The Great Uniform Debate

Lately, I’ve been noticing more academies moving towards a uniform policy where students are required to wear an academy specific gi that can only be purchased through the academy. While there are affiliations who have long institutionalized the requirement, I think a lot, if not the majority of the BJJ community, does not adhere to this rule.

Now that I’ve switched to an academy/affiliation with a uniform requirement, I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place because while I understand the pro of having everyone wear the same gi, the con also weighs heavily on me…

CON: Lack of freedom of choice. When I started BJJ, I went through 3 kimono companies before I found the one with the perfect fit for my body type – as I would often find myself in the uncomfortable zone between the kids and adults sizes. Now that I found the perfect fitting gi, I am now required to wear another brand with standard sizes. Again I feel like Goldilocks trying to find the perfect fitting gi in this required brand. I now either have to wear the largest kids size with a slimmer fitting top or the smallest adult size, which would make me look like I’m wearing a fat suit even after I’ve tried to shrink it.

PRO: Uniformity creates a sense of team/family. On the flipside, I must admit, seeing 25-50 people in class wearing the same gi looks pretty cool and when visiting other academies of the same affiliation, it helps distinguish that you are part of the same team so that people don’t try to kill you because they think you’re a visitor and they have to “protect their house” so to speak.

From a business perspective, a uniform requirement is a quick and easy way to make money. It is also good for students who are brand new to BJJ because they don't need to go out of their way to buy (and wait for) a new gi elsewhere. But at the same time, it can also turn away potential students who do not want to conform to the requirement - which are students who already have training experience and their own gi.

Most people don’t agree with uniform requirements not because they don’t want to represent their academy, but because not all gis fit the same and not everyone can afford the price point of the required gi - especially if they have a few gis in their training rotation already. The biggest complaint that I’ve heard from others who have this requirement is that the gi doesn’t fit them the right way like another brand does.

I am still on the fence about this new requirement for me. While I feel very strongly for my team/family, I am still hesitant wearing the required gi because it just does not fit me right. And also, I have a heavy rotation of other gis that fit me perfectly that I would have no problem patching up to train in. But at the end of the day, I found a team that I am proud to be on so I’ll do what I have to do to conform to the rules… and wait for those special occasions to wear my much more comfortable and functional gis.

What are your thoughts on mandatory uniform requirements?