What Do You Wear for Martial Arts Training?

What you wear for martial arts training depends on the discipline, the intensity of the session, and whether you train in a gi. Most schools start with a traditional uniform for formal training and add branded casual and training apparel for everything else: warm-ups, tournament day, travel, and off-mat wear. Here is how the apparel layers work and where custom branded pieces fit in.

The Three Apparel Layers in Martial Arts

Most martial arts practitioners end up with three distinct apparel contexts:

• Formal training uniform. The gi (karate, BJJ, judo), the dobok (taekwondo), or school-specific training gear. This is the structured, discipline-specific garment most associated with the art. Schools typically specify color and style requirements for this layer.
• Under-the-gi or no-gi training layer. A lightweight fitted tee, a compression shirt, or a rashguard worn under the formal uniform or during no-gi sessions. For BJJ and MMA, this layer often becomes the primary training garment. Performance fabrics that wick moisture and dry fast are the right choice here.
• Casual and identity layer. The hoodie on the way to the dojo, the tee at the tournament, the hat at the airport. This is where school branding lives. Branded tees and hoodies from your school's store are what students wear in the world beyond the mat. This is the layer most schools customize.

Cotton vs Performance Fabric for Martial Arts Training

The right fabric depends on how you use the garment:

Use Case	Recommended Fabric	Why
Light drilling and kata practice	100% cotton tee	Breathable, comfortable, good for lower-intensity sessions
No-gi grappling and sparring	Moisture-wicking polyester or triblend	Manages sweat, dries faster, less friction grip
Under the gi	Lightweight cotton or compression blend	Should not add bulk; neutral color recommended
Tournament and casual wear	Cotton or cotton-poly blend	Photograph well, comfortable for all-day wear, holds print quality
Cold-weather warm-up	Midweight fleece hoodie or crewneck	Holds body heat without restricting movement

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

What Martial Arts Clothing Is Actually Called

The vocabulary changes by discipline:

• Gi (or kimono): The jacket-and-pants uniform used in judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and traditional karate. Made from heavy woven cotton designed to withstand gripping.
• Dobok: The two-piece white or colored uniform used in taekwondo. Lighter and looser than a judo or BJJ gi to allow high kicks.
• Rashguard: A tight-fitting compression top worn for no-gi grappling. Provides grip protection and prevents mat burns.
• Spats or compression shorts: Worn under a gi or as standalone no-gi gear. Reduce friction and provide coverage.
• School training shirt: A custom branded tee or performance shirt specific to the school. Worn during warmups, at tournaments, and outside class. This is the garment Bear Grips Pro Shops specializes in for martial arts schools.

For custom branded school shirts, explore the full lineup in our custom dojo shirts guide.

Custom Branded Shirts as Part of the Martial Arts Training Kit

The custom branded shirt is where most schools invest in apparel beyond the uniform. The reasons are practical:

• Students wear them before and after class when the gi is not on.
• They signal school affiliation visibly in public, at gyms, and at tournaments.
• They work across disciplines. A BJJ academy shirt, a karate school hoodie, a taekwondo club performance tee all serve the same identity function.
• They are accessible to the whole family. Parents, siblings, and spectators can buy a school shirt without training. That expands your potential customer base well beyond your enrolled students.

Bear Grips Pro Shops carries over 60 styles that work for martial arts school branded apparel: performance tees, cotton tees, hoodies, crewnecks, tanks, shorts, hats, and youth versions of most styles. See how schools set up a store in our dojo merch shop setup guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fabric should you wear for martial arts training?

Moisture-wicking performance polyester or triblend for intense drilling and sparring. Cotton for lighter practice sessions and casual wear. Compression fabric under a gi or for no-gi grappling layers.

What do you wear under a martial arts uniform?

A lightweight fitted tee or compression shirt in a neutral color (white, black, or matching the uniform). Some schools specify the under-layer color. The garment should not add bulk or restrict the uniform's fit.

Can martial arts schools get custom branded training shirts?

Yes. Bear Grips Pro Shops lets any martial arts school set up a free branded store with custom tees, hoodies, performance shirts, and hats. Students order individually with no minimum. Ships from the US in about a week.