Never Stop Learning
Quick crass commercial message: the Voltron rashie I did for Toro, which has belt-ranked lions ready to help you defend the universe, is on BJJHQ.com tonight at 11 p.m. I have a hunch these will go fast, so if you’d like one, check out the sale! And thanks as always for the support.
My name is Jeff, and I’m a gi addict. I make no apologies for this. The more gis I have clean and ready, the more opportunities I have to drill and roll — and because I train a lot and work a full-time job, reaching the bottom of the rotation happens a fair bit.
A good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gi is a functional piece of art. The function is most important, most would agree — the fit, the feel, the comfort and durability. If we’re honest, though, we have to admit that the art part matters as well. Clothing that looks good is more appealing than clothing that looks bad, whether you’re going to grip up on it or not.
I admire the way some designers are able to bridge the gap and make something that both looks good and works well. I thought I’d shout out five designs that I think are innovative without going too far afield, beautiful without being garish, and arty but still meeting the basic needs of the jiu-jiteiro.
Two caveats before I start: most of you know that I design gear for Toro BJJ, so I’m going to exempt Toro gis from consideration (even though I’m really stoked about the next Toro number, which we just got a sample of and will come out later this summer):
Second caveat: everyone has different taste. Some people rock tailored suits and some people opt for hoodies and flip-flops. I’m not a snob, and am a firm believer in letting people like what they like. My own tastes certainly influence this list. I hope and expect that people will post about great gis that I missed.
These gis I’ m about to list are all from different companies, were released at different times and have little in common other than I don’t own any of them (and, y’know, my birthday is in October). Friends of mine own each of these, though, so I got some insight into the quality of each release from them.
Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are five creative gis that I think are awesome.
5. “Furinkazan“, by Muae
Printing directly on the inside of the gi is a bold innovation, and the image selection is terrific. It looks sharp at first, and on repeated washing, fades into a historical look. I’ve seen it on Ze Grapplez, and can testify that the art continues to pop long after the first time you roll in and wash it.
The decision to do this type of sublimated printing, coupled with the image choice, impressed me a lot when this gi came out. I still haven’t seen anything quite like it.
4. “The Wave,” by Scramble
If you want to talk about historically significant artwork, Hokusai’s “The Great Wave” has to be mentioned. This BBC podcast explains why: Hokusai’s magnum opus was really a metaphor for the changing world, the fusion of culture that happened after Matthew Perry’s gunboat diplomacy forced Japan to open up to the West.
Plus, to this day “The Great Wave” is still visually striking. That’s why it was such an inspired choice for Scramble to modify the image for use on an internal rashguard. Not only does it look fantastic, like the original image, the Wave gi is a merge of the old (classic white gi) and the new (flashy gi with internal rashguard).
3. “The Heavenly Kimono,” by Meerkatsu
Your artwork doesn’t have to cover the entire inside of the kimono in order to make a statement. Witness this inaugural gi offering from prominent BJJ artist Seymour “Meerkatsu” Yang, whose offering is a worthy successor to his Heavenly Footlock and Heavenly Wristlock shirts.
Besides looking great, the thematic consistency between the differing types of apparel is really cool. (It’s also admirable how much of Yang’s work in this vein benefits charities).
2. “Wu-Tang Killa Bee Series,” by Enzo Kimonos
If you aren’t down with the Wu, I don’t even know what to tell you. Even if innovation in music isn’t your thing, the logo image is iconic, and placed on the front skirt of the gi like this adds the right amount of flash. It’s distinctive but not ostentatious. (Now, the interior of the gi, that’s a different story).
It’s also a cool idea to merge BJJ, a niche community with passionate devotees, with Wu-Tang, a defined subculture that has considerably more followers. As a proud nerd, I’m always interested in where unusual affinities collide (Doctor Who and jiu-jitsu, anyone)? Making this collision happen deserves some dap.
1. “The 47 Gi,” by Ronin
It’s no secret I’m a big fan of John Smalls. I must confess I didn’t know he’d done the art for the 47 Gi by Ronin Brand until a friend bought it. Smalls illustrated 47 common techniques for the interior of this kimono, and the results are as nice as you’d expect.
One distinction I’d make between this kimono and the other interior-print gis I’ve listed: instead of one big art piece, this has smaller segments that serve a larger unified theme. That’s different, and different is cool.
There you have it: five gis that I think reflect thoughtful and creative design. A final note related to gi commerce: people at my gym are very fortunate, since we share space with Cageside Fight Shop. Not every school is lucky enough to have a local martial arts gear company nearby, and the good folks that work there are awesome about letting you try on a bunch of gis to see what fits you best.
Trying on a gi before you make the order is something I totally recommend. dangerous, in that it feeds the gi addiction, but also excellent, because there’s nothing worse than dropping $100+ on something you’re excited to train in only to find that it fits like rented suit. Support your local fight shop, folks.
I have a new rashguard design I want to show you. First, though, let me ask you two questions: how do you feel about bullies? And have you seen Mary Poppins?
Yes, these questions are related, and they’re also related to the new rashie I’m finishing up. It’s a tribute to Edith Garrud, the Suffragette Who Knew Jiu-Jitsu, and by extension the group of British suffragists she trained to fight around the turn of the last century.
Who was Edith Garrud? The short version: she was the ultimate anti-bully. A 4-foot, 11-inch woman who stood up to gangs of armed men twice her size using jiu-jitsu, and trained dozens of others to do so as well: how could I not make a rashguard paying tribute to a badass like that?
Back before women had the vote, the British government really pulled out all the stops to crush the suffragist movement. There were police beatings, brutal force-feedings of hunger strikers, and more grisly behaviors. Yes, the Edwardian era British crown was fully down with cracking the skulls of prominent women’s suffrage activists like Emmeline Pankhurst.
Nobody likes a bully, and the people trying to beat down women’s suffragists were kind of the exemplar of bullyhood. Fortunately, Mrs. Pankhurst had The Bodyguard, a 30-woman group of buttkickers trained by Edith Garrud. Quoth Lady Edith: “Women using jiu-jitsu have brought great burly cowards nearly twice their size to their feet and made them howl for mercy.”
The British newspaper punch published a cartoon paying homage to Garrud in 1910, dubbing her “The Suffragette Who Knew Jiu-Jitsu.” I used this cartoon to create a composite image as the basis of a new rashie.
This is the front:
This is the back:
Here’s the draft of how the whole works is going to look. This is a rough version, but the body of the rashie is going to mimic old-time newsprint.
When I was a kid, I watched Mary Poppins. Maybe you did, too. Maybe you remember this song, which name-checks the aforementioned Emmeline Pankhurst:
Of course, the movie offers a somewhat sanitized version of a rather gnarly part of history, which you can learn more about through this awesome Prezi, or by checking out some nasty contemporary visual depictions of people who thought women ought to be able to vote.
But what got me thinking about Mary Poppins is the song’s refrain: “Our daughters’ daughters will adore us. And they’ll sing in grateful chorus: ‘Well done, Sister Suffragette!”
Those daughters’ daughters? That’s our generation. About 100 years ago, a bunch of tiny, fearless fighters stood up for themselves. That’s worth remembering and yes, adoring. We take the right to vote for granted today, but half the population has it because some extraordinary people put their asses on the line a few generation ago.
These stories fascinate me, and I’ve of necessity given short shrift to them. (For more, you can listen to a terrific BBC “In Our Time” podcast about this, and an episode of “A History of the World in 100 Objects” about a penny defaced by suffragists in an act of art sabotage).
This post could be thousands of words long, so I’ll cut it short by encouraging you to check out all the links (and of course to buy the rashguard when it comes out!).
We’ll wrap up by noting that the British government, as this article notes, honored Edith with a plaque in 2012. The last paragraph of the piece struck me:
But Tony Wolf cautions against romanticised images of suffragettes throwing officers around. “The bodyguard had some remarkable tactical victories using decoys and disguises,” he says. “But the grim reality is that they were heavily outnumbered by the police and were often injured.”
This premise is true but the conclusion is flawed. They were always outnumbered, and many of these women (Garrud included) wore layers of carboard under their dresses to cushion truncheon blows from police. They were smaller, fewer in number, and hopelessly outgunned in terms of weaponry and resources. That’s undeniable.
But they fought. They were right, and they knew it, and so they fought anyway, often knowing they were going to take beatings. Doesn’t that make them even fiercer and more courageous than if they won every fight? I certainly think so.
Edith Garrud lived to be 99, and kicked enough ass for 99 lifetimes of that length. Well done, Sister Suffragette.
A couple of long posts planned: Mundial recap plus a historical post I’m excited about. But Toro just released a shirt I made, which is a bit of a regional in-joke, but if you’re from the south and like biscuits, maybe you think it’s funny.
Just a quick post since I’m swamped training for the New York Open: the rashguard I made for Toro is up on BJJHQ tonight at 11! I know some people wanted one and missed out last time. It sold out fast last time, so try to get yours early this time!
It’s been a while since my last post for two reasons: first, a lot of great stuff is happening (a few long-in-the-works designs are about to come out); and second, I’m in the process of finishing up a snazzy new website where I’ll migrate the blog. Stay tuned on that.
In the meantime, Fightland interviewed me about the TARDIS rashguard, and used that as a jumping-off point to talk about nerd culture and jiu-jitsu. I had a blast doing the interview, and this is my favorite part of it:
To me, a nerd is someone that is passionate about something that is not mainstream. … BJJ is an immersive culture, as are many nerd subcultures as well, and I think that’s not a coincidence. I think that folks that get passionate about certain aspects of cultural experience, [and] there is a particular personality type that is drawn to that. For some of us, that may be Doctor Who or comic books. It may be science fiction or ren faires or Dungeons and Dragons. Or martial arts history. It’s different for everybody, but it’s kind of cool to see the two parts of my world that are important to me fold in on themselves.
Shorter version: Nerd Life, that’s my alibi.
Anyway, it’s a fun interview. Check it out if you’re so inclined: you’ll get a preview of some new designs I’ve got coming out!
If you’re reading this, you either do Brazilian jiu-jitsu or know someone who does Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Last year, I put together a Gift Guide post that had the latter folks in mind. Let’s do this again, once more with feeling.
If you train, you probably have a pretty good idea of what makes a cool gift for your friendly neighborhood martial artist. If not, you might wind up with beautifully-wrapped karate gi under the tree and a recipient trying desperately to force a smile. Don’t let this happen to you!
Note: I own and enjoy most of the things below, so I’m not just shilling for myself, I promise. And as most folks who read the blog know, I do some work for Toro BJJ, so I’m only going to have one Toro-related entry.
Items on this list range from $10 or so to “however much you want to spend,” so hopefully there’s something for everyone.
INEXPENSIVE ($10-20)
Jiu-Jitsu In The South Zone, 1997-2008: Like BJJ history? Check this out. I got this book earlier this year on the recommendation of a black belt, and it didn’t disappoint. The lesson, as always: listen to what the black belts say. It combines the Global Training Reports into one handy package, and contains excellent slice-of-life material about incredible jiu-jitsu practitioners — including many you might not have heard of and including stories you almost certainly haven’t heard.
Toro BJJ T-Shirts: Yes, I made these shirts. But I wouldn’t do work for Toro if I didn’t believe in the products, and obviously I made the Hapkido Man and Double Guard Pull shirts because I think they are funny takes on our unique subculture. Unfortunately, the “Just Train” shirt appears to be sold out right now. All the Cageside and Toro shirts are very comfortable and moderately priced, and a good shirt is a great gift.
MODERATELY EXPENSIVE ($21-70)
Roots of Fight Brazil Hoodie: Generally, I am a huge hoodie fan. Specifically, I am a huge fan of this one: it’s modeled after the original Academia Gracie gear. One of my good friends has this. It’s comfortable, stylish, and distinctive. It’s also versatile: if your friends are always giving you static for wearing only jiu-jitsu gear, this is subtle enough that only the in-the-know will notice.
A Hemp Belt: I’m a big believer in hemp as a fabric. I also support efforts to bring back America’s manufacturing sector. That’s why I’d like my next belt, whenever that comes, to be The Green Gi’s American-made hemp belt. (Sidenote: their hemp gis are shipping this week as well, and I’m very excited to get mine. I pre-ordered.)
Important note for non-BJJ folks: if you’re considering buying a belt as a gift, here’s one thing to do. You want to get the belt, not tell them about it, and give the belt to their instructor. Just say “hey, I don’t know anything about this whole belt promotion thing. But I wanted to do something for [Insert Name], so whenever it happens, could you hand them this belt and let them know it’s from me?” I know some people don’t mind having a spare belt around, but personally, I want to wear the belt my instructor hands me.
An Art Print: I’m a huge fan of Meerkatsu, who is a terrific artist and also does a great deal of charity stuff. He has a bevy of products to choose from, including rash guards and shirts and spats and … you name it. This year, how about an art print? I’m particularly fond of the Rosie The Riveter “Try Jiu-Jitsu” piece. Personal tastes can vary, so if Meerkatsu isn’t your speed, maybe something by John Smalls suits your fancy.
Meerkatsu has his own gift guide, BTW, which contains many items not found here.
BALL SO HARD UNIVERSITY EXPENSIVE ($70 and up)
Dom Gi Material Jacket: For a little heavier-duty jacket, I love this offering from Dom. I got to try one on at the Mundials and really dug the look, fit and feel. It’s the season for warmth and collar chokes, and what better to serve both needs than a jacket made of gi material?
Membership to an Online Site: This could be tricky, because there are a lot of sites out there. The good thing is, a lot of the sites are great. I have a membership to MendesBros.com and have been really happy with it. The Marcelo Garcia site MGInAction has a mountain of content from one of the greatest of all time. But if you want something fresh and new, the Caio Terra online training site is supposed to open in about 36 hours.
Ryan Hall’s Guard Passing DVD Set: Ryan Hall is an elite competitor and a top-notch instructor. I’ve only had the chance to watch a little of this, but it is just what I expected so far: excellent concepts, critical details and an expert’s ability to convey the information. His earlier DVDs are also excellent, and this is new: a great addition to any grappler’s video collection.
Of course, the Toro Uchina gi should be out sometime in February, so if you want to give *me* a present, you could wait and get one of those. In the meantime, I hope one of these works for you.
The new Toro BJJ gi has a unique feature that you might be happy about. Take 30 seconds and watch us demonstrate it.
On a related note: I defend my thesis tomorrow, and I’m pretty excited about that. Almost as excited as I am for the new “Thank You For Not Double Guard Pulling” shirt I made for Toro.
Wear it while shooting takedowns, or coming up to take that advantage point.
I have seven or eight t-shirt designs in the works for Toro BJJ, and one of the first ones is out now! The best jokes are in-jokes, and this one hearkens back to the Gracies In Action videos.
Check it out, and watch an excerpt of the clip it’s based on here.
I love gear bags. A great bag is the ultimate marriage of function and form.
When my trusty Cageside mesh bag (a perfect fit for me, since I could use it for scuba diving as well) finally gave up the ghost this fall, I was in denial. I kept lugging it around until I almost lost several pieces of gear through the ever-growing holes. That bag was tough: I’d carried it around the world, exposed it to saltwater, and generally beat it up until it finally couldn’t take any more.
The timing turned out to be perfect. Because I needed a new bag right before the Pans, my mom got me the Datsusara Gear Bag Core, one of two new releases from the company, for my birthday.
If you feel like exploring all there is to know about the Core, check out Datsusara’s 5 minute video tour. If not, let me give you the capsule summary: this bag is fantastic. It’s huge, but light, well-organized, and versatile — it’s not just a great grappling bag, it’s luggage you can take on vacation, jiu-jitsu or not.
Let me take a step back. For just going to class, maybe the bag you select isn’t super-important. You can always just tie your gi up in a belt and sling it over your shoulder. But when you train a lot, and when you travel to train, it makes life a lot easier to not worry about how you’re going to fit that extra gi, where your mouthguard is, or where you set your nail clippers.
The Core solves a lot of problems, all in one. Let me list them in order.
1. This bag will fit all of your stuff in it. This thing is so huge that I’m curious about the demographic that buys the larger version, the Pro. I mean, I’m a little guy, but look at my attempt to re-create some of the stuff I took to the Pans in this photo.
Look at all of that! It includes three complete gis and vale tudo shorts for wearing under said gis; belt; three complete no-gi uniforms, including full spats; bathroom scale; Sambazon smoothie and protein bar (no fresh fruit in the house today, sorry); water bottle; ibuprofen; notebook and pen; mouthguard; Leatherman tool with nail clippers; headphones, media player and e-reader for those boring times between matches.
That’s plenty to meet your needs when you travel for a big tournament, go on vacation and want to have plenty of gear, or do a training camp where you have three sessions a day. Right? Well, the Core doesn’t just fit all of that stuff, it fits all of that stuff easily.
All of the major gear fits in the main pouch without any effort whatsoever. I’m talking about no rolling, no stuffing — you just set your mountain of gear in there and it fits easily. also notice that there are two large side pockets that I didn’t have to touch for this: for vacation trips, that’s where your boring real-world clothes can go.
The bottom is wide enough to accommodate even larger scales, so you can bring your own weight-check apparatus when you travel to compete. Believe me, this is a major help, and even if you’re habitually on-weight, your teammates will thank you.
2. The pockets make it easy to organize your stuff. If you’re like me, you don’t like having to dig through everything to find out where the rattle of your ibuprofen bottle is coming from. Don’t worry: there are tons of pockets with intuitive size and spacing, so there won’t be problems designating where your mouthguard, nail clippers, media player and other stuff goes.
Even if (like me) you’re Obsesso The Clown in terms of tourney prep, this bag will cater to your crazy. There’s probably a pocket for that stupid good luck charm you have that doesn’t work. There certainly is for your notebook, pain reliever, snacks, mouthguard, clippers, and whatnot. Especially the whatnot.
3. You don’t have to worry about getting your gross wet gear mixed up with your fresh gear. This is huge, and is actually the best part of the bag for me. I’m chronically prepared to train, so I like keeping extra gear everywhere. But it sucks to step out of an excellent session and have some sweaty gear that either must sit open in your car, smelling up the joint, or go back in your bag, contaminating your fresh gi.
The Core comes with an internal Dry Bag where you can stash your stanky stuff. Also, this is cool: it has a gi bag-style design, so it’s easy to wear as a mini-backpack. At the Pans I used the main Core to house all of the gear I’d need for the weekend and the Dry Bag as my day pack, where I put my wallet, keys, ID, mouthguard and whatever else I thought I’d need in the bullpen.
A tiny quibble is that the Dry Bag is really only big enough to fit one gi and related garments, so if you’re training a couple of times a day without going home, you might have to pack it in or leave some nastiness out of the bag. But in that case — or if you’re a huge human who wears an overcoat or something when you roll — you can always designate one of the side pockets for spillover.
4. It’s the little details. I haven’t said anything about the fact that the bag is made of hemp, which is durable and has anti-microbial properties. It’s not that I don’t think that’s important — I pre-ordered The Green Gi, after all — but the other stuff actually impressed me enough that the fabric is relatively low on my list of things I like about the Core.
Another nice touch: a lot of larger bags skimp on the shoulder strap, which makes the bag no fun to carry. Not so here. I lugged this thing all over New York City, and it was very comfortable every step of the way.
![[Arnold voice] "Strap in." [/Arnold voice]](http://dirtywhitebelt.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/img_5781.jpg)
Note: I’ve never worked for Datsusara in any capacity, freelance or otherwise, and this is actually the first of their products I’ve used. I just dig the bag.
THE BOTTOM LINE
PRODUCT: Datsusara Gear Bag Core
PRICE: $109.95
ON A SCALE OF 1-10: 9.5 (I’d give it a 10 if the Dry Bag was a little bigger).