Gi
A gi is the traditional two-piece uniform, worn with a belt, used in several grappling and striking martial arts.
Definition
A gi (sometimes spelled keikogi or dogi) is the classic martial-arts uniform: a wrap-over jacket, matching trousers and a coloured belt that is tied at the waist. It is usually made of sturdy cotton, with the jacket weave and thickness varying by art — grappling styles favour a tougher, heavier weave that can withstand constant gripping and pulling.
Gis are central to arts such as judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate and aikido, where the jacket, lapels and sleeves are gripped as part of the technique. The belt colour commonly signals a practitioner’s grade or experience level. Some arts and rulesets are trained “no-gi”, using close-fitting sportswear instead so there is nothing to grab.
Where you’ll hear “gi”
Sports that use this term:
Judo
A grappling martial art based on throws, holds and control, practised on mats with a partner.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
A ground-focused grappling art that uses leverage, position and technique to control a partner.
Karate
A striking martial art of punches, kicks and forms, structured around steady progression for all ages.
Aikido
A Japanese martial art that redirects an opponent’s motion through flowing throws, joint movements and calm control.
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Equipment
- Gi (martial arts uniform)A durable jacket-and-trouser uniform worn in several grappling and striking martial arts.
- Padel racketA solid, stringless perforated racket used to play padel.
- BasketballA large, inflated ball with a dimpled surface used to play basketball.
- Badminton racketA lightweight strung racket used to hit the shuttlecock in badminton.
- Football (soccer ball)A round, inflated ball used to play association football and futsal.
Playing surfaces
- MatA cushioned, padded mat surface for grappling, striking and floor work — it absorbs falls and throws and grips underfoot, cushioning grappling, throws and floor work.
- Artificial turfSynthetic grass, often filled with sand or rubber, that gives a firm, even, all-weather surface. It plays faster and truer than worn natural grass.
Rules
- LetA call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- Foot faultA serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
Player roles
- Utility playerA dependable, versatile player who can competently fill several different positions as the team needs, rather than specialising in just one.
- Ball-winnerA ball-winner is the player tasked with regaining possession through pressing, tackling and interceptions — a team's tireless defensive workhorse.
- PlaymakerThe playmaker is a team's creative hub — the player who orchestrates attacks, controls the tempo and distributes the ball so teammates can score.
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How this page is maintained
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- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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