Don't be Duped into Buying a Fake Jiu-Jitsu Gi

There is always somewhere out there looking to make a buck and cash in on unsuspecting buyers in the web marketplace.  Most notably eBay seems to be chock full of scam artists and you need to be careful when shopping online.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a growing sport and due to that a lot of people are finding ways to make money.  Sometimes unauthentic versions of popular gi's are produced and sold for a considerable profit on e-commerce sites such as eBay.  There are some things you need to watch out for to avoid being duped into buying a fake.

We will examine one of the most often copied gi's to date...Lucky Gi.  Lucky Gi is a relatively small outfit that aren't regularly available for purchase.  Scott from OTM www.onthemat.com and www.myluckygi.com has been producing Lucky Gi's for some time now.  They are not cheap by any stretch running around $250 or more depending on the particular model.  I have seen these gi's in person and they are very high quality.  The newer models featuring Bamboo fabric are REALLY nice and one I hope to add to my collection soon.

Getting back on track...eBay just seems to be littered with cheap Chinese copies of the older model gi that was made popular back in 2007-2008.  Believe it or not there are copies of this gi still floating around.   Many ads will claim that they were "extras, a blemished item / factory seconds," or something as simple as "Brand New Lucky Gi."  I recently came across an ad that seemed too good to be true.  It claimed it was a Real Lucky Gi with tags.  Most of the ads for these fakes don't go as far as to say that because such a claim is quite easy to argue against.  Real Lucky Gi's for these models were produced in Pakistan.

Here is the ad in question.

Something the seller did that was a bit clever was crop out "MADE IN CHINA" on the Lucky Gi tag inside the jacket (bottom left picture).  That wasn't a coincidence.  Something else worth noting is that the weight of the jacket wasn't even correct.  It was a pearl weave jacket as opposed to a gold weave which was specific to the older, authentic Lucky Gi's.  The pants lacked any real padding in the knees which is another tell tale sign of a fake.  Note that the newer Lucky Gi's feature a 520 Light weight Platinum weave jacket.

So what are some things to check for to avoid a fake?

1. Is the gi new?  If so ask for receipts to verify it.  
2. Do they offer a Buy It Now option?  If the gi is new and the Buy It Now option is cheaper than what it would cost to buy it brand new you have to wonder if it's too good to be true. 
3. If the gi is new and missing tags it might be a fake.  
4. If it claims to be Factory Seconds it might be a fake.
5. Use common sense and don't make any rushed decisions.
6. If you do decide to bid on an eBay item I HIGHLY recommend using a credit card as method for payment as opposed to a checking account.  You have a much better chance at disputing the sale of something and recovering your money should something come up.  
7. This may seem super obvious but make sure to check the sellers feedback.  You'd be surprised how often some of the eBay sellers have sold the same fake gi and even used the same pictures in each ad.  That's pretty blatant if they have sold various sizes of the same gi on numerous occasions.  
8. If you see something questionable ask the seller questions.  If they don't provide sufficient answers pass on it.  You can also post on message forums such as Sherdog.com (grappling forum, and equipment forums) to get opinions from other people. 
9. Fakes notoriously will be missing something that the authentic version had.  For example, I have read that some of the fake 7th Son Shoyoroll gi's were missing the typical SYR taping on the inside and Rasta tape on the bottom seam.  Familiarize yourself with the small details of the gi you are interested in and compare it against the one for sale.  If they can't prove it's the real deal simply pass on it.  
10. Buy from reputable sellers.  This includes both personal sellers and online merchants.  

If you purchased a gi on eBay that is a fake you are in luck.  Fortunately eBay is set up to give the buyers a good amount of recourse and leverage when dealing with bad situations like this.

1. First I would recommend contacting the seller and discuss with them your dissatisfaction with the product in a calm, non-threatening manner. 
2. Ask that the item be refunded and keep a paper trail of everything through the eBay messaging system.  
3. DO use signature/delivery confirmation to cover yourself in the event they claim you never sent the item back.  
4. If the seller is non-compliant then you're going to have to report them to eBay and file a complaint with your credit card company/PayPal.  

Some people may not care if the gi they purchase is authentic or not.  I for one do care and absolutely hate scammers.  Use good judgement when dealing with individuals on the Internet.  Sometimes trying to cut corners and save some money may cost you more in the long run.

Related Links:
http://myluckygi.com/rash-of-fake-lucky-gis-on-ebay/

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.

Tatami Estilo 3.0 Gi Review

Tatami Fightwear is fairly new in the Jiu-Jitsu scene but you might not know it.  They have been busy making quality, yet affordable gear since 2009 and are based in the UK.  One of the things I admire about Tatami Fightwear is that they make some very high quality gear at a reasonable price.  I was very fortunate to receive a Tatami Estilo 3.0 from Martial Arts Supplies http://www.martialartssupplies.com/ and couldn't wait to test it out.  I would like to point out that Martial Arts Supplies has a bevy of Jiu-Jitsu gear ranging from kimonos, shorts, rash guards, to pretty much anything you could imagine.  On top of that they offer free shipping and hassle free returns.  Something worth noting is that Martial Arts Supplies will allow you to mix and match the jacket and pants sizes in case you don't fit the standard sizing chart with Tatami gi's for no additional charge.

Design
If you like a little bit of bling than I think you will probably enjoy the Estilo 3.0. This gi has black contrast stitching and embroidery throughout.  It sports traditional patches along the shoulders and lapel.  I like that the shoulder patches in the form of a black belt with "3.0" integrated onto the red competition bar.  The bottom of the jacket also has a Tatami patch to add some additional flair.  Each sleeve features Estilo logos embroidered in black along with Tatami Fightwear embroidered directly behind the collar on the back of the jacket.  The cuffs of the jacket, inner portion of lapels, and cuffs of the pants have Estilo taping in black which looks good.  The pants match the jacket well with the contrast stitching, patches, and embroidery on each leg.

Construction
This gi seems to be built very well.  The jacket is a 550gsm single piece pearl weave.  It features a rubberized collar that is adequately thick.  The jacket and pants both have triple stitching in high stress areas such as the crotch and knee pads.  The pants consist of 14oz heavy cotton with a four loop enclosure system for the drawstring.  The traditional stretchy drawstring is present here.  While I do like the stretchy feeling of the drawstring it could be a bit shorter and almost requires a triple knot to keep it out of the way.  Nothing a pair of shears and lighter can't fix.  The knee pads are reinforced to give some extra cushion and add some durability.  There are few spots on the pants where the stitching is not perfect but nothing that looks unacceptable or might become problematic.  This gi weighs in at about 4.4lbs.

Note some minor flaws in stitching

Fit
One thing I really like about the Tatami Fightwear website is that they offer an interactive sizing chart.  You can simply select your height and weight using their gi size calculator and it will select the appropriate size for you.  Being UK based, they were kind enough to provide both metric and standard units of measure for us Yankees here in the States.  If you have any concerns about sizing I highly recommend checking out the sizing calculator here: https://www.tatamifightwear.com/size-calculator-a/272.htm

The gi used in this review is an A1 and retails for $129.99 at http://www.martialartssupplies.com. One thing I have noticed with  Tatami gi's is that the sleeves do tend to run a bit longer than most other gi's.  Out of the package this kimono fit very well.  There is plenty of intentional shrinking that can be done in my case but not much is required to get this closer to a tailored fit.  The jacket is roomy for those with bigger torso's but not so much that I am swimming in it.  Sleeve length is just a hair long but nothing that can't be fixed in the washing machine and dryer.  The skirt length is perfect...not too long nor short.  I really like the fit of the pants.  They provide plenty of room in the crotch and aren't overly baggy.  Pants that are too baggy are one of my biggest pet peeves.  The length of the pant legs is adequate and required very little shrinking in the wash.  As a reminder, MAS will allow you to mix and match jacket and pant sizes if you find that the standard A1 pants fit but need a larger jacket such as an A2 for example.

Rolling Impressions
Before training in this gi I did wash it and intentionally shrink it some.  I never shrink a gi too aggressively the first time out.  I prefer to shrink it just a bit, roll in it, and evaluate how it feels and go from there.  First time out I did feel like it would need some more work as the sleeves were a tad long and easily manipulated while rolling.  A second trip through the wash and I feel much closer now.  The pants are perfect at this point but the jacket will require a bit more shrinking.  I absolutely enjoy training in this gi.  It provides the perfect balance between a light and heavier gi.  The gi is quite sturdy but feels like it can take plenty of punishment.  The pants feel super light but not flimsy by any stretch of the imagination.  The support in the knee pads is very welcome too.  This gi will definitely be in the regular rotation and can be a great every day gi to train or compete in.

Measurements
As previously mentioned the gi used in this review is an A1.  I did run this one through the washer and dryer (medium heat) twice with the intention of shrinking it a bit.  I experienced a little more shrinkage in the pants than the jacket and will probably be okay to run the jacket through the dryer a couple more times.

Closing Thoughts
This is my second Tatami gi and they have really delivered with the Estilo 3.0.  They have managed to design a gi that looks good, provides a little flash with well placed patches and stitching, is priced very reasonably, and performs well.  It seems like there are so many choices for gi's and so few of them really deliver the quality for the money.  I don't think you can go wrong with Tatami Fightwear if you are looking for a great gi without spending $200.

Once again, I want to thank Martial Arts Supplies for providing a great gi for me to review.  Please give them a look for your next BJJ related purchases.  They have a great selection of gi's, lots of other grappling related equipment, and offer FREE SHIPPING.

http://www.martialartssupplies.com/
http://www.tatamifightwear.com/

A big thank you to Shervin Alavi for taking pictures of me in the gi.  

Storm Kimonos Typhoon Gi Review

It's been a while since I've done a gi review so what better time than right before Christmas?  I wanted to review a gi that doesn't get a lot of attention on other gi review sites which brought me to Storm Kimonos.  Storm Kimonos was originally established in 1996 so they are not new to the BJJ scene but may be new to some grapplers today.  I first became aware of Storm Kimonos earlier this year due to their affiliation with the Mendes Brothers and Andre Galvao who all  have been sporting these sharp gi's over the last year.

Design
Over all the design of the Typhoon is pretty standard fare.  There is no contrast stitching present which has almost become the industry standard over the last couple of years.  The only flare on this gi are the two large patches prominently placed on the jacket.  I do like the Storm patch that runs vertically along the lapel.  That said I could do without the equally large (matching) patch on the sleeve.  I like what they were trying to accomplish by breaking away from the standard patch placement but feel the design of this patch could have been smaller or different all together.  The red taping on the inside of the jacket accents the gi very well.  There is a smaller version of these patches placed near the waistline of the pants but cannot be seen while the jacket is being worn.  There are two additional embroidered lightning bolts on the front and back pant legs along with one placed behind the collar on the jacket.  The embroidery is clean and adds a nice touch.

Size         Weight          Height
A1         110-140lbs     5'2-5'5"              50-63kg         158-168cm
A2         140-175         5'5"-5'9"             63-79            168-180
A3         175-210         5'9"-6'1"             79-95            180-186
A4         210-250         6'1"-6'4"             95-113           186-195

Construction
The Typhoon kimono is basically the entry level model by Storm.  The jacket features 550 gsm Golden Jacquard Weave Fabric (100% cotton) and the pants are 340 gsm (100% cotton twill).  The gi boasts to have been pre-shrunk and anti-odor due to an anti-microbial treatment.

The quality of construction on this gi is very good.  The weave on the jacket is very nice and unlike other gi's I have owned.  I cannot find any real complaints with the stitching at all.  There are no runners or sloppy work here.  The stitching isn't compromised, no loose threads, or problems with the stitching on the patches.  The gi pants feature a traditional flat drawstring with just two loops.  I would have liked to see at least two more loops and the drawstring could be a bit longer but nothing that adversely affects tying the pants.  The pants feature nice, thick knee pads that provide cushion and should lengthen the lifespan of the trousers.  Both the jacket and pants feature pockets for items like a mouth guard.  The pocket in the jacket has a Velcro enclosure which is a bit awkward to access.  I could see placing something like an ID, credit card, etc. in this pocket since it seems so secure but not something I'd regularly want to access frequently.  The pants have a more standard pocket but the practicality for storing a mouth guard on a short term basis seems a bit laborious to get in and out of either for the jacket or pants.  The skirt of the jacket is much longer than what I'm accustomed to.  More on that later.

The gi itself (pants and jacket) are made of 100% cotton and seem quite soft. I imagine if the gi is treated with fabric softener it will become even softer after multiple trips through the washer and dryer. The collar is both thick and sturdy.  I assume it is a rubberized collar but their website doesn't state the material used.  The A1 gi that I have used for this review weighs right at 4 pounds.

The gi claims to have been treated with an anti-microbial process.  While this seems like a good idea I do have to question how effective it is over the long term life of the gi.  A quick search on the web for anti-microbial treated textiles recommends that washing should be done in cool water and tumble dried on low.  The use of bleach or products containing chlorine can ruin the treatment in the fabric.  These are all basic things most people try to avoid with their gi's but might be useful for some that like to periodically use bleach or intentionally try and shrink their kimonos.  So be aware that you could adversely affect the longevity of the anti-microbial process integrated into the fabric.

Fit
Let me preface this by saying that I am 5'7" and 150lbs.  When I originally ordered this gi I selected an A2 using their basic sizing chart.  They do provide actual measurements of each gi on Budovideos and in hindsight wish I had checked my own measurements.  As luck would have it the A2 was way too big.  I compared the measurements of the A1 & A2 and decided to give the smaller size a shot.  That being said I cannot stress the importance of having your own measurements taken and keeping them handy when ordering a gi.  Some manufacturers provide this information for their gi's and knowing your own measurements can save you the time and hassle of returns.  After receiving the A1 I found it to be a bit bulky.  Nothing alarming and to be expected to some degree when trying out a new brand.  The top has a very strange cut in a couple areas.  The jacket is unusually long making the skirt to be about an inch longer than most gi's that I currently own.  I have found the fit of the jacket in the upper torso area to be excessively bulky.  Laying the jacket flat is somewhat revealing and may explain why it fits in this manner.  The sleeves appear to be tapered in a slight, downward sloping manner.  None of the other gi's in my inventory are cut like this.  I feel like this gi doesn't match my body type well and may be more suited to someone with a bigger torso.  The fit of the pants seem very well unlike the jacket.

Here you can see how the jacket isn't
tailored particularly well for my body type.

Collar thickness comparisons

Measurements
Please keep in mind that the measurements taken here were after washing the gi's a few times.  There has most likely been some shrinkage since I did use warm water and ran it through the dryer.

Rolling Impressions
This is where things get complicated.  The awkward fit of the jacket really showed up while training.  I found that the jacket was almost always in my way.  It seemed like the lapels wanted to open up and I was struggling to readjust the gi top by pulling down on the skirt and lapels.  It's difficult to describe as I haven't experienced this with other gi's.  When first putting the gi on it feels really good but once training starts it just feels like more of an obstruction.  At times the collar did manage to get pulled up over my head while stuck in bad positions such as north-south.  The sleeves unfortunately seem a bit long as well.  I would prefer the sleeves and cuffs to be a bit more tailored.  As training sessions wore on the sleeves felt longer and longer making them easy to manipulate by training partners.  Again the pants seemed to fit very well and I had no problem with them while training.  The padding in the knees is definitely appreciated and better than average.

I have washed this gi twice now in warm water and tumble dry with medium to high heat with the intention of shrinking it.  While it has shrunk some I'm not sure that a lot can be done to make this one smaller.  Their advertised "pre-shrunk" process is pretty true to form.

Closing Thoughts
I hate to sound harsh in this review.  I think that the design and construction of the gi is excellent and one of the best I have owned from that standpoint.  I also find this gi to be one of the more comfortable that I've reviewed.  Storm Kimonos has definitely built a solid gi for everyday training or competition.  Unfortunately the fit just isn't suited for my body type.  I do feel that this is a gi that many others can appreciate.

http://www.stormkimonos.com/