Picture this: you’ve just gotten the most beautiful manicure done, but the minute you hit the mats, your nails start chipping. Worse yet, they’re scratching up your teammates whenever you grip fight, so your coach kindly but firmly tells you it’s time for a trim. After all, your new manicure may be pretty (or at least, it was before your nail polish started chipping all over the mat!), but those claws are never going to pass the IBJJF nail inspection before you compete at your next major.
These are all reasonable concerns, and you totally get it. Still, you can’t help but feel a little dejected — you’d love a way to rock beautiful nail art on the mats without endangering your training partners’ skin or destroying the paint job after one rough roll.
Meet our Resident BJJ Nails Expert: Kate “Miracle” Lo
To solve this conundrum, we’ve turned to resident Gaidama athlete and unofficial nail art expert Kate “Miracle” Lo, who’s known for rocking an array of colorful nails while cruising her way to multiple podium finishes on both the ADCC and IBJJF mats.
Kate, who typically gets her nails done about a week out from competition, uses builder gel as her secret weapon. Builder gel amps up nail durability and protects fresh manicures from the wear and tear of regular jiu-jitsu training.
As a longtime lover of artful nails, Kate speaks from a wealth of personal experience. “I have done dip, regular gel, acrylic, ectetera, but what works for me is builder gel. It’s thinner than the other options, doesn’t peel or break off,” she explains. “As my nails grow out, I always file them down no matter what gel i have on them, and it helps prevent chipping before my next appointment!”
However, her number one piece of advice is to try a few options, and figure out what works best for your own nails. After all, Kate herself experimented with multiple options before landing on builder gel as a choice.
IBJJF Nail Rules
When you enter an IBJJF tournament, your fingernails and toenails will typically be inspected by IBJJF officials during your uniform check. To pass inspection, all nails must be cut short, and cannot be sharpened (i.e. no aesthetically pointy claw nails allowed!) or otherwise contain any sharp edges — so make sure you file down any abrasive edges.
Ask Kate: How to Match Your Manicure to IBJJF Nail Rules
Accordingly, when it comes to the ideal nail shape for practicing jiu-jitsu, Kate has two words for us: short and round! While initially a fan of longer cuticles, keeping them short and round — while still colorful and beautifully shaped — allows Kate to continue enjoying nail art without worrying about scratching up her training partners or failing an IBJJF nail check on tournament day.
“Nails are still so cute when they are short and nicely shaped,” she assures us. “I have never failed a IBJJF nail check, and my nails are always cute.” In other words, as long as we keep an eye on nail length and shape, we can have our cake and eat it too, at least when it comes to mani-pedi day at the salon.
Benefits of Embracing BJJ Nail Art
For Kate, vibrant nail art has been the perfect vehicle for expressing her self-proclaimed “girly girl” side in a male dominated, full-contact combat sport.
“I try my best to ‘theme’ my nails to the competition I’m doing or something festive for the season,” says Kate. It’s a ritual that helps her get into the right head space to perform on the mats while expressing herself aesthetically.
“I recently did an all purple set to match with my purple bet debut!” she shares. “I also match to location; earlier this year we went to New York, so I did a New York set and absolutely loved it!”
For Kate, manicure day is a longtime family affair — her mother loves getting her nails done as well — so she’s been visiting various nail salons from a young age.
“I actually have a cousin that does my nails!” she adds. “She is so amazing and all my sets are done by her.”
While some may prefer a DIY job at home for their nails, Kate’s a big fan of a good professional nail tech. Before her cousin got into the mani-pedi business, Kate visited multiple salons in search of a tech she vibed with.
Despite her love for all things girly and her passion for nail art, Kate briefly took a break from visiting the manicurist when she first started her jiu-jitsu journey. “I did stop doing my nails when I started jiu-jitsu because I felt like it wouldn’t be as ‘cute’ if they were short,” she confides.
However, she missed her colorful nails, and soon came to appreciate a new, jiu-jitsu-friendly shape for them. “About three years ago i started getting them done again, and absolutely fell in love with the cute short nails! It has definitely helped me express my ‘girly girl’ side on the mats.”
For other “girly girls” out there tearing it up the mats — but uncertain how to rock the perfect mani-pedi combination while taking home limbs and necks — let Kate’s experience serve as a lesson: loving our sport doesn’t mean you have to give up your manicure routine. Keep them short, keep them round, and consider investing in a good builder gel with your favorite nail tech — and watch the magic happen both on your fingernails and on the mats. Your training partners — and the IBJJF nail check guy — will thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the official IBJJF nail check rules?
According to the IBJJF rules, nails must be inspected by officials during uniform check, in order to ensure the following:
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Fully trimmed fingernails AND toenails — don’t forget to check your feet too!
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No sharp edges to any nails on fingers or toes; consider investing in a good nail file if you don’t have one already.
Failure to pass a nail check can result in disqualification from the tournament. While some IBJJF opens have been known to supply competitors with nail clippers, it’s best not to risk the DQ!
Bonus advice: want to make sure you pass the rest of your IBJJF uniform check with flying colors? Consider investing in Gaidama’s famous athlete favorite IBJJF uniform compliant ranked sets.
How long before a tournament should I get my nails done if I want them looking perfect for the day of my match?
Kate typically visits the nail salon about one week out from a given tournament.
What’s the best way to keep my new manicure intact on the mats?
According to Kate, builder gel is the best way to avoid peeling or breakage. However, everyone’s nails are different, and she recommends experimenting with what works best for your own nails. Other options she’s previously experimented with include dip, regular gel, and acrylic nails.
Help! How do I keep my short, round, IBJJF-friendly nails from looking boring?
Short round nails can still be beautiful, eye catching, and on theme for jiu-jitsu! Consider painting yours to match your favorite no-gi set, your belt rank, or even the official colors of the state or country where your next tournament is taking place.
Why should I even bother getting my nails done for BJJ?
It’s certainly not a requirement, but for many women, including several accomplished Gaidama athletes, rocking fun colorful nails is a great way to express their personalities on the mat. For Kate, for example, it helps her keep in touch with her “girly girl” side in an otherwise male-dominated sport. For others, it’s a comforting self-care ritual during that gives them a break from the stress of fight camp.
Whether you prefer your nails plain, clean, and au natural, or love the option of vibrant colors and patterns, your nails — just like other accessories like BJJ ranked hair ties and cute gi patches — are simply another vehicle for telling the world who you are when you hit the mat.
