The IBJJF has strict requirements for both Gi and No-Gi competition attire, as well as hygiene standards that must be met before competing. These requirements are detailed in Article 8 — Obligations, Bans, and Demands of the Rules Book.

Gi Requirements (Article 8.1)

Material and Color

• Gis should be tailored using cotton or cotton-like fabric. The fabric should not be so thick or hard as to impede an opponent from gripping it (8.1.1)
• For juvenile, adult, and master divisions, a Gi fashioned from woven fabric (pearl weave) is mandatory (8.1.1)
• It is permitted to wear a kimono with EVA or similar material inside the collar, if the measures of size and rigidity regulations are followed (8.1.2)
• The Gi should be completely white, royal blue, or black. No Gi’s will be accepted with different colored jackets or pants, nor with different colored collars (8.1.3)
• It is not allowed for athletes to wear shirts beneath their Gi, except for females (see 8.1.4) (8.1.3)
• In female divisions, it is mandatory to use a stretchy or elastic shirt that hugs the body beneath the Gi. It can be short or long sleeved, without the necessity to follow the color requirements. One piece swim garments (bathing suit) or gymnastics tops are also permitted (8.1.4)
• Painted gis are forbidden, unless the paint is designed in the form of an academy or sponsor logo, and only on authorized regions where patches are permitted. Even in cases where they are permitted, the athlete will be obliged to change gis should the paint mark the Gi of the opponent (8.1.10)
• In the adult black belt divisions (mens and womens), the event’s organizers may demand that athletes have two gis of different colors (one royal blue and the other white) in order to distinguish between the two athletes in a match (8.1.5)
• Gis may not exhibit mending or tears, be wet or dirty, or emanate unpleasant odors (8.1.6)

Measurements

For male divisions, wearing pants of any kind under the Gi pants is prohibited. For female divisions, elastic fabric pants (that cling to the body) are permitted under the Gi pants, as long as they are shorter than the Gi pants (8.1.8).

Gi Inspection

• Prior to weighing in, the inspector will verify that uniform specifications meet regulations (8.1.11)
• At final inspection, measurements will be checked including: length of sleeves and pant legs, collar thickness (max 1.3 cm), collar width (max 5 cm), sleeve slack (max 7 cm) (8.1.11)
• Every athlete is entitled to 3 uniform inspections for approval (8.1.11)
• After weighing in, athletes may not change their gis for their first match, under penalty of disqualification (8.1.13)
• Following the first match, athletes may request the Ring Coordinator’s permission to change gis. The new Gi will undergo a new measurement inspection (8.1.14)

Belt Requirements (Article 8.1.9)

• 4 to 5 cm wide, durable, colored according to the athlete’s rank
• Black tip for all belts, except for black belts which have a white or red tip
• Must be worn over the top, wrapping the waist twice
• Tied using a double knot tight enough to hold the Gi top closed
• Once tied in a double knot, each end of the belt should hang 20 to 30 cm in length

No-Gi Attire (Article 8.1.16)

Shirts and Rash Guards

Both genders must wear a shirt of elastic material (skin tight) long enough to cover the torso all the way to the waistband of the shorts. Permitted colors:

• Black, white, or black and white
• Must include at least 10% of the rank (belt) color to which the athlete belongs
• Shirts 100% the rank color (belt color) are also permitted

Note: For black belts a small red area will be tolerated, but must not decharacterize the athlete’s rank color.

Shorts for Men

• Board shorts colored black, white, black and white, and/or the color of the rank (belt) to which the athlete belongs
• No pockets (or with pockets stitched completely shut)
• No buttons, no exposed drawstrings, no zippers or any form of plastic or metal that could present a risk to the opponent
• Must be long enough to cover at least halfway down the thigh (no more than 15 cm from the knee), and no longer than the knee
• Compression shorts (skin tight) are also permitted worn beneath the shorts, in the colors black, white, black and white, and/or the rank color

Shorts, Compression Shorts, and Pants for Women

• Shorts, compression pants (skin-tight spats), and/or compression shorts are permitted
• Colors: black, white, black and white, and/or the color of the rank (belt) to which the athlete belongs
• The shorts must not have pockets or have the pockets stitched completely shut
• Must not have buttons, zippers, or any kind of plastic or metal that could present a risk
• Shorts must be long enough to cover halfway down the thigh (no more than 15 cm from the knee) and no longer than the knee

Hygiene Requirements (Article 8.2)

• Athletes’ finger and toenails should be trimmed and short (8.2.1)
• Long hair should be tied up so as not to cause opponents any discomfort (8.2.2)
• An athlete will be disqualified if they are wearing hair dye or makeup that stains their opponent’s gi during a match (8.2.3)
• Athletes should use footwear up to the match area and wherever their use is permitted (8.2.4)
• Following weigh-in, the Gi Inspector should check athletes for any skin conditions (8.2.5)
  • Athletes presenting skin lesions will be directed to the event’s medical area
  • Athletes should present a statement from a doctor declaring the lesion not contagious and not harmful to other competitors
  • The tournament medic has the final say on whether to allow an athlete to compete

Prohibited Items (Article 8.3)

• Use of any foot gear, headgear, hair pins, jewelry, cups (genital protectors), or any other protector fashioned of hard material that may cause harm to an opponent or the athlete is forbidden (8.3.7)
• Also forbidden is the use of eye protectors, even if they are made for sports practices (8.3.7)
• Joint protectors (knee braces, elbow braces, etc.) that increase body volume to the point of making it harder for an opponent to grip the Gi are forbidden (8.3.9)
• Athletes are allowed to weigh in without knee or elbow braces, but they will have to be wearing them at the time of the Gi inspection (8.3.2)
• Undergarments (brief-type) are mandatory for all competitions, regardless if it is a Gi or No-Gi event. Failure to adhere is a foul per 6.2.3(E) (8.3.10)

Head Covers (Article 8.3.8)

In female divisions, the athlete will be permitted to cover their heads. The Head Cover must follow these requirements:

• Must be fixed and made with elastic fabric (or have elastics at the borders)
• Be made without any kind of plastic or hard materials
• No strings of any kind
• Clear of any inscription or logo
• Must be totally black, white, black and white, and/or the color of the rank (belt) to which the athlete belongs
• A single-piece head cover similar to a wet suit head cover is also permitted, which should cover the neck, ears, and completely cover the hair

Patches and Text (Articles 8.3.4-8.3.6)

• Patches and embroiders can only be affixed in authorized regions of the gi (as depicted in the official illustrations)
• They should be of cotton fabric and properly seamed
• All patches unseamed or in unauthorized regions will be removed by the Gi inspectors
• No patches or text related to political ideologies, phrases, symbols or slogans found offensive to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, or religion (8.3.5)
• No patches or text promoting violence, vandalism, sexual acts, drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco (8.3.5)
• A Gi brand tag is permitted in the front lower part of the pants, made of thin fabric (not embroidered), at most 36 cm² (8.3.6)

Source: IBJJF Rules Book, June 2024 edition, Article 8.