BJJ gi size chart: how three brands size A0 to A6

A gi size such as A2 is a brand's label, not a standard: Fuji prints A2 for 5'5" to 5'9" and 140 to 170 lb, Kingz for 5'7" to 5'10" and 170 to 190 lb, and Tatami for 5'7" to 5'10" and 77 to 87 kg. Kingz advises comparing measurements with the chart for the specific model being purchased instead of relying on a size worn in another brand. This post reads three published charts side by side, the variant letters they add, what each says about shrinkage, and the measurements the IBJJF checks at a tournament. Your first gi covers what to ask the academy before buying at all.

The A scale, brand by brand

The three charts read on 2026-09-06 run over different ranges: Fuji from A00 to A8, Kingz from A00 to A5, Tatami from A0 to A6. Each pairs a size with a height band and a weight band; Fuji and Kingz print pounds and feet, Tatami prints both units.

Size	Fuji (height, weight)	Kingz (height, weight)	Tatami (height, weight)
A0	4'10" to 5'1", 95 to 110 lb	5'3" to 5'5", 140 to 155 lb	5'4" to 5'6" (162 to 168 cm), 60 to 70 kg
A1	5'2" to 5'5", 110 to 140 lb	5'5" to 5'7", 155 to 170 lb	5'5" to 5'7" (165 to 170 cm), 70 to 77 kg
A2	5'5" to 5'9", 140 to 170 lb	5'7" to 5'10", 170 to 190 lb	5'7" to 5'10" (170 to 178 cm), 77 to 87 kg
A3	5'9" to 6'1", 170 to 200 lb	5'10" to 6'2", 190 to 225 lb	5'10" to 6'2" (178 to 188 cm), 87 to 100 kg
A4	6' to 6'4", 200 to 250 lb	6'1" to 6'4", 230 to 260 lb	6'1" to 6'4" (185 to 193 cm), 100 to 115 kg
A5	6' to 6'4", 225 to 275 lb	6'2" to 6'6", 260 to 300 lb	6'2" to 6'5" (188 to 195 cm), 115 to 130 kg
A6	6'2" to 6'6", 250 to 300 lb	not printed	6'4" to 6'7" (192 to 200 cm), 130 to 145 kg

Comparing the printed bands, Fuji's A1 and Kingz's A0 overlap only at 140 lb and heights from 5'3" to 5'5"; Fuji's A3 and Kingz's A2 both start at 170 lb, but their height bands start at 5'9" and 5'7" respectively. Fuji's A0 and A00 share a height and weight band and differ only in the garment's measurements. The charts also give the garment itself: Kingz prints chest width laid flat, jacket length and pant inseam in inches and centimetres for two families of models, one for its standard cuts and one for the Balistico and Ultralight, which it says run differently; Tatami prints wingspan, jacket length, chest, waist, hips and pant length in centimetres with a tolerance of 2 cm either way; Fuji prints two garment measurements, A and B, in inches.

The letters after the number

All three charts add variant sizes for bodies the plain scale misses. Tatami defines L as long, S as shorter, H as heavy and XL as extra long: compared with A2, its notes give A2L 3 cm more pant length and 4 cm more wingspan, A2S 3 cm less jacket length, wingspan and pant length, and A2XL 8 cm more pant length and wingspan. Its A2H note says the jacket and pants are 4 cm wider, but the garment table lists chest widths of 56 cm for A2 and 61 cm for A2H; the waist and hip differences are 4 cm. Kingz prints A1L, A2L, A2H, A3L and A3H; its FAQ prioritises weight, suggests considering L variants when lighter for one's height, and describes H variants as an option for broader or heavier builds. Fuji prints A1L, A2L, A2H, A3L and A3H with their own height and weight bands; its A2L, for instance, is 5'10" to 6' at 140 to 170 lb.

Height or weight first

The charts disagree on the tie-breaker. Kingz's guide calls weight the single most important measurement, since it decides how the jacket wraps the torso, and uses height only to refine sleeve and pant length; it adds wingspan as a third measure and suggests an L variant when the arms run long. Fuji's chart says that if height and weight fall in different size categories, choose the larger of the two. Tatami's chart supplies height and weight bands and garment measurements but gives no height-versus-weight tie-breaker.

Shrinkage

Fuji's chart describes its gis as preshrunk and recommends cold washing and hang drying while allowing for up to one inch of shrinkage; its return note limits eligibility to items that have neither been washed nor used for practice. Kingz separates its models: the Kore, One, Sport, Comp 450, Classic and Empowered are partially pre-shrunk and may shrink a further 3 to 5 percent with heat, while the Ultralight and Balistico are fully pre-shrunk and expected to move 1 to 2 percent; its guide says a slightly large gi can be shrunk into shape while a too-small one stays restrictive, and that when unsure, size up. Tatami's chart carries the 2 cm tolerance and no shrinkage figure. How to wash your gi discusses washing and drying.

The measurements the IBJJF checks

Article 8 of version 6.1 of the IBJJF rules book requires the jacket to reach the thigh, sleeves to end no more than 2 cm from the wrists with the arms extended straight and parallel to the ground, and pants to end no more than 2 cm above the ankle bones. Article 8.1.12 lists seven measuring-tool items: sleeve and pant length, 2 cm, with arms extended forward for the sleeve check; belt-end length, 20 to 30 cm; sleeve width, 7 cm; pant width, 7 cm; sleeve-finishing reinforcement, 2.5 cm; belt width, 4 to 5 cm; and collar thickness and width, 1.3 cm and 5 cm. The collar measurements are maxima; the belt must wrap around the waist twice and be secured with a double knot, with each end hanging 20 to 30 cm. Article 8.1.1 specifies cotton or cotton-like fabric and makes pearl weave mandatory for juvenile, adult and master divisions. Article 8.1.3 requires a completely white, royal blue or black gi, with the jacket, pants and collar matching in colour. Article 8.3.4 restricts patches and embroidery to the illustrated authorised regions and requires cotton fabric and proper stitching; inspectors remove patches that are unseamed or placed elsewhere. A gi that fits by the brand's chart can still fail the sleeve or pant check, which is why Kingz's guide ties height to passing inspection; your first jiu-jitsu competition reads the rest of the uniform article.

What to ask

• Which brand or model does the academy require or sell, and does it lend one for a trial?
• Does the model's chart go by weight or height first, and what does it say between sizes?
• Is the model pre-shrunk, and by how much does the maker say it moves?
• For IBJJF competition, after washing, do the sleeves end no more than 2 cm from the wrists with the arms extended straight forward and parallel to the ground, and do the pants end no more than 2 cm above the ankle bones?
• What is the return policy on an unwashed gi?

Questions readers ask

What size gi am I?

It depends on the brand: Fuji prints A2 for 5'5" to 5'9" and 140 to 170 lb, Kingz for 5'7" to 5'10" and 170 to 190 lb, and Tatami for 5'7" to 5'10" and 77 to 87 kg. Kingz advises using the chart for the specific model and prioritising weight when measurements fall between sizes.

What do A1, A2 and A3 mean in gi sizes?

They are steps on each brand's own scale, running from A00 or A0 up to A5, A6 or A8, each tied to a height band and a weight band that the brand chooses; the number is not standardised between makers.

What does the L or H after a gi size mean?

Tatami defines L as long, S as shorter, H as heavy and XL as extra long; Kingz labels L as long and H as husky, while Fuji lists L and H variants without spelling out those letters in this chart. Tatami's A2L, for example, has pants 3 cm longer and a wingspan 4 cm longer than its A2.

Should I size up or down for a gi?

Kingz prioritises weight and advises sizing up when uncertain, describing shrinkage as an option for a slightly oversized gi; Fuji recommends the larger of the height-based and weight-based sizes when the two differ.

How much does a gi shrink?

Fuji says up to one inch with a cold wash and hang drying; Kingz says 3 to 5 percent with heat exposure for its partially pre-shrunk models and no more than 1 to 2 percent for the fully pre-shrunk Ultralight and Balistico; Tatami prints a ±2 cm garment-measurement tolerance without giving a shrinkage figure.