New students ask this every week. The short answer is that it does not matter much, because you should eventually train both. Here is the longer answer.
Gi Jiu-Jitsu is trained in the traditional uniform. You can grip the fabric, which slows the game down and creates hundreds of extra grips, chokes, and controls. It is technical, methodical, and forgiving of beginners because the pace is lower.
Ready to try a class? Your first one is free.
No-gi is trained in a rash guard and shorts. No fabric grips, so the game is faster and relies more on body control, wrestling, and underhooks. It is closer to MMA and to what happens in a real situation where nobody is wearing a jacket.
If you want self-defense or MMA, start no-gi. If you want to build precise technique and a deep understanding of position, start gi. If you are not sure, come to whichever class fits your schedule. At Soda City we run both every week, and most of our members train both.
Soda City Combat Club
Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, and MMA for families, beginners, and fighters in the Columbia Midlands.
