Gi or No-Gi: Which Should You Start With?
Start with whichever class fits your week. Gi and no-gi are two separate sports that share the same fundamentals, and what you learn in one carries into the other. At Rebel Combat Sports the free two-week trial and the membership both cover gi and no-gi, so you don't have to choose before you've tried them.
Two sports, one set of fundamentals
In the gi you wear a jacket and trousers, and both of you can grip them. Collar and sleeve grips slow things down and add a whole layer of control built on the jacket.
No-gi is shorts and a rashguard. There is nothing to hold but the person, so it is faster and has more scrambles, and it draws on wrestling for its takedowns.
Underneath, they are the same art. You control a position, you escape a bad one, and you finish with a choke or a joint lock. That is why we treat them as two sports and coach both.
What you need for each
No-gi needs shorts with no pockets or zips and a rashguard, or a plain t-shirt on day one. Gi classes need a gi, and we'll tell you exactly what to get before your first one. If you'd rather not buy anything before you know you like it, start with a no-gi class.
What carries over
Positional control, escapes and submissions all carry between the two. The gi's grips are their own skill set, and you learn those in the gi. Your rank carries too. Belts here are earned against a written syllabus — performance criteria, not time served — and one rank covers both sports.
This week on the mat
- Structured no-gi grappling
- Gi BJJ
- Lunchtime open mat
- Structured no-gi grappling
- Gi BJJ
- Structured no-gi grappling
- Open mat
The first two weeks are free, with no card needed. Parking is free, right outside. Full schedule and pricing
Pick by the timetable, not the jacket
No-gi runs three times a week, on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoon, led by Ben Zarif. Gi BJJ runs twice, on Tuesday morning and Friday evening, with Adrian Bradbury. Every class is beginner-friendly.
So the practical answer is to come to the class you can get to. In two free weeks you can try both and see which you want more of. You can train both, and one membership covers it. See the full schedule and pricing.
Modern, science-based coaching. No bowing, no mysticism, no cult of personality — just what works. And every class is beginner-friendly because the coaching scales to you.
What makes us different →What people who train here say
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★★★★★
Ben the head coach has an infinite knowledge of the art and technique of NoGi jiu jitsu. The Gi coach Adrian also has a great technical understanding of the Gi.
Charlie Dyer · Google review -
★★★★★
Ben and Adrian are awesome coaches—they take the time to break down positions and submissions until you really get it.
Scott Berry · Google review
Before you come
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Should I start with gi or no-gi?
Whichever class fits your week. The free trial and the membership both cover gi and no-gi, and what you learn in one carries into the other. No-gi needs nothing more than shorts and a t-shirt on day one, so it is the easier one to try first.
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What's the difference between gi and no-gi?
Gi grappling uses the jacket and trousers as grips; no-gi is shorts and a rashguard — faster, more scramble-heavy, nothing to hold but the person. They're two separate sports with separate skill sets, and we train both.
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Do I need a gi?
Not for our no-gi classes — they're shorts and a rashguard. For gi BJJ sessions you'll need a gi, and we'll tell you exactly what to get before your first session.
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Can I train both gi and no-gi?
Yes. They're separate sports with separate skill sets, one membership covers both, and your rank is one credential across the two.