Bill Cooper Gi by Moya Brand Summary
The Bill Cooper Signature Gi by Moya Brand is definitely not for people who want to blend in in the back of the class. It combines super comfortable gi material (jacket and pants), with bold patchwork and subtle contrast stitching.
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Introduction
Moya Brand offers a range of really solid training gis. I like that while you can use some of the gis for competition because they’re lightweight, such as the Hawaiian Cloth gi, Moya has really focused on making a solid all-around gi that will last.
Fit
Originally this gi was massive on me, much akin to my Ronin Samurai and my Grab&Pull Premium. The same is true in our Moya Brand White Sand review.
By shrinking it down a bit, the gi fit me much better in the sleeves and around my midsection. Also, the pants shortened up to an acceptable level. Note the images below as a progression of the fit.
Measurements
Measurements are taken after shrinking it the first time. I put it through another cycle of shrinking before it fit me the way I prefer a gi to fit (so it's been shrunk twice overall).
A – 6.5″ (good fit)
B – 30″
C – 21
D – 26 (very wide)
E – 22.5
F – 12
G – 9.5
H – 41 (back) / 39 (front)
You can see in the photo below how some gis are cut to have their skirts pull flush when closed. The Bill Cooper Signature Gi by Moya Brand has a more open front to its jacket.
Also note the back of the pants are higher than the front.
Design
On this gi, you either love the design or you hate it.
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As I mentioned in our preview of the Moya Brand Bill Cooper Signature Gi, if you aren’t a fan of Bill, you freaking should be. You probably just haven’t seen him grapple. Let’s fix that right now:
With that said, the design is really bold. If you like Bill and get him, or you’ve seen his super sick Deep Half Guard Killer dvd, you’ll probably like the gi. If not, you probably won’t. In that case, just follow our guide to removing patches and you have a really comfy Moya Brand gi with really nice tan contrast stitching. Win-win!
Jacket
As mentioned previously, the 450gsm pearl weave jacket on this gi was huge on me when I first got it. The size issue was taken care of by following our gi washing/shrinking guide.
The collar on the Bill Cooper gi is fantastic. Very thick and durable with no signs of wear after hard training. The stitching is near perfect.
The patchwork is great and is definitely bold. The only embroidery is on the back hip of the skirt and I wish there was more! I'm a huge fan of embroidery and hope Moya Brand does more of it in the future.
Trousers
The 12oz trousers are perfect for regular training. They have reinforced seams (though not as many as my Justgipants or Sub FC gi). Though the knee padding doesn't go all the way down to the foot, they are very very large and I have no doubt they'll hold up for a long time.
The belt loops were cut a bit large and caused the drawstring (which is a great, thick, drawstring I might add) to ride up if not tied tight. If you tie it properly, this isn't an issue.
Rolling Performance
I run a drilling session on Saturday mornings and that was primarily where I wore this gi. I didn't wear it to roll in until I shrank it down to an acceptable level.
Once I had the gi to size, it was great to roll and drill in. Very soft and the thickness of the pants helped to keep sweat off of my skin and keep me cool.
As a person who plays guard to sweep and pass (I don't submit from my guard often unless its an omoplata), I felt fine working off my back with this gi.
Wife Approval
As she took all of the photos for this review and it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside when we were shooting pictures of me with tin foil in my mouth, I didn't even bother to ask her what she thought.
Conclusion
Like some other Moya Brand gis, this gi comes a bit large, but don't be scared homey! (See what I did there?)
The gi is excellent and if you're a fan of Bill Cooper, you should definitely pick one up. Even if you plan to take the patches off (here's how to take patches off), it's a really solid training gi with excellent tan stitching and highlights.
It's a very expensive gi ($200) and if you're a buyer on a budget, this may not be for you. But, if you're okay with shelling out money for a nice gi, then check out the links below!
To Purchase
This gi is no longer available, however you can check out other pearl weave kimonos by clicking the button below.
Hey,
Just curious where you are stats wise and how that fits in with the Moya size chart? I’m 6’1″ but closer to 175 or 180 so thinking to go A2 as I like a tighter gi. Which one did you order that came out so big?
I have an A3 and once I shrunk it down, it was fine. I think all of their jackets are cut a bit large. I’m 6’1″ also but am more around 200-210, though I compete closer to your weight. Paul.
Can I get the gi if I live in germany? Big fan of Bill the grill Cooper, would love to have one of his GI in black