This is a question that I see a lot when browsing BJJ topics on forums, blog articles, facebook etc, yet it’s a question I don’t think I’ve ever been asked, personally or professionally. So without further ado, here’s my unsolicited advice:
It makes absolutely no difference, especially in the beginning of your BJJ journey. Instead of worrying about which one is “better”, worry about the right kind of motivation that will actually get you on the mats and training.
As the days/weeks/months wear on, BJJ has lost its luster (but you still love it… of course!) and you’re having more and more of those moments in your life where you have to make that last minute choice of finishing your third episode of Kobra Kai or grabbing your gear and going to train, what’s actually going to get you off the couch? Are you motivated by how awesome you look in a modified version of an antiquated Japanese traditional outfit? Is that what gets you on the mats? Are you motivated by that one gym with that one instructor who does “motivation Monday” videos?
Here’s the thing… If I had 2 people who were genetically and psychologically identical and one of them trained a total of 10 hours exclusively in nogi BJJ, and the other one trained 100 hours exclusively in gi BJJ, I could pretty much guarantee the gi clone would absolutely murder the nogi clone in a nogi BJJ competition.
The nice thing about the gyms in the Asheville area is that, just like people who live in the area, they are very different from each other and therefore will undoubtedly attract a different crowd. This is a very good thing for BJJ! You can find YOUR gym that fits YOUR personality, and hopefully that environment can help you train a little more consistently. If you like a little bit more of a “traditional” gym, with all-white gis, insular BJJ politics and self-defense katas, we’ve got that here in Asheville! If you like “rolling hard” and lots of yelling, we’ve got that! Want a more bro-ey or corporate atmosphere? Yup, Asheville’s got those too.
Asheville’s also got instructors who will call you up to hold you accountable for not training when you’re too lazy (I won’t do this, sorry). Asheville has competition-focused schools. Asheville has tough guy schools, schools that are close to your house, schools that cater to your brand of politics…
What motivates you to get to class, get on the mat and train BJJ? Gi or nogi absolutely doesn’t matter… unless of course that’s your motivating factor…
At some point in time you may want to specialize in one over the other, or just continue to try and make yourself better at both (like I do). For now though, you should mostly be focused on what’s going to beat that genetic clone of yours out there who never gets on the mats (not sure if you got this from this post, but the short answer is… mat time).
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