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What to wear to no-gi grappling

What to wear to no-gi grappling, especially your first class: a rash guard, shorts or spats, and a mouthguard. There is no uniform to buy — here is the whole list.

Beginner guide Equipment Parent-safe

The honest answer: almost nothing. For your first no-gi class you need a snug top, shorts or leggings, and a mouthguard — gear most people already own or can buy cheaply. Unlike training in a uniform, there is nothing to purchase before you can step on the mat. Here is the whole list, and why each piece matters.

The short list for your first class

  • A snug top — a rash guard or a fitted athletic shirt. Close-fitting so nothing catches a finger or toe, and so less of your skin touches the mat. A plain compression top works to start.
  • Shorts or leggings with no pockets, zippers, or buttons. Pockets catch toes and fingers; metal scratches. Grappling shorts or athletic leggings (“spats”) are ideal, but any snug, hardware-free bottoms are fine for day one.
  • A mouthguard. Cheap, and worth it from the first session.
  • A water bottle, and flip-flops or sandals for walking to and from the mat — never barefoot in the bathroom.
  • Trimmed nails and clean clothes. Not gear, but non-negotiable — see mat hygiene for why this protects everyone in the room.

Why snug, and why no loose clothing

Two reasons, both practical. First, safety: loose fabric, pockets, and zippers snag fingers and toes during fast exchanges. Second, hygiene: close-fitting, freshly washed clothing means less skin on the shared mat, which is the front line against the skin infections that hygiene standards exist to prevent.

There is also a simple point worth making: in no-gi there is nothing for a partner to grip on your clothing anyway — control comes from the body, not the fabric — so loose clothing offers no advantage and only gets in the way. (That body-first grip game is part of what makes the sport its own thing.)

What you do not need

  • No uniform. There is no jacket or special outfit to buy to train no-gi.
  • No shoes on the mat. Training is barefoot; sandals are only for getting to and from it.
  • No expensive kit to start. Resist buying a wardrobe before your first month. Train a few times, see what you actually like, then upgrade.

For kids and parents

The basics are the same for children — a snug top, shorts or leggings, a mouthguard, clean kit, trimmed nails — but always check the specific school’s requirements first. If you are weighing a programme up for a child, the parents page and our child safeguarding standards cover what matters far more than gear: supervision, safety, and how the room is run.

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