Short sleeve or long sleeve?
It's one of those BJJ questions where everyone has an opinion and nobody is actually wrong. Unlike arguing about whether pulling guard counts as a takedown, we can probably settle this one without losing friends.
The simple answer is that both work. The better answer is that you should probably own both, which is incredibly convenient considering we sell rash guards.
Short Sleeve: Less Fabric, More Air
Short sleeve rash guards are perfect if you run hot, train somewhere warm or simply prefer having your arms free. You still get the tight fit and sweat-wicking benefits of a rash guard without covering your forearms.
They're especially nice during summer or in academies where "air conditioning" means somebody opened a window in 2019.
The downside is less skin coverage. Your forearms and elbows are exposed to the mats, which isn't always pleasant when you're wrestling, scrambling or being dragged across the floor by somebody who treats Tuesday evening training like the ADCC final.
Long Sleeve: More Protection, Slightly More Superhero
Long sleeve rash guards cover your arms, which means more protection from mat friction and fewer opportunities to donate your skin to the academy floor.
They're great for wrestling-heavy rounds, cooler gyms and anyone who simply prefers more coverage. They also make you look slightly more dangerous, which is useful when your actual grappling isn't achieving the same effect.
The trade-off? They're warmer.
If your gym feels like a sauna and you've already sweated through the warm-up, short sleeves might be the smarter decision.
So Which Should You Buy?
If you get hot easily, short sleeve.
If you want maximum coverage, long sleeve.
If you train regularly, both.
That's not even entirely sales bullshit. Having multiple rash guards means you can rotate them properly instead of desperately sniff-testing yesterday's gear five minutes before training.
And if you're going to spend hundreds of hours every year sweating, wrestling and getting strangled in one piece of clothing, buying a good one makes considerably more sense than saving twenty bucks on something that fits like a supermarket bag.
That's exactly why we make MF Fightwear rash guards for people who actually train. Short sleeve when you want less coverage and more airflow. Long sleeve when you want your arms protected. Designs that don't make you look like you're wearing a rejected energy drink logo.
Ready to upgrade your training gear? Shop MF Fightwear Rash Guards → Collection
Pick your favorite, put it through hard rounds, bad positions, too much sweat and repeated washing, and see which side of the short-vs-long argument you end up on.
Or do the financially irresponsible but grappling-correct thing and grab one of each.
Your jiu-jitsu won't magically improve, unfortunately. We checked with the factory and apparently that's not something they can stitch into polyester yet.
But when that 68-kilo purple belt folds you into a position that violates several international treaties, at least you'll look fucking good.
Train hard. Wash your rash guard.