Why is no-gi BJJ so much easier for me than Gi?

[Evenflow80]

When I first started over 2 years ago all I would hear was how much harder no-gi BJJ is, but to me its the complete opposite. No-Gi is so much more relaxing, less taxing, and its so much easier to move around than in the gi.

Anyone else feel the same way? Or do I just think that because my conditioning isn't that great and the extra weight, friction, heat, and grip fighting in the gi just makes it so much harder for me?

 

[Judoka1532]

When I first started over 2 years ago all I would hear was how much harder no-gi BJJ is, but to me its the complete opposite. No-Gi is so much more relaxing, less taxing, and its so much easier to move around than in the gi.

Anyone else feel the same way? Or do I just think that because my conditioning isn't that great and the extra weight, friction, heat, and grip fighting in the gi just makes it so much harder for me?

I think I agree. There's pros and cons but having a gi on makes you have to defend a lot of other submissions. Once you get caught with a gi-choke it's hell to get out of. At least in no-gi you have a chance of getting out of a choke.

And another problem I have with gi's is sometimes when drilling gi-specific techniques I feel it's less useful in real-life self-defense. I'm sure you can use it if somebody has on proper clothing, but for the most part idk

 

[AnotherOldGuy]

Couldn't say for BJJ, but when comparing judo and wrestling, wrestling primarily rewards agility and speed, judo rewards strength (not that both don't reward all to some extent). The reason for this is that a gi gives amazing handles for applying strength and slowing down your opponent, which a slower but stronger guy can use to lock down his opponent. And yes I know this goes against what people like to say, but anyone who has both wrestled and done judo at a national/international level will tell you the same thing.

The point being, if you're getting more tired in gi work than in no-gi, the chances are you're using the grips provided by the gi to control your opponent rather than using your body position to do so (in no-gi you have no choice but to use position as the grips aren't nearly as solid).

Note I'm not saying that no-gi is more technical than gi (its not), just that its easier to use strength instead of technique in gi work. Good gi competitors (in judo and BJJ) don't rely on the grips to strength-control their opponent. But beginners and intermediate level tend to do so, often without realizing it.

 

[AnotherOldGuy]

And another problem I have with gi's is sometimes when drilling gi-specific techniques I feel it's less useful in real-life self-defense. I'm sure you can use it if somebody has on proper clothing, but for the most part idk

That's true or not true depending upon where you live. In cooler (let alone cold) climates people wear heavy shirts or jackets most of the year, and gi techniques are very applicable. Take a look at what people wear where you live; that'll give a good indication if gi or no-gi techniques are most efficient. If jackets are being worn, gi techniques are considerably more efficient. If not, then no-gi techniques are far more efficient.

 

[Judoka1532]

That's true or not true depending upon where you live. In cooler (let alone cold) climates people wear heavy shirts or jackets most of the year, and gi techniques are very applicable. Take a look at what people wear where you live; that'll give a good indication if gi or no-gi techniques are most efficient. If jackets are being worn, gi techniques are considerably more efficient. If not, then no-gi techniques are far more efficient.

I live in GA. It's cold for about 3 months here but even in winter there are plenty of mild days. But you do have a good point.

 

[trustdoesntrust]

When I first started over 2 years ago all I would hear was how much harder no-gi BJJ is, but to me its the complete opposite. No-Gi is so much more relaxing, less taxing, and its so much easier to move around than in the gi.

Anyone else feel the same way? Or do I just think that because my conditioning isn't that great and the extra weight, friction, heat, and grip fighting in the gi just makes it so much harder for me?

I think you have your conventional wisdom backwards. Pretty much everybody would agree that the gi is much harder than no-gi. Many gi-only people will have trouble dealing with the faster transitions and lack of grips in no-gi, but the adjustment is significantly easier than a no-gi guy transitioning to gi for the first time.

 

[WarriorMonk7]

No-gi always works.

 

[beat...people...up?]

Same same. I just feel so constricted in the gi itself that I don't move as well. I like how easy chokes are with a collar, though. Or even a sleeve. I have never managed a nogi Ezekiel choke.

 

[Evenflow80]

That's true or not true depending upon where you live. In cooler (let alone cold) climates people wear heavy shirts or jackets most of the year, and gi techniques are very applicable. Take a look at what people wear where you live; that'll give a good indication if gi or no-gi techniques are most efficient. If jackets are being worn, gi techniques are considerably more efficient. If not, then no-gi techniques are far more efficient.

..... I live in San Diego where it's permanently locked to exactly 72 degrees and always damn sunny

 

[Evenflow80]

Same same. I just feel so constricted in the gi itself that I don't move as well. I like how easy chokes are with a collar, though. Or even a sleeve. I have never managed a nogi Ezekiel choke.

I suck with collar chokes so maybe that's why I don't worry too much about not having them in no gi.

 

[AnotherOldGuy]

..... I live in San Diego where it's permanently locked to exactly 72 degrees and always damn sunny

I'm envious. I'm in Canada, people wear jackets most of the year up here (hard to imagine fighting at -40 with just a t-shirt).

 

[Evenflow80]

I'm envious. I'm in Canada, people wear jackets most of the year up here (hard to imagine fighting at -40 with just a t-shirt).

Honestly.... sometimes it's nice to get a little variety. Like when it hits 60 degrees here and we have to put on a light jacket I get excited

 

[nefti]

Both are good for your jiu jitsu. No gi is tough on your neck though

 

[Dogstarman]

No gi is fun. I like doing it. I haven’t done it in a while due to my schedule but it’s easier on the hand due to gripping and it’s easier to move around.

 

[Solidus Snake]

I noticed I'm waking up in the morning way less devastated when I do nogi. I used to think the opposite to be true as in the last years nogi was pretty rare to me and in the past I always felt it more brutal than now for some reason, but since this season I often do like 2 times nogi and 1 gi per week I'm appreciating a big difference. Must be all the friction and the grips..

 

[landondev]

grips

 

[mataleaos]

Both are good for your jiu jitsu. No gi is tough on your neck though

I think it's more uncomfortable on the neck because so much more of the common subs involve compressing your neck with all the guillotines, brabos, various neckties, or some RNC variations. And a lot of these are just digging into the neck muscles but not really twisted the head. But I find the gi bothers my spine more than no-gi does because someone can get me in a leg drag or leg weave and literally have my hips and head facing opposite directions while using my clothing to force my body in that position for extended periods of time. Or use the clothing to hold me in stack passes up on my neck. My neck muscles are usually more sore after no-gi but my actual spine feels more aggravated after gi.

@Solidus Snake maybe this is what you're feeling too?

 

[mataleaos]

I noticed I'm waking up in the morning way less devastated when I do nogi. I used to think the opposite to be true as in the last years nogi was pretty rare to me and in the past I always felt it more brutal than now for some reason, but since this season I often do like 2 times nogi and 1 gi per week I'm appreciating a big difference. Must be all the friction and the grips..

Yep. Same here.

No-gi wears me out a little bit more cardio wise and I eat a few more stray elbows and knees but that's it. I think there are some situations and scrambles in the gi that we take for granted and maybe don't notice how our gi grips are preventing us from getting popped with elbows or knees here and there. Without the gi when those grips aren't there I've noticed even experienced grapplers tend to accidentally hit me a little bit more. Not a huge deal. I'd rather have a shiner or some bruises on the head every now and then have my ribs and spine all jacked up.

And maybe it's because I started no-gi before I ever did gi and I love to move around and scramble a lot but I usually get less tired moving around than I do playing a sort of slow and progressive game where I move up the chain of positions and holding the gi grips to "cook" the other person. That wears me out way faster than moving more freely without the gi.

Also with no-gi there's very little wear and tear and hands and fingers. A big danger in no-gi is trying to stay on the feet in wrestling scrambles if you aren't well versed in that and the floor is slippery. I've had some close calls with my feet sliding out from under me when my legs were in precarious positions. If I feel like I'm going to fall I usually just try to go ahead and take my feet out from under me so I don't get my legs caught under my weight on the way down.

 

[BADBOYKILLA]

Gi will make your bjj game better all around I started training no gi and wrestling years ago and after training gi for a year or so it just makes you better. In a real life situation you will grab for the collar or sleeves instinctively you won' t even have to think about it.

 

[tekkenfan]

beginners and bigger guys prefer no gi due to there speed on bottom they rpefer gi to hold into dear life depends on what you like to do