Women's Rashguards: Fit and Sizing for Female Grapplers

Finding a good rashguard as a woman can feel like a guessing game. Too many tops are just men's cuts in smaller sizes, so they gape at the shoulders and ride up over the hips. This women's rashguard BJJ guide shows you how a good fit feels, how to measure yourself and how to pick your size.

Short answer: A women's rashguard should be snug through the chest, waist and hips, with no loose fabric to grab. The hem should stay down over your hips when you play guard or get stacked. Measure your chest, waist and hips, then pick the size where most of your numbers land.

How a women's rashguard should fit

The basics are the same as any rashguard: tight but not restrictive. The difference is in the shape. A women's cut is built for narrower shoulders, a shaped waist and more room at the hips.

Here's what to check in the mirror (and on the mat):

• Chest: snug and supportive, without squashing you or pulling across the bust.
• Shoulders: no gaping at the neckline or loose fabric at the back of the shoulders.
• Waist: follows your shape instead of hanging straight down like a box.
• Hips: enough room that the hem doesn't roll up over your hips.
• Length: long enough to stay tucked or to sit over the waistband of your spats.

A quick test: lie on your back, lift your hips into a bridge, then bring your knees to your chest. If the top stays in place, you've got a winner.

Women's rashguard BJJ vs unisex cuts

Lots of brands sell "unisex" rashguards. In practice, that usually means a men's pattern. For some women that works fine, especially if you have broader shoulders or a longer torso.

For many female grapplers, though, a unisex top causes three problems:

1. Gaping shoulders and neckline. Loose fabric at the top lets the shirt slide around.
2. A tight hip, loose waist combo. The hem rolls up at the hips while the middle stays baggy.
3. Extra sleeve length. Short sleeves can end up halfway to the elbow.

A proper women's rashguard BJJ cut solves all three. If you still prefer a looser or longer fit, you can compare your numbers with the men's chart in our rashguard size guide.

How to measure yourself

Getting your women's rashguard BJJ size right starts with good numbers. You need a soft tape measure and about two minutes. Measure over the sports bra you'll actually train in, because it changes your chest number.

1. Chest: around the fullest part of your chest, under the armpits. Keep the tape level and snug.
2. Waist: around the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button.
3. Hips: around the widest part of your hips and glutes, with your feet together.
4. Back length (optional): from the base of your neck down to where you want the hem.

Write everything down in centimeters. You'll use all three main numbers, not just chest.

Women's rashguard BJJ size chart (cm)

This is the chart for the Tribe Alpha women's short sleeve rashguard. All measurements are in centimeters and can vary by about 5%, since each piece is made to order.

Size	Chest	Waist	Hip	Back length	Sleeve
XS	79	71	78	60	30
S	85	77	84	61	31.5
M	91	83	90	62	33
L	97	89	96	63	34
XL	103	95	102	64	35.5
2XL	109	101	108	65	36.5

Picking your size

Find your chest, waist and hip numbers on the women's rashguard BJJ chart above. If they all point to the same size, easy. If they don't, use these rules:

• Chest and hips disagree? Go with the bigger of the two. A top that's tight at the hips rolls up, and one that's tight at the chest feels restrictive.
• Only the waist is off? Ignore it. The stretchy fabric handles small waist differences easily.
• Right between two sizes? Size down for a firm compression feel, or size up for a bit more comfort.

The fabric is 85% polyester and 15% elastane at 230 g/m², so it has plenty of stretch and recovers its shape after each roll.

What to wear under your rashguard

This is the question nobody answers in the beginner class. Here's the practical version.

Sports bra

Most women wear a sports bra under their women's rashguard BJJ top. Pick one with medium to high support and no metal hooks, underwire or plastic clips. Hard bits dig in when someone lies on your chest in side control.

A racerback or pull-over style is usually the most comfortable. Make sure the straps don't slip when you raise your arms.

On the bottom

You've got a few good options:

• Spats or leggings. Full coverage, no riding up, and no worrying about what happens when you get inverted. Take a look at our spats.
• Compression shorts. Great on warm days or under loose shorts. Browse our compression shorts if you need a pair.
• Spats under shorts. A popular combo if you like a little extra coverage.

Whatever you choose, tuck the rashguard into the waistband or make sure it overlaps it well. That way nothing shifts when you're upside down.

Short sleeve or long sleeve?

Sleeve length is the other big women's rashguard BJJ decision. Short sleeves keep you cooler and give your arms full freedom. Long sleeves protect your forearms and elbows from mat burn and cut down on skin contact.

Our women's chart covers the short sleeve cut. If you want sleeves to the wrist, compare your numbers with the men's long sleeve measurements and pay attention to chest and back length. For a deeper comparison, read short vs long sleeve rashguards.

Fit problems and quick fixes

Even a good women's rashguard BJJ fit can need tweaking. Here's what usually goes wrong:

• Hem rolls up at the hips. The top is too small at the hip. Size up, or tuck it into high-waisted spats.
• Neckline gapes when you bend over. The top is too big at the shoulders. Size down or switch to a women's cut.
• Feels tight across the chest only. Re-measure over your training bra. If your chest is a size above your waist, go with the chest.
• Fit changed after washing. Hot water and tumble dryers are hard on elastane. Wash cold and hang it to dry.

Quick answers

Should a women's rashguard be tight?

Yes. A women's rashguard BJJ fit should be snug all over, but you should still breathe freely and lift your arms overhead. Loose fabric gets grabbed and bunches when you roll.

What do female grapplers wear under a rashguard?

Usually a supportive sports bra without hooks, wires or clips. On the bottom, spats, leggings or compression shorts, sometimes with loose shorts over the top.

Can women wear men's rashguards for BJJ?

Yes. Some women prefer the extra length or roomier shoulders. Compare your chest and back length with the men's chart, and expect a looser fit at the waist.

How do I choose between two sizes?

Use the bigger of your chest and hip sizes. Then size down for compression or up for comfort if you're still in between.

Wrap-up

A good women's rashguard BJJ fit is snug, shaped and stays put. Measure your chest, waist and hips over the bra you train in, then match the numbers to the chart. Choose the larger size when chest and hips disagree, and you'll spend your rounds thinking about your game, not your shirt.

When you're ready, browse our rashguards, made to order in Slovenia in sizes XS to 2XL.