Summary

MVNT is a rad BJJ company based in Australia.  Their debut gi is a super soft gold weave with smart branding and a somehwat minimalist design scheme.  Overall a solid debut offering.

Introduction

The MVNT debut gi has been a joy to test and wear.  The A3 fit me incredibly well and I really like it when a brand offers a solid debut versus just trying to churn out any old gi and make it big.  There’s a lot of newcomers to the BJJ gi market and most of them aren’t going to last for various reasons. MVNT, however, is going to stand the test with solid branding, growing distribution, and a high quality kimono at its core.

In the words of MVNT:

THIS MVNT GI WAS DESIGNED BY JIU JITSU COMPETITORS AND MAT TESTED FOR 12 MONTHS. THAT’S RIGHT. 12 MONTHS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY, FIT AND DURABILITY OF THE GI BEFORE WE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT RELEASING IT TO THE MARKET. IF WE WERE NOT 100% HAPPY WITH THE GI. WE WEREN’T GOING TO RELEASE IT. NOW….WE ARE SUPER HAPPY AND EXCITED TO RELEASE THIS GI.   THE CUT AND FIT OF THE DEBUT MVNT GI IS A STANDARD FIT. MUCH SIMILAR TO BRANDS LIKE OK KIMONOS, TATAMI AND SCRAMBLE, THIS GI HAS A NICE STANDARD COMFORTABLE FIT YET TOUGH, READY AND MADE FOR EITHER COMPETITION OR JUST ANOTHER HARD NIGHT ON THE MATS AT THE ACADEMY. LIKE ALL GIS NOWADAYS, THEY ARE PRE-SHRUNK BUT THEY WILL STILL HAVE SOME MINIMAL SHRINKAGE.   WE ARE JIU JITSU COMPETITORS. WE ROLL EVERYDAY. WE TEST OUR GIS EVERYDAY.

Fit

The gi fit fantastic in A3 (I’m 6’1″ and 215lbs.).  The white gold weave top shrunk down just a bit over time to fit even better.

Design

I really like that the gi is sleek and stylish while still allowing for a ton of space to either leave blank for a clean minimalist look, or patch the crap out of and rep your sponsors and academy.

Jacket

The jacket features a ripstop covered lapel and cool reinforcements on the inside of the lapel and across the front.

It also featured embroidery on the upper back underneath the label.

It works fantastic as a choking device and the gold weave remains super soft over time.

The custom seam tape inside the sleeves also remained soft and was never scratchy.

Trousers

The trousers have a cool contrasting dark blue drawstring and a traditional 4 belt loops.

I didn’t notice any issues with the drawstring riding up during training, however.  I can only attribute this to properly placed drawstrings.

The embroidery on the shin of the pant leg is really high quality and I’m impressed that the seam tape, despite being very detailed, is quite soft to the touch.

Rolling Performance

The gi performed really well when rolling.  The collar isn’t super thick or super-tough but it did hold up quite well while training.

To Purchase

You can pick up MVNT gis on their homepage and also at Multiplayer Distribution (who also stock rad brands link FPG and RVDDW).

Conclusion

Submitting a Question

These episodes are going to be super freaking fun, but only if you (and I) don’t act the fool. Sound good? Rad.

Here’s the best way to get on the show:

Please keep your question under one minute in length.

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Spammy, hateful, or unintelligible questions will not be considered. (Please do not go out for happy hour on Friday and then decide to submit a question. Actually please do. It won’t get on the show, but I’ll probably really enjoy listening to it).

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Thanks for taking the time to ask your question!

Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Black Friday deals.  I just hate it when I just bought something and then I see a sale a week or two later for 50% off.

It makes me not want to buy from that brand again unless it’s at a super discount.

It’s with that in mind that I want to personally give you some extra free stuff this week from my brand Ok! Kimonos!

*Coupon codes are valid as of NOW and will expire at midnight on Cyber Monday (12/1)*

Use code ‘FreeBag‘ to get a free sling bag ($37 value!) when you order any BJJ gi.

Use code ‘FreeTee‘ to get a free tshirt ($27 value!) when you order any sling bag.

Summary

The Yolo Sponsor Pro 450 has all the features of a premium gi. The styling is unique, and for anyone who finds the gi attractive, this is a great addition to the ever changing and evolving gi market!

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review. I have never done any work with or for Yolo BJJ.

Introduction

Yolo BJJ is a new Ohio based BJJ company owned by Eric York. The brand has made a splash by offering many regional athletes sponsorship. Yolo plays off of design points centered on the imagery of seizing the moment as it pertains to BJJ, which is an apt concept.

Often fighters are hesitant for whatever reason, even when they are rolling in the gym.

The theme of YOLO (You only live once) is that rather than hesitate, BJJ practitioners should be keen to open up and play.

Fit

This gi fits well, however not perfectly. For an A3, the gi top fits great, but I found the pants to be a bit shorter than I like. As can be seen in the pictures, though, I don’t think the shortness of the pants would cause me issues in competition (insofar as IBJJF legality), so really it’s just a preference thing in this case.

A: 7

B: 28

C: 31

D: 21.5

E: 23.5

F: 11

G: 10

H: 35

Design

The gi’s main external design points are the Yolo BJJ logo and their spiral logo with “Open up and play” written inside of it. The taping on the gi has the same motifs. The main colors on this white gi are red silver and black with white with black taping, stitching, loops and rope all very simple and clean.

One major positive point (or negative if you don’t like the themes of the gi) is that the patchwork is entirely embroidered. I found the embroidery to be clean and of high quality. Also the taping is very nice, not scratchy like with some gis.

This gi is a step below some of the “blingy” gis out there, it has plenty of embroidery but is definitely clean and tasteful. Yolo definitely has the right idea with the decoration of this gi.

Jacket

The gi jacket fits me great. I am 6’1, 195, and normally the best fit for me is A2L. The jacket of this A3 gi fits me very well.

Made of 450 GSM pearl weave, the jacket is nice, light and comfortable.

The collar is foam covered with twill cotton, and is nice and thick. The gi has fairly standard reinforcements and I find the taping to be plush and soft.

Like some other gis, this gi has embroidery between the shoulders, which I normally complain about as it can cause certain kinds of guard play to be uncomfortable, but Yolo did something smart with this, they put extra pearl weave inside the back of the gi to cover the embroidery.

One neat design point is that the gi has taping right past the collar all the way around the gi. Similar to the extended rip stop on the Inverted Panda gi and the Lanky FG Pro 550 this taping makes securing a collar grip a bit more difficult which can be a tactical advantage.

The jacket definitely gets my seal of approval!

Trousers

I was not a huge fan of the fit of the pants. They are a bit short on me, which I don’t really like. However they are, like the jacket of very high quality.

The pants have similar design points as the top, with seam tape and embroidery making them match the top well.

The pants have a gold weave gusset (like the Lanky FG Pro 550), which unlike many gis with gi material gussets is not the same material as the top. I personally really like gi material gussets as they help me secure submissions from guard.

As far as drawstrings go, the Yolo gi has a really nice one. They chose to tie off the draw string and melt the end which is ideal.

Like many gi pants the Yolo Sponsor Pro 450 has a double layer of fabric that goes from the top of the knee down to a few inches above the bottom of the pants, some people prefer having that double layer go all the way down.

Rolling Performance

This gi performs similarly to other well fitting gis. Because the pants are short, when people grip them they cut into my calves a bit, but that’s really the only criticism I have. I like the seam tape right past the collar as it makes stripping people’s grips a bit easier.

Conclusion

With the proliferation of so many gi companies, themes and design points will vary. I personally like very simple gis with bold designs. The Yolo BJJ gi has a lot of impressive features and if you’re looking for a new gi and the themes of the Yolo gi speak to you, it’s definitely a great option!

Summary

The Flow Kimonos Classic Series Kimono is a beautiful product. The gi is comfortable, functional and is a great entry to the ever growing Jiu Jitsu gi market.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review. I have never done any work with or for Flow Kimonos.

Introduction

I actually first heard of Flow kimonos when a couple of my teammates got their Pro Series 3 gi, and I was super impressed by the quality and look of the gi.

When I received the Classic Single Weave gi, I had mixed feelings. The gi is made of very comfortable material, in fact is perhaps the most comfy gi I’ve ever worn, feeling more like a soft sweatshirt than a suit of armor, the pants are some of the heaviest most impressive gi pants I’ve ever worn. Also the fit is great.

All that being said, the lapel on the gi is thinner than I generally prefer, they chose to use a flat drawstring (which is far more difficult to use than the now standard stretchy rope), and some of the seams and embroideries have already begun to unravel.

Fit

This gi is a fine fitting A3, as I mention in all my reviews I am partial to the fit of an A2L, this gi comes pretty close to that fit and I was very happy with it.

A: 6.75

B: 30.75

C: 31.25

D: 24.

E: 21.5

F: 10.5

G: 8.75

H: 37.25

Design

This gi is beautiful. Flow uses embroideries on the sleeves of this gi. The logo is a white flower with red details, and the company name written beneath in an italicized font. The bottom of the left skirt and the right shin have “Flow Kimonos Classic” embroidered onto them.

The gi uses plain grey twill seamtape, piping and belt loops, and grey stitching, all of which look great on the black fabric.

I had quality issues with some of the stitching on this gi. One of the seams seems to have come loose, also the logo on one of the arms is starting to unravel. None of these issues interfered with the performance of the gi, but I’d imagine that down the line they could become nuisances.

Jacket

The jacket is made of a SUPERsoft single weave. The fabric maintains its integrity when sweaty and doesn’t stretch much.

I’m a fan of the twill seamtape that Flow chose for this gi, and it just contributed to the remarkably comfortable fit and feel of the gi.

The lapel is my only complaint about this gi top, and at about half the thickness of most other lapels. This can be a disadvantage when trying to strip grips, the thicker a lapel the more difficult it can be to get a good grip on it.

A minor quality issue is on the mid-chest stitching, I noticed that one line of the triple stitched thread came undone.  This probably won’t affect the integrity of the gi and does not appear to be continuing to unravel. That said, this is one reason that the Flow gi uses triple stitching so, again, the effect is purely cosmetic.

I have included a picture of a stack of gis including the one being reviewed to show the lapel thickness relative to the other gis.  As you can see, the Flow Kimonos

Trousers

The pants on this gi are amazing. They feel like denim. I am personally a huge fan of heavy materials being used for gis, and this gi has the heaviest pants I’ve ever seen.

They feature 6 drawstring loops, and a flat draw string. I am not a fan of the flat draw string as it is difficult to tighten and difficult to release when the waist is sweaty post-training.

The gusset on these pants is nothing out of the ordinary, no gi material. The double layer of fabric on the knee extends to the mid shin.

Rolling Performance

The gi performs fine, I loved the pants as they are really easy to strip grips from.

The lapel on the other hand is too thin for my liking and is in my opinion a disadvantage during rolling.

If I were to redesign this gi for a second release, I would use the same fabrics, but incorporate a thicker lapel, stretchy rope drawstrings full length knee padding and a gi material gusset.

Conclusion

The Flow Single Weave isn’t their finest work, but it is a great entry to the gi market.  Some of the features of this gi are remarkable and awesome, but there were definitely some quality control issues and questionable choices in the design.

I would recommend anyone shopping for a gi to look at Flow, both based on how comfy this gi was, and how much my teammates like their Pro Series 3 gis. Also the brand now offers a hemp gi. Check them out here: http://flowkimonos.com

Summary

With its smooth, African styling The Original Zuri Gi is an extremely durable and attractive first effort by a new gi company.  This gi is impressively well built, comfortable and well designed.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Zuri Gi Company.

Introduction

The Original Zuri Gi is a first foray into the gi market for Florida based Zuri Gi Company.  A quick google search taught me that Zuri means “beautiful” in Swahili, and some of the stylistic motifs of this gi  have a distinctive African styling.

Before reviewing the gi I had never heard of the company.  Upon receiving it I found that the materials used are excellent, and the patterns and designs chose by the company give a sort of exotic spa feel.  I wasn’t sure if I should roll in it or wear it to a hot spring.

When I got the gi, the first thing I noticed was a rip stop bag with a striking African mask image on it.  I also noted that there were no strong odors that you sometimes get when opening a new gi.

Fit

This gi is an A3.  As I always mention the very best size for my build is A2L but I can wear A3.  This gi fits me like most A3 gis do, just a little bit baggy in some areas but definitely very wearable.  Also I found that the pants are far roomier than any A3 pants I’ve ever worn.  This didn’t affect performance but it looked a bit odd.

A: 6.5

B: 29.75

C: 30

D: 24.5

E: 24

F: 14

G: 9

H: 36.75

Design

Whoever designed this gi had some really novel ideas, and definitely gets the grade for originality.  It’s got a really clean/fresh look to it.

Starting with the font used for the logo: normally when you see fonts on BJJ gis they’re very “regular”.  They are generally linear with either angles or rounded edges to give it a “regular” look.  The logo Zuri chose is irregular as are the patterns and design motifs.

The seamtape is a royal blue and black wave pattern, while the shoulder patches are a sort of African tapestry style, these are a combination of blue, black and grey colors.  Another motif is a face mask which looks like a traditional African mask.

The ripstop piping, stretchy rope draw string and contrast stitching is a nice royal blue.

Everything about the gi design is clean and crisp.  All the logos are embroidered and the seamtape and shoulder patches are woven and of extremely high quality.

I’d describe the overall quality of this gi and the workmanship put into it as premium.

Jacket

The jacket is made of a midweight pearl weave probably between 450-550 GSM.

The lapel on this gi is among the thickest I’ve sampled, but isn’t terribly stiff.  They made the lapel out of ripstop over EVA foam.  It also has all the standard reinforcements near the side split and in the armpit.  All the seams are triple stitched with a nice royal blue contrast stitch.

One noteworthy aspect of this gi is the soft seamtape.  The seamtape is similar to that in the Yolo Competitor gi in that there are no sharp edges.  I really like the black and blue wave pattern.

This gi’s jacket is one of the better ones I’ve reviewed, and after 4 months of regular rotation, shows very little discernible wear.

Trousers

The fit of the pants is my only real complaint about this gi as they fit much larger than other gis.

The pants have a gi material gusset to help with cinching up submissions.  This is a feature that I always look for in a gi as it affords me a tactical advantage.  They are made of a lightweight cotton ripstop.  The drawstring is a stretchy rope with the end melted, no knot tied into it.  I’ve noticed that a lot of the gis I’ve gotten lately have foregone tying the end of the drawstring but rather simply melted it.  In this case this method was perfectly acceptable

The pants have the same triple stitching and seamtape as the top.  They also have a double layer of ripstop that starts above the knee and ends mid shin.  Many brands have opted for a full length double layer of fabric, this may be advisable for Zuri’s next gi.

Rolling Performance

The gi performs very nicely.  It is comfortable and well fitted.

The excessive material in the pants did make some grips easier for my training partners, I don’t like slim fit gi pants but I do feel that these are a bit excessive.

The gi material gusset and the extra thick lapel did give me an advantage during rolling.

Conclusion

Zuri’s first product is a great one, and at this point they can be found at Zuri’s website for under 100$ shipped.  I think this gi is a bargain at that price.  My only complaint was that the pants were a bit too baggy, but that certainly didn’t stop this gi from being a very attractive and well made product.

Selling out faster than womp rat stew on Tatooine!

Get yours: http://www.BJJHQ.com

Details from BjjHQ:

OK Kimonos has added some pretty slick-looking spats to their arsenal, and after a few weeks testing ours on the mats… we love ‘em. The orange & camo colorway looks great, every detail fully sublimated into the fibers of the stretch fabric. OK uses a soft, high-end polyester/spandex blend that stretches easily with your body’s movements, without compromising their overall compression around your legs.

The tapered fit ensures the bottom cuff openings don’t loosen up or stretch out after some wear ‘n tear, while the waist is equipped with a wide elastic core for the sort of steady fit you need with spats. Also equipped with an internal drawstring for easy adjustments.

Size Chart
S: 130-145 lbs
M: 145-165 lbs
L: 160-190 lbs
XL: 190-215 lbs
2XL: 210-240 lbs

Summary

I was given the opportunity to review two different gis from Club Boost, a very active company.  The two gis that I reviewed are the Club Boost Comp Gi in white and the Club Boost Samurai Gi in black.  This is a review of the Comp Gi, I will cover both a review of the gi as well as some contrast and comparison between it and the Samurai gi.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Club Boost.

Introduction

The Club Boost Comp Gi has some of my favorite features that a gi can have, including seamtape that runs along the lapel, as well as gi material in the pants for improved grip and comfort.  The gi is attractive and comfortable, but its quality is not as good as its counterpart (the Samurai gi).

My first impression of the gi was that the branding and company name were a bit odd.  It almost looked and felt like the sort of item that would be sold at a health club rather than a BJJ Gi, but the design is clean and I think that it works nicely for Club Boost.

Fit

Club Boost sent me an A3 in the Comp Gi and an A2 in the Samurai.  My preferred size in all gis is A2L, but I’ve found that some company’s A3 or A2 gis fit fine.  I found that the Club Boost Comp Gi fit me comfortably, but had a bit of excess material in the body that the Samurai Gi did not.  The pants on the other hand fit me perfectly.  I’d say that the Comp Gi fits my 6’1 196lb frame nicely.

A: 7

B: 29

C: 30.5

D: 24

E: 20.5

F: 12

G: 8.75

H: 37

Design

The gis design is fairly simple.  It is a white gi with red contrast stitching and piping.  The piping and rope-loops on the gi are made out of a thick red polyester (or possibly nylon blend) fabric.

The seamtape on the Comp Gi is red with black and silver writing and logo hits on it.  Club Boost chose to run seamtape along the entire rip stop covered foam collar. The back of the gi has a single logo hit, and the shoulders have the Club Boost name on them.  The logo on the shoulders is smoothly embroidered which is very visually pleasing

The trousers are a bit simpler, with a single logo hit on the bottom of the right leg.  In spite of being simpler, the trousers have the features that really set this gi apart, with gi material in the knees as well as the gusset.  The Samurai gi doesn’t have this which is really the one way the Comp Gi is better than the Samurai.

The Comp Gi has some issues with quality, namely the seamtape has frayed at some points and some of the standard reinforcements have begun to come undone.  None of these issues seem like they’ll affect the long term performance of the gi, but they are definitely potential nuisances.

Overall I’d rate the design of this gi as relatively simple.  The round font they chose is attractive, and I got a lot of compliments on the gi.

Jacket

The jacket is made of a 550 GSM pearl weave.  The piping is made of a thick red poly blend (possibly nylon) and the stitching is red.

The lapel is probably the worst part of the gi, being very thin and flimsy.  I found it to be a disadvantage when rolling as it was too easy to get a hold of.  I would probably not wear this gi to competition.  The Samurai gi’s lapel on the other hand is thick and supple, a great improvement.

The seamtape on the jacket is both innovative as well as a minor issue.  I am a huge fan of seamtape that runs past the collar as it makes grip retention on the collar more difficult.  On the other hand the seamtape has begun to fray and come undone at some points.  The standard reinforcements near the bottom of the jacket have also begun to come undone, but as I mentioned they don’t seem to be of long term consequence.

Trousers

These pants are awesome.  They’re made out of a soft cottony ripstop and are both comfortable and functional.

Club boost put pearl weave both in the gusset as well as behind the knee to provide extra padding.  I love pearl weave in my gi pants as it aids in cinching submissions, and can make stripping pant grips easier.

The pants also fit nicely which helps.

The aesthetic design of the pants is relatively simple: white pants, red seamtape, 6 red rope loops made of the same thick material as the piping and a nice stretchy rope with knotted and melted ends.

Rolling Performance

The gi performs well.

The collar is a disadvantage, given that it is so thin and pliable, but this is offset by the awesomeness of the pants.  Club Boost would be well advised to make all their pants like the ones on this gi.  Seriously.

If I had to choose a suit of armor with which to go into war, I’d probably go with the Samurai gi.  I’ll cover why in the next review.

Conclusion

Club Boost’s Comp Gi is a fantastic entry to the gi market.

Its pants are some of the nicest in the game even though the top has some issues that could be resolved in a second entry of their Comp Gi series.

Stay tuned for the review of the Club Boost Samurai.  It is interesting that some of the issues have been fixed in the Samurai gi but some of the advantages are no longer present.

Summary

I was given the opportunity to review two different gis from Club Boost, a very active company.  The two gis that I reviewed are the Club Boost Comp Gi in white and the Club Boost Samurai Gi in black.  This is a review of the Black Samurai Gi; I will cover both a review of the gi as well as some contrast and comparison between it and the Comp gi.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Club Boost.

Introduction

The Club Boost Samurai gi is a VERY solid product.  Like its competition counterpart it is made of good materials and is attractive.  There are however some features that set it above from the Comp gi as well as some details that the comp gi had in place that would have been nice to see on the Samurai.

Fit

Club Boost sent me an A3 in the Comp Gi and an A2 in the Samurai.  My preferred size in all gis is A2L, but I’ve found that some company’s A3 or A2 gis fit fine.  I found that the Club Boost Samurai Gi is a bit more “fitted”.  The pants are a bit shorter, and everything feels more tapered.  I liked that in spite of being a tighter fitting gi I still had full range of motion when rolling in it.  Between the two, the A3 is more comfortable, but the A2 would be choice for competition.

A: 6.51

B: 27.5

C: 29

D: 23.5

E: 23

F: 12

G: 8.75

H: 37.5

Design

The Club Boost Samurai Gi is an attractive product.

They chose a black, red and white color scheme for this gi.  The contrast stitching and piping is red.  The rope is white and the embroidery is red and white.

The primary design motif is a snarling Samurai head in a helmet emblazoned with the Club Boost logo.  This motif is present on both arms, and the back of the top as well as one on the front of the right leg.

Like the white Comp gi this gi has the club boost name embroidered on both shoulders in a smooth print.

The top has a black seam tape with the company’s name and logo on it in red and white.  The seam tape at the bottom of the skirt is on the outside, an attractive

Jacket

Like its “Comp Gi” counterpart, the jacket is made of a 550GSM pearl weave, the piping is made of a thick red poly blend (possibly nylon) and the stitching is red.

The key difference between the Samurai gi and the Comp gi (apart from the awesome Samurai logo) is that the comp gi has a thick and stiff collar.  Far more “battle ready” than the Comp Gi.

The seam tape on the Samurai is, unfortunately, scratchy, but that was perhaps the only issue I could find with it.  The quality was a huge improvement over the Comp Gi.

Trousers

The pants of the Samurai gi are pretty average.  No hidden pearl weave, just standard rip stop with the branded seam tape on occasional logo hits.

The one kind of neat difference these pants have is that they have a white stretchy rope.  Most other gi pants I’ve seen have a stretchy rope that matches the seam tape, but this gi went a different way with it and I kind of like it!

Like the top, the only real issue on these is the fact that the seam tape is scratchy.  Otherwise the pants are fine.  Nothing out of the ordinary, but they fit well and are durable.

Rolling Performance

The thicker, stiffer collar makes this gi’s top superior to its counterpart.

If they had paired the Comp Gi’s pant design with the Samurai Gi’s top this would be an absolutely incredible product.

Still, I have no real complaints other than the scratchy tape, which doesn’t really affect the rolling performance; it just makes the gi less comfortable.

Conclusion

Club Boost’s Samurai Gi is a very well done product.  The Samurai motif is super attractive.  The materials they chose for the top makes it like a suit of armor, and I like that.

The scratchy seam tape and lack of pearl weave in the pants make it comparable to the Comp Gi.

If you are on the market for a new gi and you want to explore an up and coming brand, look no further than Club Boost.  Great products, attractive, and good quality.

Summary

One of the very nicest gis I’ve had the privilege of reviewing.  The Deus Fight Co.  Original Limited Edition BJJ Gi is one of the most lightweight and comfortable gis I’ve ever seen.  Deus is unabashedly religious in their themes, so if you are a devout Christian this is the gi for you!

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Deus Fight Co.

Introduction

I received Deus’ gi not really knowing what to expect.  They included their awesome “Royce Beats Everyone” as well as some marketing materials for some of their philanthropic projects.

I was kind of biased against the gi because I am not a Christian and the overtly Christian themes would be a bit of a deal breaker for me if I were on the market for a new gi, but the gi itself absolutely fantastic.  I got it right after Chanukah so I dubbed it my Chanukah gi.

As a side note, Gi Reviews did a company profile of Deus a while back.  They are a Christian organization with many philanthropic goals.  Part of the money you spend on their products goes to a good cause.

Gi Reviews did an interview with Deus Fight Co a while back, check it out if you are interested in learning about them and their mission.

Fit

This gi is an A3.  As I always mention the very best size for my build is A2L (6’1 195) but I can wear A3.  This gi is cut a bit longer and slimmer than most A3’s that I’ve tried and thus fits me like an A2L, which, from me, gets two thumbs up.  If you’re shorter and stockier this gi may be inappropriate, but this is a perfect fitting gi for my build.

A: 6.5

B: 29

C: 31.5

D: 24

E: 22.75

F: 12

G: 8.25

H: 40

Design

The key word that comes to mind when I look at this gi is “Clean”.  The design is clean.  Simple, white gi with medium grey contrast stitching and details.  The top has a single logo hit on the left shoulder and the company “crest” (a cross between olive branches) on the bottom of the left lapel.  The pants have a single logo hit at the bottom of the left leg.

One focal detail that Deus chose to go with is a grey twill gusset in their lightweight rip stop pants.

All of the seam tape is white rip stop and the lapel is covered with white rip stop, but the piping (and gusset) are grey twill.

Another neat little detail the gi has is an excerpt from Psalm 23 in calligraphy print on the inside of the left side of the jacket.  This didn’t peel over the course of the 6 months I spent rolling in this gi which to me is a feat in and of itself.

Jacket

Deus says that the jacket of this gi is 450 GSM pearl weave.  This is by far the lightest weight and most comfortable 450 GSM pearl weave I’ve ever worn.  Deus would be well advised to continue using this specific fabric for all of their gis.  Seriously.  So comfy.  Also it helps that the gi top fit perfectly fresh out of the bag and experienced negligible shrinkage.

The lapel on this gi is nice and thick.  It has an EVA foam interior to inhibit bacterial growth.  I’ll keep saying this: Deus hit the nail on the head when they designed this gi.

The design points on this gi top are all on the left side of the jacket.  The company name is written in calligraphy on the shoulder, there is a company Crest near the bottom and the inside has an excerpt from Psalm 23.

Deus put rip stop seam tape throughout the top as well as on the lapel, and a strip of rip stop across the bottom of the skirt.  All of the piping is grey twill and the contrast stitching is grey.

Trousers

The pants fit like the top.  Perfectly.  The soft, cottony rip stop is perfect for hot days on the mat.

Perhaps my only complaint about the entire gi is that Deus chose to use twill for the gusset instead of gi material.  I love gi material gussets.

Deus went with 6 loops and a stretchy rope with the ends tied off and slightly melted.  The knots didn’t come undone throughout the entire time I tested the gi.

Rolling Performance

Given the PERFECT fit, the gi performed great.  The fact that it’s so nice and light and the lapel is very thick gave it a great feel when rolling.

I also found that the specific placement of the embroidery at the bottom of the skirt acted as a friction point for my belt, helping my belt stay put a bit longer than on other gis.  A minor point but noteworthy.

Conclusion

There are very few moments when I am jealous of Christians, wearing this gi I had a few of those moments.  Seriously, awesome gi.  If the branding suits your tastes and you are on the lanky side don’t hesitate.

Deus put together a fantastic product.  If this gi is an indication I’d recommend considering all of their offerings in the gear market!  Their product line can be found here, at their website www.deusfight.com 

Summary

A tough work horse gi.  The KO (Knock Out) Sports Gear red pearl weave gi is a bargain given its durability and distinctive features.  This is not a “premium” or “tailored” gi, but it is without question a fantastic gi for what its meant to be: a functional novelty

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for KO Sports Gear.

Introduction

When I first saw the red KO Sports Gear gi I was intrigued given its low price point (89.99).  The company offers a variety of products at very reasonable prices, and I was curious to see if their quality made their products worthwhile.  This gi is certainly not a premium product, its fit isn’t the best, and there are some quality control issues, but it performed well over the course of a 6 months test period and I was really impressed by how tough and durable the gi is.

Fit

This gi is an A3.  As I always mention the very best size for my build is A2L (6’1 195) but I can wear A3.  This specific gi fits a bit awkwardly.  The pants are bigger than most A3 pants that I’ve tried on and the fit of the sleeves is a bit off (short but at the same time baggy.)

If I were stockier this gi would fit me perfectly.  It should be noted that since the release of this model KO has reworked some of their sizing.

A: 7

B: 27

C: 32

D: 25

E: 24

F: 12.75

G: 10.5

H: 40.5

Design

This gi is RED.  I think that that just about covers it.

The 550 GSM pearl weave jacket has a logo patch on each shoulder, and a single small logo patch at the bottom of the left lapel.  The pants have a single small patch near the right hip.  All of the seam tape is branded KO Sports Gear tape, and the piping, pant loops and rope are all black.

Did I mention the gi is red?  Perhaps the most impressive part of the experience of reviewing this gi is that it didn’t fade at all.  I’ve seen many premium brand gis put out products in unusual colors and have those colors fade.  This is a big achievement for KO Sports Gear in my book.

Jacket

The jacket fits decently, the arms are a bit short and baggy but otherwise it’s perfectly wearable.

I did notice some quality issues when I first got the gi including loose stitching which later undid itself as well as several issues with quality control of the fabric.  I tested this gi for a long time to see if it would break down further and was pleasantly surprised to see that it held up as well as any premium gi that I’ve reviewed in spite of any possible issues.

The 550 GSM pearl weave that KO Sports Gear chose is fairly standard, not overly soft/stretchy but not stiff or unpleasant.  Apart from the minor quality issues that didn’t pose any issues over time this is a really nice gi top

Another issue initially was that the seamtape was scratchy but as the gi got broken in this wasn’t really a big problem.

The gi has a very nice thick lapel made from EVA foam with ripstop covering.

Trousers

The pants are big, but otherwise totally acceptable.  There were no quality issues with the pants.

They are made of a nice soft ripstop and have stretchy rope for the waist closure tied in a knot and then melted.

The pants do not have any pearl weave (which I always love to see in a gi) in the gusset, but they do have a double layer of fabric from above the knee to right below.

Rolling Performance

All things considered this gi performs well.  The unusual fit actually gives me a slight competitive advantage when rolling as some standard grips are more difficult to acquire on this gi.

After I put some wear and tear on the seamtape the gi became very comfortable.  The thick lapel was a nice touch to make grip retention more difficult.

Conclusion

For a gi that costs under 100$ KO Sports Gear put together a great product.  This is not a “premium” gi but it comes in a very unusual color that held up very well over time.  It doesn’t fit me like a “tailored suit” but fits well enough to be worn comfortably.

If you are on the market for a “non standard gi” of average quality and far below normal pricing, KO Sports Gear has a wonderful offering in this gi.  They also have other products including other “non standard” gis  available at their website https://www.kosportsgear.com/

Summary

The gi Mike Fowler designed specifically for his match against turtle guard legend Eduardo Telles.  This is perhaps the most beautiful garment I’ve ever seen, forget jiu jitsu related.  As a gi it is a tough, functional product.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Tatami Fightwear

Introduction

Do you have this gi yet?  No?  Stop reading this review, go to www.tatamifightwear.com and BUY ONE BEFORE THEY SELL OUT.  Seriously.  This gi is gorgeous and amazing and might give you superpowers.  If you’ve read my reviews you know that I don’t generally gush about gis.  I say it like it is.  And this gi just happens to be incredible.

Fit

This gi is an A3.  As I always mention the very best size for my build is A2L (6’1 195) but I can wear A3.  This specific gi has a top that fits me perfectly and, but the trousers are just a tad bit short.  Not really too big of a deal given that the gi will never be comp legal, but just something I noticed.  If you like your pants a touch short, or are a bit stocky this gi will fit great.  Also they offer some L sizes as well.

A: 7

B: 28.25

C: 31.5

D: 22

E: 22

F: 12

G: 8.75

H: 35.5

Design

This gi is GORGEOUS.  The top is made of a lightweight gold weave with sublimated lycra covered lapel and outer cuffs.  The trousers are made of twill also with sublimated lycra covered cuffs.  The yoke panel has a different print of the same material as the lapel and cuffs.  The lapel has a light green piping running alongside it.

The gi has embroidered details throughout, mostly flowers.  Flowers around the sleeves as well as on the hips.  A single modified Fokai logo hit is on the center of the back of the top and on the right pant leg.  Tatami has their name written in script on the front and back of the gi top

The Gi’s color scheme is white, navy, red and a greenish rope.

This gi is even prettier in person than in pictures.  Seriously.  I liked this gi so much that while reviewing it I wore it to a seminar as well as a tournament just to see the reactions I’d get.  They were good.

Jacket

The jacket fits perfectly.  I love the sensations of the different materials that its made of.  The soft gold weave and the lyrca collar are a great combination.

The yoke panel on the inside is also made of lycra with a floral print.

The lycra on the cuffs and the bottom of the skirt are entirely external while the Lycra covering the collar wraps all the way around. to the inside.  I found it interesting that there was no seamtape at all throughout the gi, there is however twill piping on the side vent.

I was a bit concerned about the potential difference in durability of the lycra.  However while the collar did eventually start to wear a bit, it retained its shape and never wore out.

Given the lyrca on the collar and on the cuffs, the gi is NOT IBJJF legal, but I’ll say this: I would advise anyone who owns the gi to wear it to tournaments as it makes collar and sleeve grips far more difficult than any other innovation that I’ve seen on a gi.

The jacket also has flowers embroidered around the arms, the Tatami name embroidered in cursive on the bottom of the back of the skirt as well as the front and the front embroidery also has the Fokai logo next to it.  That same logo is featured below the neck in the back.

Trousers

The cotton twill pants follow the pattern of the top with lycra on the cuffs, flowers around the hips and a single Fokai logo on the bottom of the pant leg.  While the pants don’t have my favorite feature that pants can have (gi material sewn into the gusset) they do have a feature I really like: full length double fabric knee padding.

The loop system is interesting with three normal loops and a loose patch that serves as a loop (the patch has some artwork, Mike Fowler’s signature and the Tatami logo on it).  The Loops are navy red and navy and the stretchy rope that Tatami went for is the same green color that the lapel piping is.

The pants fit okay, but they’re a bit short for my liking.  Also there was a pervasive chemical/mothball odor to the pants that still hasn’t entirely gone away.  Both of these issues don’t affect the gi very much and it’s still one of my favorite gis ever.

Rolling Performance

The lycra is slippery and makes obtaining grips on the lapel and the cuffs very difficult.  I like that.  Also the gi itself is super comfortable with the plush gold weave, twill pants and lyrca being perfect complements for each other.

I believe that Tatami made an A2L model of this gi, I may have enjoyed that just a bit more, but again I’m not complaining at all, this gi is as functional as it is GORGEOUS.

Conclusion

If you haven’t gone to www.tatamifightwear.com yet, shame on you.  Buy this gi.  You will be really happy with it and everyone you meet will be really jealous of you for having it.  Unless they have it too in which case you can nod to each other knowingly.

Summary

Platinum Jiu Jitsu produces premium limited edition gis with amazing features.  It’s as simple as that.  Their materials, styling and functional features make their gis worthy of collection.   If you are on the market for a gi, I highly recommend considering Platinum Jiu Jitsu.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Platinum Jiu Jitsu

Introduction

Platinum Jiu Jitsu does not make simple, toned down products.  Their products have loud designs.  Their main logo is a skull.  Their brand screams cockiness.  Here’s where it gets interesting: they back their cockiness up.  Their gis have the most beautiful sublimated liners and the very best materials and features.  Also all of their products are numbered, so you know you are actually getting a limited product.  I was very curious to see how their quality would stack up, and like everything else with this gi, it did.  Oh it did.

The Platinum Jiu Jitsu Aqua is one of the most amazing gis I’ve ever seen.  These guys are on point.  As an aside they also sent me a pair of vale tudo shorts with the trial gi, I didn’t wear them to train but the fabric and fit are excellent

Fit

I’m 6’1, 195.  The best fit for me is an A2L.  This gi is an A3, but it fit me just fine.  Maybe an A2L would have been a bit better, maybe not.  Of the A3’s that I’ve sampled this is among the ones that fit me the best.

A:  7

B:  29.75

C:  31.5

D: 24.25

E: 24

F: 12

G: 9

H: 38.75

Design

There is nothing subtle about this gi, and I think it’s awesome.  Platinum Jiu Jitsu uses a few motifs.

For starters the shoulders of the gi has 808 (an area code in Hawaii) scrawled on them in a complex font.  Under that 808 embroidery, they have a circle with a skull inside of it embroidered on each sleeve.  A version of this skull is also on each hip and on the body of the gi.  The back of the gi has a bird (perhaps a stork or a swan) embroidered on it near the right shoulder.  Kind of a random addition to the design but a beautiful embroidery nonetheless.

The inside is where the party’s at.  Wall to wall sublimated rash guard material of the very highest quality, this specific gi has an ocean theme.  The inside of the gi looks like an ocean scene and it’s absolutely breathtaking.  The designs of most (if not all) of Platinum BJJ’s rash guard liners are done by a graffiti artist called Katch 1.

The pants are a nice cottony ripstop and have every single feature I like in a pair of gi pants…  I’ll get more in depth with them later.

The color theme of this gi is white, blue and black on the outside, and dozens of colors on the inside.  The contrast stitching is blue, the seamtape is a satiny blue with white writing.

Jacket

This gi top is designed for beauty but built for war.  The lapel is one of the thickest  lapels that I’ve sampled, and it mergest right into the rashguard lining providing a really nice protection from lapel grips.

To be honest, I was very apprehensive when I first received the gi.  I was concerned that the beautiful rash guard lining would wear poorly given the friction between my body and the inside of the gi.  I found that the material is some of the most durable rash guard material I’ve ever seen.  I tested the gi out heavily for over 6 months and the lining still looks like it did the day I got the gi.  Perhaps my only “durability” complaint is that the gi is white and white gis get dingy over time, but that’s not a Platinum BJJ problem that’s a white gi problem.

This top is not IBJJF legal, but there are plenty of tournaments that I could wear it to and it’s a pain to choke me with it.  In spite of being 450 GSM the gi has a very substantial feel to it, and in spite of having two layers is very comfortable even in hot weather as the rash guard lining wicks away sweat nicely and doesn’t insulate much at all.

My one and only complaint about the gi is that they didn’t choose to finish the borders of the rash guard lining inside the sleeves, rather you can see the tailor’s marks on it.  Not really a big deal, but I’m nitpicky.

All of the piping, the eva foam lapel cover, the ID pocket and the outer taping at the bottom of the skirt are ripstop.  The branded seamtape on this gi is silky smooth.

Perhaps one of the neatest features on this gi is that it’s a limited edition. Number 13 of 60 to be precise.  I don’t know of another gi company that numbers their gis, and I have a lot of respect for Platinum for doing this.

Trousers

Oh the trousers.  Oh boy.  Platinum has hit the nail on the head on these.  Pearl weave gusset… check.   Pearl weave knee pads… check…  Perfect fit.  Check… On points!

I find the design of the split for the stretchy rope interesting, they did a different pattern for that reinforcement than I’ve seen before.

The pants on this gi are relatively simple, but they have everything I want in a pair of gi pants.  My hat goes off to Platinum, these pants are perfect.

Rolling Performance

This gi is a suit of armor that I would gladly wear to war (by war I mean competition, if I were going to war I’d want something actually bulletproof, duh.)

The combination of pants with pearl weave throughout and a top with a huge lapel and a nice durable rash guard lining makes this one of my favorite gis to roll in.

Conclusion

The next time Platinum Jiu Jitsu has a gi that you think looks intriguing don’t hesitate, just get it.  They do everything right, and it makes me so happy.  Their price point isn’t dirt cheap (this gi runs around $175) but this gi is well worth that, and if you can get one on BJJhq when they have a Platinum Jiu Jitsu gi on there even better.  This gi is, as of now, mostly sold out (I think they may still have some in size A2 left), you can check out Platinum Jiu Jitsu’s catalog at www.platinumbjj.com

Summary

If you are on the market for an ultra lightweight 100% rip stop travel gi, you may want to seriously consider the BJJ Globetrotter Super Light Travel gi.  This gi has a lot going for it including durability due to its amazing materials and comfort and its embroideries and patchwork are beautiful.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for BJJ Globetrotters.

Introduction

BJJ Globetrotter is a company founded by Danish jiujiteiro, Christian Graugart whose claim to fame was being just that, a BJJ Globetrotter.  Graugart travelled the world and trained at many different gyms, and then wrote a book about the experience, (which is available as a free download if you buy one of BJJ Globetrotter’s gis.)

The gi they sent me to review is their ultra lightweight 100% rip stop travel gi in grey.  I’ve worn other rip stop gis but this one was special.  It seems that someone (perhaps Graugart himself) made a list of things that are desirable in a travel gi (and quite honestly in a gi in general) and wrapped them all up into one fantastic product.

If you don’t already know: a 100% ripstop gi serves several purposes that other gis don’t serve nearly as well.  For starters, they take up very little space, are quite light (an A3 weighs 2.8Lbs/1.3KG) and thus can be used for travel.  They dry very quickly, so when you need a dry gi faster than usual, 100% ripstop is a good way to go.  They are also great in hot weather because of how light and breathable they tend to be.

Below is a picture of the Globetrotter gi next to a 550 GSM gi.  The difference is huge.

I was doubtful about the longevity of such a nice soft lightweight gi, so I put it through the paces, rolling hard in it at least once a week for 8 months; it shows very little signs of wear and tear, super impressive!

Fit

I’m 6’1, 195.  The best fit for me is an A2L.  This gi is an A3, but it fit me just fine.  Maybe an A2L would have been a bit better.  The gi fit me like a standard A3. it was a touch roomy, but fit just fine.

A:  7

B:  30.25

C:  32.5

D: 23.25

E: 22.5

F: 13

G: 10

H: 40.5

Design

When I look at this gi, I know that someone put a lot of thought into its design.

It is made of 100% grey rip stop from head to toe, with white piping and rope loops.  The bottom of the back of the top has waves embroidered onto it and there is an airplane embroidered in between the shoulders.  One arm has the BJJ Globetrotters logo as does one of the pant legs.

The inside of the lapel has birds printed onto it; these have faded slightly over time.  The seam tape is a black and grey color scheme with waves and branding on it, present throughout the entire gi and pants.

The most prominent patch is on the bottom of the left lapel, a large BJJ Globetrotters sublimated patch.

I really love this gi.  Everyone’s tastes are different, this gi fits mine.

Jacket

BJJ Globetrotters build the jacket to have all of the advantages of a full weight gi while still being ultra light weight.  That is to say: the lapel is very thick and unyielding while the rest of the gi is paper thin (though not paper flimsy!)

The embroidery on the bottom of the back of the gi is gorgeous.  I’ve never seen a gi use that space for the design and it is amazing.  It has no bearing on the function of the gi, but it adds to the aesthetics of it.

The jacket has the sublimated patch on the bottom left lapel, a BJJ Globetrotters logo on the right sleeve and a plane embroidery in between the shoulders.

Trousers

The trousers are fairly plain.  Nice soft rip stop, with a 4 loop enclosure and a stretchy rope.

The bottom of the right leg has a BJJ Globetrotters embroidery.

Otherwise there’s not a whole lot to say about the pants.  They’re nice.  They fit well.  And they are super comfy like the rest of the gi.

Rolling Performance

The thick lapel made the gi top work nicely in rolling.  Most 100% rip stop travel gis I’ve seen have relatively thin lapels which can serve as a tactical disadvantage.  Not the Globetrotter.

The lightness of the gi means it doesn’t absorb sweat very well, so it soaks through and feel like a wet pair of jeans.  This takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s kind of the nature of a soft cottony rip stop.

Conclusion

Bar none the best 100% rip stop travel gi on the market right now.  Comfortable, well fitted and beautiful.

If you need a lightweight and/or travel gi, go to www.bjjglobetrotters.com and get one in your color of choice (grey, white or blue) you won’t regret it.

The jiu jitsu gear market is full of companies that produce gear themed after pop culture icons, but very few of those companies ever produce officially licensed gear with the logos and characters that they portray. Fusion Fight Gear has burst onto the scene, offering officially licensed jiu jitsu gear bearing the logos, and iconic characters of some of the more famous franchises including Star Trek, Street Fighter and The Terminator (amongst others.)

Click here to win this gi in our giveaway with Fusion FG.

I received their recently released “Mr. Spock” gi the other day and will be reviewing it over the next 4 months. My initial impressions are very good!

This gi is part of a limited run put out by Fusion Fight Gear, only 300 have been made. The weave is called a 550 GSM “Japanese Weave” and looks like a densely woven single weave. The gi is notably soft and the fabric feels very substantial.

The fit of the gi fresh out the bag was a bit big on my normally A2L frame, but after washing and drying it, it fits me fine. I’ll write more about the fit after the test period.

What makes Fusion Fight Gear gear special is that it is officially licensed and uses the imagery associated with the characters that it represents. This gi features a clean white and blue color scheme, with various subtle Star Trek themed hits throughout.

I am confident that after being put through the paces this gi will pass with flying colors and prove to be a worthy representation of the beloved franchise which it represents.

Click here to check out more from Fusion Fight Gear.

Summary

Raijin Fightwear uses clean color schemes coupled with intriguing logos to present a sort of modern look that many people crave.

The Raijin Fightwear Signature BJJ Gi held up very well over the course of 6 months and is definitely a worthy entry to the gi market.  If you like the styling of this gi, do not hesitate to buy it!

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Raijin Fightwear.

Introduction

Raijin is the Japanese god of lightning, thunder and storms (according to Wikipedia).  This gi follows true to that theme, featuring calligraphy-like embroidery as well as taping and panels displaying a storm theme.  The gi is beautiful.

I received the gi in a pretty awesome drawstring bag with an image of Raijin on the front of it.

Performance-wise I had no complains, and it was a pleasure to roll in.  The gi’s relative simplicity was a refreshing refrain from a lot of the bedazzled gis out there on the market, but it definitely had its own personality.  Probably my favorite feature of this gi is the slogan that is prominently displayed on its tags: Respect All Fear None.  Awesomeness.

Fit

I’m 6’1, 195.  The best fit for me is an A2L.  This gi is an A3, but it fit me very similarly to A2Ls that I wear.  I was very pleased with the fit of this gi, but if I were a “true A3” I may have been disappointed.  Check out the measurements.

A:  6.75

B:  29

C:  32

D: 23.5

E: 24

F: 12.5

G: 9.25

H: 37.5

Design

The outside of this gi is, in one word, simple.  Externally the design is white with silver contrast stitching and black embroidery/piping.  Simply.  Beautiful.

The main logo of the gi on the arms is what looks like a grouping of gusts of wind.  This is also present on the left pant leg.  There is a small bit of writing on the bottom of the left lapel that says “Raijin Fightwear” in calligraphy.

Perhaps the most prominent feature of the gi is the stretchy storm themed sublimated yoke panel and skirt slit reinforcement.  Also all of the taping is storm themed.  This brings me to my only quality issue, the taping started to split in some areas.  This doesn’t affect the performance of the gi but it was the one issue the otherwise perfect gi had.

Jacket

Oh I’ll keep using this one word over and over again: CLEAN.  This gi is CLEAN.  The design is CLEAN.  It is gorgeous.

The gi top is made of 550 gsm pearl weave that feels much lighter than it is (a good thing), and the collar is a supple rip stop covered EVA foam.  Not the thickest collar I’ve seen but certainly substantial.

One feature that the jacket has that I haven’t seen in many other gi is stretchy sublimated rash guard material in the yoke panel.  Most gis I’ve rolled in had some sort of Lycra or mesh in the yoke panel, this is the only one that I’ve tested that has rash guard material.  And it’s really nice.

The bright lightning themed interior looks awesome, and Raijin went as far as to do another thing I really like: they put taping past the inner collar.  This means that taking collar grips on this gi are far more difficult.

Trousers

The pans on this gi have full length double material which is awesome, but they didn’t do my favorite thing (put pearl weave in the gusset).  For their second gi I think they should do that.

The pants, like the top are clean and simple made of rip stop with black detailing.  The rope loops are white though.

The stretchy rope is unknotted and melted, it held up nicely over the course of the test period.

Rolling Performance

The top performed great. Fitting well and having taping past the collar really helped its performance.

The pants were comfortable and well fitted.

I have no complaints about the performance; the gi was a delight to look at and to roll in.

Conclusion

As a first entry into the gi market, the Raijin Fightwear Signature BJJ Gi was an absolute delight.  I had no real issues with it other than a minor issue with the taping that had no affect on its performance.

If you find the styling visually pleasing I recommend getting one!  You can check out this gi and the rest of Raijin’s product offering here http://raijinfightwear.com/

Ever look at a company’s products and wonder how they stack up against each other?  Ever wonder if a gi company’s product line has variances in quality?  I know I have.

I recently received not one but three gis from War Tribe Gear for the purpose of review.  The products I received are: the Black Widow gi, the Precision Gi and the Flow Gi.  All three gis are made of War Tribe’s honeycomb weave, which is probably the softest I’ve ever seen.  I am apprehensive of the durability of the gis but other reviews I’ve read make it clear that these gis age well.

The Black Widow gi is a black gi with red contrast stitching and spider web themed lyrca in the yoke panel and the skirt slits.  The Flow Gi is a dark navy blue gi with yellow contrast stitching and a Lycra yoke panel and skirt slits with what looks like a splatter design.  The Precision gi is the highest model in the War Tribe lineup, with Kevlar reinforcements and stitching.  The gi is white and has the same lyrca yoke panel and skirt slits with a turquoise design.

Each of these gis is absolutely beautiful, and unbelievably, doubt inspiringly soft.  I’ve already washed the three of them, and have found that the black and white gi fit best after the first wash, with the navy gi being a touch baggy.  We’ll see if it (and/or the others) shrinks over time.  In about four months, I will provide a detailed review of each of these gis.  Stay tuned!

Summary

If you follow BJJHQ you know that Ground Game is a brand that has a very wide product offering.  I had an opportunity to review the Ground Game Balance Gi and it is an amazing product.

Oh, and it comes with two pairs of pants.

Disclosures

This Gi was submitted to me free of charge (by way of gireviews.net) for review.  I have never done any work with or for Ground Game.

Introduction

Ground Game is a European gear company that became very popular with their no gi offering.  A couple of years back they started releasing products on BJJhq and the quality and look of their products had wide appeal.

The gi that Ground Game sent me to review is of very high quality.  It fits well and is aesthetically pleasing.  They clearly pay attention to detail and made certain apt choices with this gi that I haven’t seen from many other companies including but not limited to providing two different pairs of pants: one twill and one rip stop.  I’ll touch more on this later.

It came in a nice drawstring bag.

Over a 6 month testing period this gi showed little to no wear, so it’s a superb product

Fit

I’m 6’1, 195.  The best fit for me is an A2L.  This gi is an A3, and it fit just like an A3 should, a touch baggy but still comfortable.  Certainly not a tailored gi.  The twill pants shrank a bit more over the course of the 6 month test period.

A:  6.25

B:  28.75

C:  32

D: 23

E: Rip stop: 21 Twill: 20

F: Rip stop: 12.5 Twill: 12

G: Rip stop: 9.75 Twill: 10

H: Rip stop: 39.5 Twill: 36.25

Design

This black gi with light blue contrast stitching is definitely branded tastefully, especially considering the prevalence of skulls in its designs.  Normally when I see any martial arts related product featuring skull motifs I roll my eyes and dismiss the product as being too “hardcore” for me.  The skulls on this gi are relatively subtle and at times don’t even really look like skulls.

The jacket has the company name and the name of the gi on each shoulder, an embroidered logo on the left pec and a ground game symbol in between the shoulder blades.  Also they put 2 skulls forming a sort of yin yang on the right arm.

The most prominent feature of this gi is the yoke panel and skirt slit reinforcements which are made of a sublimated mesh.  Really beautiful stuff.  The design seems to center around heat and cold.  Also on the inside of the gi is a little ground game patch sewn in.  Kind of a cool little addition

The pants are simple but functional.  They have some of the same embroidered patches as the jacket, full length knee covering and an unusual single sleeve for the stretchy rope instead of loops.

Jacket

The jacket reminds me a lot of my Tatami Estilo 3.0 in its specific 550 GSM pearl weave as well as its cut.  That’s a good thing.

The mesh lining that I mentioned earlier is super soft and comfortable, it definitely makes certain types of guard more comfortable.

The lapel on this gi is a good thickness and has an EVA foam liner; it’s not an easy gi to choke me with.  Ground game used a simple unbranded twill seam tape.

The embroideries on this gi are very high quality and didn’t fray even a bit throughout the course of the test period.

Trousers

So yeah… Two pairs of pants.  Why?  Because twill and rip stop are very different fabrics.

The twill Ground Game chose is heavy duty high quality twill.  They shrunk a bit but they still fit fine.

The rip stop that Ground Game chose is lightweight and durable.  Much better for hot days than the twill pants.

Both pairs are of extremely high quality, and are very comfortable.

The trousers have full length knee covering which is good but Ground Game went with what I think was an ill contrived move with the stretchy rope system.  They went with a single sleeve.  Ever get your stretchy rope stuck inside the waist of your gi pants?  With these I had that joy on a regular basis, anytime I had to try to get the rope back through the sleeve it was always a bit of an ordeal.  This is a very small issue to be honest, and the sleeve did secure the stretchy rope nicely.

Rolling Performance

This gi was a pleasure to roll in.  The lapel was perfect thickness, the double material on the knees made pant grips more difficult to attain, definitely a great gi to roll in.

The presence of 2 options for the pants was nice, on warmer days I’d go with rip stop and cooler days got the twill treatment.

Conclusion

The Ground Game Balance Gi is a fantastic product especially given the two pairs of pants.  Options are nice, and ground game does a good job of offering their customers options.  I highly recommend this product.  For more information about ground game’s product offering check out their website http://www.groundgamefight.com/.

A Brief Interview with Bob from Fluxk BJJ

Cluck here to check out their store and site!

GiReviews: Tell us a bit about your background with martial arts.

Bob:  Uh, let me think. It’s been 10+ years and a lot of experiences but I’ll try to be succinct.

I actually took Karate when I was a little kid just long enough for my parents to buy all the gear and then quickly moved onto something else; my ADHD in full force. I’m sure they were thrilled!

Formally, I began training Jiu Jitsu while a student at the University of Illinois. The club I started with was called Goshin Jitsu. It was a great intro into martial arts with knowledgeable instructors and a great group of people. They really stressed fundamentals (e.g. break falls, footwork, timing, etc), which I think is key to any endeavor.

In addition to Goshin Jitsu, a few guys trained at a place called McVicker’s Martial Arts which offers world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts (Kali). That’s where I got hooked on BJJ. I trained there with Jack and his team for several years while in college and still get back to Champaign a few times a year. While in college I also dabbled in Muay Thai and MMA but not enough to claim much competency.

After college I moved to St. Louis and took a few years off training for a combination of reasons (e.g. grad school, injury) but came back and started training with JW Wright and his school and then my good friend Kyle Watson moved to town so I stated training with him. After about 5 years in St. Louis I took a job in NYC and trained under two Renzo Gracie blackbelts, Aaron Milam and Jin Yung, at a place called Workshop for about 7 years. I feel crazy lucky because all these guys are great people with quality schools/students.

Most recently I moved to Missoula, MT and just opened Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I’m super excited about growing the city’s best facility for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and beginning the next chapter in my martial arts career

With the online BJJ/MMA marketplace becoming increasingly saturated, what made you want to start Fluxk?

When I was doing my market research for Fluxk I think I found well over 125 BJJ/MMA Gi and apparel companies and I know there are even more I didn’t see; not the most encouraging numbers for a potential new entrant! However, there were only a few that I could actually relate to. I’m going to sound old saying this but when I started BJJ in 2000 there were a lot fewer companies and shit, the internet was in its infancy compared to today.  The first few Gi’s I had were Howard Combat Kimonos (a single weave and a double weave). These Gis were awesome; nothing flashy, highly functional. You could stand them up after being washed and they wouldn’t collapse; they were like tanks. What I really liked about them was the simplicity and that’s what I wanted with Fluxk and what I thought was missing from the market for the most part. I wanted to bring modern materials and design to the old school mentality of function over flashy. I don’t remember anyone really caring about what his or her gi looked like, just about when the next time we were going to train.

What do you feel makes Fluxk different from every other BJJ brand out there right now?

That’s a really good question! To be honest, from a materials perspective the marketplace is a commodity right now from what I can tell; Gi’s are made the same way from the same quality cotton for the most part. Don’t let the marketing bullshit fool you. There are only a few companies innovating in that area. Origin comes to mind as an actual innovator and seems to be doing some rad things. I’d love to go check out their operation one day, I’m curious and jealous of what they have going on. So, I’m not going to say my Gi’s are different in material and build; they are basically just the same as most other companies. I’d like to get to a place where I can innovate from a materials perspective but as a self-financed start up I don’t have the funding to support it yet.

However, the places where Fluxk stands out is in our minimal yet refined functional design and attention to detail combined with a goal of celebrating the BJJ practitioner who loves to train, explore, and create more than what their Gi looks like. I don’t want people to misunderstand that; I think there is a lot of cool design and artwork out there today. I would just like to see the pendulum swing back a little closer to center and see people mostly stoked on traveling the world and training rather than spending $500 on a Gi and wasting their time standing in a line to buy a new release.

On your site, you talk a bit about the concept of minimalism.  What does it mean to you both in your design, and in life?

Whoa, now were getting deep. Light up that J and then let’s talk.

I’ve been told and I remember never really being interested in “things”. I was always running around playing sports and not thinking too much about anything else. My mom tells a few stories of me wearing the same pair of sweatpants for years as a kid or moving me to college in an old army duffel bag, that’s it. My dad is similar in that way, so I think I come by it naturally. I’ve always related to the internal experience more than the external influences. I also grew up in a very simple yet nurturing environment so I’m sure there is that influencing element in it too.

When I moved to NYC I got really into minimalism. Part of it I’m sure stemmed from living in a 400 sq ft apartment which requires you to take inventory of all your material objects and keep only the essentials. The other part was from an emotional/spiritual perspective. I basically didn’t know one person when I moved so it was a prime time to reevaluate all aspects of my life and focus on the most essential elements like, quality friends, family, etc. I’ve found, for me, that investing more in experiences like traveling and people rather than designer clothes has made for a more fulfilling journey.

All this I’ve tried to translate into my brand and design. Again, encouraging the experience more than spending time worrying what I look like rolling. I figured I’m not that unique so I’m hoping there are like-mind individuals that can relate.

If there’s anything else you’d like to share about Fluxk, please do!

Sure, I think there are a few things.

First, I understand it may seem paradoxical for a company with a minimalistic ethos to be selling materialistic goods. However, we train a sport that requires a Gi so please consider Fluxk the next time you purchase one. Actually I know it sounds counterintuitive for a company to say but only buy a Gi if you really need it; some of the coolest Gis are ones that have been patched and repatched to the point where the cotton is literally disintegrating.

Next, I like to let people know that this company is really more of a creative outlet than a money making endeavor; in fact the goal is to give back to the BJJ community as much as possible. For every sale we reinvest at least 1% back into the community through donations etc. The reinvestment percentage rises the more we sell.

Lastly, I want to sincerely thank everyone that has supported Fluxk so far. My hope is that word will spread enough to allow us to continue to deliver on everything you need; nothing more, nothing less.

Check out Fluxk’s awesome site and webstore here.

War Tribe Gi’s are carefully designed and meticulously put together. They go the extra mile and think through every detail including the weave, weight, durability, feel, competition standards, and style. The Black Widow Gi is good for everyday training and meets IBJJF standards of competition.

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