Grappling Gear, Piece by Piece, and What the Rules Say

The essentials in 30 seconds

The rash guard: the central piece

It's the top of the kit, and the one that works the hardest. It should hug the body without restricting your breathing, and stay in place through sweeps. Points to check:

• a fabric around 230 g/m², with 4-way stretch;
• flat seams, which don't rub under the arms;
• a design dyed into the fibre, which doesn't crack when the fabric stretches;
• long sleeves to protect the forearms, or short if you run hot.

No cotton t-shirt instead: it gets heavy with sweat, rides up on the 1st sweep, and gets grabbed. To choose yours well, read our guide to choosing a jiu-jitsu rash guard, or browse the BJJ rash guard collection.

Grappling shorts

Grappling shorts aren't regular sports shorts. They should:

• have no pocket, no button, no zipper, no metal eyelet;
• close with a drawcord or flat velcro, tucked inside;
• leave the hips free for guard positions, with a side slit or stretch fabric;
• come down between mid-thigh and the knee.

The shorts hold the rash guard in place: a hem tucked under the waistband doesn't ride up anymore.

Spats

Spats are compression leggings, full-length or mid-calf. They're worn alone, or under the shorts.

• They protect the knees and shins from mat burn.
• They stop a partner from slipping their fingers into the leg of the shorts.
• They limit direct skin contact with the mat.

For men, many clubs and most tournaments require shorts on top. For women, spats alone are often accepted.

What the rules say

IBJJF and AJP no-gi

• Top: a tight-fitting rash guard, long enough to cover the torso down to the shorts, in a black, white, or black-and-white base, with at least 10% of your belt colour, or entirely in that colour.
• Bottom, men: grappling shorts in the allowed colours, between mid-thigh and the knee, with no pocket, button, or zipper. Compression shorts are allowed underneath.
• Bottom, women: shorts, spats, or compression shorts, in black, white, black-and-white, or your belt colour. Multicoloured printed spats aren't accepted.
• At AJP, women's divisions additionally require a 1-piece undergarment under the rash guard and bottom.

Sources: IBJJF uniform rules and AJP uniform rules, reviewed on 2026-10-23.

ADCC

Attire is open: no colour is required. Only pockets, zippers, and hard pieces are banned. An illustrated rash guard and grappling shorts are fine.

UWW grappling (wrestling federation)

• A red or blue rash guard depending on your corner, with at least 60% of the assigned colour, with no mixing of the two.
• Shorts covering at least 2/3 of the thigh.
• At championship level, compression leggings under the shorts.

In opens and club tournaments

Most follow rules close to ADCC: open attire, no pocket or zipper. Read the rulebook before signing up anyway, it's often written at the bottom of the registration page.

Which kit for which setting

How many kits to get

Grappling gear is washed after every session, at 30°C max and with no fabric softener, then air dried. If you train 3 times a week or more, get at least 2 rash guards and 2 shorts so you always have a dry one. Care steps are on the rash guard care page.

Our verdict

To start, 1 rash guard and 1 pocket-free pair of shorts are enough. Spats come next, once your knees start feeling the mat. For competition, read the rulebook before you buy, not after.

Frequently asked questions

Can you grapple in a t-shirt?

For a trial session, yes. After that, switch to a rash guard: a loose t-shirt gets grabbed, rides up, and holds onto sweat.

Do you need to wear spats under your shorts?

It isn't mandatory, except at UWW championship level. It's recommended to protect your knees and keep your kit tidy on the ground.

What's the difference between grappling gear and BJJ gear?

In no-gi BJJ, it's the same kit. In gi BJJ, you wear the gi and belt; the rash guard goes underneath, and in IBJJF competition, only for women.

Are grappling and MMA kits the same?

Almost. In MMA, the shorts are usually looser for kicks, and a short-sleeve rash guard is mandatory in amateur MMA. See the MMA rash guard collection.

How do I choose my size?

Measure your chest and follow the size guide. To understand everything about the rash guard, also read our complete guide.