The Howard Combat Kimonos Competition Single Weave

For those who don’t know, HCK doesn’t just make Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kimonos.

They make armor.

Armor intent on protecting you while pissing off your opponent. The Competition Single Weave we were provided for review is no exception.

Although I felt the top wasn’t wide enough in the torso for me, the fitment of the Gi, a “5″ (HCK does not use the traditional A1-A5 sizing chart) was otherwise great in regards to cut, likely a size 6 would have been a better bet for me for my weight and height of 205lbs 5’10″.

A. 7

B. 28.5

C. 22.5

D. 24

E. 16 (it’s a stretchy elastic waist band, it fit my 35inch waist no problem)

F. 13

G. 9

H. 38

Pant Length from Crotch: 25

Chest width: 20.5

The Jacket:

The top is a 750gsm Single Weave, which falls right between a Gold Weave and Double Weave in terms of thickness, but this Single is stout enough to have many suspect it is a double weave. Trying to get a grip on the collar is no easy task. HCK reinforces the seam of the collar with extra material (same material as the trousers) that gives the collar a more ridged feeling than other collars. They don’t do fancy spanzy seam tape, they reinforce the seam in the wrists with very comfortable and sturdy material. No scratchiness, no flash, just business.

I’d suspect 185lbs to be the top weight for someone around my height (5’10″) for the Gi top. I was never bothered by the reinforced seams in the back of the jacket (and never have been by their other products) during rolling. This Gi is going to last its purchasers a very long time.

The Trousers:

Like the HCK Ripstop Lite trousers these use an elastic waist band for securing. The system works exceptionally well and I never have to adjust my pants during class which is an extreme delight.

There is a rope (non-stretchy) kind on the inside of the pants that I never use, but is available for people to fasten down the pants even more. It’s the same type of rope you’d find on sweatpants. The pants are very comfortable, not too wide or baggy and didn’t impede my grappling at all. There was no scratchiness to be found at the seam tape locations.

Overall:

As stated, the only issue I had was with the cut/size of the jacket, it was just too small for me, it has a hard time reaching around my front, but the quality is definitely there and at 205lbs I would jump on a different top size next time around. When buying HCK you are getting a long lasting, quality gi that is backed by very good customer support. For the folks looking for a virtually indestructible gi that will last this is a great choice.

Whenever I wear this gi I am flooded with a sense of nostalgia as this is more similar to the “old school” gis of the past. I’d also highly recommend this gi for Judo guys making the crossover to BJJ, it will feel more familiar to them while introducing to them the similar sleeve cuts of normal BJJ gis. Quality wise, there isn’t much to say, the stitching is always superb on the HCK gis I’ve encountered, this gi is no exception.

This is not your run of the mill kimono and is on another level in regards to durability.

THE HCK RIPSTOP LITE

By Dan ‘Dressed up as Jengo Fett for ComiCon’ Halpin

(CELEBRATION IS INCLUDED)

From the Howard Combat Kimonos site:

The HCK Ripstop Lite (AKA RS Lite):

420 gr. cotton Rip Stop weave. Very light and very strong. Felt collar, setsugi stitching, taped seams. Pants made of 420 gr. cotton Rip Stop weave. White belt. Embroidered logos.

What you recieve:

1 x Gi Top
1 x Gi Pant
1 x BJJ White Belt

HCK RS Lite Summary

I have a lot of Gi’s, at least more than most people, I think. I have two Gi’s that I will never part with, my Do or Die Hyperfly and (now) my HCK Ripstop.

This Gi is downright amazing. I don’t think words can describe how awesome this Gi is. From the cut, to the pants, it’s spectacular. I was blown away since day one with this Gi. It’s solved many issues I thought would always be standard on Gis.

HCK is known for a seam in the back that I originally had my doubts about, but after rolling hard in this Gi for a weeks now I can say put those doubts to rest. I have had no issues with back scratching or uncomfortable rubbing and I predominately play guard.

A lot of attention to detail seemed to be put into making this Gi as can be seen in the stitching and cut. EVERYONE SHOULD BUY THIS GI.

…or maybe not..because then I’d have to deal with the legendary HCK collars that are made of steel and carbonite. (“Yes, he’s alive.. and in perfect hibernation.” ~ Brendan)

Jacket

I expected the light ripstop material, but when the Gi arrived I was surprised with a thicker ripstop weave more suitable for year round grappling.

It’s no ultra light Gi top, but it’s definitely not heavy, middle of the road is how I’d describe it in terms of weight.

To me, it has the perfect amount of flare on it. Some nice simple embroidery on the shoulders and they leave it at that. The yellow and white really do pop off of the black of the Gi as well. Even still after a dozen washes or so. Aesthetics wise it is again one of my top two Gis.

The cut is magnificent on this thing. It has a tailored cut that leaves out the excess material your opponents usually can grab. HCK does this while still managing to give full non-restrictive motion to the arms. The sleeves are finished off with extra thick seam tape around the wrist on the inside.

I have never been the biggest fan of Ripstop in the past as I feel it’s too easy to grip and it turns unbreathable after sweating in it, but the thickness of this Gi makes it tough to grab and somehow it doesn’t lose its breathability like I’ve experienced in the past with thinner Ripstop weaves.

One of my favorite features about the HCK Ripstop Lite is the collar. It’s comfortable but probably the sturdiest collar I’ve ever worn. My training partners have complained vehemently about it. Which is good thing for the wearer, me, obviously. Even me just pickup up the Gi by the collar I notice it’s difficult to get a full grip around it. Very impressive.

Trousers

The pants are the same material as the top, which makes them heavier than normal cotton pants or even the lighter versions of Ripstop, but they are super tough. From above the knee extra reinforcement is made all the way to the bottom of the pant (similar to JustGiPants). Something I have heard every single BJJ practioner I know of mention that they want in Gi pants.

Now, the most obvious addition to these pants is the elastic waistband. I was a non-believer myself until I actually put them on. Maybe it’s the fat lazy American side of me, but man are they comfortable. These are the only Gi pants I have that I never have to readjust in class. The elastic band and the drawstrings on the inside of the pant means they never get undone which is extremely conveinent.

I will roll for almost 2 hours with never having to adjust my pants. It may look “different” to some people, but I’ll take function over form anyday of the week in regards to something people are never going to see anyway.  (Never going to see it? I disagree. I take every chance I get to untuck my gi top and show off my six-pack abzors. Doesn’t everybody do this? ~ Brendan)

If good performing Gi pants are what you are looking for, look no further.

The pants durability has been great for training and the weave of the pants makes it more difficult for my opponents to grab, unlike the thinner Ripstop weaves which are extremely easy to manipulate. The crotch has a diamond shape cut to allow for greater leg movement without worrying about tearing the pants.

Belt

Unlike most companies HCK sends a white BJJ belt with every Gi. A nice add on if you’re a white belt. The belt isn’t too thick and ties into a “super knot” nicely. It has the standard black box for stripes and a small HCK logo on the other end. It ties much better than the BreakPoint belts I’ve been using which, although sturdy, come undone much too often.

Customer Service

Howard Liu from HCK was 100% awesome and professional from start to finish in me receiving my Gi. You can really tell he cares about his Gi’s and the people they are going to.

Do note though that HCK uses an international size chart that differs from the typical A1-A4 size charting you’re used to seeing, so be prepared to get your measurements and give HCK a call with any questions.

HCK, for a $10 fee, allows you to get a different size pant with the purchase of your Gi. I myself am typically an A3 top, A2 bottoms.

If that is typically what you wear, with HCK I’d venture to guess a size 5 top (at 195lbs 5’10″ the 5 fit me perfect) and 4-5 pant would do you justice depending on your waist.

HCK will no doubt help you out in your selection.

Update (9/12/12)

The collar came apart on this gi, but this is the only time we’ve ever heard of that happening.  Seems like a case of Murphy’s law.  The one gi that gets reviewed online is the one gi that has a factory defect.

Not to fear though!

With top notch customer service (see the comments section below), Howard replaced the jacket with a brand new one, and was super helpful throughout the process.  WELL DONE HCK!

Overview:

A very unique product that has an overall excellent look. The belt loop system has been redesigned from the ground up but I don’t view this as necessarily a good thing. I think it’s overly complicated and the execution was faulty. The embroidery is decent and overall it looks pretty cool.

Video:

For more shots of what the pants looked like pre-modification (see below), check out my first impression video:

From the site:

Gi product highlights:

** First ever Patent Pending enclosure designed for a secure fit
* 10 oz rip stop pant offers durability with the least weight
* Woven gusset provides added stability and endurance
* 550 gram Pearl Weave for optimum comfort and strength
* Extended product life through reinforced stress points
* Specially designed and stitched embroidery
* Available in Ice White & Royal Blue

A – 6.5

B – 29

C – 18

D – 22

E – 18.5

F – 12.75

G – 9

H – 38.5

Crotch to Ankle – 26

The top:

I was really impressed with the logo hits and overall conceptual realization of this Gi. The color contrasts nicely and the interior print is a nice addition.

The Gi top fit me perfectly and I couldn’t find a loose thread or scratchy piece of seam tape on the top.

I’m not the hugest fan of shoulder taping in general, but I admit the Gruntwork shoulder taping looks nice and isn’t over the top.

Gruntworks’ seam tape also looks awesome and wasn’t scratchy thankfully.

The top is on the smaller side of most A2′s that I’ve worn in regards to skirt length and width, so just be aware when ordering.

I am 5’10 190lbs and I could have probably shrunk an A3 top down to size.

The pants: (Check out the update below)

The good: They look great, the ripstop material they use is better than a lot of other ripstop pants I’ve had. I love the pearl weave crotch.

The bad: When I tried on the pants for the first time the first thing that popped in my head was OMGWHY because of the drawstring system. Instead of sticking with the simple designs currently in use Gruntworks took some initiative and tried something new.

Unfortunately they overshot the mark by a good thousand miles. I would rather solve a Nazi Germany Enigma Machine that I just took from a scuttled submarine than come across another belt system like this one.

The system could have been much much simpler, but the level of detail they added left room for error. You have a drawstring on the INSIDE of the pants, Ok cool. The belt loops don’t exist and the outside “belt loop” runs virtually the whole outside of the pants, which I really like. There is double sided velcro in the outside belt loop that has a medal loop (not IBJJF legal) at the end of one end. You insert the other side of the velcro into it and are supposed to pull it over to attach to the same side where the velcro changes. Unfortunately, the velcro wasn’t cut to a length where it would reach and have a fair amount of grip. If it did it would have gone inside the belt.

The flap they use to cover the front velcro and medal ring is cumbersome and wouldn’t have been so bad if it went all the away across. And the only way they could have achieved that was by getting rid of the velcro portion that goes vertical in the front of the pants. The waist itself was very tight, and with all the different coords, loops and velcro I’m surprised they went with such a tight waist as surely the system would have kept a looser waist tight. (I have around a 35 inch waist and the length was perfect.)

In about 5 minutes I took the rope draw string out from the inside, took the velcro loop out and put the rope draw string through the outside holes. It tied no problem and I could even use the flap to cover up the strings to secure them. Frankly, I didn’t think any of the belt loop was necessary and there are many simpler ways to solve the same problem of pants coming undone.

Bottom Line:

The belt system is really over the top and unnecessary. It can work though and everything else looks great. The manufacturer might have some blame though, as the reverse side of Velcro was cut too short so that it would only catch a very small portion of itself.

Update 12/14/2012:

In light of our Review Gruntworks contacted us and clarified a few things I’ll outline here:

1. Their product is unique in its design so it’s best to contact them about sizing prior to purchasing. They like to communicate with the customer directly to ensure a proper fit as their style of Gi doesn’t fall into the conventional sizing chart, and that I missed/didn’t get an email about belt sizing so that there would be enough bite/grip.

2. They also offer a version of the pant with a durable rubber ring, that they say  is IBBJF legal, but I was told that no non cloth-like objects are allowed on the Gi, so I’m not sure where we stand on the IBJJF legality.

3. They offer, for a nominal fee, a pair of competition pants with traditional drawstring free of logos and patches for competitors worried about Gi legality for tournaments. With the nominal fee you could be getting some good bang for your buck and could completely bypass the belt loop issue we experience.

Great customer service!

Flow Kimonos – Pro Series 2.0

Flow Kimonos was started out of the Combat Sports Boston gym by Jonathan Leung, Phil Meyers and Andrew Moskowitz in early 2012. They are particularly concerned with contributing to the BJJ community and especially promoting the New England BJJ scene, since SoCal gets all the limelight.

They have done great work to support the community including the non-profit organization TapCancerOut.

They really like light Gis, or so I hear, and the Pro Series 2.0 is no exception. Their A2H fit my 5’10″ 205lb frame well and was indeed light. They have begun a foray into hemp based Gis as well (the Pro Series 2.0 is cotton) with the aim of making a properly cut Hemp Gi (which is hard to come by).

Gi Size: A2H. Dan = 5’10″ 205lbs

A. 7.5

B. 29

C. 20

D. 24

E. 22.5

F. 14

G. 9.75

H. 37.5

Pant Length from Crotch: 24.5

Chest: 25

From their site:

100% Preshrunk fabric (<2% shrinkage)

Grey contrast stitching

Six belt loops

420gsm pearl weave top

8oz ripstop cotton pants

 The Jacket:

The Jacket is extremely light, but with that, comes flimsiness in the collar. The collar does, however, situate nicely around my neck.

They’ve gone with a very minimalist approach with the top, which I really appreciate and enjoy. For those looking for a gi with minimal flash and flair, this is the gi for you.

The embroidery on the Gi was very tightly and neatly embroidered, their sleeve logos in particularly looked very beautiful.

No scratchiness was to be had with the seam tape on the sleeves and on the pants, which is always a delight and can ruin an otherwise great Gi.

The Gi top was definitely comfortable, I prefer a bit thicker of a Gi myself, I worry about the longevity of Gis at this thickness.

The Trousers:

The pants have a bit more added pzazz in that they have length wise running patches on the thighs. They keep it simple and don’t over do it. I’m not a fan of ripstop, I find it doesn’t breathe well and isn’t as comfortable, but being as light as these are, these were more comfortable than most. I’m sure a true ripstop lover would be all about these pants. My only other point of contention is again the lightness, and how that will affect longevity.

A bit different than what’s trending right now, Flow chose to go with the traditional drawstrings instead of stretchy rope. My first gi had these drawstrings and honestly don’t see what the big deal is. They can become a bit difficult to undo when sweaty, but otherwise tie just fine. I also believe they last longer as the stretchy rope kind tend to blow up and fray from washing/drying. With 6 belt loops, they’ve got you covered and the drawstring didn’t ride up above the waist line.

You can’t teach heart

No, no you cannot. This is an important statement that I feel a lot of competitors and practioners of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can relate with.

Do or Die appears to be a company with the die hard Brazilian Jiu Jitsu players in mind; with the likes of Xande and Saulo Ribeiro and the Miyao brothers representing them, there’s no shortage of top level competitors who seemingly agree.

Do or Die Hyperfly Gi Review by Dan Halpin

Per Do or Die’s site:

Hyperfly Kimono

The Hyperfly re-defines Jiu-Jitsu for the next generation of athletes. Staying loyal to its ancient Jiu-Jitsu Japanese philosophy based on sophistication defined by its purest simplicity, the Hyperfly is the perfect GI. The Hyperfly weave is the strongest weave in the world but still the lightest and softest. (If that’s not a bold claim, I don’t know what it is. ~Dan)  Hyperfly is the future of Jiu-Jitsu and already respected as the perfect gi by BJJ academies across the world.

Jacket Features:

1. Lightweight 450g soft Hyperfly weave
2. One piece construction with no back seam
3. EVA foam collar
4. Contrasting black color stitching
5. Heavy reinforced seams
6. Tailored fit

Pant Features:

1. 12oz drill cotton with 4 way stretch crotch gusset
2. Stretch rope drawstring
3. 6 point loop system
4. Contrasting color stitching
5. Heavy reinforced seams
6. Tailored fit
7. Reinforced double layer knee padding

Dan’s Dimensions: 5’10″ 195lbs, stockier upper body with normal legs for
his height.

Normal Gi Top Size: A3
Normal Pant Size: A2

As seen above buying this Gi will net you:

1. 1 x Gi Top
2. 1 x Gi Pants
3. 1 x Gi bag

Overview:

When I first pulled this Gi out of the bag the first things to stand out to me were it’s crisp clean look, light-weight and softness. In all honesty, I think those three things sum this Gi up quite nicely.

In the age of ever loud Gi designs Do or Die’s Hyperfly manages to stand out with a perfect level of subtlety. (Brendan is probably calling me a scrooge and shaking his fist at me for my very small shot at what I think are overdone Gi’s. Yea yea, “hater’s gonna hate” and all that. ~ Dan  ) 

The A3 seems to be perfect for someone around 6’0″. At 5’10″ I didn’t have any issues shrinking the top to my necessary sleeve length . A2 pants would have been a better bet for myself, but i didn’t see about mixing and matching sizes.

I can make no assessment of the validity of Do or Die’s claim that “The Hyperfly weave is the strongest weave in the world but still the lightest and softest”. I can say that it is light and I can’t imagine anyone ripping it apart with their bare hands.

The price of the Hyperfly at around $169 places it in the higher end of the Gi price spectrum. This is definitely a quality Gi and for the added features and subtle touches I feel the price range is justified. I don’t imagine anyone not using this Gi in their steady rotation if they buy it.

If you could catch it on sale somewhere it would be an awesome bargain (SEE BELOW TO SAVE $30 and get FREE SHIPPING).

The Hyperfly emblem and aesthetic make for great T-shirt/hat potential in my opinion and a blown up Shield on the jacket under the arm would be exceptionally good looking.

(Note: The Hyperfly meets IBJJF regulations.)

Gi Top:

The Emblems on the sleeves are very clean and a well thought design. The Gi itself drew many “oohs and ahhs” from my counterparts at gym and when I opened the jacket to show them the internal “You can’t teach heart” print, they got even more gitty. I had numerous people asking about the brand and price.

There was some loose threading around the Gi top, but these threads were extra little pieces that seemed to have been too stubborn to let the Gi top go.

I had no issues with mobility while wearing this Gi top. The Gi top has atailored fit which is, in my opinion, the best kind of fit. It leaves less for your opponent to grab while still offering great mobility if done right.

The Gi top is also very light. I also had no issues with the industry wide standard EVA foam collar and had no scratching on my back from the label (I saw this mentioned in another review by Meerkatsu, but it seemed to be an early model). Also of note, I didn’t have any issues with any of the seams being scratchy.

Gi Pants:

The pants kind of threw me for a loop when I first took them out of the bag.  Theback of the Gi pants is actually about an half inch higher than the front. I’ll have to go back and check my other Gi’s but I think I would have noticed this before. It could be some awesome revolutionary change to Gi pants…but I’m not privy to that information. Regardless, the Gi pants fit well and I had zero issues with them falling down through full drilling and sparring.

The knees are reinforced and secured with single stitching. The bottom of the pants have a 4 stitch reinforced seam. I really liked the 6 loop system and I never had the stretch rope string ride up past the waist of the pants, which I’ve seen happen in lesser systems.

Another standout upgrade these pants have is the lycra panel in the crotch of the pants (similar to the Kingz 550), it’s very stretchy and is a nice addition to an already well thought out Gi. I don’t see the crotch ripping anytime soon.

Wife Approval:

My wife ignored me when I asked her what she thought about the Gi. She keeps blabbing about “Jiu Jitsu being 99% of my life” and “I never talk about anything but Jiu Jitsu” or something (You and me both, brother ~ Brendan).

I’m not exactly sure what she was saying, I wasn’t really listening. I was too busy enjoying my new Hyperfly Gi.

Normally, I don’t do full reviews on T-shirts or apparel and get the word out via other social media. It’s hard to come up with enough to say about things as simple as T-shirts. With Comme Des Grappler (CDG) though, I feel it’s necessary to give their apparel it’s full review. The T-shirts designs really were just out of this world and unlike anything we’ve seen on the BJJ market, very unique. Without further ado…

“CDG Arabic”

My favorite T-Shirt out of the bunch, the “CDG Arabic”, which is inspired by the BJJ scene in “Abu Dhabi”. It’s design is something you won’t see in BJJ apparel often. I almost feel like this design extends past BJJ. It’s beautiful use of colors and pattern is eye catching and the fit of all their t-shirts are superb. I even had to roll in this shirt when I showed up to a NOGI class in my Gi. It handled the abuse quite nicely.

“CDG Original”

Although the “CDG Original” isn’t quite as flashy as the Arabic inspired T-shirt we first showed, this subtly designed T-shirt still fits great like all their shirt. It’s not all plain Jane either, the text is off to a tilt which does give the T-shirt some pizazz.

“CDG X”

Admittedly this is my least favorite out of the bunch in terms of design. It’s still a great T-shirt that feels great and doesn’t look bad, but compared to the others I am left wanting more. I think the whole “X” logo thing is extremely played out but there is something about theirs that does seem different than other X designs I’ve seen recently. It looks cleaner, more refined if you will.

All of the T-shirts we reviewed had this nice logo on the bottom right of the shirt. Not sure why it’s backwards on the black shirts, but it looks nice enough and does add a little extra flair to the shirts.

Accessories/Additional

I failed to take a picture of the bags they came in before my wife threw them away *shakes fist at the sky*, but they had the same print as the Arabic shirt and looked snazzy as well. They definitely get an A+ for presentation.

I really love the aesthetic appeal CDG has and what they are going for, I CAN’T WAIT to see what they will come up with next.

Beyond the T-shirts, CDG and SntmntL Co hooked up to create a really cool double loop bracelet, complete with it’s own woven bag:

 From CDG’s site:

It wasn’t until a conversation via text that we found ourselves. 

“Fuck. We gotta re-think COMME des GRAPPLER*. When it comes down to it, CDG needs to be about our passion for jiu-jitsu. Not only do we need to distinguish our-selves by the quality and uniqueness of our products, but by our appreciation for the art. CDG’s foundation should be rooted in jiu-jitsu’s purest and simplest form. When you strip us of our medals and belt rank, what’s left? Our desire and passion. That’s it. That’s how we’ll be different.”

Per Breakpoints site:

The 2012 all New Break Point Light Weight Deluxe Gis are here. After 12 months of research, development and numerous training sessions Break Point has done it again. This Deluxe Gi is what Jiu Jitsu practitioners have been waiting for. It comes with two types of pants. The heavy duty training pants made with the same fabric as the Gis and the light weight competition pants. The Gi has been designed from the ground up with flexibility, lightness and resistance in mind. It is the ideal Gi for competition and training because of the two kinds of pants. Additionally, the Gi has no seam on the back; it is a one piece construction top. The Gi is also 97% Pre-Shrunk.

Changes from previews versions

• New color combination
• Slightly slimmer fit
• Slightly longer sleeves
• Slightly longer jacket

NABJJF & IBJJF Approved

It includes all embroidery, patches and inside pattern as pictured as well as 2 different types of pants. Belt not included

Maybe I’m having a lucky streak or maybe Gi companies are just stepping their games up a notch. Either way the results are the same, I’ve been getting to experience some high quality Gi’s lately. Right off the completion of my Tatami Estilo 3.0 review I got a New 2012 version of BreakPoint FCs Light Weight Deluxe Gi in black.

I’ve had my concerns about BreakPoint gi’s in the past (I own an additional 2 of their older cuts) but man…if they’ve got some Kool-Aid brewing, sign me up to drink it.

So let’s get to it!

Dan’s Score for the BreakPoint FC Light Weight Deluxe: 9/10

Dan’s Dimensions: 5’10″ 195lbs, stockier upper body with normal legs for his height.
Gi Top Size: A3 (Normally A3, but with the Breakpoint an A2 fit like it was tailored to me.)
Pant Size: A2

As seen above buying this Gi will net you:

1 x Gi Top
2 x Gi Pants (one thick pair for training and one competition pair)
1 x Poster
1 x BreakPoint Catalog booklet
1 x Gi bag
1 x Handling/Care Instructions

Likes:

• This Gi, especially in Black, looks amazing. I prefer the black as the borders surrounding the lettering “BreakPoint” don’t contrast with the Gi around it giving the Gi a much cleaner look than the other colors.
• It’s extremely comfortable.
• Their new cuts of their Gi’s blow their old Gi’s out of the water.
• Two pairs of pants!!
• Despite the difference in my BreakPoint Gis, their stitching has always been top notch.
• The bag it comes in. I actually use these bags to keep my daughters toys in or milk/snacks when we are out and about. It beats the Britney Spears bag my wife wants me to carry around. I also have a lot of her toys organized in these bags. Being see-through it’s a plus. Although that’s not it’s intended purpose, I never use them for my Gi’s anyway and it’s just a nice bonus.
• The Gi held it’s color perfectly after the first wash cycle.

Dislikes:

• It could use another belt loop for extra security on the Gi Pants.
• I usually fit into A3s, but their A2 fit me perfect, this is more of an industry standard dislike than BreakPoints fault though.

Break Point Gi Jacket:

Here is a picture of the size A2 fresh out of the bag BreakPoint behind a Tatami Estilo 3.0 in A3 that has been washed.

And here is how the BreakPoint A2 matches up with the Tatami A3 after being worn and washed/dried (Cold/Cold, 2nd Rinse, 60min Low Heat in the dryer). I wash all my Gi’s the same way.

As you can see, the sizing is completely different, so it might be in your interest to hit BreakPoint’s size chart up or give them a call to see what they recommend.

This Gi is frickin’ comfortable folks. It’s soft and I’d even say enjoyable to wear.

My Tatami Estilo 3.0 is comfortable, but compared to the BreakPoint it’s much stiffer. BreakPoint does an excellent job of making the gi comfortable for the wearer and a pain to grip if you’re the opponent, which is exactly what I want and need in a Gi.

The Gi top allows for great mobility and never feels like it tightens at the upper back when raising an arm high (a good check to do on any Gi).

I love the embroidery in the interior of the jacket, it just gives the Gi a truly “Deluxe” look to it. The length of the skirt is perfect for my body type.

I really dislike longer skirts flapping around everywhere and apparently so does BreakPoint. “Just say NO to longer Gi skirts.”

As you can tell in the Tatami comparison pictures, the cut is very similar to the Tatami’s, which is a great thing, as BreakPoints old Gi cuts left something to be desired.

The sleeves taper down nicely and make it tough for your opponent to grab ahold of without putting in a lot of effort.

Even the collar is super comfortable. It’s thick, sturdy and doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

Break Point Gi Pants:

What can I say? You get TWO. That in itself is worth any extra coin you’re spending on this premium BreakPoint Gi.

As you can see in the pics you’re getting two nicely designed pairs of pants.

One pair is made of the same weave as the jacket. That pair is excellent for training. They are tough as nails and will give you many more hours on the mat than any other types of pants. I like training in them because of the added weight and durability.

When I finally put on the competition pants I feel like I can fly around since I’m so used to the heaviness of the training pants.  The competition pants are nicely reinforced at the knees.

I had some issues with the Twill loop system on a pair of another pants from BreakPoint (an older model) and some other issues with their pants crotch designs in the past, but I’ve had no issues here. They only have one loop on each side of their pants, but I haven’t experienced any issues. Might be good to add another loop in the future just for extra security though.

Looks:

Some people like Flash, some people don’t. For the people who do, this is where BreakPoint FC comes in. This Gi stands out.

The black color tones it down for sure, so if you want BreakPoint’s high quality without the Flash, grab the Deluxe in Black. If you want it to stand out even more, grab the White or Blue options.

I’m currently working on de-patching the shoulders and front collar patch of one of my BreakPoints and shall post the results here. It’s on an older one (the stitching pattern is the same) and so far has been extremely easy, the front patch came off with zero issues in about 5 minutes. More on that to come!

The red contrast stitching really pops off the black. It’s definitely one of the best color combinations out there for Gis and the BreakPoint FC Light Weight Deluxe is no exception.

Since it’s an A2 and not my typical A3 size I wear people think I am losing weight when I tell them it’s an A2. Cha-ching.

Wife Approval:

When I took it out of the bag my wife said my eyes light up like it was Christmas morning, and indeed, it felt like it. She then kept staring at it saying “oh my god that looks so nice”. [Brendan: Wait, are we still talking about the gi, here?]

Random Chick Approval:

Whenever I see someone in a Gi I’m reviewing I go ahead and ask their opinion. I asked a girl who was visiting my gym and wearing a BreakPoint deluxe top how she liked. She said it was “amazing” and that it “fit great”. She said it was a gift from another girl who also had one and loved it.

Customer Service:

I can’t lie, I did have some communication problems with BreakPoint over a year ago, but I had an issue with sizing with this Gi recently and they were just flat out top notch.

Beyond all of this, BreakPoint FC is a company that LISTENS to it’s customers. I used to have a laundry list of issues with their cuts and sizes and now the best I can do is saying they need one extra belt loop…(and I haven’t even had an issue with the one belt loop system, I’m keeping my eye on it though.)

They are constantly improving their Gi’s to give you (the customer) exactly what you are asking for. That is something to be admired in every facet of business and that is why I’d love to see BreakPoint continue to be successful in their endeavors. Just like every competitor does in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, BreakPoint FC is always evolving their game it seems.

-Dan

The Arte Suave Alpha

Overall:

One of my favorite Gi designs in recent memory, but it falls short in the comfort department. It is the lightest of the light. If you are on safari or traversing the Sahara, this Gi might be for you.

Measurements:

A: 7

B: 29

C: 20

D: 24.5

E: 20.5

F: 12.5

G: 8.5

H: 37

About the Alpha from Arte Suave:

Premium Lightweight Design:
420 Gram Pearl Weave
100% Pre-Shrunk Cotton
8oz. Rip-Stop Pants
Green Contrast Stitching and Accents
Reinforced Stitching

Jacket:
-Embroidered Logos
-Black Trimmed Cuffs
-Inner Taping with Logo
-UVA foam collar with rip-stop material
-Mouthguard pocket

Pants:
-8oz Rip-Stop
-6 Belt Loops
-Green Drawstring
-Black Trimmed Cuffs
-Inner Taping with Logo
-Reinforced Knee pads

Price: $139.99 – Size tested A2, my dimensions: 5’10″ 195lb.

Top:

The top fit me great. I can’t stress it’s lightness enough, it almost feels like paper.

I thoroughly enjoyed the artistic logo embroidery throughout the Gi top, the lightning bolt, Arte Suave logo and “The Gentle Art” phrase across the back.

A strong negative however is the very scratchy seam tape throughout this Gi. The wrists seam tape are so scratchy I didn’t enjoy wearing the top at all, regardless of how cool I thought it looked. (Note: Scot from Arte Suave has looked into this and will be fixing it for their next gi, the Bravo).

Besides the seam tape, I didn’t notice any other defects in the top. It wasn’t restrictive or falling apart, but due to its thinness I can’t imagine this Gi lasting for the long term.

The Gi top material is actually kind of coarse and tough for opponents to grab.

La Trousers:

Like the top, the pants are extremely light. Beyond belief light even. They are 8oz ripstop and are as thin as rice paper.

Like the wrist’s seam tape, the pant bottoms suffer from the same scratching, which on the top of your foot can be quite distracting.

The pants are kind of small from the crotch to the top of the pants and this led to them sagging in the back on me, and was restrictive while I rolled. (Note: Scot from Arte Suave has also noted that the pants’ tightness will be fixed in the Bravo gi as well.)

The pants are also a different shade than the top, which kind of threw off all of the aesthetic appeal that the gi brings to the table.

The belt loop system works as advertised but the traditional drawstring can be tough to undue once soaking wet.

Additional:

A great concept that lacks in execution unfortunately. The Gi does come with a stylish Gi Bag…which is quite roomy compared to most and looks great.