Keiko Raça's Limited Edition in an A1 Navy Blue, Please!

Happy Birthday to meeeee,
Happy Birthday to meeeee,
Though it's still a month~and~a~half away-yaaaay,
Happy Birthday to me.

After obsessively sinking my jaws into the blissful task of finding the perfect gi for myself, I've finally nailed it down to this one as my birthday present this year. For a while, it was a tough time trying to decide between my two whittled down choices: the Koral in Army Green and the Keiko in Navy Blue. However, since no one too inexperienced wants to rock a significantly "different" gi ~ especially if the rocker may significantly suck ~ I figure this shade of blue (wait, did I just give away that I'm a girl?) is a far cry cooler than the phosphorescent smurfy blue that seems to be so popular on the mat.

(And you'd have to be as smoking hot and crazy~ass sexy as Kyra Gracie to so successfully work the violently vitriolic pink Atama has made her official gi colour. There are lovely shades of pink out there; it's a shame they didn't pick a more subdued, dusty rose right off the bat. Which would look absolutely smashing on Kyra, of course, but also on other women who aren't diametrically opposed to wearing pink gis. Atama, I think it's high time for a wee pigment tweak... then watch your sales skyrocket!)

In my case, the Keiko won out because ~ along with being a tough double-weave ~ it's notably heavy but still has a silky~soft texture, a sleek silhouette, an easy~to~adjust rope~tie at the waist that stays tied (important!), a fairly tough collar to defend against chokes, breathes well, is apparently super comfy, and a favourite of two female purple belt bloggers who appreciate its cut on women and their lady~parts. It also doesn't hurt that the Keiko is $35 cheaper than the Koral, and seriously... ain't it spiffy?

(Regardless of which, though, I think anything would be more respectable than the gi I'm sporting now: a Kyokushin Karate gi my brother wore when he was ten years old. And he was often teased and bullied for being a small kid! Ack!!! Yes, I come from a long line of gimpy people. And yes, I do happen to be cringingly familiar with Monty Python's little ditty about liking Chinese...)

Since Google is such a nutter and was the primary source for the bulk of my research, I'm going to post an e~mail I've already sent around to friends and instructors with info I've gleaned on gi~buying, including helpful tips for women. Maybe someone out there looking for a new gi might find something useful.

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For all~around definitive awesomeness in gi-descriptions ~ as well as buying information ~ check out this guy's site. As well as some really helpful comparison charts at the top of the list of brands, he's opened his review site up for e-mail submissions so the scope of gis covered is almost breathtaking:

Joker Jitsu's Gi-Review Site


Here's a great breakdown from a martial artist who used to own Fightgear, with his highest recommendations:

Fightgear Guy



For the most helpful guides I've found on women's gis, here are some great sites written by women fighters. The first two are written by purple belts with lots of gi~experience, so I found them the most helpful. The third link comes from someone who's just buying her first and using the previous two as reference points, but she does include other gis not previously mentioned. The fourth is a newly discovered LiveJournal page that's just a fun read.

Gringa BJJ's Reviews

Georgette Ogden's Reviews

Fighting Is Your Friend's Previews

GirlFighters on Women's Gis

Gi-suppliers for women:

Brazilian Fightwear

Atama for Women

Some tips I've learned about buying a gi:

• Weave explanations (from Gringa BJJ's blog): "The difference between 'single weave,' 'double weave,' 'gold weave,' 'competition weave,' etc: Single weaves are light, but less durable, and often the cheapest. Double weaves are heavy and make you sweat more than you ever thought you could (this might be a good thing). Gold weave is not only light, but also strong. You'll usually pay more for a gold weave, but I think it's worth it. Competition weave gis vary alot depending on the brand. I was discussing this with my friend Heather Ryder, who says that she does not like her Koral competition weave gi precisely because it did not shrink. Even in the A1, she's swimming. Essentially, you pay much much more for a few more patches (which doesn't help if you're trying to score sponsors anyway)."
  
  
• As a beginner, aim to buy a heavier gi (such as double weave) since the more cumbersome quality will help you improve your game in the long run. This is akin, perhaps, to running with an open parachute strapped to you. Take that sucker off after training with it for a while and then you're *flying*.



• Look for breathability of material, regardless of what you might expect from its weight. For example, I read somewhere that certain gi pants don't breathe, and you'll end up feeling like you're grappling with heavy soaked denim dragging down your legs like a heavy tarp. Avoid. Look for pants that will still be comfortable and pliable even when soaking with sweat.



• As snazzy as some gi jackets look with cool trims or patches, avoid any with stitches running along the back in any direction (across or down) as this causes movement inhibition from pain or even rashes from playing guard and swivelling around all Brazilian salsa dancer-like. That said, however, Howard (HCK) gis apparently have a big fat seam running down the back, and some forum posters don't seem to mind them. (http://www.ironlife.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71463)



• With regards to stitching, the less seams you have, the better and stronger the gi will hold together (ie less weak spots for tearing to happen).



• Find out about cut and shrinkage properties of each gi. Most will shrink, though more in length than width. Thus, you could easily end up with super gimpy gi pants that still parachute out around your body and limbs.



• The more slender the cut on your arms and legs, the harder it will be for your opponent to grab you. Lean good! Super baggy not so good! However, be aware that there is such a thing as too fitted, which referees can legally call and stop you from competing.



• Tapered wrists and ankles on gis are also good choices to make your limbs harder to capture, though the look is unflattering as heck.



• The more durable and thick the collar of your gi, the harder it will be for your opponent to choke you out. Thus, unless you actually enjoy falling asleep during rolling sessions, beware the really soft, flimsy collars.



• Your build is seriously going to dictate the fit of each gi, and how well each "shrinks to fit"... or not.



• Wash your gi very regularly; sweat and dirt get into the fibres of the material and break it down. Also, dirty gis taste and feel gross.



• To help preserve the life of your gi, wear an underlayer to help soak up the worst of the sweat, wash in cold water and hang to dry.



• Generally, the softer the cotton, the better its quality ~ despite its weight. Coarser gi fabrics tend to be made up of shorter fibres and feel rougher, and may not be as durable in the long run.



• Don't dry your gi on hot as it will shrink your gi, even Korals. However, some gis need some amount of dryer action as they can be too rough to wear without it. Be sure to check that out first. (Korals have a reputation for drying super rough, but if you want to cheesegrate that opponent's face with your uniform, have at it.)



• Find out about the culture of your dojo before you buy a gi with too much flash or pimpiness. Some places have arsefaces who look for any reason to beat up a newbie, so showing up in a $200 camo gi on your first day may invite some unwanted attention. That said, however, most of us would avoid these kinds of places anyway, but do still check. It never hurts. Oh wait, it will anyway, won't it? After all...



• For women, look for gi jackets that don't bulge overmuch without provocation at the waist, and are cut just a weeeee bit smaller in the shoulders (but still roomy enough for good mobility). That way, your kimono doesn't balloon out and become easily undone or too loosened during a match, thus causing annoying obstructions for moving limbs.



• Korals tend to be overpriced but do score really high with its fans as they are preshrunk and have rubber inserts in the collars to prevent them from getting soaked through (so fungus and bacteria can't propagate). Another selling point for the company is that they do other colours besides white, blue, and black. Best place to buy Korals for their reputedly excellent customer service is http://www.jiujitsuprogear.com/. This is also where you can find the ever-elusive kids'/girls' Keiko Raca gis, the favourite of both female purple belt gi reviewers I've listed above.



• If you're looking to buy a Gameness gi ~ in which my instructor trains and looks smashingly bad~ass ~ be absolutely certain you're buying an authentic uniform manufactured in the US, *not* Brazil. Otherwise, you're easily looking at potential inconsistency in sizing, craftsmanship, and quality. (Refer to the comments in Joker Jitsu's site at top.) Currently, the only authorized sellers for Gameness gis are www.grapplergear.com and www.fightinglegacy.com.