You trained for weeks. You made weight. You drove an hour to the venue. Then the marshal holds your sleeve up to your forearm, measures the gap, and shakes his head. Sent back before a single match. It happens to white belts. It happens to purple belts. And it almost always comes down to two things: sleeve length and gi colour.
Here’s the part nobody tells you: most people who fail gi inspection didn’t pick the wrong gi — they shrank it. One or two hot washes and a borderline A2 becomes a failing A2. Check after washing, not on competition morning.
Quick Takeaways
- Only white, royal blue, or black gis pass IBJJF inspection — jacket and pants must match.
- Sleeve and pant length are physically measured. Check yours after washing, not the morning of the event.
- A clean, unripped modern BJJ gi in the right size almost always passes. The hard fails are shrinkage and colour.
The fast answer: Your gi must be white, royal blue, or black. Sleeves must end within 5 cm (about 2 inches) of your wrist when you extend your arms horizontally. Pants must reach within 5 cm of your ankle. The collar can’t be thicker than 1.3 cm when folded. And it must be clean, with no rips or tears.
The 5 Things IBJJF Checks at Inspection
| Requirement | What Passes | Common Fails |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | White, royal blue, or black — jacket and pants must match, one solid colour | Grey, navy, green, camo; mixing white top with blue pants |
| Sleeve length | Ends within 5 cm of wrist when arms extended straight out | Shrunken gis; sleeves that ride up past the 5 cm mark |
| Pant length | Ends within 5 cm of ankle when standing upright | Pants that’ve shrunken above the ankle; wrong size |
| Collar thickness | No thicker than 1.3 cm when folded | Rare in modern gis — mostly old competition-specific gis |
| Condition | Clean, no rips, no tears at seams or panels | Visible tears at the lapel or knee; heavy soil or odour |
That’s the whole list. If your gi is a modern pearl-weave or gold-weave in one of the three approved colours, you’re most of the way there. The collar thickness check almost never catches anyone — the sleeve check does.
See the full colour rules in our IBJJF legal gi colours guide — including what “royal blue” means (not navy, not cornflower blue).
Sleeve and Pant Length: The Test That Trips People Up
Stretch your arms out horizontal, parallel to the floor. Your sleeve should fall within 5 cm — about two finger-widths — of your wrist. If there’s a bigger gap, that sleeve fails.
Pants work the same way. Stand up straight. The hem should sit within 5 cm of your ankle. Shorter than that, and a marshal can turn you back.
Here’s why this catches people: you bought the right size, but then washed the gi three or four times — maybe once on hot. Pearl-weave gis are pre-shrunk, but they’re not immune. If your gi is close to the measurement limits, it’s worth re-measuring after every few washes. A measuring tape takes 30 seconds. A failed inspection after a long drive doesn’t.
Not sure how to measure your gi? Walk through it: how to measure for a BJJ gi.
Size Reference: Stylso A-Series for Adults
If you’re buying a competition gi and want to make sure it’ll pass, here’s the Stylso A-series sizing. These are IBJJF-approved in all three colours. If you’re between sizes, size up — you want a gi that fits with room to move, not one that’s one wash away from failing the sleeve check.
| Size | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | 162–168 | 64–70 |
| A1 | 168–170 | 70–77 |
| A2 | 170–178 | 77–86 |
| A3 | 178–188 | 86–102 |
| A4 | 185–193 | 104–118 |
| A5 | 190–200 | 118–136 |
Stylso’s pearl-weave gis use reinforced stitching and pre-shrunk fabric. They’re designed to hold their dimensions after washing — but if you’re between sizes, go up. Your lapel seams and sleeve ends will thank you at weigh-in.
Shop Stylso A-Series on Amazon
The 5-Point Inspection Drill (Do It the Night Before)
This is the one real thing you can do that almost no one does. Run through this at home, in your gi, the night before the tournament. Not the morning of. The night before — so you still have time to fix it.
- Colour check. Lay your jacket next to your pants. Same colour — white, royal blue, or black. No mixing, no two-tones.
- Sleeve stretch. Put the gi on. Extend both arms straight out to the sides. Both sleeves within 5 cm of both wrists. Use two fingers as a rough gauge.
- Pant stand. Stand up straight. Both pant hems within 5 cm of both ankles.
- Collar fold. Fold your collar. Should be flat and no thicker than your thumb at the base. Modern gis are almost always fine here.
- Seam scan. Check the lapel, the back seam, and both knee panels. Any rips? Re-sew or use a backup gi. A needle and thread the night before beats a failed inspection.
Judoka go through the same inspection at IJF events — white only, strict sleeve and pant rules, collar checks. BJJ borrowed the framework from judo and opened it to three colours, but the measurement logic is identical. If you’ve watched elite judo, you’ve seen the same marshal with the same measuring tool. Same principle, same pass criteria — different mat.
Wash your gi cold and hang it to dry. That keeps the fabric dimensions stable — and it kills bacteria that build up from training. A clean gi is an IBJJF-legal gi. See our full care guide: how to wash a BJJ gi.
Kids’ IBJJF Gi Requirements
Same rules, smaller gi. IBJJF kids’ divisions use the same colour and length standards — white, royal blue, or black; sleeves and pants within 5 cm. The main difference is the size range. Stylso’s K-series covers most competition-age kids.
Free: IBJJF Pre-Competition Gi Checklist
A one-page printable — the 5-point inspection drill plus the Stylso sizing reference. Pack it with your gear bag.
FAQ
What colours are allowed at IBJJF competitions?
White, royal blue, and black only. Jacket and pants must be the same colour — you can’t mix a white top with black pants. No grey, no navy, no camo. See our full breakdown: IBJJF legal gi colours.
Can my gi sleeves be too short for IBJJF?
Yes. Sleeves must end within 5 cm (about 2 inches) of your wrist when your arms are extended straight out. A gi that’s shrunken in the wash, or just too small, is a common fail. Measure after washing.
Does my gi need a specific brand or approval to pass IBJJF?
No brand approval is required. Any gi in the right colour that passes the size, collar, and condition checks is legal. The Stylso gi is IBJJF-approved in white, royal blue, and black — check the Amazon listing for current availability.
Are patches allowed on IBJJF gis?
Yes, patches are generally allowed. They must be flat and properly stitched. Offensive imagery isn’t permitted. For major IBJJF events, check the current patch-placement guidelines in the IBJJF rulebook — placement rules vary by event level. More detail: BJJ gi patches rules.
What happens if my gi fails inspection?
You’ll be sent back. If you don’t have a spare gi that passes, you’re out of that division for the day. Bring a backup if you can — especially if your main gi has seen a lot of washes.
Can I use a judo gi at an IBJJF tournament?
Not recommended. Judo gis are often heavier, cut wider, and have different collar construction. Some marshals may question the fit even if the measurements technically pass. A dedicated BJJ gi is the safe choice for an IBJJF event.
Do kids’ gis have different IBJJF requirements?
Same colour and length rules apply — white, royal blue, or black; sleeves and pants within 5 cm. The Stylso K-series covers most competition-age kids. Check the Amazon listing for the current size range.
IBJJF Gi Requirements — Quick Reference
- Colour: white, royal blue, or black — jacket and pants must match
- Sleeves: within 5 cm of wrist when arms extended
- Pants: within 5 cm of ankle when standing
- Collar: max 1.3 cm thick when folded
- Condition: clean, no rips at seams or panels
