[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":267},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-en-gi-vs-nogi-rules":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"description":251,"extension":252,"meta":253,"navigation":254,"path":255,"publishedAt":256,"seo":257,"stem":258,"tags":259,"updatedAt":265,"__hash__":266},"blog_en\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fgi-vs-nogi-rules.md","Gi vs No-Gi BJJ: How the Rules Differ","Grappling Rules",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":240},"minimark",[10,14,19,22,25,29,32,48,51,54,58,66,69,89,92,95,99,105,113,117,189,193,196,209,213,216,228,231],[11,12,13],"p",{},"One of the first choices a new BJJ competitor faces is whether to compete in Gi or No-Gi format — or both. While the positions and submissions are largely the same, the rules differ in important ways that affect strategy, allowed techniques, and the pace of the match.",[15,16,18],"h2",{"id":17},"what-is-the-gi","What Is the Gi?",[11,20,21],{},"In Gi BJJ, competitors wear a traditional uniform consisting of a jacket (kimono) and pants, cinched by a belt that indicates rank. The gi is made of heavy, woven cotton fabric designed to withstand gripping.",[11,23,24],{},"In No-Gi BJJ, competitors wear athletic shorts and a rash guard (fitted shirt). There is no uniform to grab.",[15,26,28],{"id":27},"how-the-gi-changes-the-game","How the Gi Changes the Game",[11,30,31],{},"The gi introduces a completely different grip dynamic. In Gi, you can grab:",[33,34,35,39,42,45],"ul",{},[36,37,38],"li",{},"The collar and lapel (enabling collar chokes and lapel guards)",[36,40,41],{},"The sleeves and wrists",[36,43,44],{},"The belt",[36,46,47],{},"The pants",[11,49,50],{},"This allows techniques that don't exist in No-Gi. Collar chokes like the cross collar choke, bow and arrow, and loop choke are Gi-only techniques. Lapel guards (like the Worm Guard or Squid Guard) use the lapel as a control tool.",[11,52,53],{},"Without these grips, No-Gi tends to be faster-paced and more reliant on body control, underhooks, and head positioning.",[15,55,57],{"id":56},"technique-differences-leg-locks","Technique Differences: Leg Locks",[11,59,60,61,65],{},"The most significant rule difference between Gi and No-Gi is in ",[62,63,64],"strong",{},"leg locks",", particularly at lower belt\u002Fexperience levels.",[11,67,68],{},"Most federations are more restrictive about leg locks in Gi:",[33,70,71,77,83],{},[36,72,73,76],{},[62,74,75],{},"Straight foot locks (ankle locks)",": Legal in both Gi and No-Gi at most levels",[36,78,79,82],{},[62,80,81],{},"Kneebars",": Typically allowed at higher belt levels in Gi; more often allowed earlier in No-Gi",[36,84,85,88],{},[62,86,87],{},"Heel hooks (inside and outside)",": Often restricted or banned in Gi until very high levels; commonly allowed in No-Gi advanced divisions",[11,90,91],{},"The logic behind stricter Gi restrictions is that the slower pace of Gi allows more time to apply dangerous techniques, so restrictions protect against injury. No-Gi's faster pace means higher-level technique control is expected earlier.",[11,93,94],{},"However, these rules vary by federation. Always check your specific federation's rules.",[15,96,98],{"id":97},"reaping-rules","Reaping Rules",[11,100,101,104],{},[62,102,103],{},"Leg reaping"," (having your leg cross the opponent's body in a specific way during leg lock attempts) is regulated differently in Gi vs No-Gi:",[33,106,107,110],{},[36,108,109],{},"Most federations ban reaping at all levels in Gi",[36,111,112],{},"Some federations allow reaping in No-Gi advanced divisions (ADCC, for instance, has no reaping restriction at advanced\u002Fprofessional level)",[15,114,116],{"id":115},"federation-format-coverage","Federation Format Coverage",[118,119,120,136],"table",{},[121,122,123],"thead",{},[124,125,126,130,133],"tr",{},[127,128,129],"th",{},"Federation",[127,131,132],{},"Gi",[127,134,135],{},"No-Gi",[137,138,139,150,159,170,180],"tbody",{},[124,140,141,145,148],{},[142,143,144],"td",{},"AJP",[142,146,147],{},"Yes",[142,149,147],{},[124,151,152,155,157],{},[142,153,154],{},"IBJJF",[142,156,147],{},[142,158,147],{},[124,160,161,164,167],{},[142,162,163],{},"ADCC",[142,165,166],{},"No",[142,168,169],{},"Yes (only No-Gi)",[124,171,172,175,177],{},[142,173,174],{},"AIGA",[142,176,166],{},[142,178,179],{},"Yes (submission wrestling)",[124,181,182,185,187],{},[142,183,184],{},"Grappling Industries",[142,186,147],{},[142,188,147],{},[15,190,192],{"id":191},"scoring-differences","Scoring Differences",[11,194,195],{},"The core scoring positions (takedown, sweep, guard pass, mount, back control) are the same across Gi and No-Gi within a given federation. However, some techniques like pulling guard are incentivized or penalized differently:",[33,197,198,203],{},[36,199,200,202],{},[62,201,163],{},": Guard pulling results in a -1 point penalty, pushing athletes toward standing engagement (No-Gi only)",[36,204,205,208],{},[62,206,207],{},"IBJJF\u002FAJP",": Guard pulling is neutral — no penalty in Gi or No-Gi",[15,210,212],{"id":211},"which-should-you-compete-in","Which Should You Compete In?",[11,214,215],{},"Competing in both formats improves your overall grappling. But if you must choose:",[33,217,218,223],{},[36,219,220,222],{},[62,221,132],{}," tends to be more technical and slow-paced; collar chokes and grip-based submissions are central",[36,224,225,227],{},[62,226,135],{}," is typically faster-paced; leg locks and wrestling-based takedowns become more important",[11,229,230],{},"Many elite BJJ competitors now specialize in No-Gi as the submission wrestling and MMA markets have grown. But Gi competition remains the traditional and largest branch of BJJ.",[11,232,233,234,239],{},"Check the ",[235,236,238],"a",{"href":237},"\u002Frules\u002Fajp","rules reference"," on this site for your federation, format, and belt level to see the exact technique permissions.",{"title":241,"searchDepth":242,"depth":242,"links":243},"",2,[244,245,246,247,248,249,250],{"id":17,"depth":242,"text":18},{"id":27,"depth":242,"text":28},{"id":56,"depth":242,"text":57},{"id":97,"depth":242,"text":98},{"id":115,"depth":242,"text":116},{"id":191,"depth":242,"text":192},{"id":211,"depth":242,"text":212},"A clear comparison of Gi and No-Gi BJJ rules — grips, allowed techniques, leg lock differences, and which federations run which formats.","md",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fgi-vs-nogi-rules","2026-05-15",{"title":5,"description":251},"en\u002Fblog\u002Fgi-vs-nogi-rules",[260,261,262,263,264],"gi","no-gi","bjj-rules","leg-locks","format",null,"AplyFdKpaMp5MICI4UK-jhWnxk2XwVpuDAnrm2JLbGw",1783800460369]