Looking for the best jiu jitsu soap? One that you can use after Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training to guarantee you won’t catch any nasty skin infections?
Well, I bought the ten most popular bjj and grapple soapsand tried them all out. I’ve also included some solid options for body washes that are also anti fungal and anti bacterial.
Choosing the right soap after BJJ training is essential for staying clean and avoiding common skin infections like ringworm and staph. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to figure out what actually works.
That’s why I personaly tested the most popular soaps, from antifungal powerhouses to budget-friendly staples, and ranked them all. Whether you need a gentle option for frequent showers or something tough enough to fight off mat germs, this guide has you covered.
Let’s break down the best soaps to keep you healthy and ready to roll!
At a Glance
Best Overall Soap: Gold BJJ
Best for Deep Cleaning: Solpri
Most Gentle (recommended for the frequent bathers*): Dove Sensitive Skin
Best Exfoliant: Martial Arts Soap
Best Smelling: Dr Squatch / Armbar Soap
Best Body Wash: Truremedy Tea Tree Oil Body Wash
Most Affordable: Dove’s Men’s Soap
Key Takeaways
- If you are showering multiple times a day, Dr. Clayton Green who is a dermatologist who also practices BJJ recommends gentle soaps like Dove Sensitive Skin (also keep in mind that soap bars actually tend to be gentler than liquid soaps)
- Listen, most of the soaps that claim to be for bjj or martial arts are just regular soap marketed better with a higher price tag
- In reality, what you should be more concerned about is getting home and showering sooner rather than later* (wipes are also a good option if you can’t shower immediately)
- However, if you are concerned with fighting off bacteria and looking for a decent antifungal, we recommend aiming for soaps with natural oils (like tea tree, peppermint, or eucalyptus)
Best Jiu Jitsu Soap Rankings
1. Gold BJJ Submission Soap
I’m a big fan of Gold BJJ products – they are always high quality and have never disappointed me. Their Submission Soap is no exception.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great Smell | |
| Minty/Tingly Feeling | |
| Good Size | |
| No residue |
If you like minty, tingly soaps than this bar is the one for you. I bought their tea tree and peppermint soap, and it definitely made me feel tingly and clean. I also didn’t feel like my skin was dried out after or any residue after I got out of the shower.
Overall, this is a great bar soap that meets all my requirements of purchasing again.
2. Martial Arts Soap
I would put this bar of Martial Arts Soap up there with the best including soap from Gold BJJ. I like the peppermint smell activated charcoal (which Submission Soap from Gold BJJ doesn’t have).
| Pros |
|---|
| Great exfoliant (contains charcoal) |
| Nice mild peppermint smell |
| Contains oils to help with moisturizing |
| No residue |
About This Item:
- Available in activated charcoal and peppermint,, peppermint tea tree, and classic tea tree
- Includes no dangerous chemical
- Great for body, hands, and hair
3. Dr Squatch
Dr. Squatch easily makes from of the best smelling soaps out there but does come at a bit of a higher price.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Amazing and mild scent | Expensive |
| Moisturizing | Not anti bacterial or anti fungal |
| No Residue | No exfoliant |
About This Item:
- Subtle Scent
- Great for Eczema
- Ingredients include a combination of goats milk, sea salt, and oatmeal
Moreover, Dr. Squatch’s bar soaps are long-lasting and produce a rich lather that leaves the skin feeling clean and refreshed. They are also vegan and cruelty-free, which is important to many people who practice BJJ and MMA.
4. Armbar Soap
There’s a reason why the Armbar Soap brand is one of the most popular soaps for bjj in the world. I can’t praise their scent enough. If you want to choose from the best smelling soaps on this list definitely go with Armbar Soap or Dr Squatch.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Amazing mild smell | not sold through amazon |
| Contains micro beads (exfoliant) | bars can sometimes be larger and hard to hold |
All of their soap bars are antibacterial and antifungal.
Each bar is dusted with Bamboo Charcoal Powder to absorb bacteria from the mat. On the other hand, powdered Black Sesame Seeds exfoliate dead skin from heavy exercise like BJJ and MMA.
Pro Tip*: bjjhq.com sometimes has packs of armbar soaps on sale. Whenever they do I usually try to buy one or two.
5. Defense Soap
A pretty decent bar of soap, defense soap hits all of the marks with no strong stand out qualities.
With use of essential oils of Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Defense soap can definitely get the job done of keeping you skin infection free.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong Eucalyptus Smell | no exfoliant element |
| Good size bar | |
| Good for sensitive skin | |
| Leans no residue |
About This Item:
- Made With Natural Tea Tree Oil And Eucalyptus Oil
- Proven To Efficiently Remove Built-Up Oils, Allergens, Sweat, Gym Crud, Smog, And Dirt, Among Others
- Hypoallergenic
- Natural
6. Art of Sport
Another mid range soap, Art of Sport, makes a decent bar with a nice masculine scent and some moisturizing qualities.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cool masculine scent | felt a slight residue |
| skin felt a little dry after |
About This Item:
- Moisturizing
- Cool Eucalyptus Scent
- Deep-Cleansing Charcoal, shea butter, and tea tree oil
Made from natural botanicals, the soap is a natural treasure for those who dwell on gyms most of the time. You can bring it and use it after workouts to recharge and keep moving.
It is packed with zero sulfates, phthalates, and parabens. It is dermatologically tested and completely vegan.
7. Dove Men’s Care
Dove Men’s Care soap are a solid buy if you’re looking for a more affordable bar of soap.
Again, this soap is affordable which is great, but when compared to the other soaps on this list like those from Gold BJJ or Armbar Soap it really didn’t blow me away. Plus, its scent smelt manufactured and almost fake.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Inexpensive | Harsh Smell |
| No residue | No exfoliant |
| moisturizing | Not antibacterial or antifungal |
About This Items:
- Deeply purifies while moisturizing
- Unique patented ingredients designed for men
- Easily rinses off with no residue
The first thing you’ll notice about these bars is the rich lather. It quickly washes away dirt and sweat without stripping away natural oils.
And because they contain 1/4 moisturizing cream, they won’t leave your skin feeling dry or tight like some other soaps can.
8. Dr Bronner’s Soap
While this is probably a great buy as an inexpensive soap for the whole family, it didn’t really do it for me. Its scent really wasn’t the best, but I did feel like i