From Battlefield to Tatami: The Origins of the BJJ Kimono
The gi isn’t just a uniform — it’s a time capsule. Worn daily, sweat-soaked, torn, patched, shrunk, stretched — and still standing. But long before it was part of jiu-jitsu, it had another name, another purpose, and another battlefield entirely.
Where It Started
The modern BJJ gi is rooted in the traditional Japanese keikogi — the training uniform developed by Jigoro Kano, founder of judo, in the late 1800s. It was designed to handle the physicality of throws and grips — thick cotton, reinforced seams, and sleeves meant to be grabbed.
Before that? Warriors trained in kimono-style robes, modified for movement. Less stitching, more flow — but not built to last.
Kano’s gi changed that — structured, functional, and made for contact. And when Mitsuyo Maeda brought judo to Brazil in the early 1900s, the uniform came with him.
Brazilian Tweaks
In Brazil, Maeda’s judo blended with local styles and evolved into what we now call Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The gi evolved too. It got tighter. Heavier. Better adapted to groundwork and grip fighting. The art shifted from throws to control — and the gi had to keep up.
Pants got slimmer. Sleeves got tailored. Collars got stiffer. Every adjustment was made to meet the demands of rolling on the ground — not upright sparring.
From Utility to Identity
By the 90s and early 2000s, the gi started becoming more than gear — it became a canvas. Patches, embroidery, signature cuts — suddenly, what you wore on the mat said something. Not just where you trained, but who you were.
Enter Shoyoroll. We weren’t first, but we changed the culture. The fit got sharper. The details cleaner. The drops more intentional. We respected the roots but rewrote the look.
Today’s Gi
Today, the gi sits at the intersection of heritage and design. Still rooted in function. Still built for the fight. But also shaped by modern expectations — comfort, style, identity. It’s not just a uniform anymore. It’s personal.
Respect the Past. Redefine the Future.
Wearing a gi links you to over a century of tradition. Every time you tie your belt, you’re part of that story. But how you wear it — and what you do in it — is entirely your own.
