Shoyoroll Fifty/50 Special Edition Gi Review

by Rich

Summary

The Shoyoroll Fifty/50 RS Special Edition gi is like suit of heavy armor, and a very good-looking one at that. Its killer performance feature is a huge, foamy collar that is wider and thicker than those on other gis from the same brand. It has a very clean and nice look, which is supported by the unique-to-brand grayscale color scheme, and it contains some of the standard Shoyoroll embroidery and patches along with several custom aesthetic features designed specifically for this gi. Although there are some things about it that I would change, I definitely won’t be getting rid of this ultra-rare gi anytime soon.

[I love the GiReviews community and am truly thankful to feature guest reviews on the site but I have never had anybody send me a review quite like this (just wait, you'll see).  The following gi review is an exceptional piece of hard work by Rich.  I am honored to feature it on the site and I am truly blown away by what he's done here. ~ Brendan ]

Disclosures

I had this gi (previously worn 5 times, washed cold and drip dried) pulled from eBay by an Alaskan whose gym had newly subscribed to the “dojo gi scam,” with which some readers of this site are unfortunately all too familiar: Allegedly, he was forced to wear only the gi dictated by his instructor in a bid to destroy his soul via cultish uniformity. Due to the rarity of this gi, the last eBay bid-style auction for one before press time (April 2013) ended at approximately $565, but my seller gave it to me immediately for half that amount plus less than actual shipping. (The last couple of Buy it Now auctions for them have ended at $300-350.)

Introduction

The Shoyoroll Fifty/50 Special Edition gi was released between Batches 6 and 7, which could account partially for the gap between Shoyoroll batches that lasted most of early-to-mid 2010. For this release, they brought back the big Shoyoroll lapel patch that had been used in the Batch 3-4 gis; to my knowledge, they didn’t bring it back again until they conceived the GUMA-only Navy and Black Skies releases recently, making any Shoyoroll gi with these big lapel patches difficult to find. (In fact, Jen from Fifty/50 BJJ, who was involved in the design process of the gi, told me that some of the lapel patches from this gi were removed and sold separately for over $200 each!) These gis came in two color ways: the black/gray/white and red/blue versions. The total production run for both color ways was only about 150 pieces total; that combined with the fact that they were never sold online or at any public event has made their circulation extremely low.

I am generally a big fan of the clean-but-nice look and the fit of Shoyoroll gis. I generally tend to purchase gis with understated external markings, so I was happy that the Shoyoroll Fifty/50 gi is black, white, and gray only, which hasn’t been the case with any other Shoyoroll gi.

Fit

I am 5’11½” and weigh 210 lb. Height-wise, I would be between an A2 and an A3, but I always wear an A3 because of my relatively broad shoulders and super-long 77.5” reach. (Fun fact: the average person’s reach is 1.023 times his/her height; this gives me the arms of your average 6’4” person). Some of my A3 gis’ sleeves end several inches from the bases of my thumbs.

However, the sleeve length on this gi is perfect for me, as the arms end just above the bases of my thumbs when held straight down. The pants lay well on my legs despite being somewhat baggy. The leg length is perfect, hovering about an inch above the mat when I stand straight, even though I am low in the A3 height range; sadly, this probably means that I have a proportionally short brain.

I gave the gi a warm wash and a 30-minute warm dry to tighten up the fit. After that, it became slightly snugger without any significant reduction in arm length. Now, happily, the overall fit is very nice on me because of the longer

than-average arms on this gi.

I also noticed that there is a large amount of extra room in the front. I usually like the extra front room, because I can (and unfortunately, sometimes do) twist my arm straight across my back; the extra room helps the gi stay on my chest and prevents resistance in such situations. In this gi, not even a full “Kimura-to-death” twist can remove all the extra slack in front, making me think that there might be too much of it. There were potential “handles” formed by folds of fabric on the front shoulders of the gi, which could be grabbed by a training partner. Perhaps the gi is just too wide for my shoulders, but I do have above-average shoulder breadth for an A3. Nonetheless, the extra room also facilitates the collar’s removal from the belt and utilization as a weapon.

A – 6.5”

B – 31.5”

C – 23”

D –16”

E – 22.5”

F – 12”

G – 9”

H – 40”

Design

 The design of this gi is understated but very nice. It features several unique artistic features alongside some familiar ones from other Shoyoroll gis. The circular part of one of the two standard Shoyoroll logo arm patches is replaced by a custom Fifty/50 logo, which is also found on the custom inner tags and a small patch below the knee of the pants. Other decoration includes gray contrast stitching, “FIFTY/50 RS” embroidered in black and grey lettering on the back of the neck, and the standard black-and-white Shoyoroll external brand tags.

A gray version of the classic Shoyoroll lion patch on the left side of the skirt is accompanied by “fifty fifty” embroidered in cursive on the right side of the skirt. The cursive “fifty fifty” is usually covered by the other half of the jacket when both halves are tucked into the belt; this added art hit thus remains hidden much of the time but can be exposed through the ardors of training

Other hidden features on the inside of the top include the custom gray/black seam tape, an iPod pocket, and a custom silkscreen print of the “It is not the critic who counts” quote by Theodore Roosevelt. That quote is painted on the wall of Ryan Hall’s academy, and it’s an excellent quote to keep close to one’s heart (or intestines, as scarily displayed to Ryan here).

Another cool design feature is that the ripstop material of the pants is sewn into the lining on the outside of the gi skirt, the reinforced side vents, the foam-injected collar, and even the inside lining of the wrist. Some of these enhancements are also included on other Shoyoroll gis, but most include seam tape inside the wrist instead. Jen from Fifty/50 BJJ informed me that the manufacturer may have simply run out of the seam tape and had to improvise, because they made only a very limited amount of it. The ripstop material of the pants on these surfaces might provide an added advantage, because the fabric of the pants is relatively slippery: Its inclusion could make the jacket and lapel significantly harder to grab and grips easier to break.

Though it may have been an accident, the inclusion of this slippery fabric on the insides of the cuffs might harken forth to Ezekiel Kimonos’ 2012 Innovation-of-the-Year feat of including felt there. These inner cuffs are not quite as smooth as felt, but they are still pretty smooth.

Jacket

According to the specs released in 2010, the jacket is “super or ultra-lite, or whatever you call the Batch 6,” which would make it a 450g pearl weave. The jacket feels heavier (and a bit rougher on the outside) than the new lightweight “PRO” pearl weave on the Shoyoroll Ring; nevertheless, the inside of the jacket has a nice, smooth finish, and it doesn’t abrade my skin or cause a rash. The higher weight of this gi might be an effect of fabric choice, or it might simply attest to the truly massive foam collar on the Fifty/50 gi.

Now, about that extra-large collar. The pictures above and below compare the collars of (top to bottom) the Fifty/50 gi, a Lucky Gi Release 2, and an “average” Shoyoroll (The Count). This collar is both thicker and wider than that on a “standard” Shoyoroll. Jen from Fifty/50 BJJ informed me that Ryan Hall wanted his team to have an extra advantage in defending chokes and specifically requested this thicker collar. That makes this the Shoyoroll gi that imparts perhaps the greatest mechanical advantage on the practitioner.

The collar on the Fifty/50 gi is significantly wider and thicker than the one on the Count, and it even exceeds that of the Lucky Gi (but only by a very small amount). The critical difference is that the thickest outer area of the collar on the Fifty/50 gi is significantly wider than that on the Lucky Gi, so it feels much more massive.

Trousers

In contrast to the similarity between the Fifty/50 and Batch 6 jackets, the pants material differs significantly between the two releases. Whereas the Batch 6 came with 8-oz lightweight cotton pants with a gold weave gusset, the Fifty/50 gi comes with ripstop pants with a gusset made of the same pearl weave as the gi top. Unfortunately, the pants are not as breathable as I generally like, and although the material is relatively slippery to the touch, it is not a very pliable fabric. Your mileage may vary with other copies of the same gi, because Jen from Fifty/50 BJJ informed me that hers (in A0) came with non-ripstop cotton pants.

The weight of the material was never published, but the ripstop is significantly heavier than that on my Shoyoroll Comp Lite XII. The pants feel very sturdy; though I have heard reports of other Shoyoroll pants suffering infant mortality, I would be absolutely shocked if these were to rip anytime soon. The stretchable drawstring and six belt loops are standard for Shoyoroll, but the stretchy drawstring has a more appropriate length than that on some Shoyoroll pants. The seam tape on the inside of the ankles is the same as that inside the kimono. The “Fifty/50 RS” embroidery on the pants is located so that it shows through the side vents of the kimono when they spread apart.

When I received the pants, they had some faint blue scuff marks on the knees from mat rub, which was unfortunately not completely removed by dry cleaning. I didn’t mind this so much, but the kneepads also seem to pick up inordinate amounts of dirt while rolling, yielding buildup after just a single training session (shown above). The dirt washed off, but there must be something chemically about these pants that makes them stain magnets!

That may be one reason why Shoyoroll went in a different direction with their pants after this release. Among the two Batch 7 releases, the Golden State came with 10-oz drill cotton pants, and the 7th Son came with a different 10-oz ripstop pair with a gold weave gusset.

Rolling Performance

Ryan Hall, me

I used my cover of journalistic integrity while researching for this review to visit a few different dojos without feeling like a turncoat from my home school of Renzo Gracie Academy. I had to travel 22 blocks and almost one avenue in Manhattan to train with all of the people in the three pictured New York schools (Renzo’s, Marcelo Garcia’s, and Shaolin’s). That’s almost 2 whole kilometers! My travels were very inspirational, and I definitely came back rededicated to jiu jitsu training/competition!

Marcelo Garcia, me, Gianni Grippo

In the time I spent training, the gi incurred minimal wear and only two minor bloodstains. It held up well in training, and it seems like a good choice for durability. However, the ripstop material on the few remaining others I saw in the Fifty/50 gym was frayed. After 3 years of constant use, it seems reasonable that these gis would have been reaching the end of their lives; however, the lapel fraying after long-term use is somewhat of a concern. One other concern was a couple of frayed threads on the cuff that began to appear after about 5 washes. However, these have not spread or caused any loss of structural integrity.

Vitor Shaolin, me

The jacket was a bit heavier than I generally like. During the winter, this would provide some warmth, but I rarely desire such; however, this is just personal preference, as heavier gis are liked by some.

Rafael “Sapo” Natal, me grabbing his ear, and the “Academy Etiquette” poster at Renzo Gracie Academy

This guy wins the “Ear of the Year” award!

The extra-thick collar is very helpful for defending chokes. The extra room in the front combined with the tapering of the cut makes it very easy to pull the lapel out for use as a weapon, though this is not in synergy with the collar’s thickness and relative lack of flexibility, which would tend to reduce its utility in that respect. The ripstop material on various surfaces is a nice touch because of the added external slipperiness it provides.

John Danaher, me, Joe Sampieri (head coach, RGA Muay Thai)

If the makeup person can bring out my cheekbones enough, I’ll audition to play him in the movies.

I did have a performance issue with the pants. I have extremely high leg flexibility (though some would use a less family-friendly term to describe it), but unfortunately, the heavy ripstop material of the pants has practically no “give” to it whatsoever, and the crotch material is insufficient to prevent some pushback from the pants when I do something like put my leg behind my head. Therefore, it does seem that these pants can inhibit certain extreme leg movements. When I train in most Shoyoroll drill cotton pants, this has not been an issue. Further, the pants do not ride up on the legs much, although I would prefer that they did because of the shorter lever arm that would give my training partner.

Me, Rafa Costa of RGA Competition Team (great class today, Rafa!)

“Zed” and the RGA Comp Team guys

Overall, the jacket of this gi performs very well, especially with the collar imparting such a mechanical advantage. I feel almost like I’m cheating while wearing it because of the collar, the overall mass of which exceeds that of my Lucky Gi. The extra front room provides handles to the opponent, but it also provides additional stretching ability and increases the lapel’s utility as a weapon.

Conclusion

This gi has understated but elegant aesthetics that are more detailed than they appear at first glance, and it has well-thought-out performance features to boot. Despite the issues with the pants, the jacket on this release seems to confer the biggest advantage during grappling of any Shoyoroll gi of which I am aware. Despite the peculiarities of the pants, the jacket is truly awesome, and the gi has a unique place in the history of Shoyoroll gis. I certainly won’t be getting rid of mine anytime soon.

To Purchase

These were only sold in person as the first Shoyoroll gi made especially for a gym. My impression is that most of these were used shortly after purchase and would no longer be in as good of condition as mine, despite the general sturdiness of the fabric (though I am aware of at least one that is still brand new). Even though your chances of obtaining one of these are not good, I hope my breakdown of this gi was interesting and that you’ve enjoyed reading it!

In this sixth installment of the GiReviews podcast, I got to chat with Tom Callos, father of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu phenom Keenan Cornelius.

Most of you likely know Tom through in ongoing dialogue regarding martial arts instruction and the recent controversy surrounding Team Lloyd Irvin.  But, even if you haven’t heard of him and have no idea what I’m talking about, this is going to be a truly enjoyable listen.

In this episode, Tom and I talk about:

• Our mutual love of living a simpler, happier life
• Tiny houses
• Advice for being a BJJ Father (his answer to this is hilarious)
• Keenan’s time at Team Lloyd Irvin
• The ‘Medal Chaser’ Mentality (his answer to this surprised me!)
• Keenan moving to team Atos
• Personal growth through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Character Education in martial arts
• Continuing to train martial arts at an older age

Special Announcements:

We have a few 97% patches left in our store.  I don’t think we’ll ever make more of these so please check them out here.

Listen to the Show

Right click here to download the mp3

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Show Resources:

Chase Jarvis

Tiny Houses

ZenHabits.Net

Calculate your carbon footprint

Rachel Carson

Open Mat Radio

The 100 (TomCallos.com)

If you enjoyed this podcast, please let me know by leaving a review on iTunes and sending us a shout-out on Twitter!

Introduction

I’ve been a huge fan of Bull Terrier ever since I first saw their New Star gi (which I reviewed here).

I’ve been a huge fan of Gawakoto ever since I saw their ‘Save the Earth gi (which was voted to the 2012 GiReviews.Net BJJ Holiday Gift Guide – Gi Edition)

So when I found out they were collaborating on a new gi, I freaked out!

Obviously, my dog was less excited about the gi than I was ^_^

(Note: I was not the only one who was excited about this.  Meerkatsu almost wet himself with excited over the release of this gi.)

Summary

The Bull Terrier and Gawakoto Unleahed gi features a number of staple Bull Terrier aspects (tons of embroidery, subtle contrast stitching, lots of patches, NICE interior printing) plus the brilliant comic-book style artwork of Gawakoto (Bong Abad).  Overall, it creates a very nice product that fits me really well.

Fit

I am exceedingly lucky in the fit department when it comes to gis because, often an A3 fits me perfectly at 6’1′ and 200-210lbs.  The Bull Terrier sizing makes an A3 that is absolutely delightful to wear.

Seriously.

I would wear this to work if they let me.

Numbers in parenthesis are for the Bull Terrier New Star for comparison.  All measurements are pre-washed.

A – 7 (6.75)

B – 31.5 (30)

C – 19 (19.5)

D – 26 (24)

E – 23 (22.75)

F – 12.5  (12.5)

G – 10.75  (10.75)

H – 41 (41)

Of note is that the trousers have a very wide leg and bottom, more akin to Grab&Pull (10) than Scramble’s Wave gi (9).  In my opinion, this is one of the major drawbacks to Bull Terrier gis. I love the fit of the jacket, but not so much the pants.

You can easily see the pants baginess in the images above and, considering I have very large thighs (thank you squats and deadlifts!), these pants would be massive on anybody thinner than me.

Design

 At first glance, this gi is very opposite what you would expect from a Bull Terrier gi.  The outside features embroidery and patches akin to Bull Terrier’s regular ‘Bling’ gi offerings, but where this gi really shins is inside the jacket.

Unlike their typical ‘repeating pattern’ design inside the gi, Bull Terrier allowed Bong Abad of Gawakoto to work his magic.

The jacket features 3 separate interior illustrations pictured below:

Jacket

I like that the jacket was 550gsm as it represents the heavier side of BJJ jacket weights.  Other than companies like HCK, most people are hesitant to go over 550gsm and few go under 400gsm for jackets.  I typically prefer a heavier jacket than a lighter one and it’s likely one of the reasons I enjoy this gi.

The jacket is fully reinforced in all of the critical areas and held up well throughout testing.

Trousers

The 10oz drill cotton trousers contrast nicely with the sturdy jacket.

The belt loops on these pants are really a double-edge sword.  I love that they have more loops (six versus 2 on older models), but I hate how high they are.  I prefer my belt loops lower on the gi so the drawstring doesn’t ride up while training.

It’s a marked improvement over the 2 belt loops of the New Star that I reviewed, but I can’t fathom why they were moved upward on the gi.

Luckily, the pants feature high quality side vents and a very nice stretchy rope drawstring that I prefer to the older style of flat stitched pant material.

Rolling Performance

The jacket was a blast to wear while rolling.  The gi features cool interior art without the increased weight or thickness of an interior rashguard.

As noted, the pants are very baggy, but I didn’t notice them while rolling all that much.  It was frustrating when my training partners would grab near the cuff of the pants, but nothing that a solid grip game couldn’t cure. Baggier cut jackets and trousers generally mean you have to remember to strip people’s grips right away and not just break them with pressure or assume the grips don’t matter.

The gi held up very well and I assume, like all of my other Bull Terrier gis, it will hold up for a great deal of time to come.

To Purchase

This gi was a limited edition run, but can still be found at Bull Terrier and at Gawakoto!

Conclusion / Dog Approval

Yes, even my dog Bean approves of this gi.

This gi is easily one of my favorites.  Obviously, as a BJJ gi company, it’s impossible to make gis that fit everybody perfectly.  What may fit me perfectly may be too big or too small on another person, even if we are the exact same height and weight.  This means that the only fault I could find with the gis cut, the wide pants, is really a moot point.

The gi is very well done and high quality and there isn’t much that I would change about the design or styling.  It’s really a gorgeous gi and Bull Terrier’s Gawakoto collaboration really fits in well with the rest of their vast gi collection.  I would HIGHLY recommend watching both brands as they continue to grow and develop.

I know I’ll be!

Go Full Spats!!

A while back, I picked up the Urban Camo spats from Scramble.  I absolutely love them and they definitely beat out the Poss spats and my Under Armour tights that I used previously.

Please note that all of the photos here come from my Instagram account.  That’s one of the first places I post photos of anything I’m working on so definitely check it out!

But Brendan, I don’t have enough swagger to go ‘full spats’

Don’t worry. Neither do I.

I just go for it.

Wait, I guess that means I do.

Here’s the deal.  These shorts still look awesome even with board-style grappling shorts on over them.  No worries though, because Scramble makes a few of those as well (my personal favorite are the purple!).

To Purchase

*Don’t forget to compare prices!

Check these out at Scramble (US) or Scramble (UK)

You can also check them out at Budovideos

Fit

I am 6’1 and 200lbs and, originally, I thought that I should be a size Large. But, after speaking to the customer service people (aka Matt), I decided on picking up a size XL and boy am I glad that I did.

I love that the different panels of the pants create a very ’3D’ effect on my legs.  I prefer this to spats with just one large piece of material because they tend to be tighter in one area and looser in others while these spats are tight all over.

Additionally, I love the drawstring so there’s no chance of them falling down when training.

Durability

I have owned and used these spats a few times per week for months (hence the delay in writing this review!) and have had literally no sign of wear or tear on them.

I have heard only a single report seams tearing in one area of these spats, but that person also noted that they had their spats replaced immediately by Scramble, who is known for their fantastic customer service.

Style

Typically one to shy away from camouflage, I actually really like the style on these spats.

First, I love is that they’re dark enough that you don’t see any more of me than you’d want to.

Second, I’m a huge fan of the typography that Scramble uses and this is no different.

Third, the camouflage, designed by Appleseed (Aplsd), is really cool and unique.

These were all major reasons we voted these spats as one of the “Best Fightwear Design (Non-Gi) of 2012″.

Rolling Performance

Because the Scramble Urban Camo Spats have a drawstring built in, along with elastic in the waistband, I had no issues with them falling down during training or becoming transparent when soaking wet.

I felt as though they provided a small amount of extra grip and while I’m no Tōbikan Jūdan, I do sincerely believe that they lend aid to securing leglocks and sweeps from the bottom.

Conclusion

Obviously, I’m pretty taken with these spats. They’re amazing quality and function better than any spats I have ever worn, to date.  It’s why I also included them in the 2012 GiReviews Nogi Holiday Gift Guide.

I believe that Scramble has set the standard for spats, which is why I wrote this article in 2012 for Scramble about why grappling spats are so awesome and the Urban Camo Spats are definitely some of their best spats to date!

To Purchase

*Don’t forget to compare prices!

Check these out at Scramble (US) or Scramble (UK)

You can also check them out at Budovideos

The Howard Combat Kimonos Competition Single Weave

For those who don’t know, HCK doesn’t just make Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kimonos.

They make armor.

Armor intent on protecting you while pissing off your opponent. The Competition Single Weave we were provided for review is no exception.

Although I felt the top wasn’t wide enough in the torso for me, the fitment of the Gi, a “5″ (HCK does not use the traditional A1-A5 sizing chart) was otherwise great in regards to cut, likely a size 6 would have been a better bet for me for my weight and height of 205lbs 5’10″.

A. 7

B. 28.5

C. 22.5

D. 24

E. 16 (it’s a stretchy elastic waist band, it fit my 35inch waist no problem)

F. 13

G. 9

H. 38

Pant Length from Crotch: 25

Chest width: 20.5

The Jacket:

The top is a 750gsm Single Weave, which falls right between a Gold Weave and Double Weave in terms of thickness, but this Single is stout enough to have many suspect it is a double weave. Trying to get a grip on the collar is no easy task. HCK reinforces the seam of the collar with extra material (same material as the trousers) that gives the collar a more ridged feeling than other collars. They don’t do fancy spanzy seam tape, they reinforce the seam in the wrists with very comfortable and sturdy material. No scratchiness, no flash, just business.

I’d suspect 185lbs to be the top weight for someone around my height (5’10″) for the Gi top. I was never bothered by the reinforced seams in the back of the jacket (and never have been by their other products) during rolling. This Gi is going to last its purchasers a very long time.

The Trousers:

Like the HCK Ripstop Lite trousers these use an elastic waist band for securing. The system works exceptionally well and I never have to adjust my pants during class which is an extreme delight.

There is a rope (non-stretchy) kind on the inside of the pants that I never use, but is available for people to fasten down the pants even more. It’s the same type of rope you’d find on sweatpants. The pants are very comfortable, not too wide or baggy and didn’t impede my grappling at all. There was no scratchiness to be found at the seam tape locations.

Overall:

As stated, the only issue I had was with the cut/size of the jacket, it was just too small for me, but the quality is definitely there and at 205lbs I would jump on a different top size next time around. When buying HCK you are getting a long lasting, quality gi that is backed by very good customer support. For the folks looking for a virtually indestructible gi that will last this is a great choice.

Whenever I wear this gi I am flooded with a sense of nostalgia as this is more similar to the “old school” gis of the past. I’d also highly recommend this gi for Judo guys making the crossover to BJJ, it will feel more familiar to them while introducing to them the similar sleeve cuts of normal BJJ gis. Quality wise, there isn’t much to say, the stitching is always superb on the HCK gis I’ve encountered, this gi is no exception.

This is not your run of the mill kimono and is on another level in regards to durability.

Storm Sakura Gi Review by Lisa Pages

I received the Sakura Storm Gi as a Christmas gift after wanting it for the past year or more.

When I first received the Gi in the mail I was so excited. I actually received the black one in an F1 although my husband ordered the white in an F2. But this was no fault of Storm because my husband bought it through a 3rd party company.

To Purchase

Click here to check out the Storm Sakura at Budovideos

Click here to check out the Storm Sakura at Fighter’s Market (Free Shipping)

Fit

I thought I would try the F1 on to see how it fit. I am 5’3” and 115lbs so according to the size chart I should wear an F2. The F1 did fit but it seemed to barely fit and I was worried about shrinkage and the pants were about an inch above my ankle so I was worried about that too since I wanted to use this as my competition Gi. I also heard the black one is NOT IBJJF approved because of the embroidery on the side of the knee on the pants. So I returned it and received the White Sakura in F2 to be safe.

Angelica Galvao is 138lbs and 5’4″ and is shown in the storm pictures wearing an F2 which is not what the sizing chart says is best for her. F2 is supposed to fit someone 99-119lbs and 5’1″-5’4″ . An F1 should fit someone who is 83-99lbs and 4’7″ to 5′.

The F2 was a little long in the sleeves but I figured once I wash it that it would shrink. Well I actually did not get that much shrinkage out of it at all, so the sleeves are a little long but it still fits ok. I did have a friend abot the same size as me) tell me that her sleeves were too long in her storm and when she posted on the mat while rolling the sleeves were in the way. So she returned her F2 for an F1. In my opinion the Gi runs a little big and does NOT shrink much at all.

Another thing to add to the Gi that I did not like was the inside of the sleeve cuff. It is supposed to be a “grip free” technology but they have a material that they line the inside with that was very itchy and it puts scratches on my wrists everytime I wear it.

Jacket

I love feel of the gi top! It is very soft. I love the softer gi’s. It doesn’t rub and chafe your skin like some harder fabric gi’s. The collar is normal, it’s not too hard were you choke yourself out wearing it but not flimsy either. The skirt length is good too its not too short like some womens gi’s you find that try to get that “ladies fit”.

Pants

The pants I am not a fan of. For starters I don’t like the pearl weave rip stop pants. They are very slippery on the mats and when someone gets a grip on them it is not easy to break. Also when you are sweaty the pants seem to stick to you. These pants do seem to be very durable but a lot thinner than most rip stop pants.

They are very wide at the bottom too which I don’t like either and the white gi is pretty see through. I have to make sure I wear white underwear. I do like the draw string because it never gets stuck, so it is much easier to tighten and loosen and I have not had any problems with the loops ripping.

The overall design of the Gi is nice. It is not too girly but still has that girl flair to it. It is very nicely made and it looks good on. I love the cherry blossom design and it is all embroidered very nicely.

Other than what I mentioned above about rip stop pants being very slippery on the mats and the grips being very hard to break on these rip stop pants because they are so thin, rolling in this Gi is a good experience, but I will give all of that credit to the Gi top.

To Purchase

Click here to check out the Storm Sakura at Budovideos

Click here to check out the Storm Sakura at Fighter’s Market (Free Shipping)

About Lisa!

I have a blog that I just started this year to hopefully help inspire women to try BJJ. I blog other women’s stories and struggles for other women to read so they know they are not alone out there. BJJ is not easy but it so worth the struggle. And we all need all of the support we can get! If you want to check out the blog or send me your story I would really appreciate it:  http://girlzbjjlifestylez.weebly.com/

Review of Storm Nightshade by Lauren Johnson

Storm is a fairly well known brand with a reputation for high quality gis. The Nightshade is one of three women’s cut gis by Storm, all of which have been designed with input from Angelica Galvao. It features many of the key design aspects that make all of Storm’s gis so well known, in a well cut women’s gi with feminine style and a moderate amount of ‘bling’. The other women’s gis are a white version with magenta flowers called the Sakura, and as a black gi version of the Sakura, called the Flor which is a new addition to the Storm women’s collection.  The sizing chart(s) are honestly the most helpful ones I have ever used especially in combination with the ‘highly pre-shrunk’ component of the design.

Here are the specifics from Storm:

• Jacket is made of Ultra Comfortable 550 gsm Golden Jacquard Weave Fabric 100% Cotton
• Pant is made of exclusive 220 gsm STORM Breathe Tech/Military Triple Weave CVC Ripstop Fabric
• Zero Warp collar - Zero Hold Technology inside Sleeves
• High Definition Embroidered Detailing
• Hidden mouth guard pocket
• Anti-Microbial Treatment Steamed
• Highly Pre Shrunk
• Anti-Odor

There were a couple of things that first caught my eye about this gi, and to be honest I had my doubts.  Half of the description seemed as though they were trying to make the gi sound a lot better and fancier than it actually would be and I didn’t think any of the details would hold up even though I knew Storm has a reputation for high quality.  I also had significant doubts about the ‘bling’, as I had a ridiculous number of requirements for a women’s gi and “no overly feminine bling” was definitely one of them. Even more concerning was that the decoration on the pants is directly over the knee: one of the most susceptible areas to wear and tear.

To Purchase

Click here to check this gi out at Budovideos

Click here to check it out at Fighter’s Market (FREE SHIPPING)

The fit:

The sizing chart really helped convince me that this was the gi for me. The sizing chart gives you a slew of measurements that are actually useful in sizing yourself in addition to a regular height-weight chart. As I’m just shy of 5’5” and about 155lbs with a ridiculously long torso, hilariously petite legs and stupidly large boobs, so obviously I was very nervous about sizing. I measured myself with an alterations tape measure and compared it to the measurements given. I realized I would fit perfectly into an F3 without question (even if it shrunk an inch in every direction). Needless to say when I saw a ridiculously good sale on this gi on mmawarehouse.com, I snatched up an F3.

It fit perfectly straight out of the box, and wore it once without washing it, as it was pretty comfy. The sleeves were about a half-inch longer than I really liked and decided that I would take a small risk and shrink the top just a little. I washed the gi in hot water and dried it on medium/cool. The sleeves shrunk to hit me exactly at the wrist (about the half-inch I was hoping for) and the rest of the top was unchanged. I guess they were pretty spot on with “Highly Pre-shrunk”!

Design:

Like all Storm gis, the Nightshade has sleeves at 45 degrees from the shoulders instead of 90 degrees. I think this is a big factor in how well the top fits as the shoulders are a much better fit than other women’s gis I’ve tried. Like most women’s cuts its narrower at the shoulders and wider at the hips to accommodate a range of curvier shapes. I had originally thought the amount of ‘bling’ on this gi was too much compared to my thought that Storm Gis usually only have a logo on the back of one calf and one sleeve, with a patch along the collar. The embroidered flowers on the right shoulder and left knee, as well as Storm Kimonos in script lettering on the back of the skirt, is in addition what is normally there. Comparatively, it’s moderately ‘blingy’ for a women’s gi.

Jacket:

The dimensions of the jacket haven’t changed from the sizing chart, except the sleeves shrunk about a half inch in length after I purposefully I shrunk them. The sleeves are a nice fit, they are tapered just enough to have a l well fitting opening at the wrist that’s not exceptionally wide. The length of the skirt on the jacket is perfect, it hits right at the thigh like it’s supposed to. The collar really hasn’t warped at all (just like the claim), and it doesn’t open up and pull itself out of your belt. As for the rest of the claims about the top I’m honestly impressed they were all completely true! It really is ultra comfy even for someone with sensitive skin like me! The coolest claim to hold up was that it’s anti-odor; I’ve worn it rolling with some sweaty dudes who make my gi/gear smell like death and this is the only thing I own that hasn’t come away from a roll with them smelling like serious funk. Even after a few days of festering in the laundry basket before I throw it in the wash it still never smells as terrible like my other gis and gear especially after working with the worst offenders. You can’t choke your self on your own collar and its softer and flexible than you’d expect for the thickness however it’s still stiff enough to make it reasonably difficult to grip.

Trousers:

I usually don’t like ripstop pants but these are nice. They are a little short for the other ladies I’ve met with this gi, but I have petite legs for my height and they fit perfectly. They aren’t huge in the crotch either; they fit more like low-rise jeans and sit near your hips. The most impressive thing I have noticed about the pants is that when you start to move and flex the pants slide up your thighs instead of pulling down off your butt like most pants. The drawstring is flat and cotton, which keeps the pants tied and in place. The embroidery on the knee isn’t stiff and I don’t even notice it while I’m rolling. The embroidery on the knee also isn’t showing any signs of wear or tear. The width is accommodating for thunder thighs and big calves without being to wide or loose.

Rolling performance:

I’ve had this gi for about 5 months now, and after 40 something wash and dry cycles (on cold and low) absolutely nothing has faded- the gi is still blacker than night, the purple is still intense and the patch hasn’t bleed or faded at all.  I was a little worried about the embroidery on the knee of rip stop pants, as it weakens an area that’s already highly susceptible to wear and tear however, its held up exceptionally well. None of the embroidery (including the knee) has had stray threads or become loose and misshapen.

To Purchase

Click here to check this gi out at Budovideos

Click here to check it out at Fighter’s Market (FREE SHIPPING)

Conclusion:

Overall this is hands down the best women’s gi I have ever experienced. It’s a high quality gi, that’s cut to fit real women. I am honestly impressed with this gi, and the more I wear it the more impressive it is to me. Absolutely nothing on the gi has shown any wear or tear, and all of the claims have continued to ring true under pretty hard scrutiny. I would honestly recommend this gi to any woman looking for a high quality gi for a reasonable price (most places online you can find it for $179).

A bit ago, Shoyoroll sold the white version of the Batch 23 Cement gi to GUMA members and those willing to wait in line at the IBJJF Pan Ams.

The pictures at the bottom of this post are of the white version of the gi whereas the general release gi will be NAVY (seen above and immediately below; photo courtesy of organizedhoarding).

Batch 23 Release Info

TIME: 10AM PST

DATE: 4/19/13

PRICE: $185 (Limit 2 per customer)

WHERE: Budovideos.com and Shoyoroll.com

Shoyoroll Batch 23 Gi Specs

Color: Navy with Red/Grey Logos and Trim

Kimono Jacket: Lightweight Pearl Weave

Pant: Lightweight RipStop

Below are EXCLUSIVE photos of the WHITE version of the cement.  Likely, the only new detail will be the navy material versus the white.

Atama Leticia Ribeiro Guest Gi Review by Briana Myers

I purchased an Atatma Leticia Ribeiro Edition gi toward the middle of December after realizing that, without my own washing machine, if I’d be training 3-4 times a week, I’d need more than one gi.  My first gi is a Fenom and while I love it, I wanted to see what else might be out there and this one caught my eye.

First Impressions:

Apart from the good reputation the brand enjoys, I appreciated the playful, sweet detailing in the embroidery.  I liked that this gi was feminine without being entirely bright pink or lavender and decorative without being covered with lots of large patches.

As a new student of jiu jitsu, I had a real concern that this would be “too much gi” for me at nearly $200 but I rationalized the price with the knowledge that it would be worn easily twice a week for a long time and I’d get far more enjoyment and use out of a new gi than out of a new party dress.

To Purchase:

Click here to check out the Leticia Ribeiro Atama gi at Fighter’s Market (Free Shipping)

Sizing and Fit:

According to Atama’s site, the fabric and construction is identical to their Mundial Model #9.  The pants and kimono are offered as mix-and-match separates:

At 5’9” and 150lbs, I’m toward the top of the range for size F4.  Any concerns I had regarding sizing evaporated once the kimono arrived: sleeves and pants were long enough to require 2 hot washes to achieve my desired fit.  The tag sewn into the jacket estimates shrinkage of 5% which seems accurate.   If you’re on the smaller end of the range, you may need a few more sessions with the hot water.

Jacket:

The single-weave jacket is finished with purple Atama-logo tape on the inside of the cuffs and the outside of the hem.  The fabric drapes well and is substantial without feeling heavy or stiff.  The lapel features a rubberized collar that’s maintained a good amount of stiffness after many washes and 6 weeks of regular wear.

After two washes, my F4 jacket measures 29-1/2” long.  The skirt falls 12” below my natural waist, comfortably covering the widest part of my hips.

The kimono features the Atama logo with a spray of butterflies and tiny stars in shades of purple and pink stitched over either side of the chest and down the upper portion of the sleeve.  A smaller version of the logo is sewn on the yoke between the shoulders and the butterfly motif appears again on the left thigh of the pants.

Pants:

Pants are cotton with a reinforced knee and a self-fabric drawstring laced through four evenly-spaced loops.  I’m personally not a huge fan of cord ties, though I realize that may put me in the minority.  In addition to the logo embroidery mentioned above, a washing-care label is sewn on the right front hip.

Performance:

Atama does a good job tailoring their clothing, the jacket in particular, to a woman’s body.  Tapering through the waist means that the kimono stays closed fairly well, even without a belt, and narrower shoulders and smaller sleeve circumferences mean that the jacket doesn’t slide all over the place during warmups, drills and rolls.

The pants have a high enough rise so that they sit closer to my waist than my hips which gives me a greater confidence that they’ll stay put and they’re cut generously through the hip and seat allowing for a good range of movement.

Conclusions:

While the finishing looked perfect upon arrival, after the first wash, a few threads came loose from the embroidery and on subsequent washing I’ve noticed a few thicker threads loosening from inside of the binding tape and from the edge of the lapel near the skirt.

In general, I am very happy with this gi; it’s lightweight, fits well, is lots of fun to wear and feels great on.  My only concern is with the loose threads mentioned above. I am curious to see how the stitching and binding holds up after many more months of use.  I’ve read other Atama reviews that have made note of the loose-threads issue and for a $200 garment, my expectation would be higher-quality finishing.

To Purchase:

Click here to check out the Leticia Ribeiro Atama gi at Fighter’s Market (Free Shipping)

HUGE thanks to Briana for the Atama Leticia Ribeiro gi review!  Do you own this gi? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below!

Recently, I came across two excellent ideas for getting rid of built-in smell in your gi.

It’s a perfect addition to our guide for washing and shrinking your BJJ gi.

Hope these are helpful!

1. Uncle Skippy’s Sure-Fire Method

2. Gunslinger’s Use of Force Policy

1. Oxyclean in every wash (this I do always), hang dry on a hanger in front of a box fan.

2. Mild funk detected: Soak in pure white vinegar for a few hours (use a 5 gallon bucket, put the gi in and pour in white vinegar until the entire gi is submerged) then wash as normal.

3. If #2 fails: Pine sol. Add 1 cup of original pine sol (yes the stuff for floors) to your wash and wash as normal. This works VERY VERY well and does not stain your gi or damage the fabric (test it on a bath towel first if you are concerned).

   If #3 fails -  (I have never had #3 fail)

Have a tip to add?  Post it in the comments below!