brazilian. Later in the 1920s, the Brazilian brothers Carlos, Oswaldo, Gastao Jr., George, and Helio Gracie developed their own self-defense system and named it “Jiu-Jitsu”. As its developers were Brazilians, so it is more commonly known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Today, this Martial Art sport of Jiu-Jitsu has become quite popular all around the world. People practice this sport for plenty of different reasons. Some join this sport for the purpose of learning self-defense techniques, some for fitness and stress relief purposes. While some practice it just for fun.
The background story of BJJ starts from Japan on a battlefield. The warriors, when they had no other option and found themselves disarmed, developed Jiu-Jitsu as their defense system. Over time, those techniques turned into a sport. Gradually, it has been transformed into so many different styles but with the same purpose, that is to learn self-defense techniques.
BJJ Gi – Gi means “dress” or “clothes”. it is basically a uniform worn specifically by the Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. The Gi has three main components. A heavy Jacket made from Cotton, Trousers with drawstrings, and a Belt. This belt has a special purpose. The practitioners wear it according to their ranks.
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The Right Age for kids to Start BJJ
It can be said that 5 to 6 years of age is the right age to get your kids started as practitioners in Martial Art classes. But, the concept of competition should be introduced at a mature age, usually at the age of 8 to 10 years. Its purpose is to make kids capable of dealing with their frustrations in case of defeat.
Most parents want their kids to become world champions but this should not affect their mental and emotional states in any way. Their competitions should be according to their age and maturity level. The main purpose of such activities should be to promote the child’s social and emotional development. Participation in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes at a mature age will help them create a balance between their passion and delicate emotions.
BJJ Gi for Kids:
It can be a little difficult to find a perfect BJJ Gi for kids. Before you buy a Gi for your kid, you should keep in mind a few things.
- Size: Gi’s are not like other casual kids’ clothes. They are usually made from cotton which shrinks a little bit on its first wash. You should use the Gi company sizing charts to make sure what size are you looking for.
If you are confused between two sizes, go for the bigger one because it will definitely shrink.
- Weight: Most of parents want light-in-weight Gi for their kids for so many reasons. Firstly, the lighter Gi’s give you pretty good freedom to move. They are ideal to use even during the warm months of the year.
Moreover, they dry easily and help you prepare for the next class even if it is on the same day, with literally no worries.
- Brand: Without any doubt, you should always buy things and stuff from the brands that you trust. A trusted and well-known brand would surely provide you what you’re looking for.
A Gi for your kid from a good quality brand will provide the most comfort and ease to your kids. - Cut/Fit: it is very important to feel ease and comfort when you wear the Gi. Go for a Gi that won’t restrict your movement and make you feel free and flexible during your practice.
- Price: you should look for high-quality Gi but it is also true that expensive things are not always the best. You may end up buying something really expensive in the name of a specific brand but you may regret it later. So, you should research well before buying a Gi.
Try to look for a high-quality Gi but at a reasonable price.
Elite Sports IBJJF Certified Gi
Elite is the brand trusted by people worldwide. This IBJJF Certified Gi fulfills the material and weight needs.
Moreover, its great quality along with a moderate price range. So, parents won’t need to spend a lot of money and would be happy to buy this GIs for their kids.
Material:
The weight of the material used is 400gsm. Hence, it is pretty much light in weight and much comfortable. The Fabric of this Gi comes already shrunk. Still, it does shrink a little bit in the very first wash but not as much as other fabrics do.
In short, this is one of the best Gi’s that parents want to buy for their kids. Also, a lot of different colors are available and your child can choose according to his own choice.
Features:
- Made up of an anti-odor material.
- Comes with a free belt.
- Variety of sizes available for children aging 5 to 15 years.
- Light in weight.
- Has a built-in anti-microbial treatment, that prevents infections.
Vector Sports Kids Gi
Vector is not a hugely well-known brand but it does make some great quality Gi’s for kids, in a moderate price range. Also, the pants have reinforced drawstrings and so they’re pretty good and elastic.
Material:
Pearl Weave is used in these Gi’s which is pure cotton and very light in weight too. This material does not let your kid get sweaty quickly even in the hottest summer months.
Features:
- Pearl Weave is used which is pure cotton.
- Pants are elastic but at the same time, won’t fall down as they come with the drawstrings.
- Cotton is pre-shrunk which means the size won’t shrink further much.
- Light in weight.
Sanabul Kids Highlight Gi
Another famous name is the Sanabul kid’s Highlight Gi. These Gi’s maintain a high quality along with low to normal price ranges. They are plain yet stylish, usually in blue, black, and white colors. You can easily find any size that would fit your child perfectly. Moreover, an extremely affordable Gi for your kids.
Material:
Santec Weave is the material used in the Sanabul Highlight Gi’s. It is also cotton but a tough one. There won’t be a need to buy a new Gi soon. It is made from strong, durable material but is still much light in weight.
Features:
- Comes in three basic colors which are blue, black, and white.
- Variety of sizes available.
- Has a built-in anti-microbial treatment that prevents infections.
- Made up of strong, yet durable cotton
Tatami Kids Nova
One of the best Gi’s for kids for many reasons. First of all, Tatami is a worldwide trusted brand that produces some amazing quality products. Second, it is made very stylish and there are patched on the shoulders and hip.
Tatami Kids Nova Gi comes with a free belt. Also, the pants are just exactly as strong as they should be for the purpose of being worn by the practitioners. They are supported by the drawstrings and the pants can be tied up tightly. No matter how tough is the training, your pants won’t tear off.
Material:
The material used in these Gi’s is also the Pearl Weave, with a weight of 350gsm. Yes, it is this much light in weight and so, does not restrict your child’s movements against the opponents.
Features:
- An extremely light weighed material is used.
- The jacket has a rubber collar and the pants come with rope drawstrings. This helps the trainers to tighten up their pants perfectly.
- A free belt along with your Gi
- Branding on the shoulders and a patch on the hip
Fuji Kids BJJ Gi
Fuji brand has huge respect worldwide. This brand produces some great quality products for customers of almost all ages. The price of their Gi’s vary from low to high ranges but still, their Gi’s are worth buying. They give you a strong, effective, and stylish look. It comes in a huge variety of sizes and you can easily find one that fits your child perfectly.
Along with this Gi too, you get a free white belt which means that you don’t have to pay for it. The belt has a guarantee of lasting longer than any other belt. Your child may grow out of the size of his Gi, but the belt would still be useable.
Another best thing about this Gi – it comes with unattached patches. Your child can attach any of the patches depending upon the choice or the requirement of their training schools.
Material:
It is made up of pure cotton. As compared to the other Gi’s this one is a little thicker. This makes the collar a bit harder than other Gi’s but its purpose is to provide extra protection against the BJJ training techniques. The material is quite durable and comfortable.
Same as the pants of other branded Gi’s, the pants of Fuji BJJ also come with an elastic waistband and drawstrings.
Features:
- Made up of 100% pure cotton.
- Great quality with a wide range of prices.
- A huge variety of sizes are available.
- Has a strong, stiff collar.
Hawk Kids BJJ Gi
The name is not as big as that of other brands but the best thing is the variety of Gi’s you get here. You can find so many different sizes for people of different ages. Moreover, you will find a lot of different colors, as per the choice of your child.
As the trainer kids have to spend a lot of time on the training mats, the pants of Hawk BJJ Gi’s have reinforced knees that make it easier and comfortable for kids to practice. Along with this Gi too, you will get a white belt, totally free of cost.
The Best Part – On the purchase of this Gi, you get a complete 1-year warranty which is not common in the case of other branded Gi’s.
Material:
The material of this Gi is a high-quality material that weights 350gsm. As the weight ensures, it is a lightweight Gi and helps your child make free movements during the training. Also, the material does not let your kid get sweaty or stinky.
Moreover, the seams have extra stitching which makes it impossible to get torn even during the hardest of training techniques.
Features:
- A huge variety of sizes is available. You can go from 2’11” to 5’3”, finding a perfect one for your child.
- The collar is made up of EVA rubber which makes it stiff and less likely to rip.
- If the Gi isn’t perfect for you, you can return it to the company.
Read More: Guide to Know About jiu-jitsu belt system
Venum Contender Kids BJJ Gi
The Venum brand produces the Gi’s regardless of age. Most legendary and best quality products Gi’s can be found at Venum. Five different sizes in Gi’s are available.
Just like the pants of other Gi’s, Venum pants also have reinforced drawstrings.
Material:
The material of Venum Contender BJJ Gi is Pearl Weave which is 100% cotton. It is medium in weight and is extremely comfortable.
Features:
- Sizes available from C00 TO C3.
- Comes in IBJJF approved colors. Such as white, black, navy blue, etc
- Has a standard-sized cut.
- EVA Foam collar.
Popular Brands
Fuji:
Since the 1960s, Fuji has been bringing up the best quality materials. It is popularly known for its contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To date, the brand is working amazingly to bring its best quality products to the market.
Tatami:
The brand “Tatami” was found in the year 2009 with the goal of making their high-quality products affordable for everyone and everywhere. It has emerged in the last decade and has become a major name. You can definitely count on this brand for amazing quality products.
Ways to Recover from Grappling
As beginners, you may experience muscle pains or another such kind of changes in your body as a result of hard training. Here are a few techniques that you may use in order to bring your body back to normal.
Stay Hydrated:
Make sure you drink a lot of water as your daily routine. Drink 1-2 glasses of water after every hour during your training sessions. And particularly, drink 1-2 glasses of water 20 minutes before you start your training.
Stretching:
You should let your body get cool and relax. Cooling and stretching your body helps you prevent blood pooling and injuries.
Post Workout Intakes:
The thirty minutes right after you finish your training are called the “anabolic window”. It is very important to provide your body with glucose and vitamins to get your body back to normal. You should include some nutrients, proteins, and fats in your post-training in-takes.
Sleep:
It is very important to provide your body with the right amount of sleep that it needs. The human body does most of its recovery when you’re asleep. So, you should have a good sleep after your training which will help you get rid of your tiredness.
Rest Day:
You should spare a day for rest in between your training days. This might be difficult to get a day off during your sessions, but if you can, you should go for it.
Best BJJ Gi – The Verdict
It can be said, without any doubt that Tatami Kids Nova BJJ Gi is the best one so far.
The material is a unique cotton weave that is much lighter in weight. The jacket is quite strong and very comfortable too. The material is not much thick but it is still the best one for many reasons. One of the reasons being that it is really warm which works best for the cold winter days. Moreover, it does not make the child get sweaty even on the hottest summer days.
Final Thoughts:
Choosing the best BJJ Gi for your kid is not difficult anymore. There are plenty of brands that provide you with a wide variety of sizes, colors, and materials. Now your kids can choose any color and design of their own choice and that too, totally according to your budget and the preference of your child’s coach.
To make the best use out of your investment, you should go for a pre-shrunk BJJ Gi. So that you won’t have to worry about your kid’s Gi getting shrunk and smaller in size, after its first wash.
Children, men or women, everyone even without any Martial Art experience, can join the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sessions. The training helps you learn self-defense techniques. Moreover, you may join the training for fitness or stress relief purposes as well.
FAQ’s