Wednesday 20 July 2016

The Myth of Ripstop.

One of the most common questions we get is .. 'All the other big brands use Ripstop material why doesn't Battle Gear?'




Let's start with What is Ripstop & why is it used in BJJ Kimonos?

Ripstop fabrics are woven fabrics, often made of nylon, (now available in cotton, silk, etc...) using a special reinforcing weave technique (grids and reinforced columns) that makes the material more resistant to tearing and ripping. The key words here to remember is 'MORE RESISTANT'.
The name of the fabric is misleading as it does not STOP RIPS.
Ripstop material was originally developed for the Military but has now seen many other uses.
In Bjj it became popular as a new innovative material for gi trousers as one of the common problems for BJJers is that our trousers will always wear down faster than the tops and as it gets
tugged at and pulled constantly. As such, BJJ trousers are prone to tearing.  Anyone who has trained long enough will know that the trousers tearing is a normal thing and part and parcel of ground fighting.
Gi companies came across a material called 'RIPSTOP' which boasts a fantastic claim of being resistant to tears and rips. This was a godsend (or so it seems) and soon RIPSTOP was used in not just BJJ trousers but even in full suits, tops as well.
MYTH 1:
RIPSTOP material will stop rips and tears

TRUTH:
Having worked in the military tactical equipment industry for almost 15 years, I have worked with ripstop countless times. Also being ex-military I have worn RIPSTOP myself and have seen 1st hand how they perform. In Military applications, RIPSTOP is designed to stop a small puncture or tear from quickly spreading through fraying when out on operations and in the field. In that specific context it works as it should however this does not take into account the material being pulled on and tugged at. Once the material is constantly pulled on and tugged RIPSTOP ACTUALLY TEARS AND RIPS EASIER THAN A NORMAL COTTON WEAVE.
Anyone who has ever had a RIPSTOP trouser tear on you will have seen that when RIPSTOP tears it tears easily and in a complete straight line (unlike cotton tears which will be jagged) You can see this very clearly in the image below.
The Grid like weave actually provides a perfect direction for the material to tear easier.
A good cotton weave is tougher to tear when pulled upon as the weave is staggered as seen in the picture below.

MYTH 2: 
RIPSTOP gi trousers are lighter than cotton trousers.

TRUTH:
This unfortunately is an outright LIE by big Gi companies to generate sales in the past.
Gi trousers used to be constructed of traditional heavy weight cotton typical of JUDO trousers. They were super tough but very thick and heavy. Not particularly good if you have to watch your weight for competitions or when it is hot as hell in summer.
The truth is in the details.
Comparing a 8oz RIPSTOP trousers to a 15oz cotton trousers is obviously going to be lighter in weight and a totally UNFAIR comparison.
The OZ stands for ounces and the number is how much one square yard of material weighs.
A 10oz cotton trousers weighs the same as a 10oz RIPSTOP trousers when identically constructed.

CONCLUSION:
At Battle Gear we will not use RIPSTOP material in gi trousers as we do not see any benefits compared to cotton. If there are no benefits than what is the point.
You are simply buying into a cleverly named product with no actual substance.
If technology advances in the future and produces a RIPSTOP variant that is actually tear proof, then we will definitely reconsider our position.
Our Cotton is just as tough, just as light, softer and more comfortable.

Taking into account the gimmick of the name RIPSTOP, the only benefit we can see is the possible increase in sales due to the misleading name.
This benefit we can do without.
We refuse to do things like that at Battle Gear.

Friday 27 February 2015

To MAY toe or To Mar Toe - Kimono or Gi


Is it a BJJ gi or a BJJ Kimono?
Exactly as the title suggest.
One in the same!
In BJJ, it is either a Kimono or a Gi ....and Both.
In our ( by OUR I mean Bjjers) specific context, both are equally correct.

This comes up so often that you think that everyone should know this by now but strangely enough some people still insist that it is the one and not the other.

The basis of our argument is very simple and we will keep this short and sweet as this can get really go on forever if we let it.

Our martial art is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
As we all know Mitsuyo Maeda from Japan is accredited as the father of BJJ as he went to Brazil and taught Judo Newaza to some Brazilians (Luis Franca, Carlos Gracie, etc...)

Fact no 1: BJJ's roots are from Japan

The BJJ we know of today however is an evolution  and growth from its roots, changing dramatically by taking on Brazilian Culture, spirit , new techniques and  style. It is no longer Judo Newaza but is now its own martial art.

Fact no 2: BJJ as its name suggest is a Brazilian Martial art.

Why is a Gi a correct term?
Because, referring to fact no 1, in Japan a Keikogi or dōgi is a uniform for training, used in martial arts. In Karate, the uniform would be known as a Karate Gi hence in BJJ it would be known as a BJJ Gi.


Why is Kimono also a correct term?
In Japan, The word "kimono" simply and literally means a "thing to wear" (ki "wear" and mono "thing").In this day and age of TV, movies and media, we have wrongly  solely associated the word with only the fancy traditional dress attributed to Japanese females but the definition is simply just a 'thing to wear'.
We have also wrongly associated the word Kimono with a female dress. It is correct in Japan that the word Kimono can be used for both the male and female outfit.
With all that established now let us get back to fact no. 2.
BJJ is BRAZILIAN Jiu Jitsu.
Its Brazilian.
Nobody knows why and when they started to use the word Kimono to describe the BJJ outfit but they do in Brazil. Perhaps it was a way to pay tribute to the Japanese roots of BJJ. Nobody knows but its a fact that Brazilians call the outfit a KIMONO.
And as it is a Brazilian Martial art... and they ( Brazilians) call it a Kimono, who are we to argue.... infact doesn't that make it more correct than Gi dare I say?
Well.. thats for you to decide. :)

Our position is clear.

Both are correct.

I train in a BJJ Kimono and it is in a Gi that I will continue to grow as a martial artist.

Keep Rocking cause you're Rolling!



Thursday 8 January 2015

New 2015 t-shirts to be added to our URBAN WEAR range

In January 2015 2 new t shirt designs will be added to our 2015






Please go to http://www.facebook.com/battlegi and 'LIKE' the page to be kept updated with the launch dates.
www.battlegearbjj.com

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Monday 22 July 2013

Are you over training & is there really such a thing? For the average Joe!

90% of us are not professional athletes, fighters or full time BJJ pros.
This one is for the average Joe .. the BJJ fanatic. The BJJ-JOE.

Over training.. myth or truth?

Firstly lets look at the typical mentality in a gym / martial arts academy.
In most gyms it is usually summed up to this... if you train 7 days a weak twice a day then you are 'hardcore' with all good connotations attached to the word HARDCORE and if you take a few days off training or the diet, then you are being uneffective, lazy and these days are known as CHEAT days, with the implication that you should be training and wokring hard rather than cheating your way out of it.

Lets get out of that mentality and truly understand what we are putting our bodies through.

Training hard is good. We need it to improve, learn and condition our bodies to do what we need them to do but the so called CHEAT days are good too.. why?

 When you are training, rolling or drilling, we put our bodies, muscles and bones through stress and work, what you are actually doing is breaking down the muscle tissue everytime we work out or exercise. This is experienced in the post work out / training ache and pain.
A muscle constantly breaking down will make it weaker, which can cause loss in strength and can lead to injuries like muscle tears and similar very painful injuries which can take very very long to heal defeating the purpose of your hard training.
 By allowing the muscles to rest, the body recognises that you require to be stronger for the activites that you perform and if given the time to heal and refuel, you will see the muscles, bones, etc... grow back stronger, and you becoming stronger. The Beauty of evolution.
 By not taking time off during your weekly training, all you are doing is to continue to break and wear muscles, ligaments and bones down further which will eventually lead to overtraining.... and to injuries .. if you are lucky, minor ones and if you are not, it can be very serious.  Overtraining can also have other ill effects. (listed below in the Signs of over training)
So body rest is not just benficial but it is actually essential to improve and better yourself as an athlete.

Signs of over training:

1)  Elevated resting heart rate.
You wake up and your heart rate is through the roof

2) Disturbance of sleep.
You feel knackered but for some reason its difficult to get to sleep or your sleep is very disturbed.

3) Lack of appetite and unnecessary weight loss
Your body is being worked so it should be craving for nutrition and not the other way around.
Losing body fat is natural and weight loss due to that is constant. Sudden drop in weight is bad.

4)You keep getting little colds and illnesses
Your immune system is more vulnerable during periods of hard training but you shouldn't be getting ill all the time.

5)Little injuries and soreness taking longer and longer to heal

6) reduced desire to participate in activities formerly enjoyed

7)  decreased desire for training


8) Depression (serious cases)

AAARRGGHHHH!!! I might be over training!

So what is the solution?

Catch it early and all you need to do is take some time off.. get better, get stronger and get healed. REST.

Serious cases.. definitely go see a doctor and explain the situation. Sooner better than later.

Obviously a good balanced diet goes hand in hand with a good balanced training routine so EAT well, Train well and listen to your body and not to over zealous training buddies and instructors... they might have good intentions but only you can 'hear' what your body is telling you.

So from now on, OUT with calling it a 'Cheat day.' You are not cheating anyone.

From here on out let it now be known as REGROUP day/s.

A chance for your body to regroup physically and not forgetting mentally.

Once your body is all healed up and stronger.. it doesn't hurt to be mentally HUNGRY for the mat!

OSSS!




Thursday 30 May 2013

BATTLE KIDS!!!!

Sneak peak at our Kids Kimono coming very very soon!

IBJJF World Championships 2013

Good fights and fight well to all competing at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championships 2013!!!!

Extra shouts and Cheers for Battle Gear Athlete Vinicius Tavares Marinho of Gfteam Bjj competing in the Black Belt Middle Weight category.

Also.. a big shout of support to Ricardo Evangelista who we will support on his European Tour right after the Worlds!


The VANGUARD KIMONO!

The VANGUARD
Now available at http://www.battlegearbjj.com/vanguard-bjj-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-white-kimono--gi-by-battle-gear-337-p.asp



Monday 13 May 2013

Battle Gear athlete Gabriel Rainho wins at NAGA in Germany 2013



Congratulations to Battle gear Athlete Gabriel Rainho who wins at the NAGA 2013 in Germany.
Gabriel Rainho closes out the category with his cousin Joao Tavares and together they secure the top 2 spots for their team GFTEAM. OSS!
www.battlegearbjj.com

Friday 10 May 2013

Battle Gear Athlete Vinicius Marinho from GFTEAM wins at the COPA PODIO 2013

(Photos are all courtesy of Gracie Mag)





Battle Gear Athlete Vinicius Marinho from GFTEAM wins at the COPA PODIO 2013 in Brazil!

Vinicius Marinho wins Gold in the team divisions and in the weight category he wins the Bronze medal!


OOOOSSSSS!!!!!!

Friday 26 April 2013