CTRL Industries Gigante Review GiCritic 9:38 AM

CTRL Industries Gigante will be reviewed by the hard to please, always angry, and brutally honest Mr. Chow. 

 The CTRL Industries Gigante, over the last months, became part of my typical gi rotation. CTRL Industries lately has been making a lot of noise with their designs. A few months ago, CTRL made the Gigante as their limited edition gi. It is a tribute to the San Francisco Giants. According to the company, they just settled for a small 200 gi production. When the gi was released, a number of BJJ fans noticed striking similarities with the Shoyoroll 7^th Son. Both came out rocking the San Francisco theme, and both were released almost around the same time. 

 

Initial Impressions

The price for this gi runs around $170 plus the shipping cost, it fell right at $195. If you are looking for a mid priced gi, this is definitely not the first option for you. The product comes with a sling bag. According to the manufacturer, the gi is 95% preshrunk. The top was made of 420 gsm pearl weave fabric while the pants were made of rip stop material. The construction of the jacket met my expectations. 

I owned a couple of Shoyorolls, and in comparison with the Gigante, I do believe that they are neck and neck with the top dog today in terms of durability and overall construction. Comfort-wise, I do love the feel of the pearl weave jacket. It was comfortable, and the cut fits my 5’6” 160 pound Asian frame. The collar was made of eva foam. 

The pants are also good, though they could've added two more loops. The fit was what I was looking for. It wasn't too tight on my ass or anything.

  

Check the Size Chart

Design

Colored black with an orange contrast stitch, it is just not something that sits well with my preference. I am not at all pleased with the “No Bammer Gi” taping by the skirt. Why did I buy it then? I did love the fact that they made a tribute to the San Francisco Giants. Growing up watching baseball, it has that novelty appeal in you. What I do like about the design is the skyline print that you see by the back. This unique print provides the San Francisco reference. Also, you see embroideries that are really clean and high quality. 

How Did It Do After a Few Months?

Mr. Chow is hard to please. I don’t usually like gis that are not well made. After a few months, the Gigante is still intact. For a $170, I’d have to say that it lived up to the hype. I now understand how BJJ gi hoarders are now saying that this brand could probably be the next in line for Shoyoroll’s throne. There is no significant fading on the gi’s color. I use it around once or twice a week for the past few months now. I bought it around June of 2013 during their pre-selling, and after seven months or so, it is still a great gi to use.  

The Origin Comp 550 Review GiCritic 10:13 AM

Our regular blogger Mr A-Z is going to review The Origin Comp 550 (A2) that he bought from the US.

Origin is one of the best US based brands that have come up with some amazing innovations in the gi business. They have schemed a rashguard plus gi set up. For those asking, is this worth it? Mr. A-Z managed to use this gi for several months now. Aside from having a shit load of gi collections, he has a refined taste in his gi! 

Read on!

Initial impression

The color scheme was very appealing.  The details such as the embroidery and stitching were well made. No loose threads. Cloth used felt soft on the inside and a little rough on the outside.
Value for the gi was good. The Origin Comp 550 comes with 2 bags; one for the gi itself and the other for the rashguard that came along with it. When I first tried on the rashguard it was rather loose on me and was definitely not the fit that I was looking for on the rashguard so I have no thoughts about it other than it felt smooth and silky on my skin. All in all the gi cost me $180.

Pre-roll Review

The gi fit great. Sleeves were somewhat long although that has to do more with my body type than the gi itself. (I used to weigh 185 lbs. at 5’6 when I bought the gi.) The pants felt a little heavier than the usual ripstop even though it did seem like ripstop. The pants provided excellent knee reinforcement and you could really feel the pads when you kneel for a takedown or throw. The extra long drawstring annoyed me however. It was long enough to wrap it around your waist again. The crotch/gusset area also featured a cloth made of gi material. It was a very nice touch considering that was the same spot where I accidentally ripped through my Koral pants. That is a different story, however.

During the Roll Review

The jacket was good. I definitely felt that jacket was light yet sturdy as I went through the motions of our warm-ups, drills, and rolls. The pants were indeed heavier than the normal ripstop. They were difficult to grab come sparring time. The extra knee padding, which made up a huge part of the pants made it difficult to grip properly. The pants had 6 rope loops, which kept the pants from falling down. The pants fit great. They were tight on my quadriceps and hamstrings but not tight enough to hamper your movement. The gi’s overall feel and performance was well worth the price indeed.

Post Roll Review

The gi was still performing great. It had very minimal shrinkage. It was almost the same as when I first bought it except for the fact that the color faded. I hand wash my gis all the time. I have never put them in a washer, dryer, nor have I ever applied bleach to any of my gis. As months rolled by, I noticed that the gi’s color was fading. I am aware that most gis are subject to fading but this one was a little bit faster than the usual. In a span of 7 months, my black/purple gi was turning into a brown/lavender gi.

Gi Critic Verdict

The Comp 550 2011 was good overall in terms of sizing, fit, and performance. The drawbacks though were the very long drawstring and possibly the heavier than usual ripstop pants. The main qualm I have with the gi though was how quickly the color deteriorated. I would have scored the gi highly had it not bled and faded.

List of BJJ Products Based from Pre-Established Art GiCritic 9:40 AM

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Is it really just about flattery or something else? Given the number of brands out there, were these products released with money driven intentions or the companies sincerely wanted to be unique?

 If you are an avid BJJ gi/gear enthusiast, you may argue how small the room for improvement is for the gis and related products. Among many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi companies today, it is now a trend to stick towards tribute gis. Is this a good or a bad thing? When you have Star Wars, Dragon Ball, or even Ninja Turtles themed gis, is this really “thinking outside the box”? Also, is it a justifiable excuse to simply use pre-established popular works of art in order to get the brand out there?
Here is a short list of BJJ related products that made use of other works of art to establish their brand.

1. Gi Reviews X Tatami Collab Gi “Order 66” Kimono

Currently communicating with Disney according to guys from Tatami, this is a blatant use of Star Wars characters. Could this gi lead towards a potential lawsuit if they push for its release? Gi Reviews made use of Star Wars as part of their site’s persona. From the memes, to the photos that you will see on their site, Gi Reviews is the epitome of a Star Wars fanatic X BJJ guy. Are you in favor of Order 66?  

2. Gi Reviews x Strike Fightwear “Hoth” Gi

Coming out as a limited edition gi with words “Roll With the Force” plus a gi bag that shows imagery of what looks like hyperspace travel, this is yet another project by Gi Reviews that made use of Star Wars references. On the exterior, the Hoth Gi is a clean looking gi that can be bought with or without its rash guard lining.

3. Modern Flow’s Dragon Ball Gi

Who doesn’t want to look like Goku when they were young? As ridiculous as it may be, it is an orange gi with the same sign that Goku uses on his back. Modern Flow even made use of the dragon ball on the pants, which could be a good basis of a lawsuit. Risky? Maybe yes.
According to Funimation’s copyright information on their website:

 All materials on this site, including, but not limited to cartoon characters, images, illustrations, audio clips, video clips, and compilations are protected by copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights which are owned and controlled by FUNimation Productions, Ltd. and its affiliates (collectively, "FUNimation") or by other parties that have licensed their material to FUNimation. Materials on FUNimation.com and related sites are solely for your personal, non-commercial use.

Kame hame ha anyone?

4. VHTS Gundam Inspired Gi

VHTS is a fairly new and unknown brand. Based on our research, it is a NY based gi company that offered bi-color lapel lining. Is it a good thing to see the small guys come into the picture? Yes, definitely. So how did they use pre-established art? They made use of a Gundam robot on their ad. Not really a fan of mobile suit Gundams, since I stopped watching when I was 11, but this is definitely an attempt to capture a Gundam fanbase within the BJJ community.  Given the names G-1 and G-2 on the gis, do these pertain to Gundam Gis? According to Gundam.wikia.com, The name Gundam is copyrighted and owned by Bandai,

5. Jitzilla

Ever thought of cross breeding Godzilla and Ninja Turtles and getting some fetal defects along the way? Well, you have Jitzilla. Looking at their page, Master Splinter didn’t help them at all with their poor customer service. This is exactly lazy marketing gone wrong.  They used Ninja Turtles as a gi's name, but it doesn’t seen effective.  Oh yeah, they need a graphic artist badly.

6. Commes De Grappler/Fabrique Por Grappler

I’ve been hanging around the BJJ Gi Addicts Anonymous group for quite some time. Fabrique Por Grappler was Comme Des Grappler. Based on their Meerkatsu interview:

Meerkatsu: It closely mimics the name Comme des Garçon - a famous fashion house are you concerned about the branding overlap?

Not at all! In no way do we feel that their is a branding concern, COMME des GARCON is a high fashion brand. We in no way, other than "comme des" emulate or try to be like our inspiration COMME des GARCON. After all, "comme des" is a french expression and phrase. Excuse my french, (pun intended) comme des fuckdown might be asked the same question lol.

When you blatantly copy everything except one word together with the typography and branding, this is the definition of a rip off. Up to some levels, we do understand tribute gis and products. Could it be that they are simply fan boys? Possible. 

Here’s a comparison of Comme Des Garcon and Comme Des Ripper, oops Comme De Grappler (Now FPG).

If they are really what they claim to be in the Meerkatsu interview that they didn’t mimic Comme De Grappler, why change your brand’s name?

Do you have more products in mind that used pre-established art in order to gain leverage in the BJJ market?

Fuji All Around BJJ Gi Review GiCritic 8:27 AM

Credits to martialartssupplies.com

Before all the bling and trends in the gi industry, one brand proved for so long how it is possible to stay simple, and survive through the years. If you are starting in BJJ and you are after function, way more than the crazy aesthetics like a Dragon Ball or a Star Wars gi perhaps, then Fuji is the right brand for you. For $94, the Fuji All Around BJJ Gi is a sweet deal as it can be. Rarely do you get to see a gi that goes below the $100 tag.

For starters,  I have a Fuji All Around BJJ A2 Gi in rotation over the past 2 years, and it hasn't showed any sign of wear and tear. This is the most suggested gi for those who are starting BJJ. Why? For starters, it is $94. In terms of durability, this can last for years! If you find BJJ not a perfect fit for you, you don't end up paying for a $200 Shoyoroll! 

What Is The Gi Composed Of?

Considered a mid weight gi, it is made of single weave material for the top while cotton drill fabric for the trousers. Unlike the common practice of using pearl weave top and rip stop pants, Fuji managed to keep the prices low by choosing single weave for top. However, in contrast to other gis, this is also the reason why it is a bit heavier. 

Another thing that makes the Fuji Single Weave different from the other newer gis is its collar. Often times, we see collars that are lined with either EVA foam or rubber. Personally though, Fuji All Around Gi's collar is too thick. It may be quite hard to grip compared to other softer variants, but this may not be a that comfortable to roll with.  

The pants isn't the best to tell you honestly. Made of cotton drill material, it can get heavy after a hard roll since it tends to get more sweat. As for the loop system, it simply has two while utilizing a drawstring. 

Shrinkage

The gi has been washed, tumble dried and hang dried for so many times over the course of two years. Unlike the Fuji Summerweave Gi, the Fuji All Around BJJ gi never showed significant amount of shrinkage. 

Aesthetics 

In terms of the aesthetics, nothing flashy can be seen on this gi. Embroidery of the Fuji logo on the shoulders and shoulders. That's it. The rest, feel free to fill the gi up! 

Overall Performance and Sizing

Whether for the beginner or the long time grappler, Fuji All Around Gi never fails to deliver. It makes the cut for a day to day gi. The problem with this gi is the weight. If you are planning to compete with this, you better make sure that you lose more weight. For the fit, the gi is quite baggy. I'm 5'7" around 150, supposedly I should be an A2. However, it seems that I could go down to an A1. 

Gi Critic Verdict

Judging by the pros and cons, from the price to performance, the gi is a highly recommended for serious BJJ enthusiasts who love the no bull shit approach in BJJ apparel.