Do You Need Five Gis — or Just One That Lasts?

For most Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, the cycle is familiar. Buy a new gi, train hard, wash it after every session, and within a year or two it’s stretched, frayed, and carrying that smell you can’t quite wash out. Another gi takes its place. The cycle continues.

But what if a single gi could break that cycle? What if you could own one that truly lasted?


Why Hemp Has Always Been Trusted


Edo-period firefighter uniform, Shinjuku Fire Museum.
Layers of hemp cloth were soaked in water to protect against flames and heat.


Hemp isn’t new. It’s a material proven for centuries in the harshest environments:

• Firefighters in Japan: During the Edo period, when fires tore through wooden cities, firefighters relied on hemp uniforms. Soaked in water, these jackets resisted flame, heat, and friction.



Hemp rope (coiled) — an example demonstrating high tensile strength and durability.
Wikimedia Commons, public domain image.


• Ropes and sails at sea: Sailors and armies counted on hemp ropes and canvas because they stayed strong even when soaked with seawater. In the age of exploration, reliability meant survival, and hemp delivered.



From the 1942 U.S. government promotional film “Hemp for Victory.”


• The “Hemp for Victory” campaign: In World War II, the U.S. Department of Agriculture urged farmers to grow hemp. Why? Because when materials were scarce, hemp had already proven its unmatched strength in ropes, tents, and military gear.

Time and again, hemp wasn’t chosen for tradition. It was chosen because it worked.


What a Jiu-Jitsu Gi Endures Every Day



A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gi faces the same punishment hemp has endured for centuries: sweat, friction, and endless washing.

• Cotton gis 
Comfortable at first, but they wear down fast. Cotton fibers trap odor, lose shape, and rarely last more than a couple of years.

• Hemp gis
Naturally antibacterial, strong when wet, and resistant to abrasion. Hemp is one of the few natural fibers uniquely suited for the demands of daily training.


The Qualities of a Long-Lasting Gi



Everyday gear should be simple. If it demands delicate care, it won’t last.

Hemp gis are the opposite. They get better with use. After ten to twenty washes, the fabric softens, molds naturally to your body, and develops a comfort that deepens over time.

A well-worn hemp gi doesn’t just endure practice. It supports it. True strength comes from owning fewer, better things — and wearing one gi longer.


The Material and the Mind Behind Azabu Hemp Gear



Even if it costs more upfront, the value of a hemp gi lasts for years. Jiu-Jitsu teaches the same truth: strength comes not from short-term results, but from discipline, repetition, and perseverance.

The same material once trusted by firefighters and sailors now earns our trust on the mats. At Azabu Hemp Gear, we believe discipline deserves gear that reflects it.

That’s why we chose hemp.
That’s why we make gis that stay with you — through every roll, every wash, every season.


Final Thoughts

You don’t need five gis if one can outlast them all. Hemp isn’t just another fabric — it’s a proven material built for endurance, comfort, and resilience. For practitioners who take their training seriously, it’s more than a gi. It’s a partner in the journey.

BJJ Hemp Gi by AZABU HEMP GEAR — One gi, built to last.





References:
• “Edo-period Firefighter Uniform” — Photo from the collection of the Shinjuku Fire Museum
• Sailing ship and hemp rope from the Age of Exploration — Wikimedia Commons
• Hemp for Victory (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1942) — Publicly available on YouTube