In Jiu Jitsu, the minute you put on the gi, anything can happen. All it takes is one fast unexpected move from your opponent, and your fingers or toes can get snagged and easily injured.
That’s why you see most big name BJJ athletes training with finger tape. Finger tape for BJJ helps provide support for your fingers (and toes!) to prevent injuries or help them recover more quickly.
If you stock up on some of the best finger tapes for BJJ, you can fight harder, better, and smarter than ever before.
The Best Finger Tapes for BJJ in 2023
These are my picks for the best finger tapes for BJJ that are on the market today.
This is one of my favorite tapes for one clear reason; it’s totally sweat-resistant, and you can use it over a long period of time. Even though it’s made out of tough stuff, Gold BJJ Jiu Jitsu tape doesn’t leave any kind of nasty residue on your fingers (it used to, but they changed the formula to a much better adhesive).
If you need your tape to last through several matches, give this one a try. It’s flexible enough to use when you’re taping your fingers in an X formation but also tough enough for buddy tapes or even to care for larger areas, like your hands. This is one tape that will seriously up your game, and I consider it the best overall.
While most types of tape only come in one color, Monkey Tape takes the award for best colors because it comes in tan, white, and black. This tape is fabric-based, which can give you a lot of range of motion, but it’s also sticky enough to stay on your hands for the entire duration of your session. You won’t lose circulation, but your hands will remain protected entirely during your match.
If you are heading in for a long training session, you can’t forget your Monkey Tape. It grips well, and there’s no slippage, no matter how much you sweat. Since it’s not latex-based, you don’t have to worry about having an allergic reaction, and you can literally wear it all day without running into trouble.
Have you ever experienced that all-too-familiar situation where your tape gets squished up inside of your gym bag? There’s nothing worse than reaching for your gear only to find that it’s one big sticky glob. Fortunately, this tape comes with its very own case, which protects your tape and helps just keep things a bit neater.
Like many of my other options here, this tape is totally versatile, so it’s a good investment for people who play multiple sports. You can take it out of the ring and bring it hiking with you. It’s made entirely out of cotton, and it won’t stretch, which can help protect your ligaments and joints during play. Even though it’s tough, it’s still flexible, so your range of motion isn’t hindered at all. Get it in the economy pack for the best value!
This tape is fantastic for taping your fingers in the buddy method. It’s super sticky but doesn’t contain any latex, so you won’t have to worry about allergic reactions. Armadillo Skin Finger Tape works by supporting your ligaments and is especially helpful in preventing knuckle soreness. As anyone who’s gone several rounds in the ring knows, your knuckles can take quite a beating.
Use this tape for any martial arts or sports where your knuckles get banged up. You’ll protect your ligaments and your knuckles from any scrapes or injuries. One of the best aspects of this tape for me is that it’s warranty-backed, which shows that they have a tremendous amount of pride in their product. If you worry about the strain that BJJ is putting on your hands and ligaments, this tape might very well save your skin, literally.
If you’ve spent any time in the ring, you know that Fuji is a reliable brand, and this tape was made for BJJ. It holds up really well, doesn’t leave a sticky residue, and is easy to apply. One of the best parts about it is that it’s super easy to rip, so you can tear it off into strips for X-formation finger taping if you need to.
I’ve used it in a matter of seconds. It’s convenient and on the lower end of the price scale. Is there a downside here? Maybe, but I haven’t found one. One of the other great aspects of this tape is that you can use it for a bunch of different types of sports, so if you cross-train in Muay Thai or Judo, this tape will hold up for those ones as well.
This is one of my favorite products because it’s super universal, and it sticks to itself, so you can make the bandage as tight as you need it to be. Even so, it’s easy enough to remove, and it doesn’t leave too much residue on your hands. If your fingers get sore during matches, or if you need to support your knuckles or joints but still get the range of motion you need, this tape is a good investment.
You can also use it on your equipment. It doubles as a hockey stick tape, which makes it great for people who play multiple sports. It is made out of latex, though, so if you have any kind of latex allergy or sensitivity, you might want to go with another option.
This is serious tape for serious athletes, and the pros use it when they’re training for matches. I break out my Meister StickElite Tape when I know that I’m going to be training hard. It’s made out of the strongest adhesive that you can buy, and it’s incredibly versatile, so feel free to keep a roll of this tough stuff in your gym bag at all times.
Use it for BJJ, climbing, basketball, baseball, or other martial arts. One of the key aspects and features of this tape is its design. The tape itself is full of tiny holes that allow air circulation. This helps you sweat less and be more comfortable during the game. It’s also easy to tear, and you can use it on any part of your body. Since it’s latex-free, you don’t need to worry about allergic reactions.
How To Tape Your Fingers for Jiu Jitsu
You make the same hand motions over and over again in BJJ, especially if you’re training hard. Your joints take a considerable beating, and your fingers can strain or even break if you’re not careful. Inflammation, sore fingers, and injuries are far too common in the BJJ world, which is why you need to tape your fingers properly.
How you best tape your fingers hinges primarily on what kind of injuries that you’re looking to prevent. If, like me, you have a handful of finger injuries in your past, you likely have a solid idea of what areas to be cautious with. But overall, remember X taping gives you the most flexibility because it works up your fingers in crisscrosses.
You can also wrap tape around the joint itself. This is an excellent way to stave off inflammation, one of the peskiest parts of my BJJ prep. Finally, buddy taping, where you tape one finger next to another one to act as a splint, is a popular method of keeping your fingers protected throughout a match. Buddy taping is often the go-to for anyone with a history of injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Finger Tapes for BJJ
Q: Is Finger Tape a Substitute for Medical Care?
A: No, finger tape is not a substitute for medical care, and if you have severe damage to your fingers, like broken bones or serious inflammation, you need to go to a doctor. Playing with an injury will only keep you out of the ring for longer.
Q: Can Taping My Fingers Handicap Me?
A: Actually, if you apply it correctly, finger tape doesn’t have to handicap you whatsoever. Tape your fingers in an X formation to get the most out of the tape and enjoy total flexibility. This technique can give you the best of all worlds.
Q: Will Finger Tape Help My Performance?
A: Finger tape can help your performance by reducing the possibility of injuries and helping banged up hands grip better. It also can help you cognitively by giving you more confidence in the ring. When you’re scared of injury, you might play smaller and more tentatively. Finger tape can help give you that mental boost that you need to play hard and well.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Best Finger Tapes for BJJ
It’s important to invest in a tape that can allow you to move throughout the match while still providing ample protection. Ultimately, since BJJ is all about hand-to-hand combat, the best overall tape we’ve found is Gold BJJ Finger Tape. It helps protect your hands while keeping them dry throughout the match. Plus, it’s flexible enough to use comfortably for hours at a time.