Fighter — cat_Gi Guides

Here at Fighters Market, we are passionate about gis and all things jiu jitsu. One of our favorite brands is Moya Brand, which has made channeling the modern - and vintage - cultural vibes of the jiu jitsu community into a veritable art form.

Based out of Whittier, California, Moya Brand draws inspiration not only from the laid-back Southern California beach lifestyle, but from... well... everywhere, offering an eclectic, yet always fresh, jiu jitsu style. 

For the most part, Moya uses the same tried-and-true competition style cut for all of their gis. So no matter what model you buy, you'll know it'll fit just as perfectly all those other Moya gis we know you have lined up in your closet (because Moya fans are dedicated). And no matter what Moya model you get, you can be assured it'll have a clean design, that's never cluttered with too much unnecessary crap. You know the brands we're talking about... the ones that make you look like a NASCAR driver even before you slap your own patches on it. 

What Moya really excels at is the details. Each of their gi models feature those special little design elements that make it unique... channeling that classic luxury fashion aesthetic you see in men's suits and women's LBDs; classy, simple and timeless, but with pops of color in the lining or interesting cutouts.

For example, check out the Moya Lost at Sea series, of which their Moya Lost at Sea Destroyer Gi is their latest - and last - edition. Inspired by the World War II era, the Lost at Sea Destroyer Gi features custom designed embroidered details that offer a subtle vintage naval look without being dated, such as the anchor, eagle, and bold red military ranking bars embroidered on one shoulder, and their signature Moya logo integrated into an anchor design on the other. WAY cool. 

But what's our favorite part about Moya? 

Their their willingness to pay it forward. Jiu jitsu gives us lot in life... it's only just that we give back to the community and pass on those good vibes. Moya has been a long-time supporter of the Mauli Ola Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Laguna Beach, California, dedicated to providing hope and confidence to individuals living with genetic diseases.

That deserves some serious "oss" right there. 

Train on. Oss.

If you don't know the name Maeda Brand, then you've probably been living under a rock. In fact, this isn't the first time we've blogged about Maeda Brand. Their Akashio and Red Label gis recently made our shortlist of jiu jitsu gear reviews. Needless to say: we're fans of this California-based company. 

While Maeda Brand  has been around for several years now, they've really only started to make an impact in the jiu jitsu gi and gear industry in the last two years. If you know your jiu jitsu history - and you should... shame on you if you don't! - you'll know that the brand derives its name from Maeda Mitsuyo, the Japanese judoka who made his way to Brazil in 1914, where he eventually came to teach the art of judo to members of the Gracie family, who themselves are credited with the creation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Essentially, without Maeda Mitsuyo, there'd be no BJJ... Mind. Blown. 

So, back to the brand. Its motto is "tradition within", which we love because it speaks not only to the brand's inspiration - Maeda - but also alludes to its aesthetic. Maeda likes to keep their designs classy and timeless, yet at the same time, they also cater to today's jiu jitsu practitioner with modern cuts and high-tech materials. 

Their Akashio Jiu Jitus Gi, for example, is the perfect example of this seamless meshing of traditional and modern. The Akashio features a 100% cotton jacket, made from 480 GSM Pearl Weave Plus - which is a tighter, stronger weave than a standard pearl weave - and mid-weight 10 oz drill cotton pants. Both the jacket and pants have a tailored, competition-style cut, which fits slightly more snug than an old school gi, and helps deter your opponents from getting, and maintaining, a solid grip. The outside of the gi is simple and understated, featuring gold contrast stitching and custom-designed woven patches. The inside of the jacket is where all the excitement is: lined with fully sublimated Cool Max fabric, which is designed to keep you cool and dry during training, it depicts a slightly modified ancient Japanese artwork, featuring a Samurai in the midst of intense battle on the beach. Blood red accent details nod to the gi's name; "akashio" means "red tide" in Japanese. 

While this might be - hands down - one of our favorite gis in the warehouse, that's not the only great gi that Maeda Brand makes. Their entire gi lineup is pretty top-notch. In fact, the Red Label is probably the best "basic" gi on the market today (in our opinion). And they recently began dabbling in the no-gi market, putting out some great rashguards, shorts and spats, both for men and for women. 

If you haven't checked out Maeda Brand... now's probably a good time. 

Train on... Oss. 

If you're a competitor, you know the importance of a solid ultralight gi. Because, really now, when are we ever NOT close to weight?? Jiu jitsu is a demanding activity, so you gotta constantly fuel up... But maybe you had one too many tacos with your acai bowls, and now you're looking at the scale with more than a little trepidation. 

Never fear... The Ultralights are here! Here are some of the best lightweight gis we offer: 

Kingz Nano

When almost all ultralight gis in the market featured ripstop pants, Kingz was one of the first brands to offer a super lightweight gi with cotton pants. In order to keep the Nano light enough to compete with the ridiculous lightweight-edness of a their traditional Kingz Ultralight gi, they made a few smart design and construction decisions. For one, they chose the lightest materials they could, without going too light and risking a flimsy, easy-to-tear gi. With this in mind, they chose a lightweight 370 GSM pearl weave jacket and 8 oz drill cotton pants. And while most ultralight gis at the time featured sewn-on logo patches, Kingz chose to give the Nano a little class with embroidered details, but kept it minimal to keep the weight of the gi down.

• 370 GSM Pearl Weave jacket
• 8 oz drill cotton
• Women's and Kid's cuts, too

Tatami Elements

Meet one of the newest additions to Tatami's lineup, and one of the lightest it has ever produced: the Tatami Elements Gi. Weighing in at less than 3 lbs (for an A2), it's one of the lightest gis in the industry. Like the Kingz Nano, Tatami chose to feature an ultralight gi with cotton pants. Tatami decided to take it a step further by featuring a 300 GSM pearl weave jacket and 8 oz twill cotton pants. They kept the adornments of the Elements simple, yet stylish, with two matching patches along the shoulders and subtle contrast stitching. 

• 300 GSM Pearl Weave
• 8 oz twill cotton
• Men's/unisex cut only 

Hayabusa Pro Lightweight

For those of you seeking that traditional ultralight gi feel, with some modern touches, Hayabusa has got you covered - literally - with their Pro Lightweight gi. Featuring an ultra-lightweight 350 GSM cotton pearl weave jacket and 10 oz cotton/polyester blend ripstop pants, this gi is both light and indestructible. Keeping the gi light, yet distinctly Hayabusa, the Pro Lightweight features designed patches and embroidery adornments with the iconic Hayabusa falcon. 

• 350 GSM pearl weave jacket
• 10 oz cotton/polyester blend ripstop pants
• Men's/unisex cut only

Maeda Red Label

One of our favorite ultralight gis isn't even marketed as an ultralight! Comparable to Maeda's Fujin Gi, which was their original lightweight gi, the Maeda Red Label is actually their basic gi... so you get both a great, inexpensive gi and an ultralight gi in one! For the Red Label, Maeda chose a lightweight 350 GSM "super fine" pearl weave jacket and 8 oz drill cotton pants. As its name suggests, the "super fine" pearl weave is a tighter, more durable weave than a regular pearl weave. Keeping with their super stylish design aesthetic, the Red Label has minimal patch details, in a fresh pop of bright red color, and their custom-designed stamp logo embroidered on the shoulder and back of the jacket. 

• 350 GSM Lightweight Super Fine Pearl Weave jacket
• 8 oz drill cotton pants
• Women's and Kid's cuts, too

 Train... and eat... on! Oss.

Atama has been a stalwart gi brand for... well, a really long time. Since 1989, in fact. Indeed, it was one of the pioneers in the jiu jitsu gi market; one of the first brands to tailor the traditional - i.e. suuuuper old-school - judo gis to fit the movements and needs of the Brazilian jiu jitsu fighter. 

Which means it's safe to say that the guys at Atama know their stuff. 

Since it first launched many years ago, their Mundial model has been their best-selling gi. Now in it's ninth version - yeah, you read that right... NINTH - the Mundial Model 9 is better than ever. The Mundial Model 9 features their tried-and-true "Carioca Weave" jacket, which is a Brazilian-manufactured 100% cotton, densely woven single weave that's made to withstand some serious grabbing and pulling. In order to keep the gi nice and light, the Mundial features a lightweight polyester/cotton ripstop pants, and ripstop covered lapel. Slightly tailored toward the cuffs of the jacket and pants, yet roomy around the shoulders and knee area, this gi was made to balance a tailored fit - and all of its lovely grip-deterring benefits - with unrestricted movement. Simply designed, the Atama Mundial features the iconic Atama logo embroidered in high-quality stitching along both shoulders, leaving plenty of ripe real estate for your favorite academy patch and jiu jitsu brand logos. 

Plus, having been the gi of choice for some of the community's biggest women's jiu jitsu names - like Leticia Ribeiro and Bia Mesquita - Atama has made sure to offer their popular Mundial Model 9 in a specially-designed women's cut! 

Don't believe us? Try it for yourself! 

Back to the Americas with our featured brand series... Introducing Ronin Brand, the Brooklyn-based kimono brand that also caters to the judo and karate markets. Actually, "introducing" might be the wrong word. Ronin Brand has been around for a hot minute. First appearing on the scene in 1980, it's an in-house brand of martial arts supplier Kinji San, which has been in business since 1976. So these guys know their stuff.

Ronin Brand is particularly focused on producing solid, well-constructed gis, with extra reinforcement stitching. We know, because very few of their gis get returned due to fabric tears or other construction failures. As such, Ronin Brand isn't too concerned about producing flimsy, ultra-lightweight gis. The lightest gi they offer is the Koi Jiu Jitsu Gi, which features a 420 GSM jacket and 9.5 oz cotton pants. However, almost all of their gis feature a sturdy 450 GSM pearl weave jacket and between 10 oz to 11 oz cotton or canvas pants - pretty much the ideal combination for a long-lasting training and competition gi. For those who love that heavier gi, Ronin has got you covered: their Ronin Emperor Gi features a 500 GSM jacket and 12 oz duck canvas pants, and their Imperial Double Weave Gi, features a seriously durable 890 GSM jacket.

Ronin Brand also has a very well-defined aesthetic: it's all about the Japanese samurai warrior. In fact, the brand itself is inspired by the "ronin" (literally translated to "drifter" or "wanderer"), which was a samurai without a lord or master, due to the death or fall of his master, or because he fell out of favor. Therefore, the embroidered details and interior artwork (for those models with sublimated linings) feature traditional Japanese iconography, such as the samurai weapons - such as swords, shuriken throwing blades, and bow and arrows - as well as men-yoroi battle masks, Japanese crests and Kanji lettering.

Our favorite of the Ronin lineup? The Ronin Blackout Samurai Jiu Jitsu Gi, a limited edition collaborative design with artist Blackout Brother, featuring a deep green/black fabric, an incredibly detailed samurai mask embroidery on the left arm, and a wickedly cool Blackout Brother samurai mask fully subliminated on the interior CoolMax lining of the jacket. Check it out: