How to Properly Care for Your Gi

If you train in a jiu jitsu gi, learning to take proper care of it is part of your journey as a martial artist. Your uniform is another tool. In the same way that you keep your body in shape for martial arts, you need to keep your gi in good condition too. A properly cared-for gi shows your respect for your martial art, and it will help you to look you’re and perform your best.

Keeping a gi in good condition takes work. Practice and competition are tough on a uniform. How can you care for gi against all this wear and tear?

Invest In A Good Gi

All the care in the world won’t keep a poor quality gi in good condition. If you’re serious about your training, invest in a good quality gi that’s designed for your martial art. If you can afford it, buying two or three gis will make care a bit easier, as you can use them in rotation. With more than one, you can properly wash and dry your gi after each training session, and cut down on how much laundry your need to do. If you’re can’t afford to do this though, don’t panic. One gi can withstand regular training if you buy quality.

Air Dry Your Gi

If you put in a lot of effort at training, you probably want to rest when you get home. However, if you take the time to pull your gi out of the bag and let it air dry, this will protect both your jiu jitsu gi and your bag. A dark, moist environment like a gear bag will encourage bacteria to grow. Once your gi gets that damp smell, it’s almost impossible to get it out. Those extra few minutes of proper care will let your uniform recover.

Check Your Gi For Stains And Tears

Before you wash your gi, give it a check over to make sure everything is in good shape. If you notice any stains or areas that are discolored, lightly scrub the mark with a small amount of stain remover. Make sure you test any new stain removers on a part of the gi that is less visible to make sure that it won’t affect the color of the gi. Look out for rips that might need mending too.

Wash Your Gi In Cold Water

Air-drying is the first step to taking care of your gi, but if you want to keep your uniforms as fresh and clean as you can, you want to wash it as soon as possible. After you’ve checked the gi over, wash it in cold water with regular detergent. Not using hot water will prevent the gi from shrinking or fading.

Don’t Bleach Your Gi

This might seem like a good idea for keeping a white gi bright, but adding bleach could shorten the lifespan of your gi. If your gi is a cotton and polyester blend, the fabric could end looking more yellow than white, whereas a 100% cotton gi will be broken down much faster by bleach than by wear and tear.

I am owner of Habroksports. Habrok is the fastest growing Mma brand in the Usa. We take pride in introducing cutting edge technology to make our gear, keeping up with the trends with striking designs..