Submission-Only Grappling Team Apparel

Submission-only grappling events have become their own competition circuit. The format draws different competitors than point-format tournaments, and the academy teams that travel to them often want apparel that reflects the sub-only identity. A team rolling into an event in matching walkout shirts that say "submission only" or "sub-only competitor" reads as a serious crew. Here is the apparel mix that works for academy teams competing on the sub-only circuit.

Why Sub-Only Team Apparel Differs from Traditional Tournament Gear

Sub-only events attract a slightly different competitor than the traditional point tournament. The competitor tends to lean toward the no-gi grappling subculture, the EBI overtime crowd, the leg-lock-heavy game, and the streetwear-leaning aesthetic that has grown around no-gi BJJ in the last decade.

Team apparel for these events tends to reflect that aesthetic. Less formal IBJJF-style team kits. More streetwear-leaning tees, hoodies, and hats. Often a design that nods to the sub-only format directly, with language like "submission only" or specific event branding on the back.

An academy that travels both circuits (IBJJF points plus sub-only) often runs two parallel apparel lines: a cleaner team kit for the points circuit and a streetwear-leaning kit for the sub-only events.

The Sub-Only Team Apparel Mix

• Walkout tee. Cotton or triblend tee with academy logo on the front and event-specific design on the back. The default walkout piece. Bear Grips Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee at VIP base $19.88 or Next Level Premium Triblend at VIP base $24.88.
• Walkout hoodie for premium events. A team hoodie keepsake for marquee events. Bear Grips Comfort Soft Hoodie at VIP base $36.88 or Champion Performance Hoodie at VIP base $45.88.
• Team snapback. Yupoong Classic Flat Bill Snapback with embroidered academy logo. The hat the whole team wears around the venue and back to the hotel. VIP base $29.86.
• Coach polo. For corner coaches and head instructor staff working the chair. Sport-Tek Performance Polo with embroidered logo. VIP base $34.88.
• Joggers or sweatpants. Worn before and after matches for warm-up and recovery. Independent Trading Performance Joggers at VIP base $40.88.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

Designing the Sub-Only Walkout Shirt

The sub-only walkout shirt design framework:

• Front: Academy logo or simplified mark on left chest. Keep it clean and small.
• Back center upper: Academy name large enough to read at twenty feet across the venue.
• Back center body: Event branding language. "Submission Only", the event name, and the date. Keep typography clean. Streetwear-leaning fonts work well here.
• Back lower: Competitor names listed across the bottom of the shirt. Even a 6-competitor team list adds a meaningful sense of place to the shirt.
• Sleeve hit: Academy mark or year on the sleeve for a third touch point.

The honest scope reminder: this is a cotton or triblend printed tee. Not a sublimated singlet, not a rashguard, not a fight kit. The walkout shirt is the lifestyle layer around the actual fight gear.

How an Academy Pays for Sub-Only Team Apparel

Three common funding models for sub-only team apparel:

1. Academy pays, distributes free. The head coach orders the team apparel as a bulk order on the academy account. Each competitor receives their walkout shirt free as part of the team package. The academy treats it as marketing spend.
2. Competitor pays direct from shop. The walkout design is listed as a public product in the academy shop. Each competitor buys their own shirt direct at retail. The academy earns the standard margin on each sale.
3. Hybrid: academy comps competitors, supporters pay full price. The most common model. The academy comps walkout shirts for the active competing team. Friends, family, and other students who want one buy direct from the shop at retail. The academy earns margin on the supporter sales while still showing up for the competitors.

For a team of 10 competitors with 30 supporter sales at $30 retail and $10 margin, the academy clears $300 in margin from the event while still covering the team's walkout gear. Across six events per year, that is $1,800 in margin from sub-only apparel runs alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a new walkout design for every sub-only event?

Yes. There is no setup fee to add a new design to your shop. A team that competes at six sub-only events per year can launch six different walkout shirts, each tied to its specific event. Old designs can be archived or kept live as collectible pieces.

Do you make sub-only ranked rashguards or competition shorts?

No. Rashguards and competition shorts require sublimation and cut-and-sew capability that Bear Grips Pro Shops does not provide. Work with a sublimation kit supplier alongside your academy shop for those pieces.

How many days before a sub-only event should I order team apparel?

Target 14 to 21 days before event day. Most orders ship in about a week, but ordering with buffer protects against any reprint or shipping delay. For peak event seasons (late spring and early fall), add an extra week of buffer.

Can I include event-specific dates and locations on the shirt?

Yes. Event names, dates, and locations all print cleanly on the back of the shirt. This is what turns a generic walkout into a tournament-specific keepsake.