Gi BJJ Academy T-Shirts and Hoodies

Gi BJJ academy t-shirts and hoodies are the two items that drive most academy apparel revenue. Across academies of every size, tees generate the most units and hoodies generate the highest per-order margin. This guide covers blank choices, sizing, retail pricing, and design rules so the academy nails both items on the first drop.

Tee Blank Choices for Gi BJJ Academies

Bear Grips offers four tee blank tiers, each with different feel and price:

• Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee (Bear Grips), $19.88 VIP base. The standard academy tee. Soft cotton, fits like a modern athletic cut. Most academies start here.
• Premium Cotton Crew Tee (Next Level), $23.88 VIP base. Heavier cotton, more substantial hand feel. Reads as a step up from the standard tee.
• Mens Premium Triblend Crew Tee (Next Level), $23.88 VIP base. Triblend cotton-poly-rayon. Soft, slightly fitted drape. Lifestyle look.
• Mens Moisture-Wicking Tee (Sport-Tek), $23.86 VIP base. Performance polyester. Workout shirt for the conditioning side of class or no-gi crossover.

Most academies offer two tee options: one cotton daily-wear tee and one performance tee. Some add a triblend for the lifestyle audience.

Hoodie Blank Choices for Gi BJJ Academies

Three hoodie tiers cover most needs:

• Comfort Soft Hoodie (Bear Grips), $36.88 VIP base. Mid-weight, soft fleece, athletic cut. The standard academy hoodie.
• Unisex Champion Performance Hoodie, $45.88 VIP base. Champion brand recognition, performance-fleece interior, premium pricing.
• Classic Zip-Up Hoodie (Gildan), $41.88 VIP base. Zip-up alternative for students who want a layering hoodie.

For the kids program, Youth Hoodie (Gildan), $36.88 VIP base, covers youth sizing.

For crewnecks (a strong second to hoodies in the BJJ academy market):

• Perfect Soft Crewneck Sweatshirt (Bear Grips), $34.88 VIP base.
• Unisex Champion Crewneck Sweatshirt, $41.88 VIP base. Heritage Champion crewneck.

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Retail Pricing That Reads as Premium

BJJ academy students expect premium pricing for academy apparel. The academy logo carries identity weight, so the apparel sits at a premium tier:

Item	VIP Base	Standard Retail	Premium Retail
Airlume Cotton Tee	$19.88	$28-$30	$32-$34
Premium Cotton Crew Tee	$23.88	$32-$34	$36-$38
Triblend Tee	$23.88	$32-$36	$38-$42
Performance Tee	$23.86	$30-$34	$36-$40
Comfort Soft Hoodie	$36.88	$54-$58	$62-$68
Champion Hoodie	$45.88	$64-$68	$74-$84
Champion Crewneck	$41.88	$58-$62	$68-$74

The academy sets retail in the dashboard. The difference between base and retail goes directly to the academy as profit.

Design Rules for Academy Tees and Hoodies

Strong academy apparel follows a few principles:

• Front-chest logo, sized restrained. A clean 3.5" wide chest logo reads as professional and athletic. Oversized front prints look amateur.
• Optional back graphic. Some academies put the academy name, lineage credit (taught under so-and-so), or city on the back in larger type. Optional, not required.
• One or two colors, never six. The strongest academy apparel uses the academy's locked color palette: one or two colors plus the blank fabric color. Multi-color gradients date quickly.
• Legible from across the mat. If a student cannot read the academy name from 30 feet away during open mat, the design is too small or too busy.
• Lineage subtle, not loud. If the academy is part of a larger affiliation (Gracie, Atos, Alliance, Caio Terra), the academy's own brand is the primary mark and the affiliation goes on the sleeve or back in smaller type.

How Tees and Hoodies Sell Together

Academies that get both items right see a typical mix:

• Tees account for 55-65% of total apparel units.
• Hoodies account for 20-30% of units but often 35-45% of total revenue (higher per-item AOV).
• Hats, long sleeves, and shorts split the remaining 15-25% of units.

Selling tees and hoodies as a set (tee + matching hoodie, slight price discount) is a common play that lifts AOV. The shop platform supports adding multiple items to one cart, so the academy just lists both items at standard pricing and lets students choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular tee blank for BJJ academies?

The Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee (Bear Grips) at $19.88 VIP base is the most common starter. It is soft, fits athletic, and at $28-$32 retail leaves $8-$12 in academy profit per shirt. Premium Cotton Crew Tee (Next Level) is the most common step-up for academies wanting a heavier-cotton feel.

Should the academy offer multiple hoodie weights?

Most academies start with one hoodie (Comfort Soft Hoodie at $36.88 VIP base) and add a Champion Hoodie ($45.88) as a premium option once the shop has been live for a few months. Carrying two hoodie weights gives students a price-tier choice and lifts overall AOV.

Can the academy run tees and hoodies in multiple colors?

Yes. Each color is its own product listing in the shop. Most academies start with one color of each item (typically black or the academy's primary color) and add a second color after the first 30-60 days based on what students request.

Do hoodies cost the academy any inventory or upfront fees?

No. Bear Grips prints each hoodie on demand after the student orders. The academy never front-funds inventory, never holds stock, and never pays a setup fee. The first hoodie order can be a single piece.