What features to look for in a BJJ Sports Bra

A sports bra isn't just any old bra; it's an essential part of workout gear that makes getting active easy. Picking the right one is super important!

It can make or break any training session, casual grapple, or a day at a tournament. 

And while we know busty ladies are likely to have more issues with breast support than smaller-chested women, it is a problem that can plague all female athletes. Let’s be honest: the demands of BJJ don’t always make finding the perfect sports bra for the women gi easy. 

Most sports bras are developed and tested with running or your usual high-impact activities in mind. They are lab-tested on treadmills and marketed by elite runners, triathletes, and tennis players.

With women’s BJJ still making up a minuscule part of women's sport, we’ll unlikely see that change anytime soon. So instead of us wishing for a brand to come out and make grappling bras, I urge you to focus on finding the right segment of product in an already thriving industry to suit your needs. 

 Why a BJJ Sports Bra needs to be different from a running bra

The demands of BJJ are very different from those of running. Our movements are not regular and continuous like running, nor is our upper body always upright.

So a BJJ sports bra must suit short, sharp, and frequent changes in direction and, of course, periods of lying supine with a potential weight against you while grappling.

 A BJJ or MMA Sports Bra must allow for a complete shoulder range of motion, and straps should be designed to allow this. 

Of course, a BJJ Sports Bra also needs to work to limit breast displacement; however, this is not the sole and only purpose of a BJJ Sports Bra like it is with a running bra.

Issues female BJJ athletes have with their bras

The most commonly reported issues we hear of with BJJ or MMA Sports Bras are: 

• General lack of support
• Hook and eye fastenings cause pressure on the back while grappling
• Elastic straps falling off shoulders 

The general fiddle factor is hard to fix while wearing a women's Gi or women's rash guard.

Features to look for in a BJJ Sports Bra

The most important feature to look for in a BJJ Sports Bra is a front closing mechanism.

Front-closure sports bras are a winning option for grapplers for two reasons. The first is that they have a fastening system at the front, which means there will be no irritation on the back when grappling.

The second benefit is that they are generally designed with wide inelastic straps that can’t fall off your shoulders under a GI. 
With so many technical sports bra brands now producing great front-closure sports bras, there are plenty of options to suit all shapes and sizes. 

I have curated a list of the best high-impact front-closure sports bras, all of which are perfect for any female BJJ athlete.

Pros and cons of front closure sports bras for BJJ

Generally speaking, front-closure sports bras will be designed without underwires and are built as compression-style solid bras. With the well-placed closure mechanism and the shoulder straps that will stay put, the compression nature of front-closure sports bras is a big win for the grappling community. 

As far as cons go, I always warn women that front-closure sports bras are not always actually easy to get into. While people often assume they will be, the commonly overlooked thing is that because of their compressive nature, it can be a bit of an effort to get the clasp done up at the front.

If your front-closure sports bra is super easy to put on and off, it’s likely that the fit isn’t where it needs to be or that the materials are too stretchy to offer functional support. 

How a MMA Sports Bra needs to fit

To follow up on my last point, an MMA sports bra must fit firmly to offer its best support. A bra that fits too loosely around your ribcage will result in two things.

Firstly, there will be lackluster support, and secondly, you may experience chaffing from your bra. Chafing occurs as a result of friction or rubbing from your bra. This is especially common in BJJ or MMA, as our bodies often twist laterally. 

The most important fitting element to get right is the band that runs around your ribcage. This needs to be as snug as you can comfortably tolerate.

Ideally, if you pull this part of the bra away from the body, you should be able to stretch it a maximum of 1.5” away from your body. 

Naturally, a bra that offers complete coverage of breast tissue is also going to ensure your breasts stay in the cups and distract you while you’re working out.

A final note from an experienced bra fitter

So many women have a lot of pain points around bras, and in particular, Sports Bras, which can’t get away with not being functional.

To find your best BJJ bra, choose one that suits your needs and gets your fit spot on.

Don’t get disheartened if something that has worked for a friend doesn’t work for you – bodies, our proportions, our activity demands, and our style preferences are all so different.