PRIMAL News · 2026-10-28
What to wear and bring to your first BJJ class
A first BJJ class needs less kit than people think. What to wear for Gi and No-Gi, what to bring, and what to leave at home.
For a first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class you need less than you think. Wear a fitted t-shirt or rash guard and shorts with no zips or pockets. Bring a bottle of water, a small towel, flip flops for walking off the mat, and a hair tie if your hair is long. Take off rings, earrings and watches before you step on. Trim your nails the night before. If the class is a Gi class and you do not own a gi yet, ask the gym first, because many lend one for a first session.
What is the difference between a Gi and a No-Gi class?
A Gi class is trained in the heavy cotton jacket, trousers and belt that BJJ is known for. The jacket and collar become handles, so a lot of the class is about gripping cloth, breaking grips and using the fabric to control someone. A No-Gi class drops the jacket. You train in a rash guard and shorts, there is nothing to hold except arms, legs and the body itself, and the pace is usually quicker because positions slip more.
What you wear depends on which class you walk into.
What should you wear to a Gi class?
A gi, the white belt that comes with it, and a rash guard or a close fitting t-shirt under the jacket. Nothing else goes on top. A gi is required in a Gi class because the techniques do not work without the cloth, but on a first visit most people do not own one, and buying the wrong size before you have trained once is a common mistake. Gis shrink in a hot wash, and sizes differ between brands.
What should you wear to a No-Gi class?
A rash guard or a fitted t-shirt that will not ride up over your head when someone grips it, and shorts without zips, pockets or metal parts. Board shorts with a velcro fly are fine. Spats or leggings under the shorts are common and save your knees from mat burn. Loose basketball shorts and baggy cotton shirts are the usual first day mistake: fingers and toes catch in them.
What to bring in your bag
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Water bottle | A round of rolling is harder work than it looks from the side |
| Small towel | Sweat on the mat makes grips slippery for both of you |
| Flip flops | Feet stay bare on the mat, and shoes never go on it |
| Hair tie | Long hair gets pinned under shoulders |
A mouthguard is optional on day one. Most first classes do not include hard rolling, and a coach will tell you when one is worth buying.
How long should your nails be for BJJ?
Short, on hands and feet. Long nails scratch training partners and tear on the gi, and coaches do notice. Cut them the night before.
What should you leave at home?
Jewellery, a watch, and anything with a hard edge. Rings catch on cloth and can break a finger. Shoes come off before the mat. If you have a cut or a skin rash, cover it or wait until it heals, because grappling is close contact and skin infections pass easily from one person to the next. Clean kit every session for the same reason.
The three things beginners worry about
The first is not having a gi. That is normal, and it is a question to ask before you arrive, not a reason to wait. Many gyms keep spares for exactly this case.
The second is being out of shape. A first class is technique, taught slowly, and you can sit out a round of rolling without anyone noticing.
The third is the wrong clothes. Fitted, no zips, no pockets, and you are fine.
How Primal runs BJJ classes
Primal teaches Gi and No-Gi as two separate classes on its Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu page, coached by black belt Danny on the Combat floor. A beginner does not need to own a gi for a first Gi class, because a gi can be borrowed for that session. There is also a weekend Open Mat that people join in a gi or without one.
FAQ
Do you need your own gi for your first BJJ class?
Not usually. A Gi class needs a gi, but many gyms lend one for a first session, so ask before you arrive. Buy your own once you know you will keep training and know your size.
Can you wear a normal t-shirt to No-Gi?
Yes, if it is fitted and will not ride up over your head. A rash guard is better because it dries faster and does not stretch out.
What do you wear under a gi?
A rash guard or a fitted t-shirt, and underwear or shorts that will stay put. Women usually wear a sports bra and a rash guard under the jacket.
Should you wear shoes on the mat?
Never. Feet are bare on the mat. Wear flip flops when you step off it, so the dirt from the floor does not come back on with you.
