The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community was taken aback by IBJJF’s recent release of a $36 plastic Gi checker tool, which many see as a blatant cash grab. While the device is intended to help competitors ensure their Gi meets IBJJF standards, the community quickly turned to social media and forums to mock the product.

The IBJJF’s initial promotion of the tool seemed harmless, but it didn’t take long for a flood of humorous and critical comments to emerge. Many practitioners questioned the necessity of such a tool, especially since uniform specifications are readily available and could be checked with a simple ruler—or as one person joked, a 3D printer.

What’s more, the tool isn’t a new invention by the IBJJF. A similar unbranded product has been sold on Amazon for at least four years under the name ‘Gi Checker.’ Interestingly, it was previously listed for as much as $71 plus shipping in various markets.

Some users took the satire even further, imagining themselves at open mats with their shiny new Gi checker, ready to disqualify anyone whose Gi didn’t meet the standards. Others suggested that the tool could be used as an ice scraper or even a fancy backscratcher, highlighting the perceived absurdity of needing such a device in a sport that values practicality and tradition.

The backlash reflects the community’s frustration with what they see as another example of IBJJF prioritizing profit over the growth of the sport. For most BJJ practitioners, the $36 tool seems like an unnecessary expense that will likely end up forgotten in a closet somewhere.

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