In a recent podcast video, two legendary mixed martial artists recently shared their perspectives on why training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the gi remains crucial for MMA success. This is despite fighters competing without the traditional uniform in the octagon.
Daniel Cormier, the former two-division UFC champion, has long been an advocate for gi training throughout his career. His unique journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began with an unprecedented promotion from white belt directly to brown belt in 2013, awarded by Checkmat’s Leo Vieira. This decision sparked controversy in the grappling community, with some questioning whether such rapid advancement was appropriate.
Vieira defended his decision by highlighting Cormier’s exceptional wrestling background: “Daniel has an enviable track record in wrestling, which facilitated his evolution in Jiu-Jitsu. Few know his career, but the guy was fourth in the Olympics in Athens, he was captain of the U.S. team wrestling in Beijing, and has medaled twice at the Pan. In my view, analyzing his daily practice for two years, the Brown belt was the most suitable for the technical level of Cormier.”
In a recent discussion with Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, another UFC Hall of Famer, Cormier emphasized how gi training enhanced his grappling game.
“If you can grapple with the gi, oh dude, you when you take it off,” Cormier explained, describing the transformative effect of removing the gi after extensive training with it.
Johnson echoed this sentiment, sharing how gi training specifically improved his performance in his rematch with Adriano Moraes. “Training in the gi when I fought Adriano the second time it made my grappling that much better because i’m so used to people breaking breaking trying to move and then holding me down and so when he took me down i was like okay well i can move i can create space elbow it made my game that much better,” Johnson revealed.
The former flyweight champion explained that the countless hours spent grappling in the gi fundamentally changed his approach to grappling without it. “The amount of hours that i was spinning and just grappling in the gi it just made nogi like easier,” he noted.
Both highlighted the intellectual challenge that gi training presents. Johnson particularly appreciates this aspect, saying, “I love how sophisticated the gi and how hard it is, it’s just hard, it’s a puzzle, it’s always a puzzle.” This complexity forces practitioners to think several moves ahead and develop more nuanced grappling strategies.
Cormier revealed that gi training was non-negotiable during his competitive career. “So much gi jiu-jitsu when I was fighting, it was just mandatory, we had no choice but to grapple in the gi,” he explained. “We had to grapple in the gi every day. Every week we were in the gi.”
The psychological benefits of gi training also cannot be overlooked. As one analyst noted, there’s an intimidation factor when facing opponents with higher belt ranks, particularly early in a career. This confidence boost, while intangible, can provide a significant mental edge in competition.
The historical context supports their position, as traditional grappling arts have long incorporated gi training. Many of today’s top mixed martial artists, including champions like Georges St-Pierre and the Diaz brothers, have built their foundations on gi-based jiu-jitsu training.
While Johnson’s wife prefers watching no-gi grappling because “you see the muscles you can fling out, it’s more explosive, it’s more enjoyable to watch,” both former fighters maintain that the gi’s restrictive nature creates better overall grapplers. The slower pace and increased grip options in gi training force practitioners to develop patience, precision, and strategic thinking that translates directly to improved performance without the gi.
When asked about competing in gi tournaments, Cormier responded with characteristic humor: “I don’t think you see me competing anything but golf. I’ll be losing.”
Like strength exercises that don’t replicate specific movements but improve overall performance, gi training provides foundational benefits that enhance a martial artist’s entire grappling game, regardless of what they wear in competition.
