In a recent podcast appearance, 10-time IBJJF World Champion and 2005 ADCC absolute champion Roger Gracie offered an assessment of the ongoing gi versus nogi debate. While he acknowledged why nogi has increased in popularity, he also argued that the discipline sacrifices some of the technical depth that defines traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
According to Gracie, the growing appeal of nogi has less to do with technical superiority and more to do with entertainment value.
“Nogi is so popular nowadays because it is more for the spectators,” he said. “It is more dynamic. Gi is slower. You cannot move much. So for people watching, it is way less entertaining because there is way less movement in the match.”
Gracie then explained why he believes gi remains the more technical form of the sport despite being less exciting for casual viewers.
“It is more technical,” he said. “If you do not do jiu-jitsu, you do not really understand the small grip figh ting, the small advantage, the things that matter the most.”
By contrast, he described nogi as being driven by constant movement and exchanges.
“Nogi is just a lot of scrambles. A lot of scrambles,” Gracie said. “So there is a lot happening. It is way more entertaining to watch.”
He even admitted that he personally enjoys watching nogi more than gi, adding, “Even for me, it is way more entertaining to watch nogi than gi.”
Still, Gracie maintained that entertainment should not be confused with technical complexity.
“But it is just a lot of scrambles,” he continued. “It is way less technical.”
Rather than criticizing nogi, Gracie framed its success as a natural result of what spectators want to see. In his view, the action-heavy nature of nogi makes it easier for newcomers to appreciate.
“It is more entertaining for normal people to watch,” he said.
The conversation later shifted to whether gi and nogi are gradually becoming separate sports. Gracie agreed that the gap between the two has widened significantly in recent years.
“They are, in a way,” he said when asked if the disciplines are drifting apart. “They are way more separate now than they used to be a few years ago.”
At the same time, he does not believe a complete separation is likely anytime soon. Most athletes still compete in both formats, and he argued that the business side of jiu-jitsu still favors gi training.
“Commercially, gi makes a lot more sense than nogi,” Gracie explained. “So the academy will always make both.”
The discussion eventually broadened into modern competition rules and the increasing emphasis on making jiu-jitsu more viewer-friendly. Gracie suggested that organizations are prioritizing spectators over competitors, something he believes inevitably changes the sport itself.
“Yeah,” he said when asked whether entertainment-focused rule changes compromise the integrity of jiu-jitsu. “Now they are thinking how they can make it more entertaining for people watching. Then it changes the dynamic, it changes the fig ht.”
He argued that the focus has shifted away from creating the best competitive environment for athletes.
“Now you are accommodating for the expectation of the spectators, not for the athletes,” Gracie said.
When it comes to competition formats, Gracie remains a supporter of IBJJF rules, largely because he believes longer matches place a greater emphasis on technical skill rather than athletic attributes.
“The longer the match is, the more technical it is,” he said. “Five minutes is too physical. The guy who is super strong, he will be very strong, but he will not be very strong in the last five minutes.”
