Wear clean athletic clothes without pockets, zippers, or jewelry unless the gym provides a loaner gi.
Simple first-class clothing
Your goal is to wear something clean, secure, and safe for close-contact training.
For no-gi, a fitted athletic shirt or rash guard with compression shorts, leggings, or pocket-free training shorts usually works well. For gi class, ask whether the academy has loaners before buying one.
Avoid anything with hard plastic, metal, zippers, or open pockets. Those can catch fingers, scratch partners, or tear during grappling.
Hygiene and safety checklist
- Trim fingernails and toenails
- Remove jewelry, watches, and piercings when possible
- Wear clean clothes and bring a towel if needed
- Use sandals off the mat and bare feet on the mat
- Tell the coach about injuries before class starts
Call the gym before you go
Uniform expectations
Some gyms are relaxed for trial classes, while others require a white gi, rash guard, or academy uniform.
Class format
Knowing whether the class is gi, no-gi, beginner-focused, or mixed level helps you pack the right gear and set expectations.
Key Takeaways
- Clean, fitted athletic clothing is usually enough for a first no-gi class.
- Ask the academy whether a loaner gi is available.
- Remove jewelry and avoid clothes with pockets, zippers, or hard parts.
Further Study
Should beginners start with gi or no-gi?
How to choose your first training format.
Closed Guard
A common position beginners encounter early.
Framing
A first-week survival concept for creating safe space.
