Full Metal Jiu Jitsu Gi Introduction

I was first introduced to this gi on Instagram when I started following Justin Dee (Juggs) from Full Metal JiuJitsu.  I saw a few photos of it and I was really impressed at how cool it was for just their regular academy gi.

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Check out the guys as they travelled to Costa Mesa, CA to train with the Mendes Bros. (whom they are affiliated with).

I never thought anything of it until my friend Thomas ‘Road Rage’ Ruderman told me I should check it out.  Definitely one of the best gi recommendations I’ve ever gotten!

Design

I absolutely love the design on this gi.  It’s definitely what I consider to be a “smart” design. I typically reserve this adjective to gis like the Scramble Wave and I know my friend Seymour described the Arte Suave gi like this as well.

First of all, I really dig their logo.  Very bold, but also very clean.  Also, a great use of the color green all over the gi (including the contrast stitching).

Second, I really like that they didn’t overdo it with their first gi.  I think the plain green seam taping on the sleeves is a nice touch, as well as the bicep/pant embroidery.  What really sets it off is the giant embroidery on the back.

The thing to remember is that this is their ‘academy gi.’  I have never seen an academy put this much work into their gis, if they even go to the extra effort of getting custom gis made.

Third, I love the patches.  I think the Born to Roll patch on the pants is a nice touch, and referring to the jacket as the ‘Full Metal Jacket’ on the inside of the gi really sold me.

Fit

This gi has a great fit for me.  It is an A3 and I am 6’1 and 200lbs of pure awesome.

A – 6.75

B – 29

C – 20

D – 24

E – 22.25

F – 11.5

G – 9

H – 38

Based on how these measurements compare to all of the other A3 gis that I wear, I would consider the fit to be right in the middle of A3 gis.

Jacket

The jacket is made of the exact same super-soft gold weave as the Shoyoroll Compadre.  The skirt is a great length and it pulls flush across the front without any issue.  I also have noticed two types of gold weave on gis.

You have a very dense and hard gold weave such as my Subculture Gold Weave or my Bull Terrier New Star.  Then, you have a soft Gold Weave like the FMJJ gi and the Compadre.

I don’t really have a preference either way, but I’ve never really been a fan of gold weave until I got this gi (note: I got it prior to my BT New Star).

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Trousers

The pants on the FMJJ gi are definitely up in the top 3 pants that I own along with my Ctrl pants and my JustGiPants.  As you can tell, I really enjoy ripstop pants and these are the type of stiff ripstop that I really enjoy.

It may hark back to my old karate days, but I hate pants that are big and soft.  I like a nice, crip pant that is somewhat difficult for my training partners to hold onto.

Rolling

Rolling in the FMJJ gi was awesome.  As I noted above, the jacket was super soft and really comfortable.  The pants are also a great type of ripstop that I prefer.  I didn’t have any issues with the skirt coming untucked, the sleeves being too long, or the pants being too baggy that typically happen with ill-fitting gis.

I also couldn’t detect any significant wear and tear on the gi despite wearing it to train a lot over the summer and also to the 3 hour long Mendes Bros. seminar.

Summary

This is probably one of the top 4 or 5 gis that I own.  I don’t say that lightly, either.

Very few of the gis that I review make it into the regular bi-weekly rotation and when I keep another gi in regular rotation, that means I have to take one out. This is, admittedly, very difficult for me as I come to really enjoy certain gis, but also can’t rationalize having such a large gi rotation (and also buying new patches for each gi is a total drag).

I’m really proud to own the gi, not only because it’s rare and comfortable and really Fing awesome, but also because I really like supporting FMJJ.  They put out really cool content and they’re really great people.

I don’t think that Juggs, Cristiano, or Thomas (who trains at FMJJ from time to time), have ever posted something on Facebook or Instagram that I haven’t enjoyed. Big thanks to them for allowing me to review this gi!

Full Metal BJJ gis are yet to go on full production but you can contact Justin on their Facebook page to beg them to do it!

Browse through IBJJF approved gis available at Amazon

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2012