How No‑Gi Skills Take Your Gi Training to the Next Level (And Vice Versa)

You Don’t Have to Choose, You Just Have to Train Smart

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, one of the longest-running debates is: gi or no‑gi?

At Movement Art, the answer is simple: both.

While every grappler may have a personal preference, the reality is that training both styles accelerates your growth, deepens your understanding of key concepts, and helps you develop a truly well-rounded game. Gi and no‑gi are different environments—but the skills they build reinforce each other in powerful ways.

What No‑Gi Training Does for Your Gi Game

Training without the gi sharpens attributes that are often under-emphasized when grips are involved. Here's how no‑gi makes your gi better:

1. Improved Body Control and Pressure
Without sleeves, collars, and pant grips, you’re forced to rely on frames, weight distribution, and control points. This translates directly into better top pressure and movement efficiency when you put the gi back on.

2. Faster Transitions and Reactions
No‑gi forces you to think and move quicker. You can't stall or slow down with lapel grips, so transitions and scrambles are more dynamic. That speed carries over when you return to gi training.

3. Better Use of Underhooks, Overhooks, and Wrist Control
No‑gi grapplers develop a strong sense of upper body control that becomes a deadly addition to any gi player’s toolkit—especially in grip-fighting and passing scenarios.

What Gi Training Does for Your No‑Gi Game

Training in the gi teaches precision, patience, and technical depth. Here's how it improves your no‑gi:

1. Grip Fighting Discipline
Gi grappling teaches you how to fight for grips deliberately and control positions before advancing. This builds patience and improves your ability to control wrists, ankles, and hips in no‑gi scenarios.

2. Positional Understanding
Because everything slows down just a bit in the gi, you're forced to master positioning and strategy rather than just reacting. This deeper awareness makes you more composed under pressure in no‑gi.

3. Defense That Scales Across Styles
Escapes, guard retention, and frames are more difficult in the gi—because you’re being held down more. That difficulty sharpens your fundamentals and makes no‑gi escapes feel easier by comparison.

What It Looks Like at Movement Art

At Movement Art, we don’t silo gi and no‑gi, we blend the best of both. That means:

• Gi classes that include no‑gi concepts like leg entanglements and wrestling transitions

• No‑gi classes informed by the positional discipline developed in gi

• Instructors who actively train and compete in both

• Students who are encouraged to explore both styles, regardless of their starting preference

You don’t need to specialize too early. You just need to keep showing up—and we’ll help you connect the dots.

Final Thoughts: Learn Both, Learn Faster

If you’re looking to improve faster and develop a complete grappling game, the smartest thing you can do is train both gi and no‑gi.

Each style pushes you to adapt, refine, and discover new strengths.

Ready to try a class?
We offer both gi and no‑gi options every week, and your first class is free.