How to shrink a modern BJJ gi (2023 Guide)

It’s not uncommon for BJJ practitioners to have a gi that’s too big. Whether you’ve recently lost weight or you’ve never bought a gi that fits properly, there are a few things you can do to shrink a BJJ gi.

How do I shrink my BJJ gi?

1. First, soak your gi in hot water. This will cause the fabric to shrink slightly. Be sure to wash it separately from your other laundry, as the hot water can damage other clothing.
2. Next, put your gi in the dryer on the high heat setting. Again, wash it separately to avoid damaging other clothing. The high heat will cause the gi to shrink more.
3. Finally, you can try ironing your gi. Put the gi on a hanger and then use a hot iron to go over the entire gi. This will help to shrink it even more. (Note that you need a hot iron with water for this, known as a London Iron, a dry iron won’t work.)
   1. Tip: Buy a steam iron with water reservoir on Amazon

With these simple tips, you can easily shrink a BJJ gi that’s too big.

Also read: How to know if your BJJ gi is too big

How do you slightly shrink a gi?

To slightly shrink a gi you perform the same steps as when you would want to shrink it a lot, but you apply less heat and for a shorter duration. So for example, you can put your gi in the dryer on a moderate temperature and then stop the program after 15 minutes.

How to shrink a gi without a dryer?

To shrink a gi without a dryer you can wash it on a hot temperature or iron it. If this doesn’t shrink your gi enough, you can try putting it in the washing machine on a hot temperature multiple times, or ironing it for a very long time. 

How much do gis shrink?

The amount that a gi will shrink depends on the fabric and the way it was constructed. A normal gi will shrink 1 or 2 inches. A pre-shrunk gi will not shrink as much as a gi that has not been pre-shrunk, and a hemp gi will shrink more than a normal cotton gi.

How many times can you shrink a gi?

You can shrink a gi as many times as you want, but the fabric will get damaged more and more each time you do it. The most I’ve personally shrunk a gi is 3 times, but the third time was already much less effective than the first time. So I would recommend shrinking your gi at most 2 times.

How much can you shrink a gi?

You can shrink a gi about 2 inches by putting it in the dryer on a high temperature and a long program. After this, you can shrink it about 1 inch more by putting it in the dryer again. But you start to hit diminishing returns after this.

What if my gi won’t shrink?

If your gi won’t shrink after washing it on a hot temperature, you can try putting it in the dryer. If that doesn’t work you can try to use a hot iron with steam for a very long time. If that still doesn’t work, you should think about selling your gi to someone bigger than yourself.

Do preshrunk GIS shrink?

Yes, preshrunk gis still shrink a little bit, but very minimally (assuming you wash it on a medium temperature and don’t put it in the dryer).. It’s not something you have to worry about when buying a gi. But if you want to shrink your preshrunk gi you can do so by putting it in the dryer.

Do gi pants shrink?

Yes, gi pants shrink, but only very little. Gi pants are made of ripstop which hardly shrinks in the wash at all. But if you want to shrink your gi pants you can do so by putting them in the dryer on a hot temperature.

Can you shrink a gi belt?

No, you can’t shrink a Brazilian jiu jitsu gi belt. The thick fabric of a BJJ belt doesn’t really shrink in the wash. And even if it did, the belt wouldn’t become much shorter. 

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