{"id":830,"date":"2019-08-28T23:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T04:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/?p=830"},"modified":"2023-11-28T13:29:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T19:29:12","slug":"spats-for-bjj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/spats-for-bjj\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do people wear spats for BJJ?"},"content":{"rendered":"
This article is to answer the question: why do people wear spats for BJJ?<\/span><\/p>\n I thought BJJ spats<\/a> were just for warmth…<\/span><\/p>\n …until I saw people wearing spats for BJJ in the middle of summer!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n So I did some digging:<\/span><\/p>\n And now I wear them all the time too!<\/span><\/p>\n The reasons why people wear spats for BJJ include:<\/span><\/p>\n This is the main reason I\u00a0<\/span>now wear spats when I\u2019m doing No Gi grappling. <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m okay with getting choked, strangled or armlocked. <\/span><\/p>\n But \u2018mat burn\u2019 on my knees?<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s a big \u2018no\u2019 from me.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [And it seems I get this EVERY<\/strong><\/em> time I roll in grappling shorts<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n Since I\u2019ve started wearing spats for BJJ I\u2019ve never had this issue. <\/span><\/p>\n And, aside from me being soft when it comes to grazes, there\u2019s this:<\/span><\/p>\n BJJ mats are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. <\/span><\/p>\n Wearing spats helps prevent getting\u00a0 <\/span>infections in 3 ways:<\/span><\/p>\n First, they help prevent the scratches and grazes that germs like to use as a doorway into your body (gross)<\/span><\/p>\n Next, they act as a physical barrier to keep the cooties away. <\/span><\/p>\n This is important because you don\u2019t actually need cuts or grazes to get an infection:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFungal infections like ringworm can occur through direct skin-to-skin contact\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Finally, the best BJJ spats are usually made from antimicrobial material. <\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t you hate it:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSomeone thinks they\u2019re grabbing your Gi… <\/span><\/p>\n …but they\u2019re using your Gi to grab your skin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Or worse:<\/span><\/p>\n A pile of your leg hair?<\/span><\/p>\n [My eyes are watering just thinking about it]<\/span><\/p>\n BJJ spats stop this. It\u2019s like wearing a rash guard<\/a> on your legs. <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve never experienced chafing from my BJJ or Judo Gi before… but it makes sense. Following on from the above quote:<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not just ladies who wear spats for this reason:<\/span><\/p>\n Spats are like long versions of bike shorts that you wear under your Gi. <\/span><\/p>\n This one\u2019s so obvious I almost didn\u2019t mention it<\/span><\/p>\n But hey, I live on the coast at the moment. It\u2019s cold. So sometimes I even wear them under my Gi for the extra warmth.<\/span><\/p>\n [With a long-sleeve rashie too… my current favourite is the Fuji Freestyle IBJJF Rash Guard, you can read my full review here<\/a>]<\/p>\n They can make a chilly night on the mats just that little bit more comfortable<\/span><\/p>\n It takes some people a while to get used to the invasion of personal space that you get with grappling. <\/span><\/p>\n It weirded me out at first too. Now, I\u2019m all about cuddle-fighting.<\/span><\/p>\n But:<\/span><\/p>\n Hate the feeling of really sweaty legs?<\/span><\/p>\n What about the the sweaty-leg-to-sweaty-leg feeling?<\/span><\/p>\n Or worse:<\/span><\/p>\n Feeling someone else\u2019s sweaty legs on your face?<\/span><\/p>\n1. Wearing spats prevents cuts, scratches, scrapes, and mat burn<\/span><\/h2>\n
2. Wearing spats prevents bacterial and fungal infections<\/span><\/h2>\n
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3. BJJ spats stop people pinching your skin (even when you\u2019re wearing a Gi)<\/span><\/h2>\n
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4. Wearing spats under your Gi pants can stop chafing<\/span><\/h2>\n
5. Spats keep you warmer<\/span><\/h2>\n
6. Spats absorb sweat away from your body<\/span><\/h2>\n