In a series of pointed statements on social media, B-Team’s Chris Wojcik has sparked debate in the jiu-jitsu community by asserting that gi training provides the optimal foundation for developing no-gi skills, particularly when it comes to guard play.
“The best way to get a better open guard in no-gi is to train in the gi,” Wojcik stated definitively.
When questioned about his reasoning, he explained that gi training is simply “harder,” creating more challenging conditions that ultimately strengthen a practitioner’s fundamentals.
Wojcik backed his claim by pointing to several current elite no-gi competitors with extensive gi backgrounds. “Best guard players on the no-gi scene: Mikey Musumeci, Diego Pato, Levi Jones-Leary,” he noted. “Even guys like Lachlan have extensive gi experience in both training and competition.”
Wojcik is confirmed to be taking Jay Rod’s place in B team’s CJI 2 team. This is especially interesting considering B team HQ might not even have gi training.
Others in the community have echoed Wojcik’s sentiment. One commenter mentioned Sam McNally, who notably defeated Gary Tonon, as another example of a top no-gi guard player who advocates for gi training. McNally is described as having “one of the best guards in the world” with a reputation for being nearly impossible to pass.
The discussion reflects a larger ongoing debate in grappling circles about the most effective training methodologies. Some practitioners prefer to specialize exclusively in no-gi training, arguing that it more directly translates to their competitive focus, while others maintain that the gi offers unique developmental benefits.
“This shouldn’t be controversial,” another commenter added to the thread. “Arguably the three best jiu-jitsu players ever (Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia, and Rafa Mendes) all did gi and no-gi.”
Wojcik further emphasized his point by noting that passing is “more fun in the gi” specifically “because guard is harder,” suggesting that the added friction and grip opportunities of the gi create a more technically demanding environment that ultimately benefits all aspects of a grappler’s game.
The perspective aligns with many traditional jiu-jitsu schools that maintain gi training as the foundation before introducing no-gi elements, though modern competition teams increasingly offer specialized training tracks for each format.
Meanwhile Nogi stars like Gordon Ryan claim Gi is on its way out. Ryan believes the writing is on the wall. “I think we’re going to see a gradual phasing out of the Gi, at least at the highest levels of competition,” he predicted. “The athletes who can excel in the more dynamic, technical, and physically demanding no-gi game are the ones who are going to rise to the top.”
Recently Kit Dale made headlines for saying he’d like to see Gi die out.
Chael Sonnen also weighed in on the debate over gi training for mixed martial artists, offering a balanced perspective. While acknowledging the common argument that gi training seems unnecessary since MMA stars don’t wear gis in competition, Sonnen counters with several key benefits. He highlights the psychological edge that comes from earning higher BJJ belt ranks, noting that confidence can play a crucial role in performance, especially for newer stars. He also emphasizes how gi training allows athletes to train with more skilled practitioners, accelerating their development. Comparing it to strength and conditioning exercises that don’t mimic fighting but still enhance performance, Sonnen argues that gi training offers hidden advantages. He also points to the historical roots of jiu-jitsu, noting that many top fighters, like Georges St-Pierre and the Diaz brothers, trained extensively in the gi.
While many disagree, there are certainly arguments to be made for training in the Gi.
