The BJJ Rash Guard became the symbol of no gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. And for a good reason. When I first started BJJ, I came to practice wearing a regular gym shirt or a compression shirt. Nothing wrong with that. It’s okay to do that at the beginning. But if you wanna stick around, you should consider getting yourself some rash guards.
Here’s why:
1. No Mat Burns
If you’ve ever gotten a mat burn, you know how much it hurts. Wearing a BJJ rash guard protects your skin. It will have less friction on the mat, saving you from painful burns. Especially when you go to Jiu-Jitsu multiple times a week and roll a lot, your Gym shirts are not gonna protect your skin enough.
2. No More Sweaty Gym Shirts
Sweating is a given in Jiu-Jitsu. I’ve never sweated as much as during Jiu-Jitsu practice. My gym shirts used to be soaked in sweat after practice. And I’m sure it wasn’t fun for my training partner either to have my sweat all over them. High-quality BJJ rash guards are sweat-resistant, keeping you dry. That’s also good for grip. If you and your rolling partner are full of sweat, you cannot grab each other anymore, and nothing works. Rash guards help with grip.
3. You’ll Look Cool
Let’s be real. While functionality is important, rash guards just look amazing. Rash guards come in amazing designs and forms. I must confess that I care a bit more about rash guard designs nowadays than my regular clothes.
4. Injury Prevention
This one is huge. Jiu-Jitsu is a dangerous sport. Many injuries happen here. Have you ever had a toe or finger caught in a loose t-shirt while rolling? Trust me, it’s not fun. Rash guards fit tight, so this doesn’t happen.
5. Better Hygiene
Staph infection is not fun. The mats are full of gems. Rash guards, especially long-sleeve rash guards, reduce the risk of you getting infected. Wearing a rash guard can keep you cleaner. It creates a barrier between your skin and any germs or bacteria on the mats.
Final Words On Wearing A Rash Guard
I love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ helped me to get in shape, it calmed my anxiety and all because of the amazing effects of wearing a BJJ rash guard. Just kidding… No but seriously, you need to look out for the best BJJ rash guards on the market to provide you with everything you need for your rolling sessions! I know they are expensive, but you can also get some cheaper ones initially. In the first month or two, you can go with your compression shirts, but after a while, it’d be wise to wear rash guards. You don’t need to wear one every practice, but especially for open mats or on training sessions where you know you gonna roll a lot, bring your rash guards.
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