3 Tips Away From Not Being THAT Guy!
As a newer white belt in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu there is so much to learn it can be over overwhelming. But with all the cool submissions, sweeps, and takedowns you are going to learn one of the most important things a new person training BJJ can learn is proper maintenance of their training gis. Below are 3 quick tips to make sure you are staying clean and not being the smelly person in the gym!
Investing in more than just one Gi for training!
If you are planning on training BJJ multiple times a week an investment in a 2nd gi is a necessity! A typical gi will take about 24 hours to air dry. This sometimes will deter members from wanting to wash their gi because they plan to train the next day. Having a 2nd gi will allow for proper rotations of your gis so you always have a clean, fresh gi on.
When washing use cold water and let air dry!
One of the worst feelings is spending money on that new gi that fits perfectly and after one wash it shrinks to the point where it would be impossible to train in. When washing your gi always ensure you are using cold water and normal detergent. After washing it is very important to air dry your gi, Even if the gi tag says “Pre-Shrunk” it still should not go in the dryer. Hang it up on a hanger or a line for best results.
Always air dry your gi after training in it! If you have ever left your gi in your gym bag after a hard practice you know how bad the smell is the next day. This dark, moist environment from your sweaty gi in the gym bag causes bacterial growth which creates a terrible smell that stays ever after the gi is washed a few times. Avoid ruining your favorite training gi by air drying it after practice every time.
From one BJJ newbie to another, I hope I saved you some stinky embarrassment!
