Get to Know BJJ Revolution's Josh Mancuso

Josh Mancuso is a guy that is not shy to social media and I first encountered his technique videos on https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/.  He was posting videos weekly for quite some time and was very open about sharing some of his favorite techniques.  He was gracious enough to make some time to share with me a little about himself earlier this year.

When did you start training?

-October 2006

When did you receive your Black Belt and from whom?

-I was promoted to Black Belt by Tim Credeur and Rodrigo Medeiros in July of 2013.  I was 32 years old.

Name some competitors you either trained with or against coming up in the ranks.

-I have had the opportunity to train with many of the world's top practitioners such as Marcelo Garcia, Ricco Rodriguez, Caio Terra, Dean Lister, Davi Ramos, Andrew Galvao, Samuel Braga, Eddie Bravo, the Mendes Bros, Joel Tudor, Jean Jacques Machado, Leandro Vieira, Felipe Costa, Ricardo De La Riva, I could go on for days.  There are so many high level practitioners from so many different teams that I've had the pleasure of training with that I honestly could be here all day naming them off.  I would like to say that I am lucky to have been in the situations to train with these guys but that's just not true.  I made those situations happened and sacrificed a lot to get those experiences.

Where do you currently teach?

-BJJ Revolution Team BR/UFC Gym Baton Rouge

What should a new student of BJJ focus on?

-A new student should focus on whatever they enjoy.  I feel that people will be more consistent and train harder if they are encouraged to work on the things they find pleasure in.  Some will choose take downs and closed guard; others will only want to do foot lock or berimbolo. All are fine and encouraged by me.  I feel like if a student has holes in their game, eventually those short comings will be exposed and they will need to close those gaps.  The mats will show them where they are lacking.  And I believe in never telling a student to stop working on a skill they enjoy building.

What would you change about how you approached training Jiu-Jitsu if you had to go back and start all over again?

-Not much, when I started I was very lucky to be influenced by a guy (who sadly has since quit training) who was much smaller than me, but dominated me with clean technique.  He always pushed the importance of technique and drilling over everything.  I was very fortunate to have this person show me that technique is the key to everything and that drilling is the way to get there.

How important is competition to development?

-I think it is very important.  It is not just a coincidence that the people who compete regularly get better, faster.  Even if you only compete once or twice, it is important to feel what performing under that type of pressure is like.  It is much different from training at the academy and I think that competing is a great way to face your fears and deal with overcoming self-doubt.  Personally,I feel like I always compete, not because I have any goals of being a world champion, but because I feel like it keeps me honest, driven, and most importantly I like to lead my team from the front and not the rear.

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX5czrzKDLo)

How do you feel about supplementing training with other forms of physical activity such as lifting weights, crossfit, running, swimming, etc?

-I never touched a weight until about halfway through my brown belt.  I felt that if I was focused on getting stronger then that's what my Jiu-Jitsu would be focused around.  I do not regret this decision at all.  My goal in Jiu-Jitsu is to play the same game now at 34 years old as I will when I'm 65.  If my Jiu-Jitsu revolves around physical attributes then this would not be possible.

What are your thoughts on rolling versus drilling?

-Drilling is the key to getting better but rolling is just simply fun!  Both are essential to being your best.  The key is learning how to drill and having the self-control to set aside a certain time a day for it.  I personally can feel my technique slipping if I go too long without drilling.

Do you use supplements?

-How do you stay healthy?  Before Jiu-Jitsu I never ever though about staying healthy.  I don't take any supplements except for BCAA's after training session.  I do however consume a large amount of fruits and veggies.  I make huge fruit/veggie smoothies twice a day i my Vitamix and I honestly wake up every day feeling like a million dollars.  I feel better at 34 than I did at 18.

What do you recommend for training preparation?

-Lots of water in your system and a good attitude.

As an instructor, what does your training consist of trying to balance teaching vs training?

-It changes pretty drastically for me, luckily I have assistant instructors to help me carry the load.  I enjoy training so much, that I can't teach all the time.  I try to train twice a day, twice a week, and then once a day for the remainder of the week.  Although I am trying to reduce my training time to gain a little more balance in my life.

Do you continue to study new (modern) Jiu-Jitsu and how do you go about that?  Do you train with other black belts at other gyms, affiliations, etc?

-I love the berimbolo, I also love the scissor sweep, and cross choke.  I just love Jiu-Jitsu!  I also love Sambo and Judo.  I love all grappling martial arts.  As far as cross training goes, yes.  I cross train with other gyms and highly encourage everyone to do it.  You gotta get new looks from other training partners and it is also a great way to network and forge new friendships.  Although at the same time, I am extremely loyal and feel strongly about my instructor and my team.  If my instructor had an issue or beef with another instructor from a different academy, I would not train with that person, even though he wouldn't ask me to do that.  It wouldn't be because I personally have anything against that person, but because that's just how I am.  If you are in my circle, I will have your back no matter what the circumstances.  I've been like that long before Jiu-Jitsu, I am just a loyal friend.

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-EfFEfpRfQ)

What is the worst injury you have experienced while training?

-Luckily in my time training I have only had a few rib separations, a meniscus surgery, but my absolute worst injury are my fingers.  They hurt all the time.  My wife likes to tell me that I need to invest in Velcro shoes because at this rate I won't be able to tie normal ones.  Other than that, I feel like a million bucks.

Any big goals for 2015, plans for your gym, competitions?

Mostly I am just looking to keep  competing and building my team.  I like stepping out of my comfort zone.

Do you think the current state of competitions are headed in the right direction to benefit the athletes?

- I feel like Jiu-Jitsu will never be a spectator  sport unless you train, bu hopefully we can build Jiu-Jitsu so that we have so many people training, we can support our own. I do think events like EBI are doing some great things for our sport.  And could possibly get us on ESPN 8 "The Ocho" one day.

What is your favorite match you have had in competition and why?

-They are all so special, but probably my first match as a black belt, because when I won I felt like I deserved to wear the belt I had worked so hard to earn.

Name the accomplishment you are most proud of be it BJJ or personal.

-Just the huge transformation my life has undergone since starting in BJJ.  It has completely changed me physically and mentally into a much stronger and happier person.  Also the growth of my team, and successes of my students. To see my students do well and to have our mats packed is really a strong source of happiness for me.  Considering where we were just 5 or 6 years ago.

Is there anything interesting you would like to say about yourself or any opinions you have on the current state of BJJ?

-I think BJJ is doing great and is destined for big things.  The only issue I see isthat we are coming to a point in competitions where we are over regulating and I fear we will take the path of Judo.  II would like to see deregulation of the sport.

Anything else you would like to add people might find interesting about yourself?

-I have a pretty decent comic book collection, I'm a hobby junkie before I started BJJ I was into DJ'ing (with actual 12" vinyl records).  I also participate in the occasional redneck pastime of camping and mud riding my Polaris RZR to spend some time with my family and do a little something besides just BJJ all the time.

Any sponsors you would like to thank or products, services you would like to promote?

-I would like to thank Bear Quitugua for giving me the opportunity to represent Shoyoroll, it really feels good to have what I consider a blue chip company in the BJJ world willing to put their name on me.  I also gotta thank Roach Rodriguez for taking care of me at Shoyoroll and always hooking my gear up in the most awesome ways possible.  Shoyoroll is a truly special company.

I'd like to personally thank Josh for taking the time out of his busy schedule to contribute some info about himself.  He consistently puts a lot of free content on various social media sites.  You can visit his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/joshv50.  If you're ever in his neck of the wood, Baton Rouge, Louisiana drop in his gym.

Links:
Josh Mancuso Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Joshmancuso311?fref=ts

Josh Mancuso YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/joshv50

BJJ Revolution Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/BJJRevolutionBR?fref=ts

Shoyoroll
http://shoyoroll.com/

Get to Know: Rikki Rockett (Famous Rock Star & BJJ Black Belt)

As a child of the 80's I grew up listening to bands like Poison and am a HUGE fan of that genre of music.   If I had any idea when I was 13 years old that I would have something in common with my rock star idols, or that we would speak to each other on the same level about it, my mind would have been COMPLETELY blown.  I am beyond stoked that Poison drummer Rikki Rockett took the time to contribute some of his life, history and how he became a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

I believe many people (myself at least) dream about living the life of someone famous. Having opportunities to experience things that the average person may never get to do.  I know that as  kid in my early teens, the idea of being a rock star was incredibly appealing and sounded very exciting.  If you don't know Rikki Rockett because you didn't grow up in the 80's like I did, I think that you can easily imagine this being any other music super star that fits your generation. To date, this has been the most exciting Q&A opportunity I have had. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Q: What are you up to these days?  Are you still playing and involved with music?

A: Very much so. I can’t talk a lot about the changes with Poison right now due some legal stuff, but suffice to say that we are pretty busy right now! We played a show with a different lead singer, Brandon Gibbs, who is in my other band, The Devil City Angels. I started the Devil City Angels with Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns fame (Guns ’N’ Roses), Eric Brittingham from Cinderella and Brandon. I found Brandon in Burlington, Iowa 11 years ago at 17 years old playing with his brother. We have stayed tight ever since and now he is a bona fide rock star in my opinion!

I build custom drums and most important, raise my 5 year old boy Jude and my 2 year old Lucy.

Q: When did you start training?  What drew you to the sport as you got a much earlier start than most people that will be reading this interview?

A: I started over 17 years ago. I was training JKD, Kali and Silat. I was drawn to Silat because of the Sumatran version that was pretty much a ground game. I met John and JJ Machado at a vegetarian rally and told them how I admired Royce Gracie and I wrestled in High School and loved Silat. They invited me to the school. Once I was there I was greated by Renato Magno, (my long time and still my coach) and Eddie Bravo who also trained JKD. I got tapped out 12 times that evening and my life has never been the same! Can I tell you what an experience it is to tapped out by JJ Machado!

Q: When did you receive your Black Belt and from whom?  How old were you?

A: I was 48 years old. Renato Magno (Street Sports BJJ, Santa Monica, CA). Renato moved here with the Machado Bros. from Brazil to help start their school. I got my second degree two years ago. I am eligible for three stripes, but I don’t deserve it! I haven’t been as consistent this year because of all of my musical projects. Four training days a week is great, but this past year has been about two or three. I like to walk around at competition weight and feeling like I could compete at any time, but that’s just a wish most of the time! 

Note: I got my purple belt under Renato and JJ Machado at the Machado Bros. school. I remained a purple belt for 7 years!

Rikki & Renato Magno

Rikki & Jean Jacques Machado

Q: I think most people find it fascinating to learn about famous people that also train Jiu-Jitsu.  Name some of the competitors that you either trained with or against comping up in the ranks.  Any other well-known training partners currently or in the past?  

A: Mac Danzig (UFC), Danny Inosanto, Gabriel Vella de Freitas, All of the Machado Bros., Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Eddie Bravo, Ed O’Niel, Rico “The Baltimore Butcher” Chipparelli & playwright / film director David Mamet come to mind.

Q: Any interesting stories to share about training over the years? 

A: I swear, everyday is an adventure.  And thank God for that!!!

Q: What do you feel a new student should focus on?

A: I can answer both this and the second at the same time. Keep a log of your training. I wish, wish I would have done this! We all tend to remember our rolls more than our drills and so it’s important. When your coach sez, “I wanna see 15 chokes from the mount!” and you are going in your head, “Hmmmmm, I only use 3 most of time, what were they now?” It’s important to review. Even if you prefer certain techniques over others. I am not a gifted grappler. I have had to scrimp and scrape for everything I have acquired. It just doesn’t come naturally most of the time for me. Even for our gifted brothers, keep a log. You are probably going to teach too.

Q: What would you change about how you approached training Jiu-Jitsu if you had to go back and start all over again?

A: See last answer!

Q: In my experience, famous and well known people that train BJJ don't compete very often.  I personally saw you compete at IBJJF Pan 2010 via the Budovideos stream.  That is how I became aware that you were a Black Belt.  How important is it to compete and its usefulness for development?

A: I think competition is a big part of our art. It pushes the envelope. Sure, the system of competing has it’s limits, but it drives a certain aspect of BJJ that is important. Some people never compete. Ceasar Gracie for example, but he is a bad ass and a great coach. So, it’s personal. However, it does build camaraderie and that is essential. BJJ peeps are, for the most part, a big family. We are like the Marine Corps of martial arts and we respect each other because of that. (I mean that with respect to the Marines, BTW. My Dad and cousins were in the corp.)

Q: What are your thoughts on rolling versus drilling?

A: If you don't drill, you will always defend more than you initiate when you roll because you won't have the mobility or the familiarity of the technique.  Both are critical.

Q: Do you use supplements?  How do you stay healthy?

A: I do supplement, but not overly. Multis, Vega powder after training and I toy with a few other things. Juice from time to time. I have been vegetarian for 22 years and I think it’s the best option for me. Mac Danzig, Jake Shields and others are vegetarian or vegan and do well in MMA. It is a viable option. I’d love to go Raw Vegan!

Q: What do you recommend for training preparation?

A: Sleep!!! What you ate the day before matters. I think too many guys try and eat like bodybuilders and that doesn’t seem to be the trick. Carbs are not the enemy in BJJ. That is a myth. If you are trying to rip for a photo session, sure, protein and low carbs. Doesn’t work with BJJ in my experience. To each his own, I guess, though.

Q: How active are you these days in BJJ?  What is a typical week for you training or simply a day in the life of Rikki Rockett?  Who do you currently train under?

A: Very active. However, my perfect week would be: Mon., Wed. & Fri. Jits. Tues. & Thur. TRX and Yoga. Weekends: Chasing my kids!!! I train under Professor Renato Magno, Street Sports BJJ, Santa Monica, CA. Sometimes I train with Dave Dunne (3rd degree B Belt under JJ Machado) at Fight Academy in Santa Clarita, CA. We have been buds for years. I fill in and teach once in a while for Mr. Dunne. He is a great coach and an amazing person.

Professor Magno has been an inspiration to me over the years on many levels. He is a friend, a great family man, great coach and a positive force in BJJ culture.

Q: Do you continue to study new (modern) Jiu-Jitsu and how do you go about that?  Do you train with other Black Belts in other gyms, affiliations, etc?

Rikki & Professor Dave Dunne

A: I do. We have guys in our school who travel all over and come back with some unexpected moves. We have guys train before tournaments from Brazil who are affiliates of Professor Magno who have a whole new twist on things sometimes. I have the pleasure of traveling and interacting with lots of Jits guys. Southern California is such a melting pot and hot bed for BJJ. It’s a blessed thing to be here and soak it up. I still suck, though! LOL!

Q: What is the worst injury you have experienced while training?

A: A meniscus tear from a leg lock and a compound fracture of my left big toe. Big toe breaks are like breaking your whole foot. The balance from your big toe is what separates us from the great apes… oh and Rigan Machado! LOL!!! (He’s gonna kick my ass for that one!)

Q: Any big goals for 2015?  Jiu-Jitsu, music, projects, etc?

A: Well, it’s about keeping up the momentum with my musical projects first and foremost. I have a family, so I gotta stay working for awhile. Maybe semi retire in about 5 years and teach Jiu-Jitsu. “Rockett’s Snakepit BJJ”. I would like to compete again. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t win. But, I didn’t get tapped or owned, so it was a positive experience for me.

Q: Do you keep up with current events in the sport?  i.e. Watching events like IBJJF, Metamoris, Polaris, etc?  Might you peruse BJJ forums online under some secret persona?

A: I do, indeed. I love Metamoris and Rigan’s new endeavor The World Jiu-Jitsu Federation. I love the UFC too. Any forum I have ever gone on I was very transparent. Too many ball busters on some of them. Because I am the drummer for Poison, some haters wanna judge me on what I looked like on the cover of a record in 1986! It becomes a little not worth the hassle. However, I thought about fighting a no-gi tournament and wearing bright colored spats, tease my hair and wear guy liner. But, if I lost I’d look like an ass! It would be funny, though!

Q: Name the accomplishment you are most proud of be it BJJ or something personal.

A: My first gold record. I bought my parents a Cadillac with that money like Elvis did! (Except I’m still in the building)

Q: Is there anything interesting you would like to say about yourself or any opinions you  have about the current state of BJJ?

A: I think it’s a good thing to occasionally roll with the ballistic white belt who will challenge your current knowledge. The young, over the top Blue Belt hell bent on your destruction! yes, it will keep your instincts fresh. Oh, yeah, do it when you are tired. And… the light girl who trains all the time. Make sure you use no muscle-ing at all. These are things many of us avoid when we roll. Try asking your Police training partners what they run into every day and how you might handle it. This is real life and sometimes we can get bogged down of the sports end of BJJ. Like Bruce Lee always warned about never losing your natural instinct from learning too much technique.

Q: Anything else you would  like to add people might find interesting about yourself?

A: I was an EMT back in Harrisburg, PA.  How's that one?  I was a hairdresser, a dishwasher and a lifeguard before seeking fame and fortune out west.

Q: Any sponsors you would like to thank, products, or services you would to promote?  BJJ, music, etc?

BJJ: Shoyoroll http://shoyoroll.com/
Scramble Brand http://store.scramblestuff.us/
Ludwig Clothing http://ludwigvantheman.com/

Music: Devil City Angles http://www.devilcityangels.com/
Poison http://poisonweb.com/

Clothing: Cult of Individuality Denim http://www.cultofindividuality.com/mens/jeans/
New Balance Sneakers: http://www.newbalance.com/

Drums: Sabian Cymbals http://www.sabian.com/en/home
Drum Workshop Hardware & Pedals http://www.dwdrums.com/
Drum Tacs http://www.drumtacs.com/
Aquarian Drum Heads http://www.aquariandrumheads.com/
Los Cabos DrumSticks http://loscabosdrumsticks.com/
Rockett Drum Works Custom Drums http://rockettdrumworks.com/

Additional Links:
http://www.rikkirockett.com/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/TheRealRikkiRockett?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/RikkiRockett?fref=ts
https://instagram.com/rikkirockett/
https://twitter.com/rikkirockett

Anthony Bourdain on Cooking and Jiu-Jitsu (Charlie Rose 12-2-14)

Do you know who Anthony Bourdain is?  If you don't you probably need to know.  Everyone loves food and he is a food NERD.  He's as nerdy about food as most of us are about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He had a well known show on the Travel Channel about culinary and cultural adventures known as No Reservations & The Layover.  From here he gained national notice and his talents moved over to CNN where he currently hosts Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.  In a nut-shell...he travels all over, specifically NOT tourist attractions looking for delicious, "unknown" places to eat excellent food.  He is not limited to visiting places within our United States.  He visits exotic countries leaving few stones un-turned.

So some may be asking...why in the heck is this being posted on a Jiu-Jitsu blog site?  Well he has a passion for Jiu-Jitsu like most of us.  The only difference is he is a well known celebrity and I find it really cool to see how far Jiu-Jitsu reaches out and has an impact on the lives of people outside of the normal population.

To a degree I can relate to Bourdain as I myself started training Jiu-Jitsu at an older age (30) and have a lot of respect for his approach to training and enjoying the sport.  From what I have seen and read about Bourdain he is really down to earth and has very little ego on the mats.  Like many of us he sees it as a challenge to help better himself and of course he enjoys the learning aspect of it.

I don't have any particular desire to see our sport be adopted by the majority of people...I think that it feels more special when you can relate to the minority of people that share the passion...so seeing someone on occasion that seems to be the last person you might expect to also share that passion makes it a little extra special.

Ironically, Anthony Bourdain's wife, Ottavia, is the one responsible for exposing him to Jiu-Jitsu.
I highly recommend reading more about their relationship with Jiu-Jitsu here: http://www.sbnation.com/2014/1/22/5334360/anthony-bourdain-interview-mma-jiu-jitsu-training  (EXCELLENT INTERVIEW)

His wife, Ottavia, regularly competes and is very dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu.  Serves her right.  She needs some hobbies while her husband is traveling the world working on his tv show!

Anthony Bourdain & his wife Ottavia

Ready to get a little jealous?  Bourdain with his star power obviously has opportunities to train with some high level grapplers.  I regularly see him sporting Shoyoroll gear and recently saw pictures of him training with Cyborg!

For those interested in seeing what Bourdain is up to be it his travels, food, or Jiu-Jitsu exploits I HIGHLY recommend following him on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyBourdain?fref=ts

I had known about his passion for Jiu-Jitsu for a while and seeing this recent video of Bourdain on the Charlie Rose show motivated me to put a small piece together to share with those that might not be aware of him.

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjHXipJoAqU)

Related Links:
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/1/22/5334360/anthony-bourdain-interview-mma-jiu-jitsu-training
http://www.cnn.com/video/shows/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown/
https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyBourdain?fref=ts
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdd2PR4LCndEIOoQsN_aLMQ

Five Grappling Tournament Returning for Texas 2

I had the pleasure of meeting of couple of the gentleman that run this national grappling organization earlier this year.  They made a big effort to tour around the future locations of their planned tournaments, meet with gym owners, pass out their posters and flyers, etc.  It was a nice opportunity to put names with faces and get an idea of what they are trying to accomplish.  I feel this organization is growing and headed in the right direction.  For the most part, IBJJF has been the big dog of grappling tournaments and many strive to replicate their standard but Five Grappling offers a wonderful alternative for all age groups without some of the negatives associated with IBJJF.  Don't get me we wrong...I do support IBJJF and consider it a prestigious organization to compete for but there are some issues such as added costs for membership cards for juvenile, brown, & black belt competitors among other issues that turns people away.    

So let's look at some things that I like about Five Grappling as compared to IBJJF.

1. Annual membership cards NOT required for juvenile, brown, & black belt competitors

2. Discounted pricing for multiple divisions.  ie: $90 for 1, $20 for each additional

3. Website / Registration is much easier to navigate allowing for division change options to be selected

4. Some of the event posters advertise specials like "Small batch run of Shoyoroll gi's for sale" among many other cool things like DVD instructionals, and an opportunity to win a documentary about YOU by BJJ famed documentary ninja Stuart Cooper.  

5. Kids divisions are a plus / IBJJF has separate tournaments generally in California just for the kids.

6. Website is laid out very well and easy to navigate.  Rules, videos, results, pics are all posted and easy to find.  

7. Both Gi & Nogi division the same weekend.  IBJJF doesn't do this as often. 

8. All competitors receive a t-shirt and gi backpack 

9. Lastly is more of a personal note from me.  Five Grappling is new and it's a little different.  Competition is a good thing.  Five Grappling appears to be committed to evolving the way they run tournaments and adapt their scoring system if it makes sense. They are actively soliciting opinions on their Facebook page that are brought to panel meetings for consideration.  

Five Grappling is committed to bringing in high level talent.  At numerous events they've brought in the talents of Keenan Cornelius, Clark Gracie, McKenzie Dern, and the list goes on.  Looking over the competitors list from Texas 1 last April I would expect no less...actually a bigger turnout since they are gaining momentum. Five Grappling has grown since their first big tour and now unfolding their second tour of tournaments across the country.  

(Link for mobile users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqjaT2i0wzQ&list=PLa96ITUSiCCnPKy_3qP8wjveZHKRNkbug&index=1

Time is ticking, don't wait and miss registering early for the savings and opportunities.  Main Page: http://www.fivegrappling.com/

Register for Texas 2 NOW: http://www.fivegrappling.com/events/texas2/

Early Registration ends after September 4, 2014

Registration closes: September 29, 2014 or when 1500 competitors reached

Shoyoroll Batch #17 Competitor Gi Review

I'm a bit late to the Shoyoroll party but I'm here now.  Over the last couple of years I've seen the unorthodox marketing style that SYR has employed.  Truth be told I was not a fan of the limited releases and having to wait around three months to get a gi from them.  So I sat by and watched release after release and much of the time I'd regret not getting on the bandwagon and snatching up a couple of their gi's after everyone had received them...and I wasn't about to buy one from eBay!  I told myself, "If they would just make them more available and not make me wait a long time I would give one a shot."  As their popularity has increased it seems that SYR has gone that way to a degree.  SYR has increased the number of batches they release of gi's and made the turn around time much shorter.  I came very close to pulling the trigger on the the Gold Star  (Batch #14)  but opted to wait as I didn't want a black gi and figured they might offer something a bit more my style this year.  As luck would have it the announcement of Batch #17 was made and I was very excited to get one.  The hard decision was which color would I get...white or blue?

Design
The Competitor gi design is somewhat borrowed from the SYR sponsored athlete gi of 2012.  There are some obvious differences with respect to patches and placement but the general concept is quite similar.  I am a big fan of patches that are well thought out with regard to design and placement.  Many gi companies utilize a pretty traditional and predictable approach to patches and location.  SYR has shown over the years that they aren't afraid to try something different and that is something that has always attracted me to the brand.  The large SYR patch on the back left shoulder looks great.  I like that they placed this here providing ample room for an affiliation patch to go along side it. The red patch along the bottom of the skirt is tastefully done and different than most setting it apart in a good way.  The white gi features grey contrast stitching throughout which is subtle and executed well.  The classic red embroidery gives this gi some pop along with the traditional SYR yellow patches.

Construction
Sticking with the concept of a "Competitor" gi SYR has done just that with the public release of batch #17.   The jacket itself is a lightweight pearl weave.  The A1 used in this test weighed in at exactly 3lbs which is great for someone that needs a light gi for competitions.

The jacket sports traditional red SYR embroidered patches on the sleeves and classic yellow SYR patches adorning the front right/upper portion of the jacket and a very large one over the opposite shoulder on the back.  This patch makes sure everyone in the gym knows you are wearing a Shoyoroll gi.  One thing that will please most is that the patches throughout this gi are all sewn on and can easily be removed with a seam ripper should you want to go with a lower profile look.  The jacket and pants feature the typical Rasta taping (red/yellow/green) throughout the inside of the jacket and pants.  Despite the jacket being ultra lightweight the collar is anything but that.  It is quite thick and seems to have a rubberized material inside.  I think it is very comparable to my Tatami Estilio 3.0.  There were so minor flaws in the stitching which will always show up when contrast stitching is used but nothing too concerning.

The pants are lightweight as well and are made with rip-stop material.  I am not usually a fan of rip-stop but wanted to give them a shot as I don't currently have any lightweight gi's in my closet at the moment.  Much to my surprise the pants feel really nice for being rip-stop.  I have a pair of Atama #9 pants and really dislike them.  They have a waxy feeling due to being a cotton poly blend and feel odd when you train in them.  You can feel the poly blend in these pants but they seem to be made much better and have a more comfortable feel.  The pants feature reinforced knees but there isn't a lot of padding. Surely this is to reduce the weight of the pants which is not a problem.  The pants have an excellent loop enclosure with six total loops.  The spacing and grouping of the loops seems to keep the drawstring comfortable and easy to keep the pants very secure.  The ever popular stretchy rope cord is present and proper in length.

Fit
SYR has made efforts to accommodate various sized grapplers by offering a good variety of sizes and you don't see that with all the other gi companies so that is a nice bonus.  For this review I opted for an A1 sized gi: 5'4" - 5'8" & 130-160lbs in white.  My initial impressions of the jacket were pretty good.  The sleeve length is just a hair longer than I'd like.  The skirt is a bit longer than my Koral MKM but not excessively like the Storm Typhoon gi.  I'd say it is very adequate in length but not so much that it feels bothersome to keep tucked away.  I find both the jacket and pants to be very comfortable.  Provided I don't shrink this gi any further I should have no problems with the gi passing IBJJF inspections unless someone takes issue with the patches.  I have read someone ran into an issue with the large SYR patch on the back shoulder of the gi but personally did not experience this.

The pants are really nice and fit very well.  One of my biggest pet peeves are pants that are too baggy and these are anything but that.  There is ample room in the legs and crotch but don't feel like I'm wearing pants that I'm swimming around in.  The length is perfect and had no problems passing the IBJJF inspectors.  I'm a big fan of the 6 loop enclosure system.  This seems to be the best that I've experienced with all the gi pants I've owned.

Rolling Impressions
The honest truth is the first time I got to work in the Competitor gi was at the IBJJF Houston Open just days after I received it.  As I suspected this gi didn't disappoint in the rolling department.  The Competitor gi is light and a real pleasure to train or roll in. The gi never feels excessively heavy after an hour of training and breathes very well.  After a couple washes and trips through the dryer on low heat the sleeves feel much more acceptable in length.  One thing I love about this gi is that even though it is very lightweight, the fabric doesn't seem to be compromised in terms of durability.  I have had lightweight gi's that seem to stretch when pulled on and become problematic in situations where the sleeves are being manipulated.  There don't seem to be any problems like that with this gi.  I'm very impressed with the durable feel of the jacket and pants.  For being so light one might suspect that it can't take a beating but so far I've had no issues.  


Measurements
Take note that the measurements I took below were post-washing a couple times on warm water and medium heat through the dryer.  I did intentionally shrink this gi a little bit but nothing extreme.  For reference:  I am 5'7" and 150lbs.

Closing Thoughts
After waiting a long time to get a SYR gi I am really glad that I picked this one.  The fit and overall look is exactly what I look for in a gi.  A lot of people not familiar with SYR at the gym are asking a lot of questions and want one after seeing this one in person.  The fit and look of the gi really sets it apart from the standard fare. Since Shoyoroll allowed buyers to buy two of each color I think there will be a pretty big market for them new and probably not far from the retail price since it wasn't such a limited release.  For those that aren't aware of how to keep up when the pre-releases are announced be sure to "LIKE" Shoyoroll's Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/shoyorollbrand?fref=ts in order to keep up with their announcements.  This gi also looks pretty good on the podium too!

Visit www.budovideos.com or www.shoyoroll.com for Shoyoroll products.

WANT VS NEED: Jiu-Jitsu Battle 1

Want vs Need (WVSN) is a relatively new concept of an invitational tournament that borrows from the old school philosophy and taking Jiu-Jitsu back to its roots...submission only.  This is becoming a popular trend in some tournaments over the last year with events such as Metamoris, the BJJ Kumite, etc.  WVSN is not focusing on world class black belts rather the new crop of emerging talent at ranks such as blue and purple.  It's a refreshing concept that gives great exposure to some young grapplers.  The Jiu-Jitsu Battle featuring purple belts was released in January here is a highlight video that was put together showing some great action.  Keep in mind that individual matches had no time limits or points.  Fortunately the matches are also available on YouTube for those wanting to see more.  If you don't want to know the results then follow this video link and watch the matches.

As of now WVSN is about to have a competition to determine the next blue belts to be selected for the Blue Belt Jiu-Jitsu Battle.  They are also in the process of finalizing athletes for their Purple Belt Jiu-Jitsu Battle 2. WVSN was also on hand at the IBJJF San Francisco Open and has posted videos from that event.  Hopefully we will see more from this grassroots group!

http://www.wantvsneed.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/WVSNTV?feature=watch
http://www.facebook.com/WANTVSNEED?fref=ts