Gi Review: Grab & Pull Premium v2 (A2)
Grab & Pull, out of Brighton UK, is the child of Gus Oliviera and has become one of the most recognizable BJJ Apparel Company in the UK. Grab & Pull is also very active in the European BJJ community. Recently, they’ve helped to bring Grappler’s Quest to Europe and will also be streaming the upcoming Copa Podio tournament. G&P is crossing the big pond soon and were kind enough to send their Premium Version 2 gi for a review. If the gi that I was sent is any indication of their products they will be just as big in the US in no time. Their current line of products include: tees, gis, belts, rashguards, and fight shorts. Now, let’s jump into the review for the Grab & Pull Premium Version 2 in White (A2)!
Gi Review: Inverted Gear (A3L)
"Inverted Gear was founded in February of 2012. We had grown tired of the current trend of high price pre-order limited edition gis, which meant months of waiting and small window of purchase. We strive to bring a high quality product at an affordable price…
We are not for the tough guys, our logo is a clear indication of what we are about. We are for the guys and girls that want to be on the mat…
Be part of the Panda Nation”
I was introduced to Inverted Gear about a year ago. I was competing in my first IBJJF tournament and kept seeing these gis with upside down pandas on them. They were everywhere, seemed to fit well and the panda logo is pretty cool. It wasn’t until a few months ago that I was able to finally get my hands on one of these gis and see what all the fuss was about. BTW, Inverted Gear has the nicest gi bag that I’ve ever seen. My oldest daughter fell in love with it instantly and has claimed it as her own.
Modern Jiu Jitsu: Full Set Breakdown
Overview
In the words of the man himself, “Modern Jiu Jitsu, as my DVD illustrates, isn’t new jiu jitsu just a better way to do the things we have always been doing. We aren’t reinventing the wheel, we are using better application of technique to make the wheel better.” Caio Terra
Caio Terra’s Modern Jiu Jitsu series was released in early 2012 to almost universal praise (also here). The set is available as 4 DVDs or 8 apps from iTunes and is available at Mobile Black Belt. This set has already gained the reputation as a go to instructional for beginner to intermediate practitioners. The combination of stunning visuals, first-rate audio and expert instruction ensures that this set will stand the test of time. In this article, I’ll be covering the entire set. Included will be my easy to follow mindmaps (flow charts) that can be downloaded from a link at the end of the article.
Gear Review: Breakpoint FC Ranked Rashguard (L)
“BreakpointFC was founded out of our love for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We understand the difficulty of finding quality Gis with good fit. Our brand values quality and customer service. We constantly try to refine our products to respond to the demands of the Jiu Jitsu community. Where other premium Gi companies products skyrocket in price while declining in quality, Break Point offers premium Gis at competitive prices with excellent design, fit and quality. One roll and you will know the difference.” Breakpoint FC
Break Point’s new series of ranked rashguards are available in short sleeves. The rashguards are IBJJF legal, available in traditional ranks, kid’s ranks, pink and red. The rashguards feature fully sublimated graphics and are available for $49.95 from Breakpoint.
Rashguard Review: Apollo Fightgear Long Sleeve (L)
Intro:
I wear rashguards every time that I train. Gi or nogi, it doesn’t matter. I wear half a dozen rashguards every week and I’m pretty rough on them. My typical rashguards last about 4 to 6 months before a seam pops or begins to unravel. Sadly, some have only made it a few sessions before going into the pile of unusable gear. Finding one that’s affordable, comfortable and budget friendly is very important to me and probably to you as well. In this review I’ll be looking at Apollo Fight Gear’s rashguard. It’s fully sublimated, has extra torso length, comes in long-sleeve or short-sleeve and is only $30.
Review/Study Guide: Lucas Lepri Championship Guard Passing
"Lucas Lepri is one of the most dynamic and creative competitors in action today his techniques are smooth and easy to learn I strongly recommend his DVDs to anyone interested in learning the real jiu jitsu." - Master Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti
Lucas Lepri has been one of the top lightweights in the world since 2007. In that time the Alliance black belt has won numerous World & Pan Am titles while teaching at Alliance Atlanta. Lucas’ newest DVD release focuses solely on passed the guard and spends a lot of time on the De la Riva guard and other open guards. With the rise of the Berimbolo and successful open guard players this DVD set comes at an auspicious time. Lucas Lepri’s DVD set consists of 2 DVDs and covers ~3 hours of instruction in total. In this article you’ll find mindmaps for both DVDs and some commonalities that I noticed as I broke down the instruction.
Gi Review: Manto "X" Pro Ultralight (A3)
Manto has been around for quite a while and is considered by most to be one of the “big boys” of BJJ and MMA gear. Their current line of products include: clothes, kimonos, rashguards and fight gear. As athletes are getting bigger and stronger Manto has created a gi created specifically for competitors and those that need to keep the weight of their gi as low as possible. I was sent a Manto “X” Pro Ultra-light A3 a few months ago and have been using it regularly ever since. The gi is very light (the A3 weighs just less than 2 kg) and has a very slim cut. From the time I opened the package I knew that this might turn into one of my favorite gis to train in.
Study Guide: Dan Fagella's Heel Hook Secrets
Dan Fagella, of The Science of Skill, has recently begun to offer what he calls Micro BJJ videos and articles. If you're not familiar with Dan he's a brown belt in the Rooster/under 130lb division. Dan has been competing at the highest levels most recently winning the NoGi Pans as a brown belt in 2011. Outside of BJJ he is working on his PhD at Univ of Penn with a focus in psychology.
In the MicroBJJ series Dan takes a fairly specific technique or situation and breaks it down to a very high level of detail. Many of these articles and videos focus on leg locks, an area of intense interest to him. Dan was kind enough to provide a copy of his Heel Hook Secrets video and as part of the review I'll be breaking it down into a handy-dandy map for your easy reference.
Gi Review: Samurai (A3L) by Ronin
Intro:
“Ronin is a subsidiary of Kinji San, a family owned and operated martial arts supplier that has been in business since 1976. As consumers ourselves, we strive to treat our customers as we would like to be treated. It is our sincere desire to provide you with the best quality products at affordable prices. We offer superior service, a knowledgeable staff and quick shipping.”
I first came across Ronin brand gis last year after reading Aesopian’s review of their Fighter model gi (currently on sale for ~$80). After a few emails with Doug at Ronin I was able to get my hands on their newest model, the Samurai. The Samurai is available in white, blue and black. The gi is available in the traditional sizes (A1 thru A5) as well as long (A1L thru A3L) and is priced at $139.95 (white) or $159.95 (black & blue) (which includes free US Shipping).
Nogi Gear Review: Origin Spats
Intro:
“In my opinion there was no BJJ brand that represented the beauty and elegance we all experience when participating in the gentle art. I was looking to create a brand that had meaning, that word that came to me was ORIGIN.” Pete Roberts
Origin BJJ has been getting a lot of press lately because of their move to have all of their gi manufacturing at their Maine headquarters. Origin is the product of Pete Roberts and his desire to get out of the corporate word and to pursue his passion for BJJ as a career (for a little more on Pete check here). Their products are designed from his experience as a student, competitor and teacher. To that end Origin’s products include gis, nogi apparel and training accessories. With a reputation for service and quality I was very excited to use Origin spats for my initiation into the world of spats.