Quick Definition
Spats are full-length compression tights worn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, no-gi submission grappling, and MMA training. Made from a stretch spandex-polyester blend, they cover the leg from waist to ankle to protect the skin from mat burn and reduce contact with bacteria on shared training surfaces.
What are spats?
Grapplers wear spats as a base layer under shorts, a gi, or on their own during no-gi sessions. The garment covers the leg from waist to ankle and sits close to the skin, similar in cut to running tights but built to handle sustained floor contact instead of forward motion.
The name comes from a much older piece of clothing, covered further down, but in grappling the word refers to something specific: a compression legging built for the friction of mat sports. That distinction matters because standard gym leggings are not built for the same demands. Grapplers slide across mats, get pinned under a training partner‘s weight, and twist through positions that put constant stress on seams and waistbands.
Spats show up across grappling and MMA, not just BJJ. Submission grappling standout Shinya Aoki became known for wearing brightly patterned spats during his career in Shooto and later MMA promotions, and the look has stuck around in no-gi culture since. Most training spats, though, are plain black or navy, picked for function over flash.
How spats work
Most spats blend spandex with polyester, sometimes adding nylon for durability. Spandex is what allows the deep hip flexion and extreme guard positions grappling demands. Polyester’s job is different: it handles sweat and resists the abrasion of dragging across a mat.
Flatlock stitching is standard on well-made spats. The seams lie flat against the skin instead of raising a ridge, cutting down on the hot spots and chafing that raised seams cause during long rolls. A wide, non-rolling waistband keeps the garment from sliding during scrambles and takedowns.
The compression applies light, even pressure to the leg muscles. A widely cited 2003 study in the Journal of Sports Sciences tested custom-fit compression shorts on track athletes and found they reduced muscle oscillation during jump landings and increased vertical jump height compared to loose-fitting shorts. It’s one of the earlier controlled studies behind why grapplers and other athletes reach for compression gear today.
Spats vs. compression shorts
Coverage is the main difference between the two. Spats run full length, from the waistband to the ankle. Compression shorts, sometimes called spats shorts or by an older name, Vale Tudo shorts, stop above the knee.
Length changes how the garment performs on the mat. Full-length spats protect more skin from mat burn and stay flush against the leg in inverted positions, which is why most grapplers layer them under shorts or a gi. Compression shorts trade that coverage for less heat and freer movement around the knee, a tradeoff some wrestlers and leg-lock specialists prefer during scrambles.
| Feature | Spats | Compression shorts |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Full leg, to the ankle | Mid-thigh to just above the knee |
| Best for | Mat burn protection, gi training, cold rooms | Hot rooms, leg-lock work, freer knee movement |
| Common alternate name | Grappling tights | Vale Tudo shorts |
Neither option wins outright. The choice usually comes down to gym temperature, personal preference, and how much knee mobility a grappler wants during a session.
Where the name comes from
The word spats predates grappling by more than two centuries. It shortens spatterdashes, a term first recorded in the 1680s for long leather or cloth leggings that kept mud off trousers and stockings while walking or riding. By the late 1700s the shorter version, spats, described the ankle-covering leggings worn over shoes.
Spats fell out of everyday fashion by the 1920s, once paved roads made mud protection less necessary, and survived mostly as a formalwear accessory associated with old-money style, the kind seen on characters like Hercule Poirot and Scrooge McDuck. How the word made the jump from Edwardian footwear to modern compression leggings is not well documented. The grappling community picked up the term somewhere along the way, and it stuck.
Are spats required in grappling?
No, spats are optional for most training. Many gyms allow bare legs, gym shorts, or spats depending on personal preference and the gym’s own policy on skin coverage.
Competition rules are stricter and vary by gender and organization. Under IBJJF no-gi rules, men must wear board shorts and can wear black spats underneath them, but not as a standalone bottom. Women are permitted to compete in spats alone, without shorts over them, provided the spats are a solid color that matches uniform rules: black, white, or the athlete’s rank color.
Gi divisions do not require spats at all, since gi pants already cover the legs. Some competitors still wear them underneath for added compression, warmth, or to keep bare skin off the inside of the gi pants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are spats the same as compression shorts?
No. Spats cover the full leg down to the ankle, while compression shorts, also called spats shorts, stop above or at the knee. Same category of garment, different amount of coverage.
Can you wear spats alone in no-gi training?
It depends on the gym. Some allow spats without shorts over them for both genders during regular training, while others require shorts on top. Competition rules are stricter and differ by gender and organization.
Do you need spats to train BJJ or MMA?
Spats are optional, not required. Many grapplers train in shorts alone, especially early on, though spats add mat burn protection and hygiene benefits as training frequency increases.
Are spats the same as wrestling tights?
They’re similar in cut but not identical in purpose. Wrestling tights made for folkstyle or freestyle competition follow separate uniform rules and are often built with visual presentation in mind. Grappling spats are built specifically for BJJ- and MMA-style mat contact.
Sources
- Wikipedia. “Spats (footwear).” Accessed September 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spats_(footwear) - Online Etymology Dictionary. “Spatterdash.” Accessed September 2026.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/spatterdash - Sanabul. “IBJJF Uniform Rules: No Gi.” Accessed September 2026.
https://sanabulsports.com/blogs/news/ibjjf-uniform-rules-no-gi - Gold BJJ. “IBJJF Legal No-Gi Jiu Jitsu Gear.” Accessed September 2026.
https://goldbjj.com/collections/ibjjf-legal-no-gi - Doan, B.K., Kwon, Y.H., Newton, R.U., et al. “Evaluation of a Lower-Body Compression Garment.” Journal of Sports Sciences, 2003.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12875311/
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