No-Gi
Spats in BJJ: What They Are, Whether You Need Them, and What to Wear to No-Gi
Updated
Spats are skin-tight compression leggings worn for no-gi grappling, on their own or under shorts. You don't need them: a rashguard and shorts with no pockets or zips is a complete no-gi kit, and it's all your first class asks for. At IBJJF events, spats appear in the women's uniform rules only. The men's rules allow compression shorts under the shorts and don't mention spats.
What spats are
The IBJJF's own uniform rules define them in brackets: "compression pants (skin-tight spats)". Full-length leggings, tight to the skin, with nothing loose to grab. Walk into any no-gi class and you'll see three camps: spats on their own, spats under shorts, and bare legs under shorts. All three are normal.
Do you need spats?
No. Nobody on the mat cares whether your legs are covered. What people do care about is what's on your shorts: zips, pockets, buttons, anything hard that can catch a finger or a toe in a scramble. Get the shorts right and what goes underneath is your call.
The people who wear spats tend to like the extra layer over the knees and legs, or just the feel of being fully covered. That's a preference, not a requirement. Train a few weeks in shorts, then decide.
Nobody has ever lost a round because their legs were bare.
What to wear to your first no-gi class
- A rashguard. Tight, stretchy, long enough to stay tucked in. A fitted t-shirt gets you through a first class at most gyms; ask before you turn up. A baggy one ends up over your face in the first scramble.
- Grappling shorts. No pockets, no zips, no belt loops, nothing metal or plastic. Running shorts with a zip pocket stay in the bag.
- Underneath, optional. Compression shorts, spats, or neither.
- Flip-flops. For walking to and from the mat. Bare feet on it.
- The rest. Nails short, jewellery off, clean kit every session.
That's it. Most gyms don't wear belts for no-gi. At IBJJF events, your rank shows as colour on the rashguard instead.
Spats vs leggings
For training, any tight stretch leggings with no zips, pockets or hard trims will do. Check two things: nothing that can catch a finger, and nothing that slides down when someone grabs your ankle and pulls. If they pass both, wear them. For IBJJF events, the colour rules below apply to whatever you wear, and the men's rules don't list spats at all.
What the IBJJF allows in no-gi
Straight from the IBJJF uniform rules, which the IBJJF says took effect after the 2024 Gi World Championships:
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Skin-tight elastic shirt or rashguard, long enough to reach the waistband of the shorts. Black, white, or black and white with at least 10% of your belt colour, or 100% your belt colour. | |
| Bottoms | Board shorts, with compression shorts allowed beneath them | Shorts, compression pants (skin-tight spats) and/or compression shorts |
| Spats | Not mentioned | Listed |
| Shorts length | At least halfway down the thigh, no longer than the knee | At least halfway down the thigh, no longer than the knee |
| Shorts hardware | No pockets (or pockets stitched fully shut), no buttons, exposed drawstrings, zips, plastic or metal | No pockets (or pockets stitched fully shut), no buttons, zips, plastic or metal |
| Bottoms colour | Black, white, black and white, and/or your belt colour | |
That's everything the page says on it. There's no line banning spats for men and no line allowing them either. If you're a man who wants to compete in spats, ask the event before you travel, because the uniform is checked before you weigh in (you weigh in wearing it, see IBJJF weight classes). Other organisations run their own uniform rules, so read your event's. Competing in the gi instead? That's IBJJF gi requirements.
What we make
We don't make spats. For no-gi we make sets: a rashguard and matching shorts, designed as a pair, in men's and women's fits.
| Piece | All Around spec |
|---|---|
| Rashguard | 240 GSM, 80% poly / 20% spandex, flatlock stitching, sublimated graphics that won't crack, peel or fade |
| Shorts | 200 GSM outer shell, 95% poly / 5% Lycra, with a built-in inner lining (80% poly / 20% spandex) |
The two pieces are sized separately, so a medium top with large shorts is still one set.
So if your top and bottom sizes don't match, pick each one on its own. Plenty of people do. The no-gi sets are all in one place.
Frequently asked questions
- What are spats in BJJ?
- Skin-tight, full-length compression leggings worn for no-gi grappling, either on their own or under shorts. The IBJJF uniform rules call them "compression pants (skin-tight spats)".
- Do you need spats for BJJ?
- No. A rashguard and grappling shorts with no pockets, zips or hard trims is a complete no-gi kit. Spats are a preference: some people like the extra layer over the knees and legs, plenty train without them.
- Can men wear spats in IBJJF no-gi?
- The IBJJF men's no-gi rules list board shorts, with compression shorts allowed underneath. They don't mention spats. Spats are listed in the women's rules only. If you want to compete in them, ask the event before the day, because the uniform is checked before weigh-in.
- What should I wear to my first no-gi class?
- A rashguard or a fitted t-shirt, and shorts with no pockets, zips or belt loops. Compression shorts or spats underneath are optional. Bring flip-flops for off the mat, trim your nails, and take jewellery off.
- Can I wear leggings instead of spats for BJJ?
- For training, yes, if they're tight and stretchy with no zips, pockets or hard trims, and they stay up when someone pulls on your ankle. For IBJJF events, bottoms must be black, white, black and white, or your belt colour, and spats are listed in the women's rules only.
- Do you wear shorts over spats in BJJ?
- In training, both ways are common: spats alone, or spats under shorts. At IBJJF events, men wear board shorts, with compression shorts allowed underneath. Women may wear shorts, spats and/or compression shorts.