Fighter — cat_Gear

Not all basic gis were created equal. Indeed, there is a lot of variation between the "entry level" gis put out by brands throughout the jiu jitsu market. With some, you certainly get what you paid for... with others, however, you will be pleasantly surprised by the quality offered at such an economical price. 

You can be sure to count the Maeda Red Label gi - available in both a men's and women's cut - among the latter group. 

As gi connoisseurs, nothing peeves us more than when a "basic" gi looks basic, or when it starts to fall apart after only a few uses. Yeah, you are paying the bare minimum price, but we believe that a brand should put out a quality product, whether it's their premium model or their entry-level model. 

Maeda Brand outdid themselves in this respect. 

Take the construction, for example. The jacket is made from a lightweight 350 GSM Super Fine Pearl Weave cotton fabric, reinforced in all stress areas. The pants are made from durable, yet lightweight, 8 oz drill cotton. Compare that to their highly-popular. ultra-lightweight, all-cotton gi, the Fujin. There's not a lot of difference. Now remember, the lighter the fabric, the less durable it is over the long-term... so make sure you take proper care of it - and any of your gis, really - to ensure it lasts. 

In order to keep the price low, Maeda Brand limited the amount of decoration they put on the Red Label gi. However, it is far from looking too bare. Sporting their iconic "stamp" logo embroidered on the left shoulder and back of the jacket, and small fabric patches sewn on the other shoulder and left pant leg in bright pops of red, the Red Label looks really ridiculously sharp. We can't stress enough that this gi does not look like a basic gi. 

Still not convinced? Take a chance and try it out. At such a low price, your wallet is not going to take a beating if you do, and we're pretty sure you won't be disappointed by what you find. 

Train on. Oss.

Here at Fighters Market, we pride ourselves on stocking the best brands in the industry. So what would we be if we didn't offer products from one of the most recognizable brands in sport jiu jitsu? 

Kingz Kimonos has been producing top quality gis, no-gi gear, and apparel since 2011. However, in recent years, they've really begun to ramp up their investment in R&D and quality control, in an effort to both set themselves apart from the rest of the competition, and give their customers a product that really works on the mat. 

The magic behind the brand is that nearly everyone there trains, and most of them compete... so they know what works, what doesn't, and what the evolving needs are of the modern jiu jitsu practitioner. They essentially have their fingers on the pulse of the jiu jitsu industry, and they're able to both keep up with the trends, as well as set some off themselves.  

For example, have you checked out their Balistico 2.0 gi, yet? This thing is one indestructible piece of battle armor... which is probably why they gave it a military-influenced theme. The jacket features 100% preshrunk mid-weight 480 GSM cotton, patented Coolmax shoulder lining - to keep you cool even during the most rigorous training - and specially designed NO-GRIP sleeve lining (a second layer of ripstop material sewn into the bottom portion of the sleeves, which help prevent your opponent getting a solid grip). 

And since introducing their newly designed women's cut, they've been rocking the women's market ever since. Plus, unlike most brands which offer one or two - or no - women's gis, they feature the women's cut in almost all of their gi models - the Basic 2.0, Comp 450 V5, Nano ultra-light, and Balistico 2.0 - and have size options from F0 to F5, so you're bound to find something that fits you well and looks sharp on the mat. 

You might have noticed that their No-Gi gear has started to take on a new "timeless yet edgy" look. That's because they've also invested heavily in their design team, so they can bring you the freshest and most stylish gear out there. I mean, check out their Crown 3.0 Ranked Rash Guard!

But don't take our word for it... have you seen their impressive roster of sponsored athletes?! You know Leandro Lo - one of the biggest names in the sport jiu jitsu industry right now - wouldn't just trust any old brand. 

With so much momentum going already, you can be sure to expect some really cool things coming out of Kingz in the coming year! So stay tuned...

Train on. Oss!

Look across the mats of any Brazilian jiu jitsu competition and you'll see a wide variety of gi brands, but only a few seem to dominate the market more than the rest. One of these is Tatami. And the gi of choice for a lot of these competitors? The Tatami Estilo. 

As I've said before, there's a reason a gi is in it's umpteenth version... because it's a good one. Most jiu jitsu practitioners are an interesting mix of die-hard brand loyalists and demanding connoisseurs of well-fitted gis. It's really hard to find a "former" Tatami fan. Why? Because the brand delivers. But those same fans aren't hesitant to make their preferences known. If a gi model doesn't fit, they won't buy it, and it fades from the lineup. 

Now in its - incredibly - sixth edition, Tatami Estilo 6.0 is one of those gis with serious lasting power in the market. 

The Tatami Estilo has always been a competitor-friendly gi, featuring a durable mid-weight 550 GSM pearl weave jacket and 12 oz canvas pants. Sure, you can find gis with lighter jackets and pants, but remember: the lighter the material, the shorter its lifespan. Tatami designed their gis, and particularly their Estilo, to last, no matter how hard you train or how many times you step on the competition mat.  

The Estilo also features a nicely tailored competition cut: roomy enough in key areas (such as the shoulders) to allow unrestricted movement, but more streamlined in others (the sleeves and lower pant area) to keep your opponent from getting a solid grip. The jacket's unique Y-shaped jacket vent also creates a more fitted silhouette, so you look as sharp as James Bond in a fine Italian suit. 

The best part? The Tatami Estilo features an impressive range of sizes, accommodating just about any body type and size. In addition to their standard men's sizing, they also offer "S" (short), "L" (long), and "XL" (extra-long) sizes. Among the first brands to do so, they also offer a cut especially designed for women, offering the standard women's sizes, as well as "C" (curvy) and "L" (long) fits. 

Want to know more? Check out their promotional video below: 

Anytime you see a jiu jitsu gi model in its umpteenth version... you know it's a good one. Unpopular models fade and disappear from the market, while the popular ones get better and better. The Kingz Kimonos Comp 450 V5 is no exception. One of Kingz' most popular gis, the Comp 450 V5 is the best yet! 

Read on to get the scoop...

Material:

The Comp 450 V5 features a mid-weight 450 GSM (grams per square meter) Pearl Weave top, and 10 oz cotton drill pants, both made from 100% pure cotton. This gi is the perfect balance between weight and durability. While some practitioners may prefer lighter weight gis, those gis do tend to shrink more and they don't hold up as well when it comes to the daily grind. 

Cut: 

We love the Kingz cut. With the V4 and now the V5, they have improved upon their earlier versions with a nice tapered, streamlined profile. This is incredibly popular with competitive jiu jitsu practitioners as it provides less material for your opponent to grab, as well as non-competitive practitioners because, well... there's less material for your opponent to grab. Period. Just make sure you choose the size that's right for you, or you may end up looking like a hipster in your skin-tight gi. Luckily for you, Kingz offers a ton of great sizing options, including "H" (husky) and "L" (long) sizes.

Design: 

Kingz always strives to keep their gis looking fresh and modern. With the Comp 450 V5 they haven't strayed too far from the aesthetic of their highly-popular V4, but they've definitely given it some edge. You'll note that the medieval lion symbol that was on the skirt of the V4, is a more prominent element in the V5. It is included in the pattern of the yoke lining, in the newly designed jacket and pant labels, and is even embroidered on the inside of the Kingz Crown logos on the shoulders (the coolest part of this gi in our opinion!). 

FM Rating: 

We definitely give this gi a 5 out of 5, for both quality and creativity. 

Trian on. Oss.