Short answer: Most beginners do well starting in the Gi, because the uniform slows the game down and One Way runs more beginner Gi classes, but No-Gi is a fine first choice if you have a wrestling background or want to train for MMA.
The difference in one minute
Gi BJJ is trained in a jacket, pants and belt. You can grip the collar, sleeves and pants, and a lot of attacks use the cloth: collar chokes, lapel guards, sleeve grips that hold someone in place.
No-Gi is the same art without the uniform, trained in a rash guard and shorts. You control your partner with underhooks, wrist control and head position. With nothing to hold, the pace is faster and there are more scrambles.
It is the same sport underneath. Positions, escapes and the idea of control before submission carry over both ways.
Why the Gi is a good place to start
The grips slow everything down. When your partner can hold your sleeve, you cannot explode out of a bad position, so you have to learn the escape. That is frustrating for a few weeks and very useful for a few years.
The schedule helps too. One Way runs six BJJ Fundamentals classes a week in the Gi, compared with two No-Gi Fundamentals classes. More beginner classes means more chances to train at a time that fits your week.
Your gear is covered. For your first class, come in athletic clothes, and we lend you the gear you need. The 4-Week Jumpstart includes your own Gi and belt.
When No-Gi first makes sense
Start in No-Gi if one of these sounds like you:
- You wrestled in school and want to use what you already know.
- You are training for MMA or submission grappling events, which are No-Gi.
- Your schedule fits Wednesday at 6:00 AM or 12:00 PM, when No-Gi Fundamentals runs.
Many people also find No-Gi more intuitive at first. It is different, not harder. Leg locks are a bigger part of the No-Gi game, and they are taught step by step with strict safety rules. Our article on No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu covers the details.
What it looks like on the One Way schedule
- Gi: six Fundamentals and eight All Levels classes a week, from 6:00 AM to evening, including 11:00 AM All Levels on Saturday and Sunday.
- No-Gi: two Fundamentals classes (Wednesday 6:00 AM and 12:00 PM) and three All Levels classes (Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM).
- Advanced and Marathon Rolls, in both Gi and No-Gi, are for students with three or more stripes.
- Kids and Teens No-Gi, ages 4 to 14, runs Saturday at 10:00 AM.
Full times are on the class schedule.
What to wear
For a Gi class, you will train in a BJJ uniform. If you do not have one yet, we lend you one. For No-Gi, wear a fitted T-shirt or rash guard and shorts without pockets or zippers. Either way, take off rings and earrings, and keep your nails short.
Do you have to pick one?
No. Many students settle into one side first, then add the other once the basics feel familiar. Training both gives you the most complete grappling game. Both are coached by 4x IBJJF World Champion Mahamed Aly and black belt Patrick Almeida. Read more on the Gi BJJ page and the No-Gi page.
Frequently asked questions
Is No-Gi harder than Gi BJJ?
Different, not harder. No-Gi is faster with more scrambles, while the Gi is slower and more grip-based. Many students find No-Gi more intuitive at first.
Do I need to buy a gi before my first class?
No. Come in athletic clothes, and we lend you the gear you need. The 4-Week Jumpstart includes your own Gi and belt.
Which is better for MMA?
No-Gi is closer to MMA because there is no uniform to grip. Some MMA fighters still train in the Gi to sharpen their escapes and control.
Can I train both Gi and No-Gi?
Yes. Many students start with one and add the other once the basics feel familiar. Training both builds the most complete grappling game.
Which is better for self-defense?
Both teach the same core skills: controlling distance, staying calm under pressure and escaping someone bigger. The Gi adds grips on clothing, which people usually wear. Self-defense is built into every BJJ class rather than taught as a separate class.
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