Quick answer: IBJJF gi requirements for 2026 come down to three legal colors and three inspection measurements. Your gi must be entirely white, royal blue, or black — matching top, pants, and collar — made of woven cotton or cotton-like fabric. At gi inspection, officials check a 1.3 cm maximum lapel thickness, a 5 cm maximum collar width, and a 7 cm minimum sleeve opening, with sleeves reaching to within 2 cm of your wrist (arm extended) and pants no more than 2 cm above the ankle bone. The belt must be 4 to 5 cm wide in your rank color and hang 20 to 30 cm at each end after a double knot. Men may not wear anything under the gi top; women must wear a fitted shirt under it. Fail any of these and the inspector sends you to change before you compete — so check your gi against the chart below before tournament day.
Last updated: July 18, 2026. This guide covers the official IBJJF gi requirements for 2026 — legal colors, materials, measurements, belt and patch rules, and what fails inspection — from IBJJF’s official Uniform Requirements page and illustrated uniform manual. It is a planning guide, not a replacement for the official page or your event’s inspection.
IBJJF gi requirements 2026 at a glance
| Requirement | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Legal colors | White, royal blue, or black — one uniform color, collar included |
| Fabric | Woven cotton or cotton-like fabric (all age divisions) |
| Lapel thickness | 1.3 cm maximum |
| Collar width | 5 cm maximum |
| Sleeve opening | 7 cm minimum at full extension |
| Sleeve length | Within 2 cm of the wrist, arm extended parallel to the ground |
| Pant length | No more than 2 cm above the ankle bone |
| Belt | 4–5 cm wide, rank color, ends hang 20–30 cm after double knot |
| Condition | No tears or mending; clean, dry, and odor-free |
Legal gi colors
Only three colors are legal: white, royal blue, and black. The whole gi must be one uniform color — a black top with white pants is illegal, and so is a collar in a different color from the rest of the top. Grey, green, camo, and every other color you’ll see at open mats are not IBJJF-legal. Painted gis are forbidden unless the paint forms an academy or sponsor logo in a region where patches are allowed — and even then, if your paint marks your opponent’s gi, you’ll be required to change.
Gi material and thickness
The gi must be tailored from cotton or cotton-like fabric, and woven fabric is mandatory in every age division. The fabric can’t be so thick or hard that it stops your opponent from gripping it. A collar with EVA or similar material inside is permitted, as long as it still meets the size and rigidity limits — which is what the inspector’s lapel gauge is checking.
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Gi measurements checked at inspection
IBJJF inspectors verify three instrument measurements: lapel thickness (1.3 cm), collar width (5 cm), and the opening of the sleeve at full extension (7 cm). They also check fit: the gi top must reach your thigh, sleeves must come to no more than 2 cm from your wrist with your arm extended straight and parallel to the ground, and pants must reach to no more than 2 cm above the tibial malleolus — the ankle bone. Competition-cut gis from major brands pass these comfortably; slim training-cut gis and shrunken cotton are where competitors get caught. If your gi is borderline, measure it at home with a ruler before you travel — for sizing help, see our BJJ gi size chart.
Belt requirements
The belt must be durable, 4 to 5 cm wide, and colored to your rank, with a black tip — except black belts, whose tip is white or red. It’s worn over the gi top, wraps the waist twice, and ties with a double knot tight enough to keep the top closed. After the knot, each end should hang 20 to 30 cm. Referees stop matches to have athletes re-tie loose belts, so a properly sized belt isn’t just an inspection issue — it’s match time you don’t want to lose. For how belts and ranks work, see our BJJ belt order guide.
Patch rules
Patches must be cotton, properly seamed, and placed only in the authorized regions shown in the IBJJF’s uniform manual. Anything unseamed or in an unauthorized spot gets removed by the gi inspectors on the day — often right at the inspection table. If you compete regularly, buy gis with competition-legal patch placement or strip non-compliant patches before the event.
What goes under the gi: different rules for men and women
For men, shirts under the gi top are prohibited, and so are pants under the gi pants. For women, the opposite: a stretchy, body-hugging shirt under the gi top is mandatory — short or long sleeved, any color, with a one-piece swimsuit or gymnastics top also permitted — and elastic pants are allowed under the gi pants as long as they’re shorter than the gi pants. Undergarments are mandatory for everyone, briefs-style only.
What fails gi inspection
- Wrong or mixed colors — including a mismatched collar.
- Failed measurements — thick lapels, wide collars, short sleeves or pants, tight sleeve openings.
- Illegal patches — unseamed, non-cotton, or in unauthorized regions.
- Condition problems — tears, mending, or a gi that’s wet, dirty, or smells.
- Underlayer violations — a rashguard under a men’s gi top, or a missing shirt under a women’s.
Failing inspection doesn’t disqualify you immediately — it sends you scrambling for a legal gi minutes before your match. Seasoned competitors bring a second gi and belt for exactly this reason.
No-gi uniform requirements, briefly
The same official page sets the no-gi uniform: a skin-tight rashguard covering the torso to the waistband, in black, white, or black-and-white with at least 10% of your rank color (or 100% rank color), plus board shorts — no pockets, buttons, zippers, or any plastic or metal — reaching between mid-thigh and the knee. Women may compete in shorts, spats, or compression shorts under the same color rules. Full details in our IBJJF no-gi rules guide.
Before tournament day: the 60-second gi check
- Color: all white, all royal blue, or all black — collar included.
- Ruler check: sleeves within 2 cm of the wrist, pants within 2 cm of the ankle bone.
- Patches: seamed, cotton, authorized regions only.
- Belt: rank color, 4–5 cm wide, ends 20–30 cm after the double knot.
- Weigh in it: IBJJF weighs you with the gi on — check our IBJJF weight classes guide so the gi’s 1.5–2 kg doesn’t push you over the limit.
Bottom line
An IBJJF-legal gi is one color (white, royal blue, or black), woven cotton, within the 1.3 cm / 5 cm / 7 cm inspection measurements, properly fitted to your wrists and ankles, with a rank-colored belt tied to hang 20–30 cm. Verify against the official IBJJF uniform page before every event — and bring a backup gi.
FAQ
What gi colors are IBJJF legal?
White, royal blue, and black only — and the whole gi, collar included, must be a single color. Grey and all other colors are illegal.
What measurements does IBJJF check at gi inspection?
Lapel thickness (1.3 cm max), collar width (5 cm max), and sleeve opening (7 cm min), plus sleeve length within 2 cm of the wrist and pants within 2 cm of the ankle bone.
Can you wear a rashguard under a gi at IBJJF tournaments?
Men cannot — nothing is allowed under the gi top. Women must wear a fitted shirt under the gi top; it’s mandatory, in any color.
How long does an IBJJF belt need to be?
The belt must be 4–5 cm wide and, after wrapping the waist twice and tying a double knot, each end must hang 20 to 30 cm.
What happens if your gi fails inspection?
You must change into a legal gi before you can compete — inspectors will also remove illegal patches on the spot. Experienced competitors bring a backup gi.
For how these gi requirements stack up against the no-gi ruleset — grips, weight limits and which submissions change — see our gi vs no-gi comparison.
