A friend of mine sent this to me and it made me laugh, because I (like most of you I’m sure) have experienced these very stereotypes more than once.
On another note, I have a review coming out next week of the Luta rashguard, for those of you who like to wear rashies (I love them). This is my favorite rashguard to date, but out of all fairness, it’s the only jiu-jitsu rashguard I’ve owned…the rest are generic athletic guards. See you next week.
To some people, a jiu-jitsu gi is just a tool to be worn out, used and replaced. To them, any scrap of cloth shaped like a gi will do. But some of us choose our gis with about as much discretion as we would a brain surgeon (or collect them like some women collect shoes). And for us, this survey is just too cool to ignore. Check out this article.
Aesopian has spent a TON of time on this survey and it shows. Big props to him for putting his time and effort into this – I think it’s a huge service to the BJJ community at large.
I reviewed 5 or 7 gis for this survey (I honestly can’t remember) and am pleased to note that the gis I prefer to wear training ranked highly in the results. Whether or not you participated, this survey is a great starting point to buying a new gi.
Most interesting to me is that apparently in the top 33 brands of gi, there is no significant variance in quality (Black Eagle is not on the top 20, for example, and I consider their product to be better than some of the other top 20). There are really hundreds of factors that influence results, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Aesopian breaks it down and interprets the data.
I for one am thrilled that many of the top brands are under $130 retail.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
I’m late for the bus. Not the first time this has happened to me, but the sinking feeling of panic never goes away. I abandon my breakfast on the countertop, fling my books over my shoulder and run down the driveway. Just as the bus begins to pull a way, I pound frantically on the door. Breathless as I run up the stairs, I stomp the snow off my shows and turn to face the bus full of my classmates. Then it happens. A cold draft of air wafts up my leg. From the back of the bus, someone yells “Hey, he’s not wearing any pants!”
http://usa.venumfight.com/
For any of you who still have dreams like this, where you’re the victim of some humiliating situation, buy some Venum Ultimate Vale Tudo shorts and wear them to bed. These babies keep you so secure that there won’t be any room for paranoia.
First questions first: what is the difference between a vale tudo short and a traditional fight short?
The biggest difference it is that vale tudo shorts are form-fitting. They hug your body and flex with you. They do not hide bulges and curves, like looser fight shorts would. In other words, they cover your butt, but they don’t hide it!
Venum Shines Through
My biggest question when Aaron from BJJHQ sent me these was how to accurately review a product meant for cage fighting. I was definitely not going into the octagon just to test these babies out.
Aaron saved me on this one: “Many people wear them under their gi pants. You need big…wait…you need a lot of body confidence to rock them alone.”
Well, I have only moderate…uh…body confidence. So that solved it. I would wear and test them under my gi pants.
Finish Reading…
This is for you, Randy.
Today represents my re-entry into training after a nasty elbow injury a couple of months ago. It was just one of those things that happened during class; no one was trying to be tough or hurt anyone else, but I got arm-barred and didn’t tap soon enough. I’m just getting back to where I can train lightly.
For some reason, I don’t have much desire to blog when I’m not training. Maybe I see it as a chance to work on other things.
At any rate, I wanted to share an interesting conversation I had over YouTube regarding talent vs. hard work. Some months back, I made an off-handed comment on a video of Zakir Hussain about how I’d like to learn to play the tabla. (Zakir Hussain is pretty much the Roger Gracie of the Indian tabla drums, if you’ll forgive the analogy.) In the comment, I said I’d never be as good as Zakir because I can’t dedicate my life to playing the tabla.
Well, being YouTube, someone took issue to my comment and started going off about how even if I had a bazillion years, I could never be as good as Zakir Hussain at the tabla. Which is probably true. This led to a debate about which is more important, talent or hard work. My esteemed YouTube acquaintance pretty much told me I was messed up for thinking that talent takes a back seat to hard work.
This has everything to do with jiu-jitsu to me. Like every other discipline, we’re stratified, but what is it really that separates us average Joes from the BJJ elite? Is it some mystical element called “talent,” or is it something more palpable?
Here is the explanation I sent. Tell me what you think:
Apparently I’m like the 4938′th blogger to review the Black Eagle Raptor.
Well, that just means there are 4937 other lucky grapplers out there who get to wear one of these to training every day. Black Eagle really outdid themselves with the Raptor.
Lest I sound like a gawking fanboy, you should know I found a few problems with this model that I’ll be exposing in my review; and one flaw in particular would really make think twice about buying it unless they fix it for the production model.
If you want the short version, here’s the video. For you die-hards, continue on after the video for specifics in measurements, weight, and to find out whether or not I got made fun of for wearing a gi with purple flowing letters on it.
I know that Arcanum is starting to feel like a review blog, but it’s not. It’s a BJJ blog. It’s just that lately I’ve had a rash of gis to review and very little time to get it all done. The blog will feature more and more training material over the next months.
In the mean time, the next gi review is one I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. Get ready to meet the Black Eagle Raptor; the first luxury gi I’ve ever rolled in. The Raptor is so comfortable it induces a feeling of guilt; almost like I’m cheating on my other gis when I wear it. Not to say that it’s perfect; I found some definite issues with this pre-production model that I hope will get serious attention for the official launch (comfort was not the issue, by the way). But more on that later.
Now it’s time to hear what Steve from Black Eagle has to say about the Raptor:
ArcanumBJJ What was your goal in building the Raptor?
Black Eagle We wanted to show that we could also build a Kimono that stood out, but the difference being we were not prepared to let people order something without first getting samples and having those tested thoroughly.
ABJJ What made you guys decide to try your hand at a “luxury” kimono?
B.E. Our ‘forte’ has always been durable, lightweight BJJ Kimonos of a high quality. The Raptor was a project to show that we could also produce a ‘luxury’ Kimono to a high standard, but at a price people could afford.
ABJJ How does adding built-in rashguard lining complicate the manufacturing process?
B.E. The rash guard has to be made and printed and then stitched into the jacket at the pattern stage, so getting the print lined up is the hard part. But, yes, it adds cost due to the additional procedures required to ensure a good fit.
ABJJ What sort of testing does a new gi model go through?
Finish Reading…
Submission Fight Co.’s Submission Light is a lightweight competition-worthy gi that will appeal to the eye as well as the wallet. Adopting a ripstop trouser and a pearl-weave top, this gi is equipped with the standard reinforcements you would expect on any gi worth its salt. It can take a beating with the best of them, as you will see if you read on.
Stylistically it scores high points, adopting an attractive red and black color scheme with contrast stitching and snazzy taping around the hem and down the pant legs.
At 4lbs 3 oz, it’s not the lightest or the softest gi out there. But it’s still in the light category and wears a lot like other light weight gis I own.
No use sugar-coating it. My Macbook Pro died last week. Or, at least the hard drive did…right in the middle of a backup.
I was hoping that it would be fixed by now so I could finish up some of the crucial parts of my Submission Light gi review and post them this evening. Unfortunately, it’s still out of commission and an important segment of the review is not completed as a result.
Today I got another computer with the right software that I’ll be using to finish the job. Sorry about the delay, especially to Shakib at Submission Fight Co., who sent me the gi quite a while ago and has been waiting patiently.
Keep checking back!
Usually I keep my work as far as possible from my jiu-jitsu and Arcanum.
But it recently occurred to me: I’m a software quality engineer. I SCRUTINIZE AND BREAK THINGS FOR A LIVING. And yet my gi reviews are sadly devoid of breaking. I know how to test, and I should be testing the stitching out of these things.
The BJJ gi market is brutal; and so should the reviews be. Not necessarily negative, but raw and creative. Elvis had it right when he said, “A little less conversation, a little more action.”
The first gi to be subjected to my new madness is the Submission Light gi. Shakib from Submission Fight Co. graciously sent me the gi for review. Before I get into the grizzly details of what this gi went through in part 2, I wanted to give Shakib a chance to plug the product.
Arcanum What was your objective in designing and making the Submission Light gi?
SubmissionFC Our goal was simple, to create a Bjj Gi that surpasses expensive gis in terms of style quality and durability for the lowest possible price. Many things that are featured on expensive gis are also featured on the Submission Light Gi such as the rip stop collar, contrast stitching, pre-shrunk fabric, rope draw string, rip stop pants, etc.
Single-leg me, won't you?
Arcanum What is unique about this gi that should set it apart in the eye of jiu-jitsu practitioners?
SFC What makes these Gis unique is the fact that it is not based off any previously made Gi, but instead was designed from the ground up and refined until it reached its current excellence. And believe me, you will not find another Gi on the market with similar style quality and durability at the price point we have. Everyone is quickly making the switch to the Submission Gis. One roll and you will know the difference.
Finish Reading…
The last few weeks have been a learning process of a different kind. Instead of getting my butt kicked by my teammates, I’ve been teaching kids classes at one of the MMA gyms I train at. My coach asked me and a fellow blue belt to step in and help him handle the teaching load, so I’m teaching every Wednesday. And guess what I’m using?
That’s right…Gracie Bullyproof.
So far, so good. Bullyproof is an awesome way to involve the kids, teach and have fun…but one thing it doesn’t cover is how to keep a barrel of monkeys in line. That’s the challenge: make a class fun while maintaining structure and discipline. So far all of the kids in the class are under 10 and there are way more girls than boys. I’ve learned a lot about how to maintain order, but I’m not gonna lie; it’s a little challenging. Which is why I’m enjoying it.
I’m working on a new gi review format that I think will really turn some heads. I can’t wait to post my next gi review…should be sometime around the end of June.
On another note, I feel like yammering a little about my life outside of jiu-jitsu.
Finish Reading…
Allie The Clear Belt
Fueled By Fear
Georgette's World
John Will: BJJ Black Belt...
MEERKATSU
Rolling Uphill
Tangled Triangle
Team Machado Utah
The Gentle Art
The Jiu Jitsu Blues
The Journey of Fenix
The Part-Time Grappler
Zen Mojo
Zhoozhitzu do Graugardo
