No-Gi vs Gi Jiu-Jitsu: Why We Train Without the Kimono
The gi or no gi? Here is the honest difference, and why 10th Planet built its entire system around no-gi grappling.
If you are new to jiu-jitsu, one of the first things you will hear about is the "gi" — the traditional kimono — versus "no-gi," where you train in shorts and a rash guard. At 10th Planet we are a pure no-gi academy. Here is why.
The basic difference
In gi jiu-jitsu, you can grip the fabric — collars, sleeves, pants — to control and submit your partner. In no-gi, there is no fabric to grab, so the game is faster, more athletic, and built on body control, underhooks and pressure. Both are jiu-jitsu; they just emphasize different tools.
Why 10th Planet is no-gi
10th Planet was founded by Eddie Bravo specifically to develop grappling that translates to self-defense and MMA — situations where nobody is wearing a kimono. The idea was simple: train the way fights actually happen.
That philosophy built an entire system of techniques — many of them now staples of modern grappling — and a global network of academies that compete at the highest levels of no-gi.
Which should a beginner pick?
There is no wrong answer — but no-gi has real advantages for new students. There is nothing to buy to start, the movements carry directly into self-defense and MMA, and the faster pace tends to hook people quickly. If you want grappling the way it works in the real world, no-gi is home.
Try it for yourself
The fastest way to understand the difference is to feel it. Your first no-gi class at 10th Planet Fullerton is free — come roll and decide for yourself.