Jiu Jitsu Gi Sizes: How to Choose the Right BJJ Gi Size and Fit

Jiu jitsu gi sizes run from A1 to A5 for adults at Elite Sports, and no two brands define them the same way. Start with your height and weight on the chart for the exact gi you plan to buy. If the two numbers point to different sizes, work out whether you need more length or more width before you move up, then test the fit by moving in it.

Sounds simple. It rarely is.

Your height says A2. Your weight says A3. Your old A2 fit like a glove, and the new brand's A2 feels like a different garment. This guide shows you why that happens and how to pick the right size anyway.

Follow four steps.

1. Measure your current height and weight.
2. Open the size chart for the specific gi you want. For Elite Sports, use the Elite Sports sizing guide.
3. If both numbers land in the same size, buy that size.
4. If they disagree, ask which body part is pushing you up or down: height, shoulders, waist, thighs or arms.

Elite Sports lists men's sizes A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, women's sizes F0 to F4, and kids sizes C000 up to 3. The sizing guide also says Elite Sports uses its own system, so your size in another brand may not carry over. When you sit between two sizes, the guide suggests sizing down for a closer competition style fit or sizing up for a roomier training fit.

The "A" stands for adult. The number is a label each manufacturer assigns. Nobody regulates it.

Look at how two published charts treat an A2:

1. Valor lists an A2 for roughly 5'8" to 6'0" and 72 to 82 kg (about 159 to 181 lb), and an A3 for roughly 6'1" to 6'3" and 82 to 95 kg.
2. Novakik lists an A2 for 170 to 180 cm and 75 to 85 kg (about 165 to 187 lb), and an A3 for 180 to 190 cm and 85 to 100 kg.

Same label, different ranges. Those charts come from third party pages of different ages, so treat them as examples of the gap, never as a size guide for any gi you buy. Always use the current chart for the exact gi.

That gap is why you should stop saying "I'm an A2" and start saying "I know which measurements and cut work for me."

Most brands size adult gis by height and weight, and A sizes usually run from A0 or A1 up to A5 or A6. Here is how the pattern works in practice, using the Valor chart as one example:

1. A1: about 5'7" to 5'9", 65 to 72 kg
2. A2: about 5'8" to 6'0", 72 to 82 kg
3. A3: about 6'1" to 6'3", 82 to 95 kg
4. A4: about 6'1" to 6'4", 95 to 120 kg

Notice the overlap. A1 and A2 share heights. A3 and A4 share heights. That overlap exists on purpose, because weight and frame decide the fit when height does not. For real Elite Sports measurements, go to the official sizing guide linked above.

Women's gis use F sizes at Elite Sports (F0 to F4). Many brands cut women's gis with a shorter torso, narrower shoulders and more room through the hips, though the exact cut changes from brand to brand.

As one reference point, Novakik lists an F2 for 155 to 165 cm and 50 to 65 kg, and an F3 for 160 to 170 cm and 60 to 75 kg. Again, that is one brand's chart. Use the Elite Sports women's sizing and do not convert an F size from another brand into an A size.

A woman does not have to wear a women's cut. If a men's A1 or A2 fits your shoulders, torso and legs better, buy what fits. If you want to browse, start with the gis for adults collection.

You do not need a full tailor's fitting. Measure what the chart asks for.

1. Height: barefoot, standing straight, from the floor to the top of your head.
2. Weight: today's weight, not the weight you plan to reach. A gi that fit six months ago does not hold your size for life.
3. Chest: around the fullest part, with the tape level and relaxed.
4. Waist: where the pants will sit. Two people with the same weight can need very different waist room.
5. Sleeve and inseam: use these if the brand lists them. They matter most for tall and lean builds and for short and stocky builds.

Do not pull the tape tight to look smaller on paper. You are looking for your real measurements.

Here is the question most people skip: what if the chart disagrees with itself?

Do not just size up. Find out why the numbers disagree.

Picture two people, both 5'10" and 210 lb. One has broad shoulders, a big chest and thick thighs. The other has a narrow frame and carries weight around the waist. The same size will not solve both problems.

Now picture someone 6'0" and 175 lb with long arms. An A3 may fix the sleeve length and add width through the jacket and pants that the person does not want.

Ask which measurement is pushing you toward the bigger size:

1. If length is the problem, look for a long cut.
2. If width is the problem, look for a heavy or wider cut.
3. If both are off, a standard cut may simply not match your proportions.

Anyone who says "always size up" or "always size down" is selling you a shortcut. Test what happens on your body instead.

1. Smaller size too short: check for a long version before you jump to a wider standard size.
2. Smaller size too tight across chest or shoulders: you need width.
3. Larger size right in length but huge through the body: the cut is the problem, not the size.
4. Jacket fits, pants do not: do not assume the whole gi must move up. Look for mixed sizing or compare the next size carefully.

Sometimes you are not between two sizes. You are between two cuts.

Many brands add a letter to the size:

1. L usually means long. It adds length, often while keeping the width of the base size. One brand explains it as the weight dimensions of an A2 with the height of an A3, which suits someone too tall for an A2 and too slim for an A3.
2. H usually means heavy or wider.
3. Some brands add other letters or extended sizes, so check each chart.

An A2L from one brand does not match an A2L from another. If your sleeves run short but everything else fits, look at the long version before you buy a bigger standard size.

A good gi lets you train without thinking about it. It should not hang like a tent, and it should not fight you every time you move. The real test is movement, because a gi that looks perfect while you stand still can feel different once you start rolling.

1. Shoulders: bring your arms forward and across your body. Hard pulling across the shoulders means the jacket is too small.
2. Chest and torso: you should move freely without a lot of loose fabric.
3. Sleeves: reach forward, grip and drill. Sleeves that look fine at your sides can ride up and restrict you in motion.
4. Skirt: the jacket should not ride high when you move.

1. Waistband: the pants should stay put without a drawstring cranked uncomfortably tight.
2. Thighs and seat: squat, sit and bring your knees to your chest. Pulling means the pants are too snug.
3. Length: tall and lean people often find short legs even when the weight matches. Short legged people can find a bigger size leaves fabric piled at the ankles.

Size and cut are separate decisions. Keep them separate when you shop.

Kids sizing follows height and growth, not the A scale. Elite Sports kids sizes run from C000 to 3. If your child is between sizes, think about growth and whether they like a closer or roomier fit. Browse children's gi sizes to compare.

Martial arts gi sizes outside BJJ work differently. BJJ gis use the A, F and C style labels and are cut for grappling. Judo and karate uniforms often follow other systems and cuts, so do not carry a BJJ size over to a judo or karate gi without checking that brand's chart. If you are still deciding which style of training suits you, read our guide to gi and no gi training.

Cotton gis can shrink, especially with heat, but the amount depends on the fabric, the construction and how you wash and dry the gi. Check the care instructions that come with your gi. Do not buy a gi that is far too big on the plan to shrink it. Shrinkage is not tailoring, and you cannot tell a sleeve to shrink two inches while the rest stays put.

If you compete, the fit matters beyond comfort. Federations such as the IBJJF check things like sleeve and pant length and how far the jacket covers. Rules change, so read the current rulebook at ibjjf.com before you buy for a tournament.

Try it on and move before you decide.

1. Raise your arms, reach forward and cross your arms.
2. Squat, sit and bring your knees up.
3. Look for pulling at the shoulders, a waistband that slips, tight thighs, restricted sleeves or piles of extra fabric.

Then ask one question: can I train in this without thinking about the gi? If yes, you are close.

Buying online? Check the exchange policy first, especially if you sit between sizes. Many Elite Sports gis include a free white belt, which helps first time buyers.

A chart gets you close. Your body decides the rest.

Measure yourself. Read the chart for the exact gi. Pay attention when height and weight disagree. Ask whether you need width or length. Then reach, grip, squat and move before you commit. If you can train without thinking about the gi, you picked well.