Gi Review – Black Eagle Predator MKII

Introduction

I was sent this Gi to review by the patient and friendly Steve Turner at Black Eagle who I must also say has been very cool to deal with at all points, the Gi is available to purchase http://www.black-eagle.co.uk/bjjgipredatormkiipearlweavewhite-p-3182.html

How I review

There are other more technical reviews out there on the market or meerkat (some of which you will see linked below) and I do not intend to re invent the wheel, as I have said earlier I will be looking at this from the big man point of view.  How does it fit, how is it when you jog, run, sprawl and roll in it?  Does it stay a good fit, does my extra bulk and torque damage the Gi and also how do my training partners feel?

I stand six foot three inches tall and am 300lbs I am wearing an A5 Gi.

Initial Thoughts

This is a step back into the big man market as Black Eagle had decided the numbers did not add up but thankfully they have decided to start stocking A5 Gi’s and soon even A6 Gi’s I am told and I for one am glad.

Now this is sold as super light and super strong and also that it will NEVER shrink, that’s right never, “what never ever?” that’s right never ever.  So instantly I am a bit worried and skeptical, then I notice ripstop trousers and my worry rises.

First of all ripstop bottoms have always tended to cut into me, it is the big lad, flabby bits, rip stop becomes a ligature and all things hurt problem.  Secondly ultra light Gi’s are always a wee bit scary that soon enough the seam will pop and everyone will be getting a better view of the big man than they wanted.

Finally the never ever shrink thing, well that is a claim I have seen before and ended up with what looked like a tank top and plus fours, as more often than not when I put a Gi on it just fits and no more, so shrinkage is not good.

Were my initial fears well founded, well read on intrepid reader

The Science Part

The make up of the Gi is as follows:

The cost is £69.99 (reduced from 74.99) plus post and packaging 4.90

The Brand New Predator MKII BJJ Gi.
1. Ultra light, ultra strong ripstop trousers
2. Ultra Light Pearl Weave jacket
3. Extra lines of stitching on re-enforced lapel with ripstop overlay
4. Ripstop trimming to sleeve cuffs and jacket trim
5. New patch designs and Predator embroideries
6. Sanforized – Guaranteed never to shrink out of fit
7. Mercerised – Increases the strength of the fibres and further protects from shrinkage
8. Additional loops on trousers for greater comfort fit
9. Improved Competition cut, and fully IBJJF legal

And soon mix and match pants and jacket will be available

Washing

As you can see the Gi did not shrink at all which amazed me, in fact it slightly relaxed and got a bit bigger, which did amaze me, and I will also admit I then gave it a 90 degree wash and it still did not shrink.  This is quite something and is impressive meaning you order the size that you need in safe knowledge that it will keep fitting you.

Rolling, Sparring, Training, Fit and Feedback

The important point how does it look, feel and most of all how does it hold together when rolling.

While it does not look as flashy as some the patches and the design is very nice, well stitched, designed but for those of you who like your Gi very bling it is not so much the one for you, I however like it.

The jacket fit is good if a little shorter than some I have worn, the trousers are very comfortable and the most comfortable ripstop ones I have ever worn.  They are quite long in the reach (from the top of point G to the waist band) which is often an issue for the taller and wider fighter.  However for my liking they are just long enough and no more, I have said before that I like a longer trouser which is hard as I have a 34 inch inside leg.  However they are easily comp legal and for most fighters will be the perfect length.  There is no extra padding at all on this but it is designed to be light.

The jacket is a good fit all over with the sleeves a near perfect length and the cuffs nice and wide so that it is good for both myself and the person I am rolling with, which when training is important.  There are no extra tags round the cuffs as I have seen on other Gis and which provide a tailor made hand hold for opponents which is also a good thing.

Rolling in it feel easy and light and while the weave stays very light and is also quite cool importantly it does not fall out of shape or start to look ragged and twisted.

I as ever went very hard for in this Gi, and the Gi held up brilliantly, it did not lose shape or end up with pull marks all over it.

It is also amazingly light, the whole Gi felt lighter than a Gracie Barra A2 jacket on it’s own yet it still feels substantial enough to roll in it, it does not feel like it will just rip away.

In Conclusion

Well simply I was wrong, the Gi has held up well to some extreme punishment and the trousers are the most comfortable ripstop material I have ever worn, they do not rope up and cut and also do not cling too much when they get sweaty making them hard for training partners.  The whole Gi in fact almost has a wicking effect when you start to sweat which is due to the weave and light nature of it.

If I could change anything I would make the draw strings on the trousers longer and of the bungee cord material which I am a big fan of these days also I would in all honestly have liked a slightly bigger Gi maybe the A6 but that is just because I like a bit more material than some as this would have been perfectly legal for me to wear.

Again like all ultra light Gi’s It is probably not a Gi I would put into my every day rotation as the real strength and robust nature of some others means they are going to be my every day use Gi’s.  However for a competition Gi it is fantastic, it is light so if you have to make weight, apparently some people do , it is ideal.  Also it will stay cool, dries quickly and is durable and strong.

If you are looking for a second Gi or a comp Gi I would definitely add it to your armory and at the currently reduced price it is a very attractive prospect.

I will keep wearing it and revisit in a few months to see how it has continued to hold up.

Black Eagle Predator II – Arrived

Thanks so much to Steve Turner at Black Eagle the new Predator II has arrived and looks lovely, I will just have to see how I get on with rip stop trousers as I have never been that keen personally on the feel but these do seem softer so we shall see.

So I am looking forward to getting this reviewed along with all the others I have I just need to get rolling again and hopefully the physio I am having on my back along will help with this goal.  Also the Friday April 1st deadline I have set for my new leaf is looming as it will be the start of my 35th year around which is half my 3 score years and 20

Steve also tells me that this Gi will be available in an A6 if there is enough demand and that it has virtually zero shrinkage (we will see )

There is also a plan to try and introduce mix and match pants and jackets come about September but this is very much a thought at the moment.

Gi’s Galore and Reviews ahoy

Well I am almost back to the same lack of physical fitness I was at the end of the year and some consistent training is on the horizon  I am booked for some physio so may be a fully functioning human soon.

Was at a wedding last week which was great and have the big party for it this Friday but not sure the whiskey and beer has helped, though guess it is kill or cure I think it is time for a serious weight loss program and new diet as I turn 34 April 1st and it has gone on too long to quote Cypress Hill “Fat guy on a diet, don’t try it” well think I am gonna have to.

Anyway I now have a stack of Gi reviews due as I have been very lucky and had some great folk help me out so to follow on in teh next few weeks and months are in no particular order.

Black Eagle Predator – the new Gi in the big guy size and initial view is it looks and feels lovely

Tatami Estilo 2 – The next generation from Tatami and as ever it it seems a quality item

Sick Gi – Had some issues with this one as the one I was sent had short arms and some quality issues, however I spoke to Jim who said this was a review Gi issue and he would send a new one, well this has arrived and it fits great and seems a far better Gi

Lucky Gi – Thanks to scotty for what is of course a top Gi

Gorilla Gi – Heavy duty and hard wearing but initial rolls may have highlighted some issues

I also hope to have a app review from a UK black belt and I have some top interviews coming up which is all exciting, so onwards and upwards this year I intend to make April 1st 2011 my turning point and kick on from there.

Tatami Gi Review – 3 month update

As I always said the purpose of this blog was not only to review how the big guy Gi’s fit and react but also how they stand up to the pushing and pulling, the rolling and sparring and the washing and care that generally is put onto a Gi when you are my size. A quick illustration of this is taken form the fact I weigh around 310 lbs and spar in general with the bigger lads who are at about 210 lbs. Therefore (and these are rough calculations): I place 26 pounds of pressure per square inch on my knee when it is down. 155 pounds of pressure per square inch on my elbow when it is down. Around 500 lbs of torque on the sleeve when I stand and lift an opponent who is gripping my sleeve. This is a lot of pressure to put on a garment which costs at the start around £70 and just go up and up from there so how do they stand up to it, is the purchase going to be good for a while but start to come apart quickly and soon become a patchwork quilt or a discolored mess? Thus after the reviews I do I will be going back and looking at the Gi’s after a few months and then after about a year so here is the Tatami look back 3 months down the line.

Well to be honest the Zero G has done a little bit as I expected, it is a very light Gi and while the jacket still looks fairly pristine the trousers have started to scuff a little and show a few broken stitches.  However as I said this is a Gi I would recommend to a larger competitor when they compete or when it is very warm.  It has stood up very well overall it is just starting to  look a little battle worn, but by no means is it looking like it will give up the ghost any time soon.

As for the Estilo I have to say I am amazed it has stood up incredibly well it looks pristine and has had some real hard hammer, especially the half guard session with Fiddy and numerous rolls with Chaz.  It looks as good now as it did and has not a stitch or scuff out of place.  A fabulous effort considering the pressure and tension it has been out under to say the least.

I will be off line for the next week or so with a wedding (not mine) amongst other things in my diary but I for one cannot wait to review the new Estilo 2 along with a couple of other reviews for Gi’s and a new App which will be coming soon.

Some Cool News From Black Eagle

Just had contact from Black Eagle and they are bringing in a brand new range of Pearl Weave BJJ Kimonos very shortly.

Not only that but they are back and up at the grandao size of A5 and have asked me to review one which of course I jumped at the chance to do, this is great news and will give all the big lads of the UK BJJ scene another quality British make to have a look at.

Watch this space as they say, whoever they are.

Awesome Gi and Professor John

So tonight was John’s first class as a black belt and he already has James referring to him as professor while he is laying down the pain James however just seem glad that Pete is back so that John has another demonstration body.

A big shout out to Big Rob my brother from across the pond who had the first roll in class with John as a black belt and who was as close to tapping John as I ever have been, which is of course not at all close in any way.

I was also given some really good advice from John about the need to look at my game and actually start developing it as it should be, stopping working in other folks games, stop half committing or half carrying out a move and then resting and to be honest it all hit home.   He is dead right, all too often I work an escape, get some off my back and am in a good position only to pause, rest, collect my thoughts and by that time my opponent has moved and is back into a dominant place again.  For me it become so frustrating that I spend too much time moving, moving, moving which is not my game.  I need to move, escape, establish dominance and control and then if needs be take a rest.  Being off ill recently has not helped and my recovery is slowing me down but all this means is that I lose sooner it is not the reason I lose.  I have to say that of all the physical pursuits I have been involved in this is the one that most gets me down at times as no matter how much effort I put in, effort is not the key.  With rugby I was not the most talented but with effort and hard work I turned myself into a good player and played at a good level alongside future international stars.  With BJJ that effort alone is not enough, I have to work harder on the application of the effort and the technique as I want to progress in this sport more than any other one I have done.

So will I get there, well yeah I honestly believe I will as I have an amazing team and John one of very few Black Belts I have met who is prepared to invest so much in other people no matter ability or grade.  Couple that with the input from Lagarto and how can I not improve and progress?  The only thing holding me back now is how I play my game and how I focus in my head, so watch this space.

Now for the awesome Gi, have a look at James in the pictures below and you tell me if you do not agree

 

 

 

 

This

just

screams

awesome

A Tatami New Year

I have been speaking with Gareth at Tatami and trying to get some details out of him as to what this exciting company are bringing out next year. Now he tells me there are loads of things happening most of which he cannot tell me about………..yet

However there are a few things he has told me about and they sound great.

- New 2011 style of BJJ GI material coat with red fleece lining
- PIN UP rash guards white and grey
- PIN UP GI winner in grey
- Terere signature GI navy with gold stitching
- New ladies MMA range
- Full re design of the ladies GI
- New branding on the Estilo

This all sounds good and I for one cannot WAIT to see the Terere Gi and the new Estilo as I officially love the version that I have now, so if it is going to be improved that will be quite something.

An exciting new year, watch this space for updates on other companies and retailers.

Gi Review: Tatami Fightwear Zero G Gi

Introduction

(Pics to follow, blame the snow )

I was sent this Gi to review by the folks at Tatami who I must also say have been a pleasure to deal with at all points, the Gi is available to purchase HERE

How I review

There are other more technical reviews out there on the market or meerkat (some of which you will see linked below) and I do not intend to re invent the wheel, as I have said earlier I will be looking at this from the big man point of view. How does it fit, how is it when you jog, run, sprawl and roll in it? Does it stay a good fit, does my extra bulk and torque damage the Gi and also how do my training partners feel?

I stand six foot three inches tall and am 300lbs I am wearing an A5 Gi.

Initial Thoughts
This is sold as a super light competition Gi and one of the lightest on the world which it undoubtedly is. Now I admit I had a worry with this Gi, the jacket feels very strong yet very light but the trousers did worry me they felt very light and I was worried they may pop stitching or perhaps not live up to the abuse they would get.

The Science Part

The make up of the Gi is as follows:
The cost is £68 plus post and packaging

For a discount code Join my facebook group HERE

Made from 450gsm pearl weave reinforced GI canvas which has stood up very well to the rigours of rolling, a rubberised collar to stop moisture absorbtion during training and competition. Single piece jacket, 8oz heavy cotton stitching on ALL areas of the jacket and pants, 8oz double reinforced drill pants.

The trousers also have a 4 Drawstring loop system and a bungee style cord for fastening which works as well as any Gi trousers I have ever worn and the cord fasteners I can now state are far superior to some other brands.
A big draw for some taller and slimmer fighters is that all Estilio Gi comes with mix and match pants option as well when ordering.

This is of course not me

Washing

As you can see the Gi shrank very little indeed during washing which was great as it came very well fitting and comfortable indeed, so order the size you are expect to wear when you are ordering and allow for a small amount of shrinkage.

Rolling, Sparring, Training, Fit and Feedback

The important point how does it look, feel and most of all how does it hold together when rolling.
While it does not look as good as the amazing estilo this Gi still looks very good indeed the black version that I wore has very impressive looking blue feature panels and the same excellent Tatami patch panel.

The jacket fit is excellent as good as any I have worn, the trousers are very comfortable, long in the reach (from the top of point G to the waist band) which is often an issue for the taller and wider fighter. However for my liking they are just long enough and no more, I perversely like a longer trouser which is hard as I have a 34 inch inside leg. However they are easily comp legal and for most fighters will be the perfect length. The zero G does not have the extra padding on the knee which does make a small difference and does of course help with the main area of wear and tear but you would add weight so I can see why it is not there.

The jacket is a great fit all over with the sleeves a perfect length and the cuffs nice and wide so that it is good for both myself and the person I am rolling with, which when training is important. There are no extra tags round the cuffs as I have seen on other Gis and which provide a tailor made hand hold for opponents which is also a good thing.
Rolling in it feel easy and light and while the weave stays very light and is also quite cool importantly it does not fall out of shape or start to look ragged and twisted.

My sparring partners who I asked for feedback Gregg and Chaz also pointed out that the Gi has good hand holds and feels good to roll against but the collar does not loop or bag out which would make getting a choke too easy. I also noticed that unlike some Gi’s the collar is not too sharp at the start of wearing it as this can also cause issues.
I went very hard for in this Gi especially in a roll with ,Sheffield’s own GSP, Chaz, and the Gi held up brilliantly, it did not lose shape or end up with pull marks all over it. I admit there were a couple of scuffs in the trousers but these washed out and it looked almost as good as new.

In Conclusion

Well simply I was wrong, the Gi has held up well to some extreme punishment and the trousers which scared me so, admittedly they creaked a little more than that of the estilo and do not return to quite box fresh state but they are astoundingly strong for a light Gi.

It is probably not a Gi I would put into my every day rotation as the real strength and robust nature of the likes of the estilo and my old faithful Keiko Raca means they are going to be my every day use Gi’s. However for a competition Gi it is fantastic, it is light so if you have to make weight, apparently some people do , it is ideal. Also it will stay cool, dries quickly and is durable and strong.

If you are looking for a second Gi or a comp Gi I would definitely add it to your armory and at the price it is a very attractive prospect.

I will keep wearing it and revisit in a few months to see how it has continued to hold up.

For another view on this Gi see
MMAgearguide
Or my mate Seymour Meerkatsu

Gazzy Parman Seminar – The Forge Sheffield

Introduction

It was shame that in the run up to this seminar over a foot and half of snow fell on the UK especially the north, temperatures dropped well below freezing and roads were impassible. So the fact that 20 plus folk were on the mat some from as far away as Dewsbury, cheers Hanif nice to meet you, and Leeds, the ever reliable James, was a testament to the star power of our seminar guest.

So the turnout was very good as befits someone of the stature of Gazzy a multiple time champion and pioneering black belt. It also shows that The Forge Sheffield is a good place for these seminars as we have a team of committed individuals who will turn up no matter what for the sport they love.

Seminar

This was unlike any seminar start I have ever know, initially because Gazzy was prepared to wait for folk to turn up and delay the start to make sure that people did not miss out. This is unusual for a seminar like this as start times are normally fairly strict and for Gazzy to wait for folk was very good.

Then we had a circle up and Gazzy allowed us to ask any questions that we had for her which was genuinely interesting and covered from Las Vegas to BJ Penn and it was really interesting to hear some of the great stories. We were also warned a number of times about the infamous warm up which Gazzy kept looking at me and smiling when she stated it was going to be “hard”

Warm Up

It was a very long warm up and also very good, there were a few things I have never done before and a few movements which I can see are very good for movement. This is something we are building on in the club now and though it is tough I can see the benefit it will give me. I think the thing I suffered most with was the fact that we did not stop moving through the whole thing, there was no respite so when I got to the end and felt no too bad I was pleased.

Techniques

This was cool, and we learnt a lot, the three moves all named after Gazzy we learnt were the Gazzinator, the Gazzitron and the Gazzicon. I could go into more detail and describe how these are done and how they were taught but I think it would be better if you went along and learnt from the master not the very junior apprentice. Anyway I had not seen these moves before so may be coming back for a refresher myself when this remarkable BJJ exponent returns to the UK as I just cannot make the London seminar this year.

I will also say that to those who look at myself and Gazzy together in the picture and think she looks tiny, that she is indeed, but was also able to almost triangle me unconscious from a front on move which was phenomenally tight.

The whole thing lasted over 3 hours and there was not a point where I felt that my game was not going to benefit from what I was doing which is incredible.

Conclusions

Quite simply, if you get a chance to train with a black belt then make sure you do, if you get chance to train with Gazzy then make even more sure that you do. She is a warm and compassionate person who truly believes in passing on her skills and teachings and does so in a graceful and elegant manner. Gazzy was also great with a couple of the guys kids who turned up which was great and made their day.

You cannot go wrong then to come along, even if you just take away one move or one position you will pick something up and for the new people and intermediate rollers you will learn a lot.

It will reignite your desire to improve more than ever if you are anything like me anyway.

Oh and she wears wicked Gi’s

For another view on this visit my team mate and bro Gregg over at his blog

Gi Review: Tatami Fightwear Estilo Premier Gi

Introduction

I was sent this Gi to review by the folks at Tatami who I must also say have been a pleasure to deal with at all points, the Gi is available to purchase HERE

How I review

There are other more technical reviews out there on the market or meerkat (some of which you will see linked below) and I do not intend to re invent the wheel, as I have said earlier I will be looking at this from the big man point of view. How does it fit, how is it when you jog, run, sprawl and roll in it? Does it stay a good fit, does my extra bulk and torque damage the Gi and also how do my training partners feel?
I stand six foot three inches tall and am 300lbs I am wearing an A5 Gi.

The Science Part

The make up of the Gi is as follows:

The cost is £77 plus post and packaging

Single Piece Pearl Weave Jacket which is a very good weave and has not twisted or distorted despite some hard use. Canvas rubberized collar, this is in contrast to the oft used twill collar, the idea being that the Canvas BJJ GI collars are harder wearing than traditional twill collars and help to keep the shape of the Gi. A very important point for the bigger BJJ player is that it is triple stitched across all stress points as well as double reinforced knee padding, which while not the same as knee pads does make a difference, triple stitched with over lapped seams.

The trousers also have a 4 Drawstring loop system and a bungee style cord for fastening which works as well as any Gi trousers I have ever worn
A big draw for some taller and slimmer fighters is that all Estilio Gi comes with mix and match pants option as well when ordering.

Washing

As you can see the Gi shrank very little indeed during washing which was great as it came very well fitting and comfortable indeed, so order the size you are expect to wear when you are ordering and allow for a small amount of shrinkage.

Rolling, Sparring, Training, Fit and Feedback

The important point how does it look, feel and most of all how does it hold together when rolling.
The Gi has a bit of a wow factor even when worn by me, so that shows you how good the Gi, looks the black version that I wore has very impressive looking red highlight stitching and the new patches also look very excellent.

The fit is excellent, the trousers are very comfortable, long in the reach (from the top of point G on chart above to the waist band) which is often an issue for the taller and wider fighter. The extra padding on the knee does make a small difference and does of course help with the main area of wear and tear.

The jacket is a great fit all over with the sleeves a perfect length and the cuffs nice and wide so that it is good for both myself and the person I am rolling with, which when training is important. There are no extra tags round the cuffs as I have seen on other Gis and which provide a tailor made hand hold for opponents which is also a good thing.
Rolling in it feel easy and light and while the weave means it does get a bit heavier when it soaks sweat up it does not fall out of shape or start to look ragged and twisted.

My sparring partner who I asked for feedback Gregg also pointed out that the Gi has good hand holds and feels good to roll against but the collar does not loop or bag out which would make getting a choke too easy. I also noticed that unlike some Gi’s the collar is not too sharp at the start of wearing it as this can also cause issues. From the first roll the Gi, did not rub either myself or people I rolled with and proved easy to move in and use while sparring for chokes and tie ups.
This is the first Gi that I have ever rolled in that I checked very carefully after rolling and did not find at least some broken stitching or clear scuff marks which is something very common when you are of a much bigger build. It seems to have held up above and beyond any Gi I have worn so far and has been a pleasure to roll in and test.

In Conclusion

This is quite simply one of the best Gi’s I have ever worn, rolled in and to be honest seen all around the competitions and gyms. It has stood up very well to extremely hard session including a killer session with Gazzy Parman and after a wash it looks brand new still. My very hard wearing weight and height as well as training partners really trying to put it to the test have not changed the look or feel of the Gi from new and that is a first. The other great points are that this is a good price for such an amazing Gi and from a British company who are very good to deal with. Couple that with the fact that one of the other big British brands, Black Eagle, have stated that they will be discontinuing the A5 size in the future and Tatami look like a great bet for the bigger BJJ practitioner.

For a different review style see Meerkatsu

Credit BJJISANINJA for the awesome pics

I am not sponsored or endorsed by any Gi manufacturer and my reviews are based on my opinion and nothing else, like it, hate it, respect it, all your choice but it is what it is.