Many people think that all the gear you need for BJJ is a gi
or a rashguard and shorts and you’re good to go. This is not entirely true.
While those are the basics of our sport, there are other items that would be
helpful in your jiu-jitsu journey.
Mouthguard:
BJJ is a contact sport, and anyone that has been training
long enough knows what it means. Often, we come out with some small cuts or
bruises. While most of the time these are minor injuries, there will always be
that occasional collision with a spazzy partner that will inadvertently elbow,
knee, or head-butt you in the face. Sometimes these hits will be strong enough
to not only cut you but damage your teeth as well.
A mouthguard is an easy answer to this problem. Consider it
as a type of insurance. To some, it may constrict their breathing as they get
used to it. This will also be another thing you have to remember to bring to
the gym and wash from time to time. But unlike cuts that heal, a broken or
knocked-out tooth doesn’t heal on its own. Do not to push your luck! Just wear
a mouthguard and roll with some peace of mind.
Tape:
Tape can be nicknamed the “injury protector”. It does a
great job of supporting many smaller joints (such as fingers and toes) or minor
existing injuries so you can train with less pain or no pain at all. The
application varies depending on the severity of the injury, but one thing that
has been seen over and over again in academies is that tape is an essential
part of anyone’s training kit. Of course, if the injury is severe, you should
stop training until it has time to fully heal. For many, tape really helps find
a balance between taking time off to heal an injury and continuing to train.
Sweat Towel:
This is getting into more of the “it’s not necessary”
territory, but this is still something that is nice to have with you. We sweat
a ton in BJJ, especially in warmer weather. Sweat towels are not the massive
shower towels. They won’t take much space in your bag and when you wash it, it
can dry quite quickly because it’s thin and small.
Protein shaker:
Supplements are very important to the BJJ athlete. Jiu-jitsu
takes a heavy toll on the body and if your nutrition is not up to par, you
can suffer. Having a protein shaker in your bag, along with that scoop of
protein or whatever supplement you like to take, will let you get the nutrients
into your system as soon as possible so you can recover and be ready again to
train the next day.
Water bottle:
This is another extremely important item. Rather than buying
bottles at your gym, or if there is no water fountain, bringing a large water
bottle with you is key. It is generally a good idea to always have a large
water bottle with you because as athletes we require a large intake of fluids,
far more than the average person. If you ever had a chance to glimpse at some
of the professionals of our sport, you will notice that many of them carry
around large jugs of water everywhere they go. It’s absolutely critical to stay
hydrated at all times.
