cool uniforms

[sooner_sadiq]

does anyone have and sites where i could get a good quality uniform with some cool designs at reasonable prices? also my plain gi was 70$ with no patches, designs, etc. what would a decked out gi cost generally?

[Antares33]

High end gis can be very expensive.

Give these websites a try:

http://www.atama-kimonos.com/index_enter.htm
http://www.howardliu.com/


There's another company that starts with a K, but I can't remember the name or the website for the life of me...

[Gae-Bek]

"Here-here" for Atama. I've got a Gold-Weave with American and Brazilian flags, and I love it. Of course, it was around $100.

My other grappling Gi is a plain unbleached ProForce, that cost me about $30. For the price, you can't beat it!

[WhiteBeltJones]

I've always wondered about just buying a white gi and then stenciling something interesting on it. Of course, since my sport is Judo, I'd have to make sure I didn't make it competition-illegal.

[Erik]

I have two HCK and a Gameness. All are excellent quality.

As for patches and the gaudy decorations....

The way this got started was as follows. In Brazil, BJJ guys are not always wealthy enough to go compete, so certain companies started sponsoring the fighters. They would help with the hotel (I can imagine 20 guys in a hotel room arguing over who gets to shower next! :laugh: ), food, transportation, etc. To get this, the fighter would put that company's patch on their gi.

This eventually became a fashion as everyone wanted to look like they are sponsored. Reminds me of NASCAR or of skateboarding in Jr. High school. Now, some people pay to get the patches.

If you want patches, can I suggest getting some from www.onthemat.com from Gumby (the website owner)? They look cool and he is a straight-shooting businessman.

[Antares33]

I'm not huge on patches, but I do like some of the colored/designed gis over the plain white ones.

I've been using an Atama Gold weave for over a year, and it's still holding up great. I'm fed up with washing it twice a week though, I'm thinking I'll buy a HCK or Koral (that was the other one) Gi soon.

http://www.koralusa.com/

I like the Koral MKM Gis.

[Luebbers]

I hate the patches. I agree with all the people who make fun of BJJ'ers and their NASCAR gis. I do like the blue though. And Red Nose makes good gis as well.

"I can imagine 20 guys in a hotel room arguing over who gets to shower next!"

Like someone said about TUF, "When these guys fight over the bathroom, they FIGHT over the bathroom."

[Antares33]

I agree that the NASCAR gi's pretty much suck, but I've got nothing against wearing a patch representing your school on the back of the Gi at tournaments.

[khaynie]

Dont forget your school patches for pride and plain ol' plugging holes to extend the life of your gi. But I agree with the gawdiness of it all. I agree with a good school logo or affiliation logo and I have a couple yards of plain white canvas to plug holes as needed.

Keith