How to Choose Your First SAMBO Jacket (Kurtka): Sizing, Fit and What to Look For

The kurtka is the most important piece of equipment you will buy for SAMBO. It is the primary grip surface for your opponent — and for you. Getting the size wrong does not just affect comfort; it affects how techniques land on you and whether your own grips work as they should. This guide covers everything you need to get the right kurtka the first time.

What Is a Kurtka — and How Is It Different From a Gi?

A kurtka is a SAMBO-specific jacket. It is shorter than a judo gi — typically ending at the hip — tighter through the body, and made from a more robust, abrasion-resistant fabric. The shorter cut is deliberate: SAMBO shorts are worn on the lower body, and a longer jacket would interfere with the high-grip clinch work central to the sport.

BJJ gis are cut longer and looser, optimised for ground work and collar grips that do not exist in SAMBO. Judo gis share more DNA with the kurtka, but they are still longer, heavier, and have wider lapels that do not meet FIAS specifications. Neither substitutes for a proper kurtka in SAMBO training or competition.

The kurtka's reinforced collar and sleeve construction exists specifically to withstand the grip-and-throw cycle of SAMBO training. Cheap alternatives fall apart under this stress, which is both a performance and a safety issue.

How DSI Sizing Works

DSI uses a European sizing system based on chest circumference in centimetres, running from 120 to 210. This is not a shirt size — it is a body measurement. The table below converts DSI sizes to approximate Australian and US shirt equivalents, but measure yourself rather than guessing from a shirt label.

Measure your chest at the widest point, keep the tape snug but not tight, and use that number to select your size. If you are between sizes, the following fit guidance will help you decide which way to go.

Fit Guidance — How Tight Is Correct?

A correctly fitted kurtka is snug without being restrictive. When standing normally, you should have no excess fabric pooling at the waist or hanging off the shoulders. When you raise your arms fully overhead, the jacket should rise with you without the hem riding up more than a few centimetres. The sleeves should end at the wrist with minimal bunching.

The most common sizing mistake is going up a size for comfort. A kurtka that is too large gives your opponent easy, deep grips that are harder to break. It also affects your own throw mechanics — you are working against extra fabric on every technique. Err slightly smaller rather than larger.

If you are between sizes and have a broader chest or wider shoulders relative to your weight, go up. If you are between sizes and carry more weight in your lower body, stay with the smaller size.

Fabric Weight — Standard vs Lightweight

DSI kurtkas are available in standard and lightweight constructions. Standard fabric is appropriate for training and competition in temperate conditions. It is more durable under high-volume training loads and is the correct choice for most athletes.

Lightweight kurtkas are intended for competition in warm climates or for athletes who run hot. They meet the same FIAS approval standards as standard weight but have a shorter lifespan under heavy training. They are not recommended as an athlete's only jacket — they work best as a competition-specific piece when your training jacket is standard weight.

For most Australian athletes buying their first kurtka, standard weight is the correct choice.

FIAS Approval — Training vs Competition

For training, FIAS approval is not a requirement. Any quality kurtka built to SAMBO specifications will serve you in the gym. For competition at any FIAS-sanctioned event, including SAMBO Australia national events, only FIAS-approved gear is permitted at equipment inspection.

DSI's full competition kurtka range carries FIAS approval. If you are buying your first kurtka and plan to compete, buying FIAS-approved from the start means you do not need to buy twice. It is not a significant price premium over non-approved alternatives, and it eliminates any risk at inspection.

Care Instructions

Wash your kurtka in cold or warm water, never hot. Hot washing degrades the fabric's structural integrity and can shrink the jacket enough to take it out of your competition size. Machine wash on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Do not use bleach. Air dry flat — do not tumble dry. Hang drying is acceptable but can cause slight stretching at the shoulders over time. Store dry and flat, not folded under weight.

A well-maintained DSI kurtka, trained in regularly, will last two to three years before the fabric begins to show wear through the collar and sleeve reinforcements. Inspect the seams and grip areas periodically — these are the first points of stress failure.

Buy your DSI SAMBO Jacket (Kurtka) at Sambo Store Australasia — Australia and New Zealand's authorised DSI stockist. [Link to DSI Sambo Jacket product page]