What Are BJJ Rashguards? What Are Its Types?
Table of Contents
2.4 Compression Fit BJJ Rash Guards
2.5 Regular Fit BJJ Rash Guards
- Are Rash Guards Necessary For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners To Wear?
- Benefits of Wearing Rash Guards In Jiu-Jitsu
Rashguards can be a complex word for individuals who have no interest in martial arts like BJJ or for those who are just beginning their journey in the most popular martial arts. If you are a beginner in BJJ, you must be confused about the rashguards, their significance, how to choose the right rash guard for you, whether it is compulsory to wear them, and if so, when you should wear them. Let’s explore these questions in detail.
1. What Are Rash Guards?
Rash guards are shirts that are tightly fitted to the grapplers wearing them. They have maximum compression. They are like T-shirts but are very tight to serve various purposes for athletes. One more thing that makes them different from usual T-shirts is that rash guards have moisture-wicking technology. It means that they absorb any extra moisture that is present on the body of the grapplers to prevent interruption in their game.
2. Types of Rashguards
Rashguards have different types, and all these types have the same basic purpose. But they offer a little bit of difference in the number of benefits. Each type has its own distinct benefits. No rash guards can be called better than the other. All are better in their own sense. The following are the three types of rashguards:
2.1 Full Sleeve Rash Guards
The first type is the full-sleeve rashguard. People mostly prefer this type of rash guard in winter. It has benefits such as:
- It covers more body surfaces than other types of rash guards. More body coverage means more protection from infections because the infection-causing germs are not able to touch your body.
- The mat is full of germs and dirt, and sometimes, if you are working in a gym that doesn’t have good facilities, then they have mats that are not perfect. It might be torn off from certain sites. Your body contact is also reduced with the mat. So if your body portion is in contact with the mat, then the chances of getting dirty, infection, or injuries due to the rough surface of the mat are also increased. On the other hand, if there is less portion that is in contact with the mat, which is rough, then the chances of getting dirt on your body, infection, and injuries are also reduced.
- The third benefit is that it adds more warmth to your body. When you are training in Jiu Jitsu or playing a professional grappling match, your body should remain warm. The reason is that it helps you in the better execution of the techniques. If your body is not warm, the execution becomes difficult. More coverage in a long-sleeved rash guard provides more warmth to your body.
2.2 Short-Sleeve Rash Guards
The second type of rash guard is the short-sleeved rash guard. In this type, the sleeves are almost half. The cloth covers half of your arms, and the other half of your arms remain naked. It is also known as half-sleeved rash guards. It exposes more of the body surface as compared to full-sleeve rash guards. It also has many benefits, but is a little bit different compared to the full sleeve rash guards:
- This type of rash guard is more commonly preferred by people in summer. The reason is that there is already a lot of heat around the grapplers. To lessen the heat effect, they wear these.
- Some people are more comfortable with short sleeves and shortsfor executing the movements and techniques. They can more easily move their arms wearing short-sleeved rash guards, so they prefer that. They want to feel the freedom of their arms.
2.3 Sleeveless Rash Guards
The last type is the sleeveless rash guards. It is not a common type. You may have seen people wearing it very rarely. The only reason some people consider wearing it is to enjoy maximum freedom of movement. But the freedom also comes at the cost of high chances for infections, dust, dirt, and friction. So that is why it is a very rare option.
2.4 Compression Fit BJJ Rash Guards
Compression fit rash guards in Jiu Jitsu, as the name indicates, are highly compressed to fit tightly to the body. They fit snugly with the grappler’s body. They improve the performance and execution of the techniques by improving the blood flow to the body and supporting the muscles. It ultimately helps to improve the movement by keeping the grappler fit while playing the match.
2.5 Regular Fit BJJ Rash Guards
These fit loosely to the body and are not highly compressed like the compression fit rash guards. Although both compression and regular fit provide mostly the same benefits to the grapplers, there is a difference in the time when they are chosen for wearing. Regular-fit rash guards are preferred in warm weather. On the other hand, BJJ practitioners tend to wear compression fit more in the cold weather. Anyways, there is also a difference in the range of motion. Regular one provides a higher range of motion. Both provide protection against mat burns and infection.
3. Are Rash Guards Necessary For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners To Wear?
No, rash guards are not necessary for BJJ practitioners to wear in Gi matches. However, players in No-Gi competitions, which are organized by organizations such as the IBJJF, are required to wear them. Still, it is highly recommended that the grapplers wear them whether they are training or fighting in a professional Gi or No Gi competition match. This is because of the numerous benefits that you can get from wearing them in your game. Let’s discuss the benefits.
4. Benefits of Wearing Rash Guards In Jiu-Jitsu
The following are the benefits of wearing rash guards for grapplers in Jiu-Jitsu and in other combat sports:
4.1 Supports Muscles
One of the common problems BJJ practitioners have to face is muscle fatigue, which is the reduced ability of muscles to contract to produce force and generate power for the execution of techniques and moves in BJJ. So this is a major concern for the grapplers, and it hinders their training and grappling to a major extent. This can be minimized a lot by just wearing the rash guards and preferably the compression fit type. This is because they fit snugly, and by this type of fitting, they support muscles, reducing their fatigue.
4.2 Protects The Skin
You are at higher risk of getting an infection, suffering from mat burns, or getting injured, particularly if you are training or fighting in a less hygienic or cheap gym environment. So you need to take measures to protect your skin against such effects. The best way is to wear a rash guard. If you are wearing a full-sleeve rash guard, it will cover your whole skin and protect you against all possible skin effects that you can get while training.
4.3 Keeps You Dry
Another problem faced by many grapplers in Jiu Jitsu matches or in training is the sweat. When you are training hard or fighting for a long time, you start having a lot of sweat, which creates a lot of difficulties and hindrances for you in your training or fighting. So you should have some way to prevent that, and the perfect way is to wear rash guards. They absorb sweat from your body and keep you dry. Moreover, because of the evaporation, it also keeps you dry.
4.4 Improves Your Movement
Ideally, you should try to take some steps to improve your movement to make it easy for yourself to execute the moves. Rash guards are a good way to improve your movement. They keep you comfortable throughout your training or match.
4.5 Antimicrobial Effect
Some companies, such as Elite Sports, provide the rash guards, which are treated with chemicals that prevent the growth of germs that are capable of causing infection to the wearer. So this enhances the protection from infection, keeping you healthy and fit for your Jiu Jitsu training.
5. Takeaway
Rash guards are required for grapplers to wear only in some competitions of No Gi matches. They are not mandatory. But because of the numerous advantages for your body and game, they should be considered necessary to wear. It enhances your training and fighting, helping you excel in your Jiu Jitsu career.
Read More: How Revenue Cycle Management Services Improve Efficiency and Financial Stability in Healthcare