Dress for Success: Gaidama’s Guide to Your 2024 No-Gi Season

We’re no strangers to dressing athletes of all levels for the competition mats. With both the rapidly growing ADCC Open circuit and the IBJJF’s 2024 no-gi season in full swing, we checked in with some of Gaidama’s very own foxes on the best gear to buy for your next tournament run.

IBJJF

Key Tips to Know:

• Like its gi counterpart, the IBJJF no-gi scene requires all athletes to sign up by belt rank and weight class. You will be weighed in uniform on the same day you compete, typically within minutes of your first match, so choose your division wisely!

• Unlike the gi counterpart, IBJJF no-gi tournaments do not have a white belt division. Competitors must instead choose between blue, purple, brown, and black belt divisions.

How to Dress for Success for the IBJJF:

First thing’s first: IBJJF no-gi uniform requirements are arguably the most stringent you’ll find out of any of the major no-gi tournaments. IBJJF athletes entering no-gi tournament are required to wear their designated rank color, with no other colors present in the design except white or black. Competition shorts must hit at least mid-thigh, and stray no longer than the knee.

Luckily, Gaidama offers several IBJJF-friendly uniform options for our aspiring no-gi Grand Slam champions – and according to our athletes, they’re as fashionable as they are functional.

“I’ve worn different sets for each [of my IBJJF appearances], but have always loved the ranked gear, which always makes it easier to decide what to wear,” says Faye Lynn Cherrier. An active black belt competitor and two-time IBJJF No-Gi Pans champion, Cherrier favors practicality in her competition wear. “The perforated underarm material on the rashguard is great especially when you have multiple matches [because] it gives you more breathability,” she explains. “That’s always been one of the things I love the most about their rashguards!”

However, Cberrier also loves that she gets to look good while she competes – and who doesn’t fight a little better when they know their fit is on point? Cherrier’s case in point: “[Gaidama’s] no-gi board shorts are the perfect length for the IBJJF standard – and they look good on my short legs and cup my hips perfectly, so that’s a win!”

“I compete in the Avant Garde ranked set [with the] short sleeve rashguard and board shorts – the cut of the rashguard V-neckline and the tapered shorts are badass,” agrees fellow Gaidama athlete Beatrice Jin, who recently won gold at Jiu-Jitsu Con in her no-gi black belt debut. “The angles are simple, but unique and thoughtful. I always feel put together and sharp wearing the matching set, and of course proud to represent Gaidama!”

Gaidama co-owner Karla Shelhammer has also collected her fair share of IBJJF gold medals while dressed in fox gear. “I competed in our Avant Garde ranked set for the first time at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds 2023, so almost a year ago,” she remembers. “I personally appreciate minimalism when it comes to ranked gear and this ranked line is a very clean and sophisticated approach to the staple uniform.

“I was able to win my division last year and collect my first Master World Championship at black belt, so looking back at footage and wearing our gear fills me with joy.”

According to Shelhammer, the fox team has previously tried to get a little more creative with IBJJF-friendly prints on Gaidama rash guards – but those options proved occasionally dicey at more stringent uniform checks.

However, that’s not about to stop the foxes from continuing to innovate – even within the boundaries of IBJJF uniform requirements. “Our upcoming ranked set is going to be the best of both worlds and a catharsis of years of thinking outside the box – while we also aim to stay true to the traditional,” promises Shelhammer.

Meanwhile, shop our current much-beloved ranked gear and IBJJF-legal board shorts today!

ADCC

Key Tips to Know:

• Unlike those competing in the IBJJF, competitors entering an ADCC Open do not sign up by belt rank. Instead, you’ll be invited to select one of three levels: beginner, for white belts, or athletes with less than two years of training experience; intermediate, for blue and purple belts, or athletes with under four years of experience; and advanced, for brown and black belts, or athletes with five or more years of experience.

• Weigh-ins take place the night before competition day, so select your weight class – and if necessary, your weight cut plan – accordingly.

How to Dress for Success for the ADCC:

The ADCC scene, unlike IBJJF, offers athletes a very generous dress code. On an ADCC-branded mat, you’ll see every rashguard print and color under the sun – that is, for athletes who opt to wear a rashguard at all. Athletes in the past have opted for wrestling singlets, full bodysuits, or even no shirt at all (or in the women’s divisions, the sports bra only look).

Stuck on wardrobe choices for your first ADCC Open? Never fear. Who better to ask than a bona fide ADCC Trials champion? Team Gaidama made waves at ADCC Worlds 2024 by sending not just one, but two of our own foxes – both North American Trials winners – to the big stage in Vegas.

“I love the shade of pink they chose – it’s super cute!” East Coast Trials champion and newly minted ADCC veteran Mo Black has previously said of her signature black-and-pink G-Team set. She particularly loves her grappling shorts – which, she freely admits, converted her from a spats-only girl to an athlete who proudly and comfortably trains in board shorts.

Black also rocked a pink custom Gaidama rashguard on stage at ADCC Worlds – though remaining true to her spats-loving roots, she opted for a pair of Gaidama’s sleek black Avant Garde spats on fight day in Vegas.

Meanwhile, Black’s fellow fox, West Coast Trials champion Lyzz Mitrovic, leaned on an academic background in entomology – that’s the study of insects, folks! – to help design a custom Art Wear set specially made for competition day. Mitrovic’s ADCC Worlds outfit of choice features a stunning display of butterflies. According to the ADCC vet, who discussed her ADCC fashion choices in a previous interview, “Jiu-jitsu has helped metamorph me into a strong, powerful, confident woman! When I see these sets, they remind me that beauty and strength is waiting to be let out, so let them fly.”

Want to enter your local ADCC Open while channeling the energy of a Trials champ? Good news! Mo’s favorite black-and-pink rashguard, her game day Avant Garde spats, and Lyzz’s special butterfly rashguard and board shorts set are all currently in stock. Don’t miss the chance to grab one in your size!

If you’d rather go your own way, we completely understand – which is why we’ve also released several new eye-popping Art Wear designs as part of our no-gi collection. Express yourself with a Halloween-themed Wotto doodle just in time for spooky season, or channel your inner cyberpunk warrior with our official ADCC World Championship drop: the Cyber Fox in ADCC’s signature colors of red, white, and black. The choices are myriad.

Prefer to opt for simplicity? We got you. Shop our Avant Garde collection for simple pops of color like Midnight Blue or Electric Pink or even the original, ever-chic ninja suit black.

Whether you love loud patterns or sleek monochrome, bright colors or elegant neutrals, the foxes are here to ensure that you look, feel, and fight your best.

Stay tuned for more updates on the latest gear drops from Gaidama by following @gaidama.usa on Instagram.