A grappling gym bag is a bag built to carry a soaked cotton gi home without soaking everything else, with room for belt, rash guard and sandals. The rest of the kit (belt, rash guard, sandals, tape, mouthguard) is small, so the bag is built around the gi.
- In BJJ and judo: the same bag works for both; a judogi is heavier and needs more room.
- A separate wet compartment or a bag-in-bag for the gi is the feature that matters most.
- Competition days need a bigger bag: two gis, food, water, warm layers.
What should you pack in a gym bag?
- Gi jacket and pants, or a rash guard and spats for no-gi, and your belt.
- A rash guard to wear under the gi, and a change of underwear and a dry t-shirt for afterwards.
- Sandals (zori) for the walk between the changing room and the mat.
- Finger tape, a mouthguard in its case, and ear guards or a knee sleeve if you use them.
- A towel, a water bottle, and a plastic or waterproof bag for the wet gi.
- A small notebook or your training journal, if you keep one, to write down what you drilled while it is fresh.
Pack the night before; a missing belt discovered in the car park has ended more training sessions than injuries have.
What should you look for in a gym bag?
- Size: big enough for a folded judogi and sandals with room to spare; a BJJ gi needs a little less.
- Wet compartment: a lined, separate section or a removable waterproof pouch for the used gi.
- Ventilation: mesh panels or vents so the bag airs out between sessions.
- Shoe or sandal pocket: keeps mat footwear away from clothes.
- Straps: a shoulder strap or backpack straps for the walk or cycle to class; a duffle handle alone gets old.
- Washable: a bag that can be wiped out or machine-washed, because the gi will leave it smelling of training.
- Small pockets: for tape, keys, mouthguard case and a phone, so they are never loose in the main section.
What should you pack for a tournament?
Two gis if you are a black belt: the IBJJF Rules Book lets organisers require one white and one royal blue. Footwear for walking to the mat, since athletes must wear it up to the match area. And a belt in good condition, because the uniform inspector checks it.
How do you keep a gym bag clean?
Empty the bag the moment you get home: gi to the wash, sandals to air, towel to dry. Leave the bag open overnight. Wipe the inside weekly. A bag that stays zipped with a damp gi inside grows what the mat is cleaned to prevent, and you carry it back to training the next day.
Our own gym bags and duffles, built for a wet gi and a pair of rash guards, are in the grappling gifts collection; the rash guards themselves are in our bjj training gear.
Sources
- IBJJF Rules Book, IBJJF
Related terms
Gi, Rash guard, Sandals, Finger tape, Training journal, Mouthguard.