10 Best Judo Gi Uniforms in 2023 – IJF approved

Selecting the right Judo Gi shouldn’t be a complex task, provided you know which brands to look for and the telltale signs of a quality Gi. As far as most people reading this article are concerned, a basic single-weave bleached white Gi is the perfect choice. Companies like Fuji, Mizuno, Ronin, etc., are all top choices, and you can’t go wrong with either of them.

But ensure you get one that’s the right size; this is very important- especially if you’re competing. A tiny Gi will restrict your movement, and one that’s too big will simply give an unfair advantage to your opponent. To help you make the right choice, here are the best Judo Gis for this year. 

FUJI Double Weave Judo Gi

• Size: 1 to 9
• Color: Blue, white
• Material: Cotton
• Features: IJF-compliant, thick collar
• Strengths: Medium weight, durable, quality seams

A basic IJF-compliant uniform is all a Judoka needs- Gis should be durable and easy to maintain. The rest comes down to the practitioner’s skill; this double-weave Gi is more than tough enough to handle everything you throw at it. It is used in competitions and is quite popular at top Judo centers for its rugged construction. 

Adidas Judo Uniform

• Size: 140 to 200 cm
• Color: White, blue
• Material: Polymer, Cotton
• Features: Reinforced stitching, flat seams
• Strengths: Heavy single-weave fabric

With a 500gsm polymer + cotton blend, this is a heavy single-weave Gi that almost feels like a double-weave in places. The flat seams don’t rub against your skin while grappling, and the reinforced lapel + collar holds together even as your opponent tugs against it with all their might. It is suitable for a wide range of people, ranging from 140 cm to 200 cm in height. 

Ronin Judo Gi

• Size: 0 to 8
• Color: White
• Material: Cotton
• Features: Drawstring closure
• Strengths: Single weave, ideal for training and casual sparring

Besides Mizuno and Fuji, Ronin is the other big manufacturer of Japanese martial arts uniforms, particularly Gis. This Ronin Judo Gi is one of the more affordable ones, and it’s a single weave with a drawstring closure for the pants. The fabric is already bleached and pre-shrunk, so you don’t have to worry about going through any of that once you unpack it. 

Fuji Euro Competition Judo Gi

• Size: 1 to 9
• Color: Blue, white
• Material: Cotton
• Features: European competition cut, 10oz cotton twill pants
• Strengths: Designed for national and international Judo competitions

The jacket is 680gm and uses a European cut. The pants are made from 10oz twill, which is incredibly sturdy. While this FUJI Gi meets all IJF standards, it doesn’t have the label (presumably to save on licensing and inspection costs). Label or no label, this is a Gi built for international-level competition, and it carries the FUJI name, which should be more than enough.  

Pro Force Gladiator Judo Gi

• Size: 0 to 7
• Color: Black, blue, white
• Material: Cotton
• Features: Single-weave fabric, reinforced knees and shoulders
• Strengths: Tapered sleeves allow for good mobility

The cheap price makes one think this is the perfect Gi for drilling techniques into kids and young adults, after which you can buy a more expensive Gi for sparring. But don’t underestimate this Pro Force Gi because it’s much tougher than you might think. The jacket is especially heavy despite being single weave, thanks to reinforcements on the lapels, collar, shoulders, etc.  

Yawara Yoroi Judo Gi

• Size: 5’1 up to 6’3”
• Color: Blue, white
• Material: Cotton, rayon
• Features: Drawstring closure
• Strengths: Designed in Kanagawa, IJF Red Label

This is a proper elite-tier Gi with the IJF Red Label seal of approval, designed by Yawara to provide the best combination of mobility and durability possible. The Yoroi Gi uses a cotton and rayon combination in a wide range of sizes for additional flexibility. Its pants have a drawstring closure system to keep them secure during matches.

MACS Judo Single Weave Gi

• Size: 0 to 6
• Color: Blue, white
• Material: Cotton
• Features: Belted closure, fully padded collar with reinforced shoulders
• Strengths: Reinforcements to key parts make this feel like a double weave in strength

The shoulders, knees, and chest have extra fabric patched and sewn in to bolster strength for Judo competitions. Yes, it’s cheap, but this isn’t just a training Gi- it can be used for sparring and some pretty heavy stuff. The fabric used is 450gsm, just one step below the premium 500gsm fabric you see in much more expensive Gis. 

Yamato Sakura Bleached Single Weave Gi

• Size: 0 to 7
• Color: White
• Material: Cotton
• Features: Drawstring closure, bleached fabric
• Strengths: Pre-shrunk, knees reinforced with a quilted patch 

Thanks to its robust design and wide range of sizes, a Gi that can be used by kids and adults alike. The Yamato Sakura Gi comes bleached and pre-shrunk, so you don’t have to waste time preparing it for daily use. Just pack the Gi, put it on, secure the pants with the drawstring, and you’re ready. 

Ronin Single Weave Blue Judo Gi

• Size: 0 to 7
• Color: Blue
• Material: Cotton
• Features: Reinforced shoulders, lapels, sleeves, knees
• Strengths: Tough but lightweight gi with reinforced sections to aid with sparring

The diamond pattern stitching on the lower jacket combined with the reinforced lapels and shoulders tells you that this is a top-tier Judo Gi designed by professionals for competing. It’s a single weave, but the heavy kind almost feels like a double weave. It uses premium-quality cotton with reinforced stitching. Kids sizes come with elastic waistbands on the pants, and adult sizes come with drawstrings. 

Twister Judo Gi

• Size: 0 to 6
• Color: Blue, white
• Material: Cotton
• Features: 450gsm cotton, 8oz twill pants with reinforced knees
• Strengths: Very affordable, multi-purpose gi can be used for judo and aikido, too

Twister claims that this is a multipurpose Gi that can be used for Jiu-Jitsu and Aikido in addition to Judo. While that’s not entirely wrong, Jiu-Jitsu practitioners will find this Gi a little too heavy and stiff for their sport. But in Judo, that extra weight and stiffness is a bonus because you want a Gi that can bear your body weight without tearing itself apart. 

Conclusion

Often, you’ll find Gis that are International Judo Federation (IJF) approved. While this does not always guarantee a premium Gi, it’s a nice baseline. It tells you that the Gi you’re purchasing is suitable for competition. A Gi has to be the right size; its skirt must extend past your hands when your arms are fully extended down the side of your body.

The sleeve of the Gi must end between the wrist joint and 5cm above the wrist joint; the sleeve width should be 10cm from the arm (or more). Children’s Judo pants tend to have elastic waistbands, while adult pants use drawstrings. The hem of your judo trousers must be no shorter than 5cm above the ankle joint.

Last update on 2024-06-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API