No-Gi Submission Grappling

No-Gi is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu trained without the kimono. Instead of a heavy cotton gi and belt, students wear a rash guard and shorts or spats. No fabric to grip means no collar chokes, no sleeve grips, no lapel guards — the entire game changes.

Positions move faster. Scrambles happen more often. Underhooks, overhooks, head control, leg entanglements and modern leg-lock systems dominate. It’s the format chosen by ADCC, the EBI subway, Polaris, Who’s Number One, and most professional submission-only events. It’s also the grappling format used inside MMA.

At Watford Tactical Fighting we teach both BJJ in the gi and No-Gi, because the two formats sharpen different parts of the same skillset:

• Gi BJJ rewards patience, technical detail and grip-fighting strategy. The fabric slows the game down and makes positions easier to retain.
• No-Gi rewards explosiveness, scrambles, body-on-body control and modern entry systems. Without grips you must use frames and pressure.

Most serious grapplers train both. Most casual hobbyists end up picking a favourite. Either works — the important thing is consistency on the mat.

Our No-Gi mat brings together a mix of grapplers, ex-wrestlers, MMA hobbyists, fitness converts and active competitors. Many of our adult students start in the gi and add No-Gi as a second weekly session. Some come in already wrestling-focused and use the class to plug the submission gap.

If you’ve trained at another gym and you’re visiting Hemel Hempstead, Watford, Berkhamsted or Kings Langley, you’re welcome to drop in — bring your home gym’s permission and your kit.

Brand new to grappling? Start with our BJJ fundamentals classes first — one or two sessions to get the basic positions and breakfalls down, then layer No-Gi on top. Coming from wrestling or MMA? Just rock up to a No-Gi class.

Either way, the first taster is free.