Gi Grappling - why it is important

We have spent the last several months training our grappling wearing a judo/JJ gi. I think it is important for my students to be exposed to training with a gi from a practical self-defense stand point. We live in Canada and for the majority of the year we are wearing jackets. The gi lets us simulate the clothing that our attacker would be wearing.

Concepts from Judo to control the opponents limbs and break their balance are more practical than wing chun based trapping sequences and develop functional combat skills.

When on the ground the cloth gives new opportunities to control and submit your opponent that are not available when grappling no gi.

I have seen everyone in our class improve their grappling dramatically over the past four months.

We are now at the point where we will introduce striking both on our feet and on the ground while wearing a gi.