Thinking about adding a few Judo sessions to your BJJ training schedules? Good idea by all means, as there’s hardly a grappling martial art that complements Gi Jiu-Jitsu more than Judo. That said, remember that Judo is an art in itself, not just something complementary to BJJ. As such, there are certain principles and traditions you need to uphold. For example, you’ll get a far better experience if you’re wearing an authentic Judo Gi, rather than a BJJ one. You see, Judo Gis are quite different in cut and design than Jiu-Jitsu ones, due to the need for the art. If you’re truly looking to learn Judo and develop those crazy Judoka grips then you need to spar with a Judo Gi on. We bring you the best Judo Gi guide for 2020, along with reviews of some of the top kimonos on offer.
As the quintessential martial arts uniform, the Gi plays a very important role in traditional martial arts. Judo is definitely among those traditional martial arts that value their training uniforms a lot. The moment you first engage with a Judoka in sparring, you’ll know exactly how important the Gi is. Judo uses strategic (and really tough) grip fighting to ensure the best leverage for throwing people to the ground. The Gi is the ultimate anchor point for the Judo game, which makes having a good one mandatory. You can’t just wear any Gi to Judo class, as it’ll soon get destroyed, due to the constant pull and push. Any of the kimonos in our Best Judo guide, though, will more than do the trick whenever you need to test your Judo skills. Moreover, they’ll prove to be a real handful for opponents, literally.
The Best Judo Gi Guide
So, let’s start at the beginning. The Judo Gi is a modification of the ancient samurai garments, usually worn under the armor. As warfare turned to art, there was no place for the armor in training. That’s when the Gi came to the forefront. Judo’s founder Dr. Jigoro Kano made some crucial adjustments to it, bringing about the precursor to the modern Judo uniform. As such, the modern Gi cut and style is all about functionality within the boundaries of Judo.
A key thing with every grappling martial arts Gi is, of course, material. Wearing a Gi In Judo and BJ Jis far more than just ceremonial. The Gi is used to tug, pull, twist, push etc, your opponent in various directions, before sending them flying. This means the material has to be able to withstand such exchanges on a regular basis. The fabric has to be thick and heavy, featuring specialized weaves. A Judo Gi is usually made of cotton, with at least a single, preferably double weave pattern.
In terms of style and cut, Kano’s original modifications still mark the Judo Gis today. The Gi consists of drawstring pants and a quilted jacket. The jacket has sleeves that are longer than other Gis, thus allowing for an intricate gripping game. The wais area is also tighter, in a more athletic cut fashion, but still loose enough to be effective. The available colors are white, blue, and black, with blue often being a scorned option, at least in some schools.
The belts in Judo today feature a color system similar to that of Karate. Originally, there were only white and black belts to distinguish students. Most of the Kimonos in our best Judo Gi guide come with a complementary belt, although most often a white one.
The Best Judo Gi in 2020
The main governing body of Judo is the International Judo Federation or IJF. Similar to the IBJJF and UAEJJF, it sets standards for anything, from unified tournament rules to Gi requirements. This was a major condition during the creation of the 2020 Best Judo Gi Guide. After all, what’s the point of getting a Gi that you can’t wear in a competition? That said, we won’t go deep into the standards of Judo Gis now. What we will do is go straight into the kimonos that will bring you the best Judo training (and competition) experience in 2020. Our seven top candidates are as follows:
Ronin Judo Gi
The Ronin Judo Gi is where we’ll start our Best Judo gi guide today. This is exactly the high-quality Judo Gi that’ll serve you for a long long time. Of course, it is IJF approved, making it perfect for both training and competition. On top of everything else, it is more than reasonably priced!
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What you get with the Ronin Judo Gi is a single weave Judo Gi that’s 100% cotton. Moreover, it’s premium bleached cotton, making a very sturdy, yet light kimono. the strategic stress points are heavily reinforced, particularly on the shoulders, lapels, sleeves, and knees. There’s also traditional diamond stitching on the skirt of the jacket. The Gi is white and available in sizes from 0-7. Up to size 2, the pants come with an elastic waistband, and larger ones are all drawstring. A perfect Gi for a Judo beginner, a BJJ grappler that cross-trains, or even an experienced Judoka.
Mizuno Yusho II Gi
The Mizuno Gi is a traditional white Judo Gi that is approved by the International Judo Federation. It is a brand new model that not only fits standards but features a modern and performance-oriented design. One of the Gis that professional and Olympic level Judokas often favor.
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The Mizuno Yusho II Gi is a preshrunk, white only Gi that undergoes special testing after manufacturing. It is available in a large variety of sizes, a dozen to be precise, ranging from 1 – 7 with lots of in-between options. The Yusho II is a brand new model, completely washing machine friendly. It is also very easy to dry, is modified to be highly breathable and extremely comfortable. The material is in between single and double weave. Given that Mizuno is famous as a manufacturer of both high-end Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gis, it’s no wonder that this is one of the best quality Gis in our guide.
Fuji Judo Uniform
Fuji is a mainstay in the Gi industry. They not only produce some of the best Gis, but they also have them virtually every martial art. With grappling arts, in particular, they have nothing but ultra high-quality Judo and BJJ Gis. The real caveat though is the price – for such a high-quality Gi, the Fuji comes more than reasonable, it actually comes cheap!
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Fuji was actually making Judo Gis longe before they branched into BJJ ones. The Fuji Judo Gi is a double weave 100% cotton kimono, that’s probably the softest in our best Judo Gi guide. That doesn’t make it less durable or sturdy though, On the contrary, it is one of the longest-lasting Judo Gis in existence! Some key features are an ultra-thick collar and extra high-quality stitching and reinforced seams. It is available in 15+ sizes, ranging from 1 to 9, with options in between. Maximum breathability is guaranteed! Comes in white or blue color.
Elite Sports Deluxe IJF Judo Gi
Elite sports are fast climbing the scale of Gi manufacturers. They have great quality Kimonos for every occasion, be it Judo, BJJ or even Sambo. Their Deluxe Judo Gi is one of their best accomplishments so far. In fact, it is one of the most stylish Judo Gis out there. It certainly is affordable for anyone and is IJF and USJF approved. The perfect deal, if you ask me.
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What the Elite Sports Deluxe offers is durability, longevity, and comfort all at once. The stitching is so precise that it guarantees the Gi lasts for a long, long time! A great quality of this Gi is that it makes gripping a real nightmare for your opponent. At the same time, it provides you with great mobility and comfort. The material is a double weave special cotton blend, washing machine friendly, and easy to maintain. A free white belt is included with every purchase. The Gi is available in a few different sizes and all three IJF approved colors. This is the only Gi in our Best Judo Gi guide that comes with a 6-month full money-back guarantee.
Yamato Sakura Single Weave Judo Gi
One more 100% premium cotton Gi, this time coming in a single weave pattern. This means the Gi is ultra-lightweight, at only 450 GSM. The Yamato Sakura is made from nothing but high-quality materials and is built to last. This is a great Gi to consider for complete beginners.
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The Yamato Sakura Judo Gi comes with drawstring pants and a single weave, reinforced quilt jacket. The way this Gi is different from the others in this guide is weight As a single weave, this is one of the lightest weight Judo Gis you’ll ever come across. A key advantage of a lightweight Gi is training in warm weather. Unlike heavier double weave Gis, this one doesn’t feel like you’re in an oven while you’re grappling. This also makes it extremely comfortable. Yet, make no mistake, as this Gi is going to outlast a good portion of heavier duty ones. Available in multiple sizes (0-7) and come with a free white belt.
Pro Force Gladiator Judo Gi
If you’re really on a budget then the “Pro Force” Gladiator Gi is the one for you. It is by far the best priced best Judo Gi in 2020 without a doubt. Still, we did not consider anything but high-quality durable gis for our guide, so as cheap as this Gi is, that doesn’t come at the expense of quality.
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Just like the Yamato, the Pro Force Gladiator is a single weave 100% cotton Judo Gi. It is perfect for beginners that are looking to train regularly and compete. Also great for anyone more involved in grappling. The real secret of this Gi is that although it is a single weave, it features the durable construction of double weave. These properties are down to some signature premium stitching. Come sin ten different sizes, 0000-7. Another thing specific to this Judo Gi is that it comes in four, rather than three colors. Apart from the blue and black, there are two white options – natural and bleached white. In the competition, only white and blue colors are allowed. The only drawback, if you can call it that, is that this Gi does not include a belt.
Adidas Judo Contest Gi
A real classic here to wrap things up. The Adidas Gi, particularly in blue, is probably the definition of a Judo Gi. it is what many think of when we talk about Judo kimonos. It is also what most athletes choose to wear during competitions. the reasons behind such widespread use of the Adidas Judo gi are many.
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The Adidas Gi is the only one in our Best Judo Gi Guide that is not a 100% cotton Gi. In fact, it features a special blend of 55% cotton and 45 % Polyester. This makes it one of the toughest Gis in existence today. On top of that, the material is a double weave, with a very thick collar that has no less than six rows of stitching. Available in competition-approved blue and white, the Gi features the unmistakable Adidas stripes on both shoulders. Despite the double weave, the jacket weighs only 690 grams, providing maximum mobility and comfort. It comes in plenty of sizes but does not include a belt. Olympic level Judoka or a beginner looking for your first Gi, you can’t go wrong with the Adidas Contest Gi.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking into Judo Gis because you want to dedicate yourself to the art, or simply to cross-train as a BJJ athlete, you’ll need a good Judo Gi. That much is clear from the get-go. The option we offer in our best Judo Gi guide pretty much cover everything, You have reasonably priced and outright cheap Gis price-wise. Still, each and every one of them is ultra high quality and approved for competition. Moreover, there are options in terms of color, size as well as material, and weight. All in all, everything you might need while choosing a Judo gi in 2020 is in here!
