Death of the Hang-Dry: How New Fabric Tech Can Save Your BJJ Gi

Modern Gis, such as Elite Sports Jiu Jitsu Gi, are using advanced fabric types and materials to make them even better than ever before. They offer many benefits like anti microbial and moisture wicking properties. Elite Sports Gis are equipped with technology that reduces drying times and allows for machine washing without size shrinkage. Ensure you have more than one Gis to rotate your gear in a week, and choose only high quality Gis such as Elite Sports.

Man hanging up a Jiu Jitsu Gi

Save Your Jiu Jitsu Gis by Using the Modern Fabric Technology

Say goodbye to the old methods of maintaining your Jiu Jitsu Gis and try the modern ways. The key fabric techs are as follows:

Choose the Best Quality Jiu Jitsu Gis Like the Elite Sports

Choose the Jiu Jitsu Gi, which is equipped with modern technology, like the Elite Sports. For example, protecting you from infections, odor causing bacteria, moisture wicking technology, etc. Elite Sports Jiu Jitsu Gis are known as the best Gis based on the experts’ reviews. They are affordable, value for money, give you a free white belt, suitable for both training and IBJJF contess and the best beginner’s gi.

Advanced Material Blends

Most brands use 100% cotton for making their Jiu Jitsu Gis, including jackets, pants, and belts. This has one downside: it takes a lot of time for such material to dry after washing. The second downside is that they have a much higher risk of reducing in size due to shrinkage. This also promotes bacterial growth over time. But now with the availability of the advanced material blends, we can save our Gis from these downsides. Some key blends or advanced materials are as follows:

Microfiber/Polyester Blends

  • The most significant advantage of using Microfiber/Polyester Blends is that they are designed or naturally pre-shrunk. This allows them to stay in their original size and not get reduced to a kid’s sized Gi from the adult Gi.
  • Another benefit of this blend is its usage during the high intensity training. They can withstand the long, intense grappling sessions without wearing out.

Hemp Blends

The unique thing about the hemp blends is that they are naturally moisture wicking, protects the grappler from the infections, and with better breathability. These are the three qualities which every grappler needs in their Gis but they come naturally in hemp material blends. Just like the polyester they also dry faster after washing. They resist the bacteria which causes odor thereby keeping the smell away from the grappler.

Bamboo Fibers

The best quality for which bamboo fibers are known for is their natural anti bacterial properties and amazing softness. This is one of the best materials for finding the soft feel in your Gis. These two features helps your Gi to stay fresh between the washes.

Specialized Weaves and Treatments

Advanced Pearl Weave (450 – 550 GSM)

Pearl weave fabrics are the most common type of material (or weave type) used among the Jiu Jitsu Gi brands. The reason for this is their pre shrunk and lightweight nature. Brands such as Elite Sports utilize these weaves to make their Gis, keeping them both affordable and high quality. You can wash them using the machines without any risk of size reduction.

Enzyme Washes

Jiu Jitsu brands like Elite Sports are now making their Gis even better and equipped with unique features by treating them with enzymes. The sole purpose of using these enzymes is to make the Gis smooth and soft to reduce the stiffness, which can be a result of air drying.

Vulcanized Rubber Lapels

Lapels are the crucial part of a Jiu Jitsu Gi, and brands are focusing more on them. For example, one tech they use is the vulcanized rubber lapels, which are heat resistant and synthetic. The benefit of this feature is that they can dry without warping on a low heat. This feature is not found in the old cotton Gis.

Key Technological Advantages

Drastically Faster Drying

The drying time after washing differs with the material or fabric type. Double weaved fabrics take longer time to dry. On the other hand, ripstop materials, high tech fabrics, or those that are lightweight can dry quickly in significantly less time than the double weave fabrics.

This has an importance for you if you train frequently, i.e., three to four times a week. Because in such cases, you will have to wash your Gi daily if you do not have multiple Gis. So they can dry in the same day and get ready for your next day training if they are thinner, lightweight, or ripstop materials.

Antimicrobial Properties

Many Gis, such as those made by the Elite Sports, are treated with special chemicals that save you from various infections. Moreover, there are materials that have an inherent feature of resisting microbial growth or spread, such as natural blends like bamboo or hemp and new synthetic fibers.

Dryer-Safe (Low Heat)

In the past, grapplers had to rely on the hand dry methods to wait for their Gi to dry properly. This can take a whole day or even more than one day, depending on the type of fabric. But now, most Gis, such as Elite Sports Jiu Jitsu Gis, are dryer safe, which means that you can dry them using a dryer. You can even wash them using the washing machines, and they will have no risk of wearing out or getting smaller in size.

Pro Tips for Modern Gi Care

Test Wicking

To check if your gi has modern wicking tech, place a drop of water on it; it should spread horizontally within 3 seconds rather than soaking straight down. Many modern Jiu Jitsu Gis, like those of Elite Sports, are now using the moisture wicking technology. Wicking away moisture means that the fabric does not absorb the sweat or moisture.

Instead, it pulls it to the outermost layer of the fabric through which it can easily evaporate into the air. You can test whether this tech is in your Gi or not by placing a water drop on it. Now observe that drop and see if it goes straight down or spreads horizontally. If it spreads horizontally than it has the moisture wicking technology and vice versa.

Rotate Your Gear

The best advice you can have is to have multiple Gis. Buy at least three Gis. It does not matter how good and equipped with advanced tech your Gi is. You need to allow them to maintain their wicking integrity for a long time by letting them recover fully.

Having the three Gis will allow you to rotate them during the week, so you can focus more on your grappling sessions the next day rather than just worrying about washing your Gi and drying it.

Dryer Settings

If you are using the dryer to dry your Jiu Jitsu Gi after washing, then try air dry or low heating settings. This will reduce the risk of shrinkage while keeping the fabric soft.

Wash After Training Daily

The most common mistake grapplers make is that they leave their sweaty Gi for hours after training and don’t wash them. This has a major effect on their getting the infection. Bacteria start spreading and increasing in both size and number. Therefore, the risk of infection continues increasing. For every 4-20 minutes, the bacteria double. But you can stop this spread by washing the Gi as early as possible after training. Wash it yourself or give it to someone else, but don’t keep it unwashed.

Cold Water Only

Don’t use hot water for washing your Gi. It does not matter if your Gi is pre shrunk or not. You just need to keep in mind that hot water causes damage to the Gi lapels and shrinks the cotton fibers. Try to use cold water, such as at 30°C (86°F) or lower.

Turn Inside Out

Always wash the Gi by turning it inside out. This, although it looks ordinary, has a significant effect on protecting the patches, embroidery, and outer fabric from the friction. You can prevent any other damage in this way.

Gentle Cycle

Don’t use high or fast spin to wash the Gi. Spin at a low or moderate speed. This will avoid twisting, rotating, or stretching the weaves of your Gi.

Wrestling Gear

Mat Wizard Hype
Mat Wizard Hype
Asics Dave Schultz Classic
Asics Dave Schultz Classic
JB Elite IV
JB Elite IV
Cael V6.0
Cael V6.0
Adidas Adizero
Adidas Adizero
Nike Hypersweep
Nike Hypersweep

Leave a Reply