Source: http://abetterself.blogspot.com/2013/02/on-mat-day-340-skimping-on-important.html
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Rickson Gracie: Just Like You (from Citizens of Humanity)
Rickson Gracie: Just Like You from Citizens of Humanity on Vimeo. Rickson Gracie: Just Like You (from Citizens of Humanity). More infos here : http://citizensofhumanity.com
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bjjtech/~3/a2DueFW6RJ8/
Solo BJJ Drills for De la Riva and Spider Guard
click player to close From BJJ black belt Steve Austin: “In this video I am using my belt to help stretch and simulate my Spider guard set up and De la Riva set up. Building my muscle memory with the basic movements and fundamentals of these positions is very important to develop. Playing with [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bjjtech/~3/1VAE6lQkxDw/
Q4 2012 London BJJ Women?s Open Mat Review
Hurray for 3 years of London BJJ Women’s Open Mats! That’s right, we just closed down 3 years of women coming together to get their BJJ on. Our most recent event was hosted by the ladies of Nova Forca, Rebekka Francis and Anthea McCourtie, and sponsored by Lutadora; Lutadora provided fruit and flapjacks and shot [...]
Source: http://www.megjitsu.com/q4-2012-london-bjj-womens-open-mat-review/
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Proud to be a part of the 97%
Early in January, the MMA and BJJ world was shocked to learn of two male jiu jitsu students who were arrested for brutally raping their female jiu jitsu team mate. The internet forums, blogs, websites and social media have exploded in their condemnation. But the story is deeper, way more insidious.
MMA news and commentary website Bloody Elbow summarise the developments in this selection of posts here: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2013/1/10/3861544/two-lloyd-irvin-martial-arts-school-students-arrested
Many prominent members of the BJJ community have already spoken of the situation. For an example of some more personal thoughts, blogger Georgette sums up her thoughts here: http://georgetteoden.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/its-not-rape-culture-or-is-it.html
But I strongly recommend everyone read the words from former Lloyd Irvin student, Ryan Hall.
He writes a beautifully thoughtful essay on the darker side of life under a cult-like martial arts organisation. He implores us to take a deeper look inside ourselves and ask questions about what it is that is important to us, as decent human beings. It's a strongly worded and deeply heartfelt message that applies not just to martial artists among us, but to everything in life in general.
Here is the link to Ryan's essay:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/121007439/Open-Letter-to-the-Martial-Arts-Community
Finally, I, along with a large group of others in the BJJ community, will be doing something to support victims of sexual violence. The recent news surrounding Lloyd Irvin students are not just a one-off local incident. Sexual violence, especially those against women, happens everyday, all over the world and in every strata of society. A number of charities are devoted to spreading awareness, empowering and supporting victims and educating the masses. But really - as one commentator noted: we should ALL be anti rape.
Here are some awesome charities that help victims of sexual violence:
RAINN
Women Win
Equality Now
.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Meerkatsu/~3/H5izJtDz3Qw/proud-to-be-part-of-97.html
Friday, March 29, 2013
Xmas Gift Ideas #1 (biased version)
1. Art prints and display posters
The above image features just a small selection of my designs that are now available to order as photographic prints or wall posters. The difference being that photographic prints are printed on nicer paper and the colours are a tad richer. The posters are giclee printed and available at up to A2 in size. Giclee is like a pro-level inkjet printer suitable for museum and art gallery display.
You can see my poster and print portfolio by clicking this Red Bubble link.
2. Rashguards
If you hunt around the net, you can probably still find some of my older designs from this year. But the ones that are more recent and therefore more likely to be available include:
- Kingz Kimonos - koi and dragon rashguards (two different designs). You can buy these from Fighters Market in Canada. I believe they have an offer at the moment of a free rashguard with every kimono ordered.
- Katanapus rashguard by Strike Fightwear. Available from the Strike Fightwear store.
- Dragon Fly rashguard by Tatami Fightwear. This is a newly reprinted batch of rashguards so all sizes should be in stock at the Tatami Fightwear website.
- Honey Badger v2 rashguard. Only a very very small number of these are available so you'll have to hunt around. But I see Tatami have relisted this so hopefully all sizes are in stock too.
3. T-shirts and hoodies
As you all know, I have my own online store - store.meerkatsu.com. We've run out of Mandrill tees completely, and are running very low on hoodies. The grey Tengu tees are down to single figures but we're healthily stocked on all the other designs apart from one or two sizes. Sorry for the vagueness, my trusty store manager is in charge of the stock so this is all I know for today.
If you want to investigate my other designs still available, then you could try the Tap Cancer Out store for my Gentle Omoplata tee, Scramble store for my Hanuman dishoom tee and Aesthetic for my Naginata Girl tee.
Finally, in the next couple days I will be releasing details of my collaboration with Mr Bong Abad from Gawakoto. We joined forces to create the new Raspberry Ape v2 t-shirt for Daniel Strauss. Stay tuned on that design very very soon...
4. Tattoos
I'm getting a hella lot of requests from followers who wish to have one or more of my designs tattooed on their bodies. I'm utterly flattered by the requests. If you want one of my designs on your body just email me to let me know. I can usually send a cleaner and better quality version of the image you like for your tattooist to use. Do respect however that the art is still my copyright and should not be shared around, resold or redistributed without my consent.
5. Magazines
You might want to purchase a subscription to these awesome BJJ magazine titles - Jiu Jitsu Magazine (from USA) and Jiu Jitsu Style (printed in the UK). I write for both publications so I can confidently say the content within is first class :)
So there you have it, hang something on the wall, ink something on your skin, wear something over your bodies, read something while you are on the bog...there's a Meerkatsu Xmas option for every BJJ-loving guy or girl. Enjoy!
Coming in Part two - my suggestions for Xmas gifts that have nothing to do with Meerkatsu (hard I know but they do exist, out there ;)
.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Meerkatsu/~3/CWd13GnmN2w/xmas-gift-ideas-1-biased-version.html
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Gi Review: Kingz Kimonos 420 Light V2 & 450 Comp V2
Summary
Kingz Kimonos (the brand made and sold by Fighters Market in Canada) improve on their first batch of gi models with their V2 models; the 420 (black) and the 450 (navy). Although initially the two models may appear to be very similar, after extensive rolling, I found that they were actually two very different gis. This review compares and contrasts the two models.
Disclosure
I have previously done freelance artwork for Kingz Kimonos. I have had no input into the design of these review products.
Quick Info:
Available from: Fighters Market
Price: 450 Comp V2 in navy - $149.95, 420 Light V2 in black - $139.95
More information: Kingz Kimonos Facebook page.
Noteworthy: Both are available in 'L' long sizes and 'H' heavy sizes.
Introduction
Kingz Kimonos made a huge splash on the BJJ scene roughly this time last year. It seemed at one point they were everywhere - billboards at every tournament, sponsoring every major fighter, adverts in every magazine. When their extensive range of debut gis were launched, it seemed almost every major blogger and gear reviewer got hold of a model to test out. In February 2012 I published my own review of the first batch of Kingz Kimonos - the 420 and 550 models. I thought they were both very well made and well fitting gis that represented good value for money. I slightly preferred the 420 as it was lighter than the 550. I'll be honest though, neither gis were models I could fall in love with, they were simply good gis at a good price. These new batch of Kingz gis however are a much improved offering, would their updated tweaks and lick of fresh designwork edge me towards a gi I could really love? Let's see...
Measurement Stats
(first unit as new, second after three warm washes, size in cm, weight in Kg)
420 Light V2 450 Comp V2
A: 165/164 168/163
B: 75/76 78/77
C: 56/57 58/57
D: 16/16 16/15
E: 49/48 49/47
F: 98/96 104/100
G: 22/22 22/21
Jacket 1.0 1.1
Trousers 0.4 0.6
Measurement Discussion
Both gis sent to me were size A1L. I didn't have a problem with the sizing of the first version of Kingz gis but the owner advised me to opt for the A1L due to my longer arm length. He was correct to do so as the jackets in both fitted me well, if ever so slightly larger than I am used to. The wingspans of both, at 164/163 cm are a tad longer than my current rotation gis (Tatami Estilo purple and Shoyoroll Count Koma) but only by a small margin. It's far preferable to my usual A1 bugbear - the curse of the stubby arms.
The trousers however, at over 100 cm long for the 450 are arguably a tad too long for my dimensions. One thing that was also very weird was that the 420 pants had a much shorter gusset height compared to the 450. The 420 trousers ended up feeling incredibly tight around my groin. More about that in the rolling performance.(*see update at bottom too)
Weights for both gis are at the lighter end of the range for pearl weave gis. The 420, weighing only 1.4Kg for a size A1L is very good if weight cutting is of prime importance. The 450, at 1.7Kg is still pretty light on average.
Jacket
Both the 420 and the 450 are pearlweave cotton jackets. The numerals represent 'weight' in gsm of fabric. One might initially assume that there isn't much to separate the 420 from the 450 and by and large, in terms of pure weight there isn't that big a difference (0.1Kg difference if you must quibble). But the way both these jackets hang feel very different - like they were made by two difference companies. More about that later in the rolling performance.
The navy coloured 450 V2 has logos directly embroidered onto the shoulders and sleeves. The black coloured 420 is mostly decorated with woven patches - which I assume was chosen because they are lighter in weight. The navy seems to be cut from a different pattern to the black gi - this is noticeable if one observes the area where the chest seam joins onto the lower 'skirt' portion of the jacket. The navy gi seam front panel joins a lot lower than the black gi. It reminds me a lot of the way the Shoyoroll and the Competidor are cut. Most gis I have tested tend to follow the pattern cut exhibited by the black gi.
The collar of the 450 feels a lot thicker than the 420. I didn't take a side by side photo but the difference is very obvious to the touch. The lapels of the 450 are covered with twill cotton and the 420 is covered with ripstop. The former suffered from patchy fading a lot more than the latter. More about the fading issue later.
Enjoyably, the new V2 versions of the Kingz gis continue the superbly comfortable cuff taping as per the version one gis. The woven branded seam tape is neatly tucked in to avoid rough scratchy edges and on the 450, there appears to be additional canvas reinforcing tape under the woven tape. The 450 sleeve ends feel a lot more solid and sturdy than the lighter 420 model. In both models, the colours chosen, albeit only a minor aesthetic detail, are a nice choice, particularly the dark yellow on navy.
So far the 450 exhibits a number of very good extra value reinforcements compared to the 420 but oddly, this does not appear to include the armpit region. The navy gi omits the usual extra patch of fabric found around the armpit of most gis - even the lightweight 420 includes armpit reinforcements so it's a strange omission. However I have never had a gi split in this area so maybe it is simply not needed. In all other jacket areas, notably the side vent split, reinforcements are as per standard.
The 420 makes one concession to the lack of embroidery with a single crown motif on the back behind the neckline.
Trousers
Despite the variation in cut between the 420 and 450 jackets, overall the height, width, sleeve etc dimensions were almost identical. The trousers however are a completely different story. As the stats data above suggest, the 420 is a degree shorter than the 450. It is also a lot shorter in the gusset height (the distance from the waist to the base of the crotch panel). The difference is visibly obvious from the photos below but is more marked when wearing the two models, I found the 420 to be very restrictive and tight in the groin area. The 450 on the other hand was very baggy in this region.
The differences don't end there. The 450 is made from twill cotton, it is reasonably heavy duty without feeling heavyweight. The 420 is a very thin and light ripstop cotton. Both have a double lined knee region that stops just below the knee cap. The 450 is tied together with a chunky rope drawstring fed through a total of 6 cord loops while the 420 has a flat material tie that is fed through only four cord loops. I found that the flat tie cord was more fiddly to tie together and to take apart compared with the easier to use rope string.
In both models the ankle openings are reinforced with material and six rows of stitching (as shown below) but the 450 includes and extra layer of branded tape.
Rolling Performance
I tested both gis over a period of 5 weeks. Even before rolling, they felt physically like two very different gis. The jackets fitted me pretty well overall - the extra long dimensions of the A1L being a good choice for skinny light dudes with long arms like me. But something not apparent in the size dimension stats was that the 420 seemed to feel baggier on my body compared to the 450. There seemed to be a lot more 'give' under the arms and around the torso of the 420 than with the 450 - the latter felt more fitted on my body under the arms and upper torso. I enjoyed the lightness of the 420 as it reminded me a lot of my very old once-favourite gi - the Vulkan Pro Lite. What surprised me however was that the 450, although on paper only a wee bit heavier than the 420, felt a good deal sturdier and more solid once worn in the class. I must admit I much preferred the crisper feel of the 450 pearlweave over the more pyjama-like 420 - an interesting reversal of opinion compared to my review of the original version one Kingz gis.
But it was the performance of the trousers where I felt the differences were most apparent. The 420 ripstop material is a refreshingly light and comfortable material. But the over-restrictive space in the groin area was a real problem for me when rolling. It was simply not comfortable. The 450 pants had almost the opposite problem - the gusset panel was very generous in this region and the trouser length remained stubbornly longer than I am normally used to, despite repeated washes. But given the choice between the two, I would happily wear the 450 pants over the 420 ones.
Conclusion
If it was not for the branding, I would swear these were two different gis from two different companies. The navy coloured 450 is cut very differently to the black coloured 420. The collar is a lot thicker on the former and the latter's trouser sizing are completely different. It's a shame because I felt the 420 jacket was damn near as good an ultra light gi as one could buy - easily rivalling anything made by big name brands like Vulkan or Koral. And I must give props to the trouser material - a nice lightweight ripstop that felt very comfortable to wear. The navy gi jacket was wonderful for training in. It's tough and sturdy but not too heavy. The navy colour fades in a patchy sort of way but that to me only adds to the appeal. I really enjoyed the application of dark yellow and white graphics on the navy background and the jacket fit is pretty much spot on for me. The trousers are a tad too long and baggy for me, but the softness and comfort value of good old fashioned twill is a good choice as far as my preferences go.
Weight cutting is never an issue for me at comps so I wouldn't necessarily opt for the 420 as my first choice gi. Having sampled both, I actually just prefer the 450 anyway as it feels great and looks great. However if a good quality rival to established ultra light brands is your concern, the 420 should certainly be in your radar.
Kingz Kimonos have an incredibly wide range of new and old gi models, gi colours, mens and ladies fits and now, gi half sizes. Scanning over the Fighters Market website, the myriad of choices can be quite perplexing at times. Hopefully this review can offer a differentiation between two of the more popular models that they offer.
*UPDATE
19th December 2012
I was notified by the owner of Kingz Kimonos that the pants for the 420 Light in some sizes were made wrongly by the factory, including the size A1L send to me. The company has now rectified the error with a new batch of trousers. If anyone has similar miniature gusset sized trousers with their A1L, email Fighters Market and they should be able to resolve the issue.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Meerkatsu/~3/vwP3fTwhXw4/gi-review-kingz-kimonos-420-light-v2.html
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The ?leg drag guard pass? compilation
Let’s start with the famous Martin Aedma “Guardpasses From Hell” video : The video above is very famous and popular (and also very good). But a lot of people now think that the “smashing & pressure” style of passing the guard is the same thing as the “leg drag” pass. It’s true that you have [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bjjtech/~3/ytdS6Y8EmT0/
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
3 questions, 3 answers
1. Drilling a technique. Should you just focus on one side or do both?
2. Will practicing MMA make your sport BJJ game go down and vice versa?
3. When rolling. Should you start on you feet and focus on takedowns or guard pulling? Both?
Three short questions get you three short answers.
1. Drill both sides if you have time. Otherwise, drill whichever side you’ll use most. And try to drill escapes and defenses on both sides. You don’t need to be equally good at both sides, but you …
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aesopian/~3/J6pp8-a-LpI/
Monday, March 25, 2013
Review: Wind Kimono by Battle Gear
Summary
This is a good, solid and very reasonably priced gi that ticks all the right boxes in terms of materials, reinforcements and construction. I was a bit put off by the persistent and stubborn mothball odour, tendency to fade unevenly and the design elements. Overall however, the Wind Kimono is great value for money.
Information
The Battle Gear 'Wind' sells for �60GBP from their website here: www.battlegearbjj.com/
Disclosures
I have no business or personal relations with Battle Gear.
Introduction
Last year, UK company, Battle Gear arrived fresh onto the fightwear scene with a range t-shirts, rashguards, shorts and gis. The three kimono models are, as far as I can tell, all the same basic uniform, with minor design elements altered for each colour model. This blue model is named the 'wind' while the others are 'soldier' and 'warrior'. There is heavy use of Chinese characters and imagery throughout the range of products.
Size, Weight, Shrink & other data for A1
Size in centimetres and weight in kilograms. For reference, I am 59-60Kg in weight and 167cm in height. I am used to wearing A1 or A1L size gis though I do have long arms. First figure brand new, second figure after x3 mild temperature washes and then air dried.
A: 160/154
B: 75/74
C: 54/54
D: 15/14.5
E: 52/50
F: 96/92
G: 22/21
Jacket = 1.0kg, trousers = 0.7Kg
Sizing Discussion
The data shows there is minor sleeve reduction but overall, very little shrinkage in either width or height for jacket or trousers. The dimensions overall are a degree smaller and tighter fitting than the previously reviewed 'Goose' gi by 93 Brand or the Tatami Estilo (v3).
Weighing a total of 1.8Kg, the wind is not an ultralight gi and a touch heavier than the average A1 pearlweave gi.
Jacket
The jacket is made from 450gsm pearlweave cotton. It is coloured a rich Royal Blue with white stitching throughout.
The image below shows the sleeve emblem, a Chinese style cloud embroidered directly onto the fabric.
The collar is impressively thick. The leading edge is noticeably thicker than many of my other gis. The EVA foam core is covered with twill cotton.
The image below shows the inside cuffs which are lined with twill cotton tape which is soft to the touch (unlike more scratchy woven tapes found on some brands).
Side vents are covered with white twill cotton for aesthetic appeal.
The photo below shows the right arm embroidery.
The base of the back of the jacket is embroidered with the Battle Gear comapny logos.
Trousers
The trousers are made from quite a thick cotton twill material. The double layer over the knee extends right to the bottom of the ankle openings. This is a good feature as it ensures that the knee is covered when in seated kneeling position.
The hem of the ankle openings are quadruple stitched and folded over. They appear very sturdy and strong.
Performance & Conclusions
This gi in A1 was a perfect fit for me. I liked the narrow torso fit and good sleeve arm length. The trousers were also well proportioned for my body type. In addition to the great fit, I really liked the attention given to all the functional details, such as the great rope drawstring, comfortable cuff taping and knee to ankle double trouser layer. It did not feel too heavy to roll in but I do personally prefer trousers that are slightly less thick compare with these.
I wore and washed this gi around a dozen times. The resistance to shrinkage was very impressive but there was noticeable uneven colour fade over the jacket fabric. The lapel collar remained quite dark however, plus it did start to fray along the leading edge.
This gi had a very strong factory odour of mothballs or napthalene. I took up until the 12th wash for it to really diminish. Whilst most gis I receive have some degree of odour, this one was probably the hardest to remove.
I'm not a real big fan of the logos and artwork however. The execution of the graphical elements are perfectly fine but as a whole, they don't quite all blend as well as I feel maybe they could. Handily, they are not too in your face and whilst this gi is certainly colourful, I would not classify it as a 'bling' model.
Overall this gi ticks all the right boxes in terms of materials, construction and reinforcements. The irregular fading and slight fraying of the collar material did give the impression of slightly more visible wear and tear than, say, an all white gi, though I should clarify, all the functional and reinforcing units held up very well.
For �60, I would say this is a very good first time gi or for those on a budget.
UPDATE:
The owner of Battle Gear has informed me that the new batch of Wind kimonos currently in stock has a trousers made from lighter and thinner fabric plus the mothball smell is much reduced compared to the sample I received.
.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Meerkatsu/~3/bjrWAWf-ebE/review-wind-kimono-by-battle-gear.html
Seminar: Helv�cio Penna, Mill Hill, London
Summary
Legendary competitor and 3rd degree black belt under Ricardo de la Riva, Helv�cio Penna visited London and taught a three hour seminar at Mill Hill BJJ (the place where I train). Helv�cio taught us a very nice series of techniques based around, as he describes, little things, that he has picked up through his experience. And boy what experience!
[usual disclaimer - I'm crummy at remembering and describing techniques so follow these at your own peril]
Judo Style
Helv�cio told us that before BJJ he was at first a judo guy, but took up BJJ in order to learn more ne waza. His old judo instructor used to be friends with Helio Gracie and Helio would often pop in to his old judo academy with his son Rickson to exchange ideas and techniques on groundfighting. As you can imagine, my training buddies and I were rapt with attention - we love old skool jiu jitsu stories!
It was natural then for Helv�cio to kick off our seminar with a judo style warm-up. He ran through various leg and foot movements related to judo trips, sweeps and throws, but all done solo. We kind of looked like rookie ballroom dancers but it was all good fun.
Size matters not
The thing I liked about the techniques that Helv�cio showed was that they were utterly unreliant on strength or physique. I mean I know that BJJ is all about the technique, what I am trying to say is, for a big fella (Helv�cio fights heavyweight - over 90kilos) he sure knows some cool small guy jiu jitsu stuff. I guess having Mestre Ricardo de la Riva as your instructor means that your guard is gonna rock.
Helv�cio kicked off the techniques portion of the class with a sweep from the spider guard where you loop one of your legs over and under the opponents arm (you are gripping him at the sleeve cuffs). Your other foot is on his hip. We call this the hooks guard, but others may refer to it as a variation of the spider guard. Normally we just play off this position, but Helv�cio told us to push our hooking leg all the way through to what we ourselves dubbed the deep hooks guard. We then had to bring the opponent onto and over our own bodies before sweeping him over with a little hip and knee movement.
The next technique sort of followed on from this open guard position. In this scenario, the opponent has one hand underneath your leg, threatening to apply pressure or pass your spider guard. Helv�cio showed us one of his favourite little moves that, unsurprisingly given his history, reminded me a lot of a judo throw, but performed on the ground (if that makes any sense!) It involved cleverly trapping your opponents arm and maneuvering so that his weight was over your own hips (you are kind f crouching almost turtling) and by going underneath the opponent, he is thrown to the other side. The cool thing with this technique was the armbar that was ready and available when you finished sweeping him.
My favourite technique from the session was the next one. Helv�cio showed us an open guard where you grip your opponents opposite lapel with one hand, your other hand is sleeve gripping same side (as you face him) and your foot is on his hips. You release your sleeve grip and move your hand under and over your oppoent's elbow, cupping tightly.Your free leg then moves over your opponents arm and shoulder and tucks in under your opponents hip bone/top of thigh. Straightening this leg and re-poisitoning your own body a little brought about the most excruciatingly tight armbar. We all had fun drilling this manouevre!
Helv�cio also showed who this set-up could be applied for an omoplata finish or a triangle or even, thrillingly, a rather flashy knee bar. I actually found the knee bar attempt a bit less complex and easier to drill than the other versions. Regardless, they were all very neat ways to play open guard by dominating entirely one whole side of your opponent.
Misdirection and trickery
Another really useful technique we learned was how to deal with a person who is in your closed guard and is about to break it open to set up a pass (from sitting) but has one of those immovable arms placed strongly on your own torso for stability. Helv�cio told us to grip the sleeve of that arm with both hands, let the opponent open up your guard, then hip shift to one side as your push the opponents basing hand away from you. Almost immediately after, in a circling motion, manouevre his arm over your own head and direct that arm to the complete other side of you. This exposes his back where we worked on how to drag the opponent into our back take position and securing a bow and arrow choke.
It reminded me of the push-pull philosophy of judo training.
We also drilled some useful escapes when your opponent has taken your back - something that I do really need more practice in.
Final thoughts
Meeting someone of Helv�cio's stature, is to see someone who lives, eats and breathes jiu jitsu beyond anything I could ever imagine. Competing as he does, at the elite level against guys half his age, I can only assume the reason is beyond being purely down to an ultra competitive nature - it's simply that he really really enjoys it. Jiu jitsu for him is pure joy and this is totally evident when he teaches - the enthusiasm, patience, passion and technical mastery on display today were everything a seminar should be.
Thanks to my instructor Nick Brooks for inviting Helv�cio over to the UK, I look forward to him visiting again and picking up more big man/small man jiu jitsu along the way.
.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Meerkatsu/~3/oKLsyVlKR6o/seminar-helvecio-penna-mill-hill-london.html
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Animal Drill Workout
click player to close Initially, you should follow the order listed in the video. Then when you have done at least one cycle and feel warm you can do them in any order you want. Feel free to also add your own movements and be creative – make this drill fun. And finally, try [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bjjtech/~3/ysGyadjtTPg/
Gi Review: 93 Brand, The Goose
Summary
New US based gear company 93 Brand offers their debut gi. It's a very cool and stylish uniform with excellent quality reinforcements and materials. The A1 did fit rather big on me. Note also that the colour is not IBJJF tournament compliant.
Information
The Goose was first offered on a one day sale at BJJHQ.com for $100 plus shipping.
Some sizes are also offered here: http://www.karatedepot.com/un-jj-2230.html
Full Disclosures
I have provided freelance design work for BJJHQ in the past. I was not involved in the production or design of this model uniform.
Introduction
93 Brand are an American company that first appeared on the discount selling website BJJHQ. Their debut product, a rashguard, was heavily branded with 'Made in America' logos. This gi, amusingly titled 'The Goose', is made in Pakistan, but with its heavy use of helvetica type and simple geometric logomarks it is styled in what I reckon to be a very New York sort of vibe. They sent me an A1 to test out and review.
Size, Weight, Shrinkage and other Statistics
Size in centimetres and weight in kilograms. For reference, I am 59-60Kg in weight and 167cm in height. I am used to wearing A1 or A1L size gis though I do have long arms. First figure brand new, second figure after x3 mild temperature washes and then air dried.
A: 163/160
B: 76/74
C: 59/59
D: 16.5/16.5
E: 53/51
F: 97/97
G: 21/21
Jacket = 1.1kg, trousers = 0.6Kg
Stats discussion
The data shows there is very little shrinkage in either width or height for jacket or trousers. The pearlweave treatment of the jacket fabric clearly living up to its pre-shrunk status. The jacket wingspan, width and height is pretty much on a par with the recently reviewed Tatami Fightwear Enson Inoue Spirit of Japan gi. The Goose is actually a tad smaller than the Kingz 420 and 450 kimonos.
Weighing a total of 1.7Kg, the Goose is not an ultralight gi nor is it especially heavy for an A1 sized uniform.
Jacket
The main body of the jacket is made from a fairly medium to heavy gauge pearlweave cotton fabric. The description does not state the 'weight' of the gi but it feels very similar to the Tatami Estilo, so I'd guess that it would be around a 450 to 500gsm weight fabric.
It is dyed a quite a cool colour grey which, after three washes, has faded a tiny bit. The cut of the gi follows the pattern of the low placed front yoke - notice the seam running horizontally across the torso. On many other major gi brands, this seam runs higher, but here it runs much lower down the torso - similar to how the Shoyoroll and Competidor gis are cut.
The collar and lapel are pretty chunky. Once again I have failed to take a collar by collar comparison photo but when I pinch the collar, the leading edge feels very thick and sturdy. I did notice however, that after three washes, the canvas cotton covering did start to bobble and pill a little.
The goose is quite minimally patched - just this arm applique embroidery (one per sleeve) and a patch on the posterior of the trousers (more about that later).
Typical of gis cut with a low front seam, there are no armpit reinforcements. However all other reinforcing patches are present around the side vents. Branded seam tape decorates the inside jacket.
The insides of the sleeve cuffs are lined with branded seam tape. The tape edge is folded over to avoid the scratchy abrasive edges that is found on some cheaper seam tapes.
The exterior of the base of the jacket is lined with a strip of canvas which adds to an impressive level of reinforcements to the whole uniform.
Trousers
The trousers are made from 12oz cotton canvas with a pearlweave contrast coloured gusset panel.
The multiple belt loops and rope drawstring provide a more than adequate ability to keep the trousers in place. A worthy point to note is that the knee patches extend all the way down to the ankle. Too many gi brands make small knee patches that do not cover the knee when the leg is bent.
I must admit the placement of the rear trouser patch is odd. It would probably look better placed at the base of the back of the jacket, or omitted altogether. It's not a dealbreaker though, and in fact when I am standing, the jacket skirt conceals the bum patch entirely.
The ankle openings are again covered with seam tape, same as with the sleeve cuffs.
A triangular patches strengthens the area where all parts of the trouser gusset join together.
Rolling performance and discussion
The first thing to mention is the colour. Grey is not a viable choice for those competing at IBJJF rules tournaments, however as has been seen with the popular Competidor Guardian and Tatami Fightwear 'Pin Up' gis, grey is clearly still a popular niche choice.
I was impressed with the level of reinforcements and the fact that the gi barely shrunk. All the other aspects, such as the drawstring, the embroidery, stitching, collar etc were of the same standard as gis costing a lot more.
When rolling, I felt that the gi fitted rather generously on me. I wouldn't say it was baggy or too big, just that I felt there was a lot of loose material on my body. Gis that are cut with the lower front torso seem do tend to feel much 'looser' on my body than higher cut gis. I think this gi would perfectly suit someone of my height but bulkier in muscle.
Conclusion
This gi was made available on BJJHQ for $100. At that price I would say it is an absolute bargain. I did feel it was a looser fit on me than some of my regular rotation gis but it was still a very good gi to wear. Recommended for everyday training.
.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Meerkatsu/~3/A9LLm6MCyFg/gi-review-93-brand-goose.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)