Black Long Sleeve Rashguard, Grappling

Black long sleeve rashguard built for no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu, grappling and MMA. Compression fit, one solid colour, nothing extra. This is the baseline piece of no-gi kit, the one you pull on without thinking before you step on the mats.

What a rashguard does in no-gi

Without a gi, your skin rubs straight against your training partner and against the mat. The rashguard sits in between. It cuts down mat burn and reduces the micro-abrasions that let most grappling skin infections in: impetigo, herpes gladiatorum, ringworm. It also soaks up sweat instead of letting it run onto contact surfaces.

The second job is mechanical. A compression knit holds the muscles in place, limits vibration through changes of pace and pushes back the point where fatigue sets in during long rolling sessions.

Long sleeve or short sleeve

Long sleeves cover the forearms, the area that takes the most work in closed guard, wrist control and guard passing. They also keep you off the wrong end of a badly trimmed fingernail, a gym classic. The trade-off is heat. If your gym has poor ventilation in July, keep a short sleeve in rotation.

Black long sleeve rashguard and IBJJF rules

Worth knowing before you order. For no-gi, the IBJJF requires a rashguard in black, white, or black and white, carrying at least 10 % of the athlete’s rank colour. The rulebook also accepts a garment that is entirely the rank colour.

This model is fully black. It therefore meets IBJJF rules for black belt competitors, and for them only. If you are a blue, purple or brown belt, you will need a rashguard showing at least 10 % of your belt colour to clear the uniform check.

Outside IBJJF competition the question does not arise. For training, open mats, local events and most amateur circuits, this rashguard works at any rank.