Frequently asked questions
What is the return policy?
  • Exchanges are accepted within 30 days of delivery for unworn and undamaged items.
  • The buyer is responsible for return shipping.
  • No restocking fee.
  • Undamaged, non-defective, and non-exchange items are not eligible for returns.
What is the shipping policy?

We ship to the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom through FedEx, USPS, or UPS.

We are not responsible for stolen parcels.

We are not responsible for lost parcels if the recipient has provided inaccurate shipping information, has an unsecure mailroom, or uses a P.O. box.
When will I get my order?

We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location.

Orders may take 3 to 4 weeks to be fulfilled.
How do I know what size to order?

Every product links to our size charts, and there are separate charts for kimonos, rash guards, and combat shorts. Size by your height and weight first, not by the size you usually wear in street clothes.

Rash guards are cut close. If you are between sizes and want more room, take the larger one. Full charts are on the size charts page.
How do I wash a rash guard?

Cold wash, inside out, on a gentle cycle. No bleach and no fabric softener, since both break down the elastic over time.

Hang to dry or tumble dry on low. Do not iron the print and do not dry clean. Washing it soon after training instead of leaving it in your bag is the single thing that makes it last longer.
How do pre-orders work?

A pre-order means the item has not been produced yet. Everything ordered during the window goes into production together once the window closes, and production and fulfilment take about 3 to 4 weeks from that date.

The delivery estimate shown at checkout is generated automatically and does not reflect the pre-order timeline. Go by the window instead.
Can I get custom gear made?

Yes. Custom rash guards, combat shorts, and singlets are available with your own artwork on Instinct patterns. There is no minimum, so a single piece is fine.

Custom work takes about 4 to 6 weeks from the point your design is approved.
Do you work with gyms, and what is the wholesale minimum?

Yes, two ways. Bulk Direct is a straight wholesale order: you buy at wholesale pricing and sell the stock in your gym.

The pre-order route has you sell first and order second, so you carry no inventory risk. Request a free mockup with your gym's branding, use it to pre-sell to your members, then order what you have already sold.

Either way, the minimum is 20 units per style.
Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Alongside the United States, we ship to Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Delivery times vary by destination.
Gi or no-gi, what do I actually need?

For gi training you need a kimono and a belt, and most people wear a rash guard underneath.

For no-gi you need a rash guard plus combat shorts, spats, or both. Rash guards and combat shorts carry over to gi training too, which is why most people start there.
Is Instinct gear IBJJF legal?

That depends on the piece and the division, so check anything you plan to compete in against the current requirements.

For gi, the IBJJF requires a single colour kimono in white, royal blue, or black, made from cotton or cotton-like fabric, with patches only in authorised areas.

For no-gi, it requires a skin-tight shirt that is black, white, or black and white, showing at least 10 percent of your belt rank colour. Shorts must cover at least halfway down the thigh and be no longer than the knee, with no pockets or fully stitched pockets, and no buttons, exposed drawstrings, zippers, plastic, or metal.

The IBJJF updates these periodically. The current version is at ibjjf.com/uniform.
How does the rewards program work?

You earn 5 points for every $1 you spend, and 100 points is worth $1 off. That works out to 5 percent back on everything you buy.

Create an account at checkout so your points are tracked from your first order.
What are your rash guards and combat shorts made of?

Rash guards use a poly-lycra blend with mesh panels, flatlock seams, and a silicone waistband that keeps the hem down.

Combat shorts use a stretch gusset and split side seams for full range, with a flat waistband and an internal drawcord.

Both are made with recycled fabric. Tees, hoodies, and other apparel are cotton.
Do you restock items that sell out?

It varies by piece. Series releases are produced in limited runs and are not always repeated.

Restocks and new releases land in the New Arrivals collection first.