Spats are snug, stretchy leggings that reach down to the ankle, worn under grappling shorts in no gi Brazilian jiu jitsu, submission grappling and some mixed martial arts training. Like a rash guard, their main purpose is to reduce skin to mat and skin to skin friction during rolling, lowering the risk of mat burns and scrapes.
Because no gi grappling relies on grips against the body rather than fabric, spats are made from smooth, tightly woven stretch material with minimal loose fabric for an opponent to grab. This same tight fit also helps keep the legs covered and comfortable through repeated ground exchanges and leg entanglements.
Spats are usually sold by size rather than weight, and a good fit sits snugly without slipping down or bunching behind the knee during movement. Many no gi competitions specify that spats must be a plain, close fitting style without excessive branding, so checking event rules ahead of a tournament is sensible. See our uniforms and belts overview for how spats fit alongside other no gi kit.
