Most beginners skip spats. Most experienced grapplers will not train without them. Here is the full breakdown of what they do and why they belong in your bag from day one.
Skin protection - the real reason to wear spats
The mat carries ringworm, staph and MRSA. These infections spread through skin-to-mat and skin-to-skin contact. A pair of spats puts a compression fabric layer between your legs and the surface you are rolling on - dramatically reducing exposure without limiting movement.
Training five sessions a week with bare legs significantly increases your exposure. Training in spats reduces it without costing you any mobility.
Performance and muscle temperature
Compression fabric keeps your hip flexors, quads and hamstrings warmer between rounds. Cold muscles - especially hip flexors - are injury-prone when you are shooting takedowns and scrambling explosively. Spats maintain warmth during the gaps between rounds, warm-up drills and live training.
Most grapplers notice the difference by session two. Less heavy-legged feeling in long rounds, quicker to feel ready between scrambles.
Hygiene for the whole mat
Less skin contact means less spread of infection - not just to you, but to your training partners. In a 20-person class with everyone rolling, spats are essentially a mat hygiene courtesy. Most serious academies either require them or strongly recommend them.
IBJJF competition rules for spats
Spats are permitted in IBJJF No-Gi competition, worn under grappling shorts. In competition, they must match belt rank just like the rashguard. Our Senshi Spats are available in black and white, covering white and black belt divisions directly.
Tabia Jungle No-Gi Rashguard
Competition-grade · No-Gi · Sublimated jungle pattern · €49.99 · Pair with Senshi Spats for full coverage
Ships from Vienna in 2-4 days.
Shop Tabia JungleFrequently asked questions
Can I wear spats alone without shorts?
In many academies for training, yes - if the gym allows it. For IBJJF competition, shorts must be worn over spats. Check your academy's specific rule on this; it varies by gym.
Do spats slow you down?
No. Compression spats sit against the skin without excess fabric - they do not restrict movement. Most grapplers actually notice they move slightly more freely in spats than bare legs because the compression reduces skin drag on the mat.
How long should BJJ spats last?
With cold washing and hang drying, quality spats last 2-3 years of regular training. The compression degrades slightly over time - that is natural. If the waistband starts rolling down during training, it is time to replace them.
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