Guide · June 2026
No-gi grappling is a combat sport focused entirely on controlling your opponent and forcing a submission — without striking, and without a gi (the traditional jacket worn in judo or BJJ). You wear shorts and a rashguard instead. The goal is to take your opponent down, control them on the ground, and apply a joint lock or choke that makes them tap out.
If you've ever watched the UFC and wondered what's happening when two fighters go to the ground — that's grappling. The sport exists in its own right, with its own competitions, rulebooks and community, and it's growing fast.
No-gi grappling draws from several martial arts disciplines — primarily wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), judo and sambo. In practice, training covers three main areas:
There is no striking of any kind. No-gi grappling is a technical, problem-solving sport — closer to chess than boxing.
BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) is traditionally practised in a gi — a heavy cotton jacket and trousers. Grapplers use grips on the jacket as part of the game. No-gi removes the jacket entirely, which changes the pace and tactics significantly: grips are taken on the body rather than the clothing, making the sport faster and more dynamic.
Many people train both. Some prefer no-gi only. If you're not sure which to start with, our guide to grappling vs BJJ goes into more detail.
The sport attracts people from all walks of life for different reasons. Some come for fitness — grappling is a genuinely demanding full-body workout that improves strength, cardio and flexibility simultaneously. Others come for the mental challenge: every roll is a live problem to solve, which makes training addictive in a way that gym machines rarely are.
Many people also find grappling to be one of the most ego-free martial arts environments. Because everyone gets tapped eventually — regardless of size or strength — the culture tends to be humble, supportive and focused on long-term improvement rather than short-term wins.
Yes — when trained in a well-coached environment. Beginners learn to fall safely, to tap early when caught in a submission, and to work with partners at a controlled pace. No-gi grappling has no striking, which removes one of the main injury risks in combat sports.
The key is finding a gym that prioritises safety culture and takes time with new members. At Forged Grappling, coaches stay on the mat throughout every session and beginners are eased in gradually — you won't be thrown in at the deep end.
Forged Grappling is Westbury's only dedicated no-gi grappling gym, based at Woodlands Industrial Estate on Eden Vale Road. We run coached classes Monday to Friday at 6–7pm, open mat Monday to Thursday at 7–8pm, and a free community open mat every Friday at 7–8pm.
Your first session is always free. No experience needed — most of our members started with no martial arts background at all.
Ready to try it? Claim your free trial class and we'll send you everything you need to know before you arrive.