Students training gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Method Jiu-Jitsu Tulsa

GI JIU-JITSU IN TULSA

Traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, trained the way it was built to be trained. Grip-based grappling, patient technique, and a curriculum that runs from your first collar tie to black belt.

I keep hearing "gi" and "no-gi" but nobody's ever actually explained what training in a gi means or why it matters.

I want to learn the traditional side of the art — the version the sport was actually built on — but I don't know where to start.

People say gi is the foundation of BJJ. I want to know what that actually means once you're on the mat.

WHAT IS GI JIU-JITSU?

Gi jiu-jitsu is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practiced in a traditional uniform called a gi — a heavy cotton or ripstop jacket, matching pants, and a belt that marks your rank. The fabric gives both practitioners something to grab onto, and every grip on a collar, sleeve, or pant leg becomes a handle you can use to control, sweep, or submit your opponent.

That fabric changes the entire pace of the match. Grips slow things down and reward precision over pure athleticism, which is why gi training is considered the foundation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — it's the format the art was developed in, and it's still where most schools, including Method, teach the core curriculum.

We won't re-run the full comparison here — if you want the detailed breakdown of gi versus no-gi, including which is better for beginners and self-defense, read our full gi vs. no-gi guide. This page is about what training gi actually looks like at Method.

The Method Difference

WHY TRAIN GI AT METHOD

WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTION

Coach Dallas leads every gi curriculum decision at Method with a depth of technical knowledge that comes from years on the mat, not a franchise manual. Every class has a purpose. You're not just drilling random techniques — you're being walked through a system that connects to everything you've learned before and everything you'll learn next.

A CURRICULUM BUILT WHITE TO BLACK

Our gi program isn't a loose collection of "technique of the day" classes. It's a structured curriculum that takes you from your first grip and first sweep all the way to black belt, with each belt level building deliberately on the one before it. You always know where you are and what's coming next.

SIX DAYS A WEEK, EVERY BELT ON THE MAT

Gi classes run Monday through Saturday in a clean, modern facility built for training — not a converted warehouse. White belts and black belts train side by side in every class, and our upper belts genuinely enjoy helping newer students. That's the culture we've built at Method, and it's something we protect fiercely.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN GI CLASS

Gi training opens up a version of jiu-jitsu that doesn't exist without fabric to grip. The techniques below are the backbone of what you'll drill, refine, and eventually own as you move through the belts.

Gi jiu-jitsu class lineup at Method Jiu-Jitsu in Tulsa Oklahoma — Students lined up before the start of gi class at Method Jiu-Jitsu.

COLLAR CHOKES, CROSS CHOKES, AND LOOP CHOKES

The collar of your opponent's gi is one of the most dangerous handles in jiu-jitsu. You'll learn how to finish cross collar chokes from guard and mount, set up loop chokes off a failed pass, and understand why the collar is often the first grip worth fighting for in any exchange.

GRIP-BASED GUARD SYSTEMS

Spider guard, lasso guard, and lapel guard don't exist in no-gi — they're built entirely around the friction and structure that fabric grips provide. You'll learn how to use sleeve and pant grips to control distance, off-balance your opponent, and create the angles you need to sweep or attack.

SWEEPS THAT USE THE GI AS LEVERAGE

Every grip you take is also a lever. We'll teach you how collar, sleeve, and pant grips turn ordinary sweeps into high-percentage ones, giving you the mechanical advantage to off-balance opponents who are stronger or heavier than you.

TAKEDOWNS ADAPTED FOR GI GRIPS

Standing exchanges look different with a jacket to grab. You'll learn gi-specific trips, grip fighting for takedowns, and how to use the collar and sleeve to control your opponent's posture before you ever touch the mat.

THE DISCIPLINE OF BELT PROGRESSION

The belt system in gi jiu-jitsu isn't just a ranking system — it's a roadmap. Each stripe and promotion marks real, verified growth in your technique, and that structure gives you a way to measure progress in an art that can otherwise feel endless. We take belt progression seriously because it's one of the most honest measures of your development.

Every Background, Every Goal

WHO IS GI TRAINING FOR?

COMPLETE BEGINNERS

Every black belt was once exactly where you are. Gi is the traditional starting point for most new students because the slower pace makes technique easier to see and feel. Check out our program for beginners to see how we get first-timers comfortable fast.

EXPERIENCED GRAPPLERS

If you already roll no-gi or wrestle, gi training will expose gaps in your game you didn't know existed. Grip fighting and guard retention in the gi sharpen fundamentals that carry over to everything else you do on the mat.

COMPETITORS

If you want to compete under IBJJF rules, gi is non-negotiable — it's the format the biggest tournaments in the sport are built around. Our gi curriculum prepares you for the grips, stalling rules, and pace of real competition.

TRADITIONALISTS

If you're drawn to jiu-jitsu because of its roots — the belt system, the etiquette, the lineage of the art — gi training is where that tradition lives. The mat doesn't care what you look like walking in the door, but it will teach you respect for the art fast.

FROM OUR GI STUDENTS

★★★★★

"I had never touched a gi before my first class. They lent me one, walked me through tying my belt, and by the end of the hour I understood why everyone talks about grips changing everything."

Marcus T.

White Belt, Member since 2024

★★★★★

"I came from a no-gi background and thought gi would feel like a step backward. It's the opposite — it's cleaned up mistakes in my game that no-gi speed had been hiding for years."

Priya N.

Purple Belt, Member since 2022

★★★★★

"The belt system actually means something at Method. Every stripe I've earned in gi class has come from real progress the coaches verified, not participation. It keeps me honest about where I am."

Owen K.

Blue Belt, Member since 2023

GI TRAINING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What about the gi — do I need to buy one?

Every membership at Method includes a premium Method Jiu-Jitsu gi. For your first trial class, we'll get you set up — just show up ready to train and we'll take care of the rest.

What's the difference between gi and no-gi?

Gi jiu-jitsu is trained in a traditional kimono, using fabric grips to control and submit your opponent, which makes the pace slower and more technical. No-gi is trained in a rashguard and shorts, relying on body mechanics and speed instead of clothing grips. Both are Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — they just emphasize different skills. See our full gi vs. no-gi comparison for the details.

How often are gi classes held?

Gi classes run six days a week, Monday through Saturday, at Method Jiu-Jitsu in Tulsa. Check our class schedule for exact times so you can find a class that fits your week.

Can I train both gi and no-gi?

Yes — most of our members train both. Gi builds precision and grip-based control, no-gi builds speed and athleticism, and each one sharpens the other. There's no requirement to choose just one format at Method.

READY TO TRAIN GI?

Every black belt was once exactly where you are. Come try a free class, borrow a gi if you need one, and see what traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu feels like at Method.

Claim Your Free Gi Class

Tulsa's home for traditional gi BJJ — 8011 S Sheridan Rd, Suite B, Tulsa, OK 74133

GI JIU-JITSU IN TULSA

WHAT IS GI JIU-JITSU?

WHY TRAIN GI AT METHOD

WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTION

A CURRICULUM BUILT WHITE TO BLACK

SIX DAYS A WEEK, EVERY BELT ON THE MAT

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN GI CLASS

COLLAR CHOKES, CROSS CHOKES, AND LOOP CHOKES

GRIP-BASED GUARD SYSTEMS

SWEEPS THAT USE THE GI AS LEVERAGE

TAKEDOWNS ADAPTED FOR GI GRIPS

THE DISCIPLINE OF BELT PROGRESSION

START YOUR GI JOURNEY

WHO IS GI TRAINING FOR?

COMPLETE BEGINNERS

EXPERIENCED GRAPPLERS

COMPETITORS

TRADITIONALISTS

FROM OUR GI STUDENTS

GI TRAINING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

READY TO TRAIN GI?

EXPLORE MORE

CLAIM YOUR FREE CLASS

YOU'RE ALL SET!