What are BJJ Rash Guards Made of?

BJJ rash guards can be made of a variety of synthetic polymers. Rash guards in general can be made of nylon, polyester, spandex, or a mix of these polymers.

Rash Guards Overview

All rash guards aim at conforming to a users body and wick moisture to shield the user from excessive and uncomfortable rubbing. Rash guards are often used for athletic activities, however, different sports call for different rash guard compositions. For example, surfing rash guards require greater moisture-wicking capabilities to avoid becoming heavy when wet. Nylon is normally the go-to polymer in this case. Other rash guards used for regular exercise in the gym or outdoors need to be light weight and body-conforming. In this case a pure polyester composition is used.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, having been popularized in coastal cities like Los Angeles and Rio, naturally borrowed equipment from its environment as certain needs developed. With athletes constantly rubbing against each other and their gis, a protective layer became crucial to defend athletes from scrapes, rashes, and cuts. BJJ athletes first reached for their surfing rash guards as a crude piece of equipment.

BJJ Rash Guards

As BJJ developed, so did BJJ rash guards. Nylon, though durable, is not a breathable material. Rolling in a hot gym produces a tremendous amount of sweat which has to evaporate somehow. Polyester does offer breathability, but a 100% polyester rash guard lacks the toughness needed to endure repeated training and competition.

Today's high quality BJJ rash guards are composed of a polyester and spandex mixture. The ideal mix is 85% polyester and 15% spandex. This synthetic blend is durable, sweat-wicking, and breathable, having all the features required by BJJ atheletes.

What is Spandex?

Spandex, also referred to as lycra and elastane, is an elastic synthetic polymer used for clothing. It was originally developed in the late 1950s as an alternative to rubber for under garments. Today, spandex's role in fashion has expanded to several forms of athletic clothing, where a stretchy or skin-tight fit is necessary.

Liontek Rash Guard Features

Liontek has built upon the classic features of a BJJ rash guards. We use the ideal 85% polyester and 15% lycra composition to balance weight, durability, and breathability. Our BJJ rash guards feature a high collar to prevent rubbing around the neck and a tight silicone waist band to prevent riding up the torso. Our rash guards are relatively thick at 250GSM, making them more durable than the competition. We pride ourselves in minimal stitching, minimizing the fail-points where rash guards normally tear or fall apart.