Does gi make you better?

+1, nicely said.

Yeah, what jamesb said. Apples and oranges.

It may not be logical, but most of the world's best no-gi grapplers train with a gi. Think of it as a training tool. I still have fantasies of getting into a streetfight and choking a bitch with his own collar (after a judo throw, of course)!

Personally I think gi technique is more fun, but some guys would rather look cool grappling shirtless.

I have trained with some BJJ and Judo guys that all use Gi's and when it comes to No-Gi it's like taking a fish out of water. They have the technique but alot of Techniques they have involve holding a sleeve or grabing a belt. At the same time if you take someone who has done no-gi for the entire time and throw a Gi on them it almost like putting a straight jacket on them. Limiting alot of movement. I think to be a great well-rounded grappler you should take the time to know and understand both.

I use my gi rolling to work on my defense side of it, i figure if I can escape things while the have "handles" it will be much easier to escape in nogi and MMA, I still try to win also but i do not use the handles. but thats because i plan on fighting and theres no gi in MMA

I happen to agree with gr8waz in that one should try both and see if they like training both ways. Like I said previously, I started out with a Gi and when i went to no-gi I was lost for about 3 weeks on my handles. After that I found out that I am way better w/o the gi and I actually like that style better. However, I still compete and train both and do MMA a few times a week.

It's asked too damn ofteN!

LOOK. THE POINT EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE COMPEATING IN GI TOURNAMENTS TRAIN WITH A GI. IF YOU PLAN TO DO MMA DO NO GI TRAINIING....THAT SIMPLE.

TRAINING WITH A GI WILL NOT MAKE YOU BETTER AT NO GI. AND NO GI WILL NOT MAKE YOU BETTER AT GI JIU JITSU.

I don't think it takes someone that's good at the gi long to adapt to no gi but it takes someone that's done no gi only a long time to adapt to gi. Some of the best submission guy in mma came from a gi background, so you figure it out. However, a bjj guy/gal that wants to fight mma or do no gi submission events would be wise to train without the gi(and they do).

Does no gi rash guard give you super powers? how do armbar?

a gi isnt a magic device that can improve your game.
It can be a useful tool in the right hands.
it can provide friction so your slippery friend
cant slip his way out of a hold down or submission.
you can grab onto it, but so can your opponent.

so I say NO! A Gi will not make you any better.

I suggest training your speed, power, and technique in a gi or rash guard.
or if your like that, go ahead and be the shirtless guy.

if your going to compete in a no gi tourney, train for a no gi tourney.
ie. dont focus your training on moves that require use of your gi.

From a self defense standpoint I would say knowing both is best. From a competition standpoint I would say know what you need to know to win. I do both and I think each compliments the other.

I don't really train in a Gi. I usually only wear it to start the truck when it's cold outside. BUT you do learn how to slow down and have a good base with a Gi on. On the other hand NO GI is super fast and a totally different game.

saying a gi will or will not make you better is like saying that if you have a 50k car you are less likely to get in an accident. there might be a tiny bit of truth to it but it mostly depends on the practioner.