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In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the training uniform is of the utmost importance. Quality gi helps to enhance the performance of fighters. The BJJ belt is an integral part of the attire. Not only does it represent the level of the athlete, but it also keeps the top in place. So people who want to get into this sport or who are already in it should learn about the best BJJ belt brands. Every brand has its signature style, design, and weaving combination. But at times, differentiating between a good BJJ belt brand and a bad one can be a complicated task if you don’t know about the intricacies.
Like any other variation of martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu belts are used to showcase the rank of a fighter. The first thing that people look at is the belt’s color. Apart from that, you need a good quality belt to perform at the top of your level. BJJ belts aren’t something you can pick up from the shelf and be happy with. You need to know more about them.
BJJ belts mainly have two purposes.
Like every other martial arts sport, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu follows a ranking system based on the ability of the athlete. It uses colors to identify the hierarchy within the sport. The colors include:
The black belt is the highest honor in this sport. Beginners start with a white belt. Then they slowly progress and attain blue, purple, brown, and lastly black belt in a gradual order. So the belt has a direct correlation with your ability in the Jiu-Jitsu arena.
Now coming to the functional part of the belt, it plays a vital role in a fighter’s performance. A good Gi enables you to perform well in the arena. But if you’re a beginner, you may ask, “How do we identify a good Gi?” The secret is hidden in the fit and weave of a Gi. If you get a comfortable and well-fitted Gi, your movement will instantly get faster.
The belt is what keeps the jacket closed and in place. The more grip your belt provides, the better the fit. Pro fighters use the belt as a tool to use different variations of submission maneuvers. Imagine your belt gets untied during a fight! To avoid such situations, you need the best BJJ gi belt. And we are here to help.
BJJ belts are made from different materials starting from cotton to hemp. The weaving style of the belt is also something you should learn about. The more knowledge you have about your Gi, the easier it will be to choose your belt.
You can find BJJ belts on Amazon and the brand’s website as well. But we have reviewed the best BJJ belts for you here as well. We have created the following list by prioritizing price, performance, and brand credibility.
Fuji creates the most affordable gears in the market. They sell various sports gears and attires, including the Gi and Gi belt. Their tagline, “Achieve Excellence,” along with the mount Fuji logo, resonates with the Jiu-Jitsu practitioners.
When buying a belt, no one wants to break the bank. That makes Fuji belts the ideal choice for people who are on a budget. You can’t go wrong with Fuji BJJ Gi belts. You get decent quality for the price you are paying.
A notable feature of this brand is the use of colors. Vibrant colors make the belts pop and eye-catching. As discussed earlier, the colors are really important in Jiu-Jitsu because it represents your rank. Nobody would want to wear a pale-colored belt as it can become a cause for confusion.
The belts come in the following color schemes:
A lot of the local brands use similar color palettes for blue and purple. But with the Fuji belts, you will be able to differentiate between the two from far away. The belts are made from industry grade cotton, which ensures the highest quality. That’s why the belts are sturdy on the sides. The adult belts are comparatively thicker, but you won’t have any issue in tying it around your waist. The belts are durable, and Fuji assures its customers that the colors won’t fade even after long usage.
There’s always the risk of belts getting folded and losing the shape. But as the sides are sturdy, you can rely on these Fuji BJJ belts. The belts can hold a knot tightly for long periods because of the material’s quality and average thickness.
To sum things up, Fuji, as a brand, is reliable and reasonable, and most of their belts are on the practical column.
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Whether you’re a pro fighter or someone who is starting their journey in the world of Jiu-Jitsu, you can rely on Gameness. The price point of some of the Gis and other gears are comparatively higher than the competitors. But it has a competitive edge over the rivals when it comes to quality and uniqueness. The pearl woven products, especially the Gameness Pearl Gi, is a solid choice for anyone. They provide a pearl woven BJJ belt with the Gi. There’s no room for complaints in regards to the price you are paying for the quality.
Gameness provides great attention to detail in all their products, and this is something that they take great pride in. You will find various size options on their website and Amazon. The Belts have size variations of A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5. The A stands for adults, and the size gets bigger as the number increases. If you combine the stylish Gameness Gi with their belt, as an athlete, you will stand out even in a crowd. They sell all the color variants of BJJ belts, including black, brown, purple, blue, and white.
Gameness includes a 4-inch bar sleeve with the belts. You will find stripes and different weaving patterns on the Gameness BJJ belt that other brands don’t typically have. The belts are comparatively thicker. So keep this in mind as it can be a positive or a negative aspect, depending on your personal preference as a fighter. Because of the stiffness on the belt, it won’t tear. You could spend the entire day on the mat grappling your opponent without having to fear for your belt.
Tying the belt will be hard initially because of the stiffness. But after a few washes, it becomes easy to operate. If you decide to go with a gameness belt, you are getting a belt that can withstand all the grappling and damage in the world.
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Hayabusa aims to fill the needs of modern-day athletes with their technology and performance-driven product line. The brand itself is a representation of what 21st century corporate entities should be like.
They are among the few brands that follow a research-based method in making their BJJ products and other sports gears. Most of their products get tested at the University of Waterloo and the University of Cincinnati. Whenever they are creating new products, the Hayabusa team focuses on providing a maximum amount of comfort, premium fit, and feel, and finally, safety, and performance. These elements have led to the success of the brand.
Hayabusa belts are on the expensive side, but they aren’t out of your reach. You would just have to spend a few extra bucks. But the quality you are getting is worth it. The unisex belts come in all the traditional color schemes. The belts were made for professional use; that’s why you won’t find any weird colors in the mix.
The Unisex belt is strong, plus it has double stitching throughout its core. They used 550 grams of gold spec weaving components and twill version of cotton to make this belt strong. Honestly speaking, it does a perfect job of doing exactly what it was supposed to do.
Another notable trait of Hayabusa belts is that they are flexible. You wouldn’t expect a stiff belt to be flexible as well. But somehow, the brand has managed to pull it off eloquently. Hayabusa combines the traditional format with modern-day technology. That’s why their belts are equally stiff and lightweight. No other brand has managed to incorporate science into belt making like Hayabusa. So, you can tie it, bend it, wash it and do anything you want with almost all the Hayabusa belts.
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The BJJ belts from Ronin offer a great package. Inexpensive price point, quality material, and good built quality have allowed them to get a place on this list. Compared to the likes of Fuji, it is a bit more expensive but not as expensive as Hayabusa or Gameness belts.
Ronin belts come in all the traditional colors. Their belts have a certain edginess to them, which helps them to stand out in a saturated market. Ronin uses a mixture of cotton and poly in their belts. The stitching is solid, so don’t worry about tearing the belts. They follow the traditional sizing method, which starts from A0 and ends on A5. Ronin’s BJJ belts are strong enough to keep your BJJ gi in place but, at the same time, light enough to not feel uncomfortable.
Do keep in mind that the belt loses its stiffness over time. That may be a cause for concern when it comes to durability. But so far, there haven’t been any major complaints.
If you consider everything, this is an overall solid belt.
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Sanabul has managed to become a common name in the BJJ world because of its variety of quality products. Their product line covers different variations of the martial arts. This is the main reason behind the brand’s success.
Let’s start with the price point. Sanabul belts are on the low to medium tier in the price charts. But that doesn’t take anything away from their quality. Having said that, you shouldn’t be comparing Sanabul belts with Gameness or Hayabusa belts. They also offer kids sizes which are cheap.
The colors are basic and differentiable. The blue belt has more of a royal blue color, and the purple belt is relatively darker. You can also choose from the other traditional colors, depending on your rank.
The thickness of the Sanabul belt is approved by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Foundation. But thickness is directly related to the stiffness of the belt. You will need time to get used to the thickness of this belt. With time it does become more comfortable. You just need to be patient.
Because of the thickness and stiffness, you can use this belt for years without any major defect. Sanabul claims it has anti- shrinking components in their belt’s material which means the belt won’t crumble even after multiple washes.
The belt has a special feature, which is noteworthy. It has a sleeve bar for the ranks where you can insert slip stripes depending on your club or dojo. If you consider the bigger picture, you can’t say anything bad about Sanabul’s belt. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference.
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Browsing through the BJJ Gi belt options that are available online and offline, may be confusing for some people. That’s why you need to have a thorough understanding of what to look for.
As already discussed in the early sections of the article, there are five major colors available. You should pick a color that is assigned to your rank.
The only issue you might face is differentiating between blue and purple. But over the years most brands have learned to incorporate distinct blue and purple colors
A point to keep in mind is, the prices will vary depending on the quality. As this is a niche market, you should be prepared to exceed your fixed budget.
Brands like Gameness, Hayabusa produce the most innovative products in the BJJ world, and that comes at a price. But don’t think they are out your reach as we are talking about the comparative pricing.
Fuji, Sanabul belts are good options if you’re someone on a very tight budget.
There are certain size guidelines that brands have to follow. While most brands follow the traditional sizing chart, some brands make up their unique size chart. Belts have size variations of A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5. The size gets bigger as the number increases, and the A stands for adults. Some brands have started to introduce an A6 variant recently. Children’s belt sizes start from M0 to M4.
Go for a belt that sits comfortably on your stomach without being uncomfortable. Don’t pick a loose size as it will impact your performance badly. Keep this in mind before you place your order.
Brands mainly use three types of weaves. They are:
Some brands use their very unique weaving style. One such example is the pearl weave.
The single weave is known for providing comfort. It’s a simple form of weaving. So, it doesn’t have any complications with it. But there are questions over its durability.
The double weave build adds extra traction to the clothing making it more durable. However, it is more expensive than a single weave. But double weave is better for competitions.
The golden weave combines the positive aspects of both single weave and double weave. It’s lightweight, durable, and most importantly, perfect for tournaments and competitions. But it does come at a price.
The belt is an inseparable part of the Gi in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Owning a good belt isn’t just a fashion statement by any means. Your overall performance depends on the Gi belt. So follow this guide to get the best BJJ Gi belt on the market.
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I'm Timmy and I'm the chief-editor and co-founder of Jiu-Jitsu Street. You'll usually find me on the mats and also cross-training Muay Thai. Besides martial arts I'm also into functional fitness and all things health. Jiu-Jitsu Street was created to provide useful information for BJJ beginners and seasoned practitioners alike to help you on your journey and love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Oss!
Jiu-Jitsu Street is a community of fun loving and hard rolling BJJ enthusiasts. Born out of our passion for the gentle art, we have decided to create this blog and help you on your journey. Let’s grow and learn together on this never-ending journey. Oss!
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