BJJ GI Pants: Ripstop or Cotton?

Ripstop or Cotton? Many practitioners ask this question.

Here are all the detail:

COTTON 

The most traditional material for gi pants, and also for all kinds of martial arts kimonos is cotton. When it comes to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi market there are two different cotton fabrics, and they are called twill and duck. Similarly to gi jackets, the two materials differentiate in the waves. Duck (also called “canvas”) has standard square basket waves, while Twill  takes shape of a diagonal wave. When it comes to 100% cotton material it is crucial to know how to wash and dry them, as they will shrink then the heat is applied.

RIPSTOP

Ripstop was created as a substitute for silk in world war 2, at the same time when it also became the main material for military uniforms and gear, but also for sports equipment and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uniforms. The Jiu-Jitsu gi, which is made from ripstop, is usually made from a polyester and cotton blend with stronger reinforcement fibers woven in a cross-hatch pattern throughout. Some of the reasons why Jiu-Jitsu players prefer ripstop is because it shrinks less, or does not shrink at all, depending on ration of polyester in the fabric. Fibers used include cotton, silk, polyester, and polypropylene, with nylon content limited to the crosshatched threads that make it tear-resistant.

The Verdict?

When it comes to choosing your gi pants, the only good advice is to try both of them and make a choice depending on what is more important for you. Cotton will give you some stretch, especially when wet (don’t worry, your sweat will be enough). This is the reason why so many players prefer cotton, as it gives them an unrestricted range of motion. On the other hand, Ripstop is much stiffer than cotton and does not stretch, however, the reason why many Jiu-Jitsu player choose it is because it is much harder to grip.

There is no way to know which gi pants will feel right during the fight so it is best to try them both and find your favorite for yourself.