Summary
Excellent all round premium gi with improved styling and great quality as with all previous Estilo models. I did find however that the innovative rubber waistline strip to be noticeably annoying due to unnecessary bunching around the hips.
Disclosures
I have worked as a freelance designer for Tatami Fightwear on several projects. I am unconnected with this product.
Information
Tatami Estilo 4 available from April 2013 via the Tatami Fightwear website and all other distributors.
Cost: tbc but likely to be around £95
Last year, he competed at a tournament and was caught by BJJ photographer John Lamonica in this pose here. It was a cool photo, but then Clark looks pretty cool in all his photos, no biggie there. Then, couple days ago, the photo was featured on REDDIT as part of an on-going internet meme focusing on extremely photogenic people looking cool in rather mundane everyday situations. Previous examples include the Ridiculously Photogenic Running Man and many others.
As a result, the photograph of Clark was shared, adapted and memed in the hundreds of thousands by people (BJJ fans and non BJJ folk alike) all over the world.
Clark himself had little to say over the matter. He appeared on Good Morning America and just smiled a lot as the presenters fawned over themselves at the sight of such a good looking jiu jitsu athlete.
If you are interested in what Clark actually does for a living, apart from existing as a ridiculously handsome man, then here's a good interview with him where he discusses BJJ.
So anyway, the #clarking thing. It's basically us trying to mimic the omoplata while looking noncholant far into the distance while the other person is suffering. I think my kids at the top photo do that very well!
I had the good pleasure recently to work on developing a new BJJ brand called OK! Kimonos. The company was started by Brendan Hufford who some of you may also know as one of the dynamic duo (along with Dan Halpin) behind GiReviews.net.
Brendan approached me last year with his plan - to create a range of fightwear aimed at kids featuring eye-poppingly zany cartoon animals. I was flattered to be assigned the task of designing the characters and so far, the company has put out a number of popular items, including kids gis, t-shirts, stickers and kit bags. More excitingly, there are a number of products soon to come aimed at adults too! Everyone it seems loves a cute tiger on their fight apparel!
I spoke to Brendan to give me the low down on his brand and what his plans are for the future...
I was editing through my tournament photos from the SUBF15TEEN contest when I was inspired to mock up a little poster here. Using the famous lines once spoken by Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid film, I present here something you can use as a neat smartphone wallpaper background (upright format only though).
I tried it on my Samsung S3 and it cuts off the sides a bit so you can't read the whole of the bottom line, so sorry about that. Next time I will get the dimensions properly.
Summary
This is a good, solid and very reasonably priced gi that ticks all the right boxes in terms of materials, reinforcements and construction. I was a bit put off by the persistent and stubborn mothball odour, tendency to fade unevenly and the design elements. Overall however, the Wind Kimono is great value for money.
Information
The Battle Gear 'Wind' sells for £60GBP from their website here: www.battlegearbjj.com/
Disclosures
I have no business or personal relations with Battle Gear.
The recent high profile submission only grappling events such as Metamoris and the Gracie Nationals have led to a resurgence of interest with extended time or no time limit submission only contests. The invitation only SUBF15TEEN tournament in the UK is one of these. This, their second show, was to be a bigger tournament, featuring 15 fighters, each to fight up to fifteen minutes with a win decided by submission only. If there was no submission after the duration, then the match was to be considered a draw. I drove up from London to photograph the event and support my team mates, five of whom were competing...
Summary
A well constructed and slim fitting pair of MMA shorts. I'm not a fan of the styling and graphics nor the large side splits but the quality of the production and the copious reinforcements and tightening fixtures make this one very tough and durable piece of kit.
Full disclosure: I have worked with Tatami Fightwear on a freelance basis over a number of unrelated projects. I have had no involvement with the design of this product.
On behalf of BJJHQ, 93 Brand, Tatami Fightwear and myself, we want to thank all the hundreds and hundreds of people who supported our campaign to raise funds for RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) and Rape Crisis (England & Wales). I am humbled by the many, many messages of support for the campaign and acknowledgment of why we were doing this.
Here are the results of our fundraising, as of Friday 1st March 2013:
Heavenly Footlock t-shirts sold through BJJHQ: 757
Amount raised for charity: $8,919.25 USD
Heavenly Footlock t-shirts sold through Tatami Fightwear: 164
Amount raised for charity: £1,148 GBP
