The Best BJJ Rashguards: Picks, Ranked Rashguards and Customs

A BJJ rashguard is more than a tight-fitting shirt. It protects your skin from mat burns and infections, keeps sweat off your training partners, and (when ranked) marks your belt level for no-gi sessions. This is the working guide to the best BJJ rashguards on the market, including the ranked system, customs, and what to look for when you buy.

Quick picks

• Best overall: Hayabusa long-sleeve rashguard. See our Hayabusa rashguard review for the long-form take.
• Best ranked rashguard: Sanabul Essentials ranked. Cheap, durable, in standard IBJJF colours.
• Best premium: Tatami Fightwear long-sleeve. Strong build, clean fit, lasts years.
• Best customs: Xmartial Custom Rash Guards. Full design control, fair turnaround, decent fabric.
• Best budget: Venum Logos ranked rashguard. Around $30, solid construction.

Why you need a BJJ rashguard

A rashguard does four jobs:

• Skin protection. Prevents mat burns, friction abrasions, and the cuts that come from gi seams or scrambles on the floor.
• Hygiene. Keeps your sweat off training partners and creates a barrier against bacterial and fungal skin infections (ringworm, staph, impetigo).
• Compression. Light compression supports muscle recovery between rounds and helps with thermal regulation.
• Belt identification (no-gi). In gi, your belt tells everyone your rank. In no-gi, the ranked rashguard system fills that gap.

In most academies, a rashguard is mandatory under the gi and required for no-gi. The exceptions are rare.

Top BJJ rashguard picks

Hayabusa long-sleeve

The premium pick. Tight fit without being restrictive, anti-microbial fabric, reinforced flat-lock stitching at the seams. The art on the Hayabusa series is some of the cleanest in the market.

• Fit: Modern competition cut, true to size.
• Material: Polyester-spandex blend with anti-microbial treatment.
• Best for: Daily training, gi and no-gi.
• Trade-offs: Higher price than budget rashguards. Worth it for the durability.

For the long-form review, see our Hayabusa rashguard page.

Tatami Fightwear long-sleeve

Tatami runs a wide range of rashguards across price points. Their standard long-sleeve is one of the most durable rashguards on the market.

• Fit: Athletic cut, true to size.
• Material: Polyester-spandex blend with sublimation print (does not crack or peel).
• Best for: Competitors who want a long-life rashguard at fair price.

Sanabul Essentials ranked

The best ranked rashguard for the price. Available in standard IBJJF colours (white, blue, purple, brown, black).

• Fit: Athletic, runs true to size.
• Material: Polyester-spandex.
• Best for: No-gi training where rank visibility matters, budget-conscious practitioners.

Venum Logos / Contender ranked

Solid mid-budget rashguard with strong branding. The graphics are bold and the build is reliable.

• Fit: Slightly looser than Hayabusa or Tatami.
• Best for: Practitioners who want a sub-$40 ranked option that still feels well-made.

Xmartial Custom Rash Guards

If you want full design control, Xmartial is the most accessible custom option. You upload artwork, pick a cut and colour, and they print it. Practical for academies that want unified team rashguards or for individuals who want something genuinely theirs.

• Fit: Multiple cut options (athletic, relaxed, longer-torso).
• Material: Standard sublimation-print polyester-spandex.
• Customisation: Full image upload, colour matching, multiple panels.
• Turnaround: Typically 2 to 4 weeks depending on volume.
• Best for: Team rashguards, gym branding, personal designs.

If you have a gym logo or want to commemorate a competition, customs are worth the wait. The fabric quality sits in the mid-tier (better than Sanabul Essentials, not quite Hayabusa) but the design freedom is the point.

The ranked rashguard system

In gi, your belt makes your rank visible. In no-gi, the ranked rashguard fills that gap. Most academies and federations follow the IBJJF colour standard:

Rashguard colour	Rank
White	White belt
Blue	Blue belt
Purple	Purple belt
Brown	Brown belt
Black	Black belt

The rashguard usually has a coloured panel, sleeve trim, or banded section matching the belt rank, rather than the whole rashguard being one colour.

Why ranked rashguards matter

• Match-up clarity. Coaches and competitors can see ranks at a glance, useful during open mats and competitions.
• Respect on the mats. New training partners can quickly identify experience levels and adjust intensity.
• IBJJF no-gi competition. Required by IBJJF for sanctioned no-gi events. The rules specify ranked rashguards or solid colours matching the belt rank.

Who wears ranked rashguards

Mostly competitors and serious no-gi-focused practitioners. Hobbyists often wear non-ranked rashguards day-to-day. There is no rule that you have to wear a ranked rashguard in casual training, but you do need one if you compete IBJJF no-gi.

Long-sleeve vs short-sleeve vs sleeveless

• Long-sleeve: Standard for BJJ. Maximum skin coverage, best protection against mat burns, common in colder gyms.
• Short-sleeve: Cooler, more comfortable in hot climates. Some practitioners prefer them for summer. Less protection.
• Sleeveless: Rare in BJJ. Usually only seen in MMA or fitness training.

Most BJJ practitioners own multiples of long-sleeve and one or two short-sleeves for summer rotation.

What to look for

A good BJJ rashguard has:

• A polyester-spandex blend. Around 80/20 to 85/15 is the standard. Pure cotton holds sweat and bacteria. Pure spandex feels too tight and tears.
• Flat-lock stitching. Hides seam edges so the rashguard does not chafe in long rolls.
• Sublimation print, not screen print. Sublimation is dyed into the fabric so it does not crack, peel or fade. Screen print fails within months.
• Anti-microbial treatment. Helps slow bacterial growth between washes.
• A modern competition cut. Snug but not restrictive. Should not ride up during scrambles.
• A reinforced collar. The collar is the first part to fail on cheap rashguards.

Fit guide

Most rashguards run small relative to other athletic wear. The compression fit is intentional. A few rules:

• If you are between sizes, size up, unless the brand specifically recommends sizing down.
• Length matters. A rashguard should reach below your hipbone so it does not ride up when you go horizontal.
• Sleeve length. Long sleeves should reach the wrist, not the mid-forearm.
• Check the spandex content. Higher spandex = tighter compression. 15 to 20 percent is the sweet spot for BJJ.

Caring for your rashguard

• Wash after every session. Same rule as gis. Sweat-soaked polyester left in a bag becomes a bacterial farm fast.
• Cold water, inside out. Hot water breaks down the elastic fibres.
• Athletic detergent. Designed for synthetic fabrics and sweat.
• No fabric softener. Coats the fabric and reduces its moisture wicking.
• Hang dry indoors. Never tumble dry. Heat is what kills rashguards.
• Replace every 12 to 18 months of regular use. Compression and stitching fail before the print does.

For odour issues, a splash of white vinegar in the drum kills most of the bacteria responsible. The same routine works for gis. See our gi care guide for the full method.

Frequently asked questions

Are BJJ rashguards mandatory? Most academies require one for hygiene. IBJJF no-gi competition requires either a ranked rashguard or a solid-colour rashguard matching your belt rank.

Do I have to wear a ranked rashguard? No, unless you compete in IBJJF no-gi. For casual training, any rashguard works.

What is the difference between a BJJ rashguard and a regular compression shirt? BJJ rashguards have reinforced stitching designed for grappling, flat-lock seams to avoid chafing, longer torsos to stay tucked, and sublimation print that survives gi friction. Generic compression shirts often fail at the seams within months.

Can I wear a rashguard alone in no-gi? Yes. The standard no-gi outfit is rashguard plus board shorts or grappling shorts. Most academies allow this for no-gi sessions.

How tight should a BJJ rashguard be? Snug compression that does not restrict breathing. You should be able to take a deep breath comfortably. Loose rashguards bunch up during rolls; overly tight ones cut off circulation.

How long do BJJ rashguards last? With proper care, 12 to 18 months of regular training. The sublimation print outlasts the elasticity. When the rashguard stops bouncing back to its shape, it is time to replace.

Are custom rashguards worth the wait? Yes, for team kit and personal projects. The Xmartial customs are mid-tier fabric quality (not as good as Hayabusa) but the design freedom is the value.

Can I wear a long-sleeve rashguard under a short-sleeve one? Yes, common in cold gyms. Layering does not break any rules in most academies.

Are coloured rashguards okay in gi training? Yes, in most academies. A few traditional gyms prefer plain colours. Check with your instructor if you are not sure.

The bottom line

A good BJJ rashguard is a $30 to $50 piece of kit that will last a year, protect your skin, and let you train hygienically. For most practitioners, Hayabusa or Tatami are the safe long-term picks. For ranked options, Sanabul Essentials is the budget choice. For full customisation, Xmartial.

If you train more than twice a week, own at least two rashguards. Wash both after every session, and rotate so each has time to fully dry between uses. That alone will double how long they last.

For more BJJ gear guides, see our best BJJ gis, best BJJ mouthguards and overall BJJ equipment list.