Unless you are walking out of your house with your jiu-jitsu gi on, you need some sort of bag to carry your gi and all of your equipment and gear in. Luckily, there are bags made especially for jiu-jitsu. Lets discuss the best BJJ bags of 2019. (We have been reviewing these bags each year since 2015 and updated this review in 2019 to reflect new bags.)
If you train in the gi, you know the routine. Take out your gi, your belt, your rash guard, your mouth guard, strengthening tools, your protective cup… maybe you have some athletic tape and a drink. Then you have to put away your clothes, your keys, your wallet and anything else you brought before getting on the mats. Even if you train no-gi, you still have a lot of gear to worry about.
Then you train. Build up a nice sweat the size of a pool. You have to then put all your sweaty gear back into your bag and off you go.
There are bags… and then there are jiu-jitsu bags. Jiu-jitsu bags are made to take care of the hassle of organizing all your gear. They have cool separate compartments to divide your sweaty gear from your dry clothes. Maybe some jiu-jitsu books. Some even keep your food, snacks and drinks cool!
When shopping for a jiu-jitsu bag or MMA bag, you want one that has several compartments and one that is built to last. You can always find cheap bags, but why not make the investment on one that looks great and will last you a lifetime?
Below are the best BJJ Gi Bags of 2019. We started this guide back in 2015 and have been updating ever since:
Venum Trainer Lite
Material: Polyester
Dimensions:
Length: 680mm
Height 330mm
Width: 260mm
This bag has several available colors, from a subtle black on black look if you don’t like to call out too much attention, to bright yellow that will let everyone know you have arrived. This bag features a large compartment that will store all your gear including your Gi and even sparring gloves and more. This bag also has a mesh panel that will allow breathability and won’t have you stink up the room. There are also side panels and a separate compartment for you to store your mouthguard or any tape.
PRO
Huge Main Compartment
CONS
Since there is one huge main compartment, the separate compartment could be a tight squeeze to store your Gi after use.
Sanabul HYBRID MMA BJJ Gym Duffel Backpack Bag
Material: High Grade Ballistic 1200D Cordura
Dimensions: 30x18x15
This jiu-jitsu bag can be worn as both a backpack or carried around like a duffle bag. Although from some customer reviews, in order to really wear this as a backpack, you have to carry lighter weight and since you also have the duffle bag handles, it can look funny walking around with the loose handles.
The Sanabul comes with a lot of different pockets to store everything from keys, wallet and of course, all your bjj gear. The size is great and also has a separate compartment to storey your dirty clothes or to keep your shoes separate from the rest of your gear. This side compartment is ventilated to not stink up your entire bag.
The bag was made to be durable. It is made from a high grade military type of nylon called 1200D Cordura.
PROS
A lot of compartments
Can be used a backpack or a duffle bag
CONS
Some customers report the logo begins to fade the longer you have it
VENUM CHALLENGER PRO BACKPACK
Material: Polyester Fabric
Dimensions:19.7 x 13.8 x 2.4
This backpack looks great. As expected, this backpack is very comfortable to wear. It’s padded in the right places. The shoulder pads are padded to make carrying all your BJJ gear as comfortable as possible. The back of the backpack is also padded and has an air mesh fabric.
There is a main compartment that features a velcro closure. The company claims this special closure can hold a 17 inch laptop, but several users are saying that it won’t even hold a 15 inch laptop. So if you are carrying a mac air or a 13 inch computer or tablet, then this would be perfect. There is also a cool mp3 player pocket with a head jack opening so you can listen to music to get your pumped up right before class starts.
There is a second compartment that is also large enough to store equipment. It’s smaller than the main compartment and it may not fit too much extra gear. You can use this to carry your Venum Knee Pads if you own them.
Overall, people who purchased this bag like it and like all the several compartments, but also have stated that there isn’t too much room. However, this can be a plus if you don’t want a super bulky bag.
PROS
Foam filled shoulder straps
CONS
Smaller than expected, so make sure you double check the dimensions
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There are many different backpacks available for the Jiu-Jitsu participant, but this article is designed to assist you in finding the best bjj backpack for your needs. You can also read our picks for best overall Jiu-jitsu Gi bags in this article. There are a variety of people who participate in this sport, each with their own individual needs of transportation.
Although there are a few fundamental things which all martial arts and Jiu Jitsu participants have, specific backpack needs can vary making it important for us to review individual specs on each pack before making a final decision. Check out this entire review and you will find out why brands such as Venum, Elite Sports, Datsusara, Gold, and Grips Gi Sack are few of the most popular backpacks being used by many Jiu-Jitsu practitioners.
While some packs are designed to meet your Jiu-Jitsu needs more than others, each bjj backpack is unique and can be utilized for a number of things, including activities outside of the sport like carrying books. Especially since these backpacks are pricier than other backpacks, you definitely want to make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck. Often times, participants are looking for packs that are strong which can assist them in carrying all their gear while not being to damaged or stunk up by the rough and dirty equipment.
Here are a list of a few Backpacks we found to be useful for these type of needs:
Elite Sports NEW ITEM Black Mesh MMA, Bjj, Gear Gym Backpack
Size: 20″ long x 9″ wide x 11″ high (small) 23″ long x 11″ wide x 12″ high
Material: Mesh and Heavy Duty Cordura
There is one unique feature of this backpack that we particularly like. The main compartment closes with a drawstring instead of the regular backpack buckle. Some actually may not like this feature, but we find that if you are stuffing a lot of items into your backpack and are carrying something long, like maybe some shin guards, you can have them sticking out of your backpack while still tightly closed.
This backpack gives you sufficient storage space that will allow you enough room for all of your important gear. You can comfortably pack your fighting gloves, Jiu Jitsu Kimono, guards, head gear and other necessities with no issue. The bag has been created with mesh beats that are entirely ventilated, allowing for unwanted odor to easily seep out and preserve the well being of your supplies. While the backpack remains tough in nature, it is extremely light and will not add on extra pounds when you go to transport your Jiu Jitsu accessories in it.
Overall the back is versatile for numerous occasions and gives you the sufficient space needed to store all your necessary belongings. All in all, consumers give lots of positive feedback regarding the pack with little, if any reports of difficulties while using it.
Venum “Challenger Xtreme” Backpack
Size: 20.5 x 16.5 x 3.2 inches
Material: Water and hard resistant polyester fabric
This backpack is not only able to be used as a useful tool for transporting your Gi and gear, but it can also be transformed into a duffel bag if you develop the need to carry a larger load. It also comes with a cooler pocket attached on the side which stays fully insulated, allowing you to store items with cooling needs in a designated area.
If you have to travel a bit of a distance in order to get to your Jiu Jitsu practice, Venum’s “Challenger Xtreme” backpack may be one of the best bjj backpack available for you to use. Not only does it have a specially designed pocket that will protect your phone against scratches, it also has a specific pocket for your mp3 player, even with a hole for your headphones to come out of. This is great for people who like to jam out to some tunes, to help them get excited and prepared on their way to practice.
Although many people enjoy the pack, some consumers have reported that the bag’s material isn’t as sturdy as others. In one particular case, a person reported that their backpack had begun to fall apart within a short amount of time, due to faulty material.
Datsusara Battlepack Core, Hemp and Antimicrobial Sports/Crossfit Backpack
Material: Hemp
Size:20″H x 13″W x 8″D
This backpack is most known for its durability. It is produced with hemp material (which is considered to be stronger than cotton even) and is even double stitched in a number of spots. The pack is designed with Antimicrobial technology, making this one of the best bjj backpacks for people who are wanting to avoid odors. If you ever need to get rid of the bag, you can rest your conscious as it made from environmentally friendly hemp that won’t harm earth’s soil.
The one downside to this bag is it’s hefty price tag. However, you get what you pay for. So purchasing this bag will most likely last your entire lifetime and then some.
Gold BJJ Jiu Jitsu Backpack
Material: High Grade Nylon
Size: 14 x 9 x 3 inches
Customer ratings for this pack are rather high, as the bag is particularly designed with jiu jitsu participants in mind. The pack has a particular compartment that is sweat-proof and waterproof, dedicated to storing your practiced in Gi until you can get it to the wash. Special nylon material has been used to create this pack into a tough and durable bag, specially made with your needs in mind. This bag even has a specific pouch, solely there to protect and store your belt while transporting.
Customers seem to really like this backpack. One thing to note is that it may be smaller than you would want. But then again, who wants to be carrying a Godzilla backpack around?
Grips Gi Sack Backpack With Rain Cover
This backpack is a well-liked bag by many jiu jitsu participants and BJJ users. It is designed with nifty, inner pockets that can be open and sealed with zippers which you can use to secure not only your training gears but many other necessities you might need such as towels, finger tapes, medicine bag, personal hygiene box, and more. The straps for the shoulders have been created with a special material and particular precision that causes it to absorb shock, enabling a more snug and comfortable fit when transporting your gear. The bag also has a water resistant cover to protect it and your belongings from experiencing damage due to rain or other mishaps that can occur while going to the gym.
Although in general many consumers seem happy, there has been report by one individual stating that the bags material did not hold up after a few months of light use. Due to the price, the customer was unhappy to note that their backpack was beginning to fall apart significantly prior to when they had expected.
BEST JIU-JITSU BACKPACKS: FINAL THOUGHTS
At the end of the day, there are a variety of great options available for Jiu Jitsu and martial arts participants looking to purchase a backpack or a gym bag. Depending on how much your training requires you to carry, the bag needs can differ based upon the individual. Hopefully this article was written in a way that was effective and efficient in giving information regarding different bjj backpack options currently available on the market. Be sure to do further research, in order to be an educated consumer when making a final decision on which backpack will be best for meeting you and your gears needs.
Knee pads are used for a variety of different reasons, but the most common is to help protect and prevent knee injuries. It also helps with stiff muscles and increases blood circulation. For example, bicyclist wear knee pads to prevent injuries to their knees if they were to fall off their bike. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as more and more academies are teaching takedowns and incorporating wrestling moves into their curriculum, protecting your knees as well as your mouth is even more important and in this article we go over some of the best BJJ Knee Pads on the market.
If someone is looking to buy some type of knee pad, the main feature they should look for is the cushioning and comfort so you are able to do whatever activity comfortably. If there is no cushioning, then when your knee hits the mat, or even worse, the floor, then you knee won’t have that protection on your knee.
The second thing to look for when buying knee pads is to see how well it fits. Make sure it doesn’t constrict any of your movements. Make sure it isn’t too tight. You want your knee to still be able to breathe but help protect and comfort from any kinds of injuries that could occur. Not to mention that also having it too tight could cut off your blood circulation. Also, if you wear spats it needs to be be comfortable. When training in Jiu-Jitsu, this is going to be more challenging to find the right fit as you are going to be in contact with a partner and more than likely, your knee pads are going to shift. It’s just inevitable that you will have to readjust at some point during sparring, which isn’t a big deal as the same goes with having to readjust your belt and bjj gi.
Below is a table of some of the top knee pads, and right below that is a review of each one.
BODYPROX PROTECTIVE KNEEPADS
The bodyprox knee pads come in 2 sizes at the time of this article which is great because this means you will surely find the right size. The pad is made from high density foam and the material is breathable which will help when you are sweating during your jiu-jitsu rolls. Most people who use these kneepads are wrestlers, since they hit the ground a lot which is great for people in Jiu-Jitsu.:
PROS
Provides comfort if your kneeling
Does not slip
Fits well over other clothes
As most products, there are also some bad reviews and some of the cons that were listed said this:
CONS
Rare, but a customer found that center pad flattened out after only few uses
If you are bending up and down a lot, the pads could shift
A little thinner than major brands
RDX KNEE SHIELDS
The RDX knee shields seem to come with a bunch of great features specifically for people in mma and bjj. These knee pads use Dri-Fit technology which helps when all that sweat is building behind your knee. The laso have a velcro strapping system for locking down the pad and it also synthetic. These knee pads are very durable.
PROS
Durable and flexible
Stay put and are easy to get on
Great fit since they employ the velcro system
CONS
A customer noted that when she was dancing, the pads slipped a bit
Overtime, the velcro can wear off
VENUM LYCRA GEL KNEE PADS
These Venum knee pads are pretty cool looking. A serpent picture on your knee cap. These knee pads are designed specifically for grappling and have an inner terry loop fabric. These types have air vent holes for more better breath-ability. Couple other things mentioned are high impact absorption and it is a slim but comfortable fit. Some pros are listed below:
PROS
Helps with occurring knee pain
Nice fit and stays in place
Good padding
CONS
Too tight
Fall apart easy
Does not stay in place
You can’t go wrong picking any of these knee pads. And we highly suggest purchasing knee pads for your knees, the same way we recommend buying headgear and ear guards to protect your ears. However, we would recommend either the RDX or Bodyprox just because they seem to have the highest protective cushion on the actual knee. These products seem to have the best review and provide the most comfort to people. As we stated above, knee pads can be used for a variety of different things that can involve pain, but most of the time, people tend to use them for some athletic sport.
Both of these products people have stated that it fits well and provides a good cushion. It could be stiff when you first get them but after a couple uses, they will eventually break in. However, the more protection and bigger the foam is on your kneepad, the bulkier it is going to be. Especially if you wear them under your gi pants. So if you are looking for something a little more discreet that offers good protection, then Venom is the way to go. Either way, make sure you protect your knees using something such as BJJ mats or anything that can prevent you from getting scratches and injuries during you training and Jiu Jitsu practices.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is mostly male dominated. However, this martial art is starting to see more and more female Jiu-Jitsu stars from Kyra Gracie to Mackenzie Dern. Also, more local Jiu-Jitsu Academies are starting to have more women in the classes than ever before. What was once thought to be an intimidating setting, has become a very comfortable setting. As this great Jiu-Jitsu education is starting to occur everywhere, people are starting to see that everyone from young to old, weak to strong, skinny to fat and male to female are participating in Jiu-Jitsu.
This post began as a list of 5 female celebrities, but since starting this post, more and more female celebrities have found just how great Jiu-Jitsu is – not only for self defense, but also as an amazing workout. So we are continuing to add to this list. If you are trying to get your female friends or significant other’s onto the mat, then share this post with them. Hey… if Naomi Watts is doing Jiu-Jitsu, then why aren’t you!
Check Out 5 Female Celebrities That do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Milla Jovovich – 1
Model turned actress Milla Jovovich, who is probably best known for the Resident Evil franchise spends her time between Los Angeles and New York. This woman does it all, aside from being a model and and actress she also sings. She’s fluent in English, French and speaks Russian.
And how does she stay in shape? She meditates and does Yoga. She has been practicing Jiu-Jitsu for some time, although it is unknown who her brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor is. But she probably takes privates. Another interesting note is that she is an advocate for the legalization of weed. I wonder if she’s trained with Eddie Bravo high?
Credit: Red Features
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Naomi Watts – 2
Naomi Watts, who scared us all in THE RING franchise, can probably scare a lot of people on the mats. Naomi got started early in the world of martial arts. She competed in amateur Judo championships from 1989 to 1992, which lead for a great base for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (just ask Ronda Rousey!).
She currently trains regularly in Jiu-Jitsu. She also does yoga, meditates and does a special type of fusion group class to stay in shape. She’s married to Liev Schriber and we wonder if she uses him as her sparring partner? Unfortunately, Naomi and Liev tapped out in 2016 and ended their relationship.
Source: starkiddo.com
Teri Reeves – 3
Teri Reeves who has been on several TV shows but is probably most widely known on the the TV show Chicago Fire, trains regularly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She has mentioned in the past that she trains four times a week at the Gracie Barra in Encino California, where she currently holds a Purple Belt.
Credit: graciebarra.com
Adrianna Palicki – 4
Adrianna Palicki who was a regular on the hit show Friday Night Lights got a taste for BJJ. So this may be a little bit of a stretch, as Adrianna had to learn some Jiu-Jitsu moves for her role in the Keanu Reeve’s movie John Wick. In fact they all had to learn a bit of Jiu-Jitsu. Adrianna has a very athletic background since she ran track and played basketball in high school. Hopefully, we will be seeing more of her on the mats.
Check out the video below where Adrianna is talking about her use of Jiu Jitsu in the film.
Eve Torres – 5
This may not come as a surprise to many of you Jiu Jitsu fans. But if you have been living under a rock, then we will introduce you to our 5th female Jiu-Jitsu Celebrity – Eve Torres. She’s a former WWE Divas Champion and in Scorpion King 4. She has the benefits of daily and private instructions as she is married to Rener Gracie.
You can also find Eve teaching the Women Empowerment Program at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California.
Credit: evetorres.com
DEMI LOVATO – 6
Demi is a singer with many popular songs. She started on the Disney Channel and quickly rose to fame with a string of top 10 hits. We began to get a glimpse of her fiery personality when she was a judge, alongside Simon Cowell, on the short lived X Factor.
Credit: Snapchat
She can be seen at many UFC events, so it’s no surprise that she is training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Demi’s workout ethic can be seen in the way she has gotten in shape within the last few years, and we are almost positive that a lot of this can be attributed to her training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
She has been seen training under Orlando Sanchez, who owns both Gracie Barra Pasadena and Gracia Barra La Canada-Flintridge. And her training doesn’t seem to be a one time fluke, as she has also been spotted visiting Renzo Gracie’s academy in New York. It seems she has caught the Jiu-Jitsu bug!
Rebel Wilson got her big breakthrough in the hit movie Bridesmaids. Since then, she’s made plenty of us laugh. She’s funny and has a great attitude. In fact she was seen with her friend going into a Jiu-Jitsu Academy on Saturday morning. We were able to identify this academy as none other than the Gracie Academy in Beverly Hills.
And this is what we love about Jiu-jitsu. It doesn’t matter what the shape or size you are. Wether you are male or female, everyone is welcomed into this martial art with open arms. We guarantee that she had a positive experience. Especially since the instruction level at the Gracie Academy in Beverly Hills is top notch as it is lead by Ryron Gracie.
MARGOT ROBBY – 8
Margot Robbie with her Jiu Jitsu teacher doing stunt training to prepare for the role of Harley Quinn! pic.twitter.com/b6aODj0gPA
Sometimes preparing for movie roles isn’t just learning your lines. In fact, bombshell Margot Robby took it all the way preparing for her role as Harley Quinn in the movie Suicide Squad. Margot, another Aussie, is used to hard work. Don’t let her amazing good looks fool you. At the age of 16, she worked 3 jobs to make ends meet for her family.
And her hard work translated to later in life. She says she spent 3 times a week training Jiu Jitsu to prepare her. In fact, she did all the stunts herself.
A post shared by Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebobbybrown) on
Many of us know her as Eleven from the hit Netflix original series Stranger Things. Born in Marbella, Spain, Milli grew up in England and currently lives in England and Los Angeles. She loves sports, in fact is a big soccer fan with Liverpool FC being her favorite team.
Millie trains at Phoenix BJJ in England under black belt Trevor Chamberlain. Last we heard, she was a blue belt and can’t wait to see her progress throughout her Jiu Jitsu career as she is very athletic and technical. Maybe she can teach us how to use the super powers she uses on Stranger Things to submit people.
A post shared by Ashiko Westguard???????? (@ashiko_westguard) on
Model and actress Ashiko Westguard trained with AJ Agazarm over at Gracie Barra Pasadena. Ashiko is from Canada and is of Czech and Norwegian descent. We are not sure if she is still consistent in her training, but we sure are happy that she hit the mats.
Also, looking at her BJJ attire, we aren’t sure many people would be able to focus during sparring matches.
Are we missing any other female celebrities who practice Jiu-Jitsu?
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Many academies make their students wear their own gi’s. However, a lot of times, you have the option of wearing your own unique rash guards. And if you train at a no-gi school, then you probably have several rash guards that you rotate with during the week. In no-gi schools, since there are no belts to show your rank, why not show it with a unique top? Rash guards provide a lot of benefits to grapplers when rolling on the mats. As the name implies, it does prevent rashes from occurring under your gi. It also keeps you drier than wearing a plain t-shirt when rolling.
So if you wear a rash guard and/or spats, and we recommend that you do, you can really attract some attention with unique one. We do however believe, you should attract attention with your Jiu Jitsu skills first. Following, are crazy and funny rash guards for Jiu Jitsu and MMA that you can find online.
TURTLE RASHGUARD
It’s not often people play Turtle Guard. But if you are one of those who use this technique, then this is the rashguard by Tatami is for you. The turtle guard isn’t really a true guard. It relies on letting your opponent take your back. But don’t underestimate the power of the turtle. Remember that story of the turtle racing the rabbit. And do you remember who won that race?
ANOTHER TURTLE GUARD RASHGUARD
We aren’t obsessed with the turtle guard, but this rash guard by Newaza makes our list of funny rashguards because it looks like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. And who doesn’t like them? If Splinter walks into your academy, you will be prepared to take him head on.
NOTORIOUS RASHGUARD
Groovy dude! So you like to flow and groove during your sessions? Then this rashguard by Hypnotik is for you. Lots of intricate designs in this rashguard could keep your opponent dizzy while you take their back and choke them out.
WHIZZER OF OZ RASHGUARD
Dorothy, you are no longer in Kansas. Protect your back and quickly whizzer your opponent so they know what’s up. Wear this rashguard by Tatami to let your opponent know you are not a chump, and no one is going to bully you. The questions is, what do you do from there? Is it time to call your buddy the tin man for help?
CHESS GORIALL RASHGUARD
You know you have the power of a gorilla, but you also know that you aren’t going to waste all your energy pushing your opponent around. You’re better than that, because you are more methodical and like to think things through. This rashguard by Tatami is pretty funny and features a cute gorilla playing a match of chess. Check mate?
TUXEDO RASHGUARD
If you like to dress up off the mats, then why not dress up ON THE MATS? Show up to class in your elegant tuxedo rashguard. This long sleeve guard is available in 4 colors and made by Hypnotik.
As you can see, you have a great variety to choose from when it comes to rashguards. You also have a lot of options if you wear compression shorts. If you don’t like to attract this much attention, you can get plain solid color rash guards at your local sports store.
