Jimmy Santiago's Technique Of The Week

After some hard training, Jimmy Santiago brings you another technique of the week!  If you love 'Reverse De La Riva' and 'Leg Lasso', you will enjoy this.

Jimmy Santiago's Technique of The Week

Stuck under somebody's side control?  Your opponent on top of you goes to 'reverse scarf-hold' to attack the kimura... Here is a nice back entry from there. Enjoy! Train Hard!

Keenan Cornelius vs Eduardo Telles

Jiujitsu has evolved so much these past couple of years.  I love the worm guard and now I love what Eduardo Telles has done with the turtle position.  He has evolved it into A GUARD!. THE OCTOPUS GUARD! Enjoy the action.

Combat Warrior Gi by Combat Skin Review (Overall: 7/10)

Overall Rate: 7 out of 10.  It's a good looking gi, but it gets hot FAST!  I haven't rolled in the gi enough. When I do i will make another review of it.

I am 5’7.5 ft. and I weight around 137-144 lbs.

Combat Warrior Gi Size: Size 3 A1

I first heard about Combat Skin earlier this year when I saw pictures of their spats and rashguards on the internet with Meerkatsu’s Qilin (A Chinese unicorn!!! Oh!).  They also sponsor up and coming athletes like Jaime Sterling and Taylor Guerra. So right away I thought Combat Skin was a pretty cool brand. 

OK! Enough jiujitsu nerding around… heres my take on this gi!

At first sight:

Oh! Cool bag…

A lot of good great fightwear and gi companies give you shi**y flimsy gi bags with eh.. weak heat transferred logos and what have you, but Combat Skin’s Combat Warrior Gi bag impressed me.  Meerkatsu’s Qilin is embroidered on the bag, and it’s a just a really cool looking bag.  Just as cool as CTRL bags!

The inside rashguard LINING!!! Awesome!  White gi, red trim, no cross color stitching just the right amount of flash.  Embroidered Qilin on the front bottom left lapel and on the top of the back, a lot of room for team and sponsor patches.  Gi pants look nice. Oh! I like the logo on the side.

Here are the specs from Combat Skin’s site:

Jacket

·       550 GSM lightweight pearl weave

·       One piece jacket with no back seam

·       EVA foam collar

·       All outside artwork 100% embroidered

·       Inside artwork sublimated on light rash guard lining for maximum comfort whilst not increasing  weight

·       Triple stitching for durability

·       Heavy reinforced seams at pressure areas such as the underarms and vents

·       Tape lining used to increase comfort

Pants

·       12 oz canvas cotton (rip stop)

·       Rope drawstring

·       Full width drawstring loops keeping drawstrings in place for maximum comfort

·       Heavy reinforced seams

·       Cowboy style knee pads for better movement (diagonal across pants)

If you want to check out more pictures, specs, especially the detailed measurement of this gi check out Meerkatsu’s awesome review on this gi!

The gi jacket is long, almost to my thighs.  It fits very loose, and is almost box-like.  To me the jacket is suited for a stocky guy or a woman.  There is a lot of room inside.  If you prefer a loose fitting gi jacket then the Combat Warrior Gi is perfect for you. 

The collar is soft and rubbery, and is of ripstop material.  The patches on the arms front and back are embroidered.  There is a lot of room for patches.  It is a flashy gi, but they keep it at a minimum.  The inside though is very flashy and colorful.  The Qilin is very noticeable, especially when rolling around and your belt unties, very cool.  The artwork is on a rashguard material.  The gi is well re-enforced on the stress areas around the armpits sides and wrists.  The sided are re-enforced with ripstop material (interesting).

Now moving on to the pants.  Wow! These are gi pants.  They are fitted, and they feel nice.  The first thing I noticed (love at first sight) about these pants are the belt loops!  They go all the way across the front of the gi pants. They make sure the strings won’t get away from you! Very cool.  Then the cowboy style knee pads that go all the way to the bottom ensures coverage.  And hold up! The inside of the kneepads have this smooth gi weaved fabric (something you have to personally feel). I love it! Another thing I like about the pants is the combat skin logo on the side.  Very Tatmi-ish, I like it.  I am absolutely in love with the gi pants.  All stress areas are well re-enforced. 

Rolling in the gi:

I have only rolled in this gi once, so my take on this is very brief.  The gi jacket gets hot, and fast.  It feels very heavy as it absorbs all of the sweat through the rashguard lining.  Other than that it feels good on the skin.  This is a good gi jacket for training in the winter.  I would not compete in this gi, but will definitely be using it in training a lot.  I will try to break this gi, train more in it, and review it again by 2015. I will let the mats judge, but from what I see this gi is of superior quality and is built to last. 

If you are interested in buying the gi check out Combat Skin

Here's a little clip of some Animals MMA flow rolling in the Combat Warrior Gi with my coach and good friend Ariel: 

For more pictures of this kimono, peep my previous posts.

Also check out my coach Jimmy Santiago's Technique of the week.

Ouano Premium Lightweight Competition Gi Review (Overall:10!)

Overall Rating: A perfect 10 out of 10.  What can I say, its a very good gi!

I am 5’7.5 ft. and I weight around 137-144 lbs.

As with most of the gis that I am going to be reviewing, I have had this gi for quite some time. I bought this gi in 2012.  I am doing these reviews because like good wine, I believe good gis are judged based on how they hold up after grueling sessions, lots of grabbing, and hard training.  That is after all what these things are made for.

The Ouano Premium Lightweight Competition Gi

Ouano is an oldschool brand.  The owner John Ouano, has deep roots within the sport.  Training with Royce Gracie, Jean- Jacques Machado, and under Carlson Gracie Sr. ….oh damn, there I go jiujitsu nerding Sh*t up! BACK TO THE TOPIC!! THE GI!

The specs in Ouano’s site:

The Ouano premium competition jacket is made of 100% high-end, pre-shrunk cotton (mercerized/sunforized). The mercerized and sunforized process helps minimize shrinkage and keeps the color of the fabric vibrant for an extended period of time, as well as giving the fabric a unique look of a slight gloss appearance. The collar is padded with EVA foam which helps keep it's form and fight off bacteria. 

The Black and Tan Gi set includes 450 gram pearl weave jacket, 10 oz cotton twill pants with brown 38 thread count drawcord, and white belt stored in a twill travel bag with strap.

(The gi that I am wearing and reviewing is a custom designed color.)

First thoughts about the gi:

Wow the stitching is really on point.  Precise.  The inside of the gi feels very smooth. The lapel is twill, also feels smooth, and very comfortable around the neck (it might feel good to be lapel choked in this!).  The pants are also twill, and also feel super smooth.  The lapel, and pants of this gi unfortunately will feel very nice for your opponent to hold lol.  This is a very comfortable gi, and is suitable for competition as it is intended for. And it’s not a lame black dye job… it’s shiny!

The gi fits awesome but the sleeves are long! Here is the sizing chart from the website:

I am 5’7.5 ft. and the chart says that I am an A2.  I could have perfectly fit in an A1.  After several washes in hot water, the gi is still long (past the wrist), but fits very good.  The gi will always pass IBJJF inspectons that’s for sure.

I like the way the gi top hugs my body, not too tight and not too loose.  It is just right.  The sleeves were long when I first got the gi (to my thumb), and after several washes, some of which was in hot water, there was very minimal shrinkage.  But other than that, I love the fit.  The stress areas on the lapels are re-enforced, but not the armpits.  But I guess it doesn’t need it.  The stitching looks on point.

The pants are very soft and fitted.  The fit perfect and also did not shrink so much after several washes in hot water, maybe an inch.  The one thing, the ONLY thing I did not like about the whole gi, was that the drawstring loops were too high up. But this did not affect the comfort of the gi pants, just annoying to look at.  But hey when your fighting, you don’t care about that sh*t, so that is NOT a big deal.

After lots of rolling in this gi, I must say that I am very impressed with Ouano’s quality.  Not one thread is of place!.  All stress areas are re-enforced except the armpit area, but the way it is made, it doesn’t need it. Exceptional stitching!  The color has minimal fading.  It actually fades into like a dirty black cat color, which is pretty cool. This is my favorite gi for both training and competition.

If you want to check out Ouano, Here is the website:

http://www.ouano.com/ 

Also if your size is not available, shoot John Ouano himself an email.  He is very nice and will get it for you.

I highly recommend this gi for competitors, rough training, and anyone that wants a good quality gi that will last you. 

And click here to check out my previous post for more pictures. and to see the gi in action!