Wolfhound Fightwear’s Dabilla Series 2.0 550gsm Gold Weave BJJ Gi

Date:   October 18, 2015

Reviewer: Doug Pothul

Subject Item: Wolfhound Fightwear’s Dabilla Series 2.0 550gsm Gold Weave BJJ Gi

Summary

The Dabilla Series 2.0 gi is IBJJF legal and comprised of a 550 gsm gold weave, partially sublimated jacket with 10 oz. ripstop pants (with gold weave gusset and pearl weave knee padding). At present it is offered in black with contrast green stitching and seam tape throughout. To keep the gi affordable there is no matching cloth gi bag. All of the artwork on the gi is embroidered and there are no patches. Wolfhound Fightwear is based in Ireland and ships worldwide. Their shipping costs are fixed and below the actual rate charged by the postal service. So no matter where you may live, purchasing this high quality gi from Wolfhound in Ireland is likely to be less than you'd pay for a lesser quality gi located 200 miles away.

Overview

Website: http://www.wolfhoundfightwear.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wolfhoundfightwear

Instagram: https://instagram.com/wolfhound_fightwear

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wolfhoundfight

Price:  Regularly €129.99 ($148 USD). Currently on sale for €99.99 ($114 USD).

Click here for the current price for this gi.

Sizes:     Adult sizes A1, A2, A3, A4 & A5

Highlights:

• IBJJF Legal

• 550 GSM gold  weave top (single piece back)

• 10 OZ ripstop pants

• Gold weave gusset

• Sublimated, interior yoke lining

• Ripstop covered EVA foam collar

• Reinforced triple stitching in all high wear/stress areas

• Green contrast stitching throughout

• Fully embroidered, no patches or printed graphics

• Reinforced knee padding with a thick layer of pearl weave

• Green rope drawstring with 2 belt loops

The Basics

Brand

Wolfhound Fightwear, which was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Ireland. The proprietors are Ian Stewart, Marko Conroy & Roger Dardis.

Product

Dabilla Series 2.0 550 GSM Gold Weave BJJ Gi with 10 oz. RipStop Pants. This comes in any color that you desire as long as it’s Black. (Note, Henry Ford’s 1909 autobiography states that he told his management team that in the future “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” Hence my attempt at humor here). All kidding aside, the gi is black and only available in black at this time, however in 2016 a white version will be available. So keep your eyes peeled on BJJ New Gear (@bjjnewgear) for that drop announcement.

Pricing

Regularly €129.99 ($148 USD). Currently on sale for €99.99 ($114 USD).

Click here for the current price for this gi.

Click here for a worldwide currency converter.

Shipping

The gi was shipped in a heavy mil poly mailer. With a shipping weight of 2.2KG, Wolfhound’s rates are as follows:

• To the Republic of Ireland is €6

• To Northern Ireland and the UK is €12

• To Europe is €20

• To the US / Canada €25 ($28 USD, $37 CAD)

• To the Rest of the World is €35 ($40)

The Wolfhound website has a page dedicated toward explaining the shipping. You can access that by clicking here.

And for a currency converter, click here.

Sizes Available

Offered in A1, A2, A3, A4 & A5

Colorways

Black with green trim, plus silver/grey embroidery.

Where to Buy

http://www.wolfhoundfightwear.com/

The Journey

The trip from Ireland to Hawaii took about a week. Considering that is 7,000 miles, that is a reasonable time frame.

As do most gi brands, Wolfhound charges the buyer for shipping. Their charge to a US-based buyer is only €25 ($28 USD). However, per the stamp on the poly shipping container it actually cost Wolfhound €36.50 (almost $42 USD).

It appears that Wolfhound has absorbed 1/3rd of the shipping cost. And at only $28 to the buyer, that’s significantly less than the cheapest shipping method from the US to Ireland at approximately $62 (USPS). All in all, that’s a very inexpensive shipping cost and about equal-to or even less-than many US-based BJJ Brands charge to ship within country.

The Landing

The delivery of the gi was uneventful, which is what any buyer would want. The bag was delivered unopened and sealed with no puncture marks. Typically, gis are either shipped in these thick mil poly bags or cardboard boxes (USPS, FedEx). And while the boxes are seemingly more resilient to the abuse of the shipping process, the thick mil poly bag is actually preferred because it keeps out any moisture that might be encountered along the journey.

All it will take to convince anyone of this is to have a white gi that is packaged in a color-dyed cloth bag in a cardboard box get wet during the journey. Then that once-white but now purple (or red or green) stained gi will make you a believer too. And yes, this has happened to me. Besides, a gi is flexible and doesn’t require a hard sided box for shipping. There is nothing to break.

Initial Impressions

The first thing that stood out is the deep black color of the gold weave jacket. And of course, the same depth of color of the ripstop pants. No cloth bag was included with the gi, but hey, for $114 (gi) + $28 (shipping), or $142 delivered, who’s to complain? Besides, 99% of those gi bags have little use anyway, unless you don’t have a gym bag. And yes, I do know a few guys at my gym who actually use the gi bag to lug their gear back and forth; but I question their dedication to the sport. No gym bag!? What’s with that?

The jacket, at 550 GSM, actually felt lighter than expected. I have another 550 GSM gold weave jacket that I use on occasion, and that one is a bit heavier. And the 10 oz. pants give off a durable feel right from the get go. More so than you’d expect from 10 oz. pants.

Examination

Jacket

The jacket is constructed of 550 GSM Gold weave with a ripstop covered collar. The stitching, piping and seam tape area all contrast green throughout the jacket.

The back is a single piece with a reinforced layer in the yoke area.

The artwork on the outside of the jacket is plentiful. On the front adjacent to the left lapel is the word, “Wolfhound” embroidered in a large, silver Celtic/Gothic-style font (2” x 9” in size). At the bottom of the left lapel is a woven tag (1.5” x 6.25”) with the flags of Japan, Ireland and Brazil side-by-side.

Also along the bottom of the skirt there is seam tape, which is also green in keeping with the theme of the gi. In black lettering the word, “Wolfhound” alternates with a black image (with red eye) of a wolf. The seam tape is not scratchy like some, but also is not folded over prior to stitching.

On the back of the jacket, just below the neck area is the same silver Wolfhound embroidery as along the front lapel, except this is slightly larger at 11” x 2.5.” Immediately below that is the circular 5.25” Wolfhound multicolored logo.

At the bottom of the jacket skirt, 1.5” above the green seam tape, is the phrase: Tada gan iarracht, also in the same Celtic/Gothic-style font (14” x 1.5”). This phrase means: Nothing without effort.

Despite the abundance of branding on the back of the jacket, there is plenty of room for a large school patch or multiple patches of your sponsors.

The arms are fairly free of any design except for a two items. First, a 5” round Wolfhound, multi-colored logo embroidered on the right shoulder/upper arm area.

And secondly, green seam tape along the outside of the sleeve cuffs. Yes, you read that correctly, the seam tape is on the outside of the sleeve.

In turning the jacket inside out, the following is observed.

The green seam tape runs along the entire length of the ripstop covered collar from the bottom of one skirt to the bottom of the other. A sublimated lining along the yoke area is overlaid with the brand and size tags in the middle, neck area. This same sublimated lining (artfully printed with ranked, belted chess pieces) is also used adjacent to the green cloth piping that reinforces the skirt slits.

One noticeable aspect to the jacket is that ALL of the stitching is uncannily straight. And there are no missed stitches or hanging threads anywhere on or inside the jacket. Also, for those of you that think these matter, there are no armpit reinforcements as often found in Jiu Jitsu gis. We’re not judging, some people prefer them, others don’t think that they do anything other than add weight. We are merely letting you know that this jacket is sans any such reinforcements.

Pants

The main body of the pants is constructed of 10 oz. black ripstop material. The only immediately noticeable variation from that is the gold weave gusset. The stitching is a contrast green along all seams, including the knee reinforcements. The two belt loops, side-vent piping and drawstring rope are all green as well.

The rope is one that barely stretches (approximately 5%), came tightly pre-knotted with the ends surgically singed to prevent fraying of the rope during washing. This singed area is notably smooth with no rough areas. If you are wondering why this aspect has been pointed out, just have one scrape across your face or eye when your partner is on top in north-south and you’ll quickly know why a smooth burn on the ends of the pants rope is important.

Like the jacket, the artwork on the gi pants consists of the word, “Wolfhound” embroidered in a large, silver Celtic/Gothic-style font down the side thighs of both legs (1.5” x 8” in size).

The only other aspect is the circular 4” Wolfhound logo found toward the bottom of the left-front pant leg.

The location of this circular logo is right where the interior knee reinforcement ends, and 3.5” from the bottom of the pants cuff. This is mentioned because per the IBJJF uniform rules, a 15 CM (or 5.9”) area, when measured from the bottom of the pants cuff, must be free of patches. To view the IBJJF rules on Uniforms, click here. According to Wolfhound, this logo is considered a “brand tag” which is allowed by IBJJF within this 15 CM area, and none of their many athletes have ever had it become an issue in any IBJJF event.

Upon turning the pants inside out, the following are observed.

• The brand, washing and size tag are found at the top of the pants, squarely in the center.

• The side split on both hips is reinforced with an extra layer of ripstop.

• All major seams are triple stitched (contrast green stitching)

• A small, triangular piece of ripstop material is used as a reinforcement in two places on the gusset.

• The knee reinforcements begin in the upper thigh area, run across the entire width of the pants, spanning 10”, are 15” long and end 7” from the bottom of the pants cuff. Most notably this reinforcement is made of a tightly knit, pearl weave material. Nice and think and represents some true padding.

• There is seam tape at the bottom of the pants cuff. It is also green in keeping with the theme of the gi. In black lettering the word, “Wolfhound” alternates with a black image (with red eye) of a wolf. The seam tape is not scratchy like some, but also is not folded over prior to stitching.

• The stitching is very straight with only few loose thread ends that could be trimmed. There is one area of missed stitches that is noticeable. But other than that, the stitching is well done.

The Fit

At the time of testing of this Wolfhound gi I am 5’10” and a chubby 230 lbs. To me, the A3 gi fit really well for my height, and the pants fit and felt fine while drilling and rolling, but the jacket was a bit tight around my fat stomach. As to be expected.

In any discussion of gi sizing I have to address a major pet peeve of mine. And that is:

THERE IS NO UNIVERSAL SIZE CHART FOR BJJ GIS. NONE. 

Each brand has their own cut and size chart. Sure, many brands do overlap where a grappler will fit the same size in each of those few brands, but that is user-specific dependent upon many factors including: height, weight, body type, fit preferences AND which brands we are talking about. An A3 CTRL fits a lot like an A3 Shoyoroll, but more like an A4 Scramble and A4 Atama.

So it is important to understand that not all gi brands are sized the same, and while you might be an A2 in certain brands, you are most certainly not an A2 in EVERY brand. Before any purchase it is of the utmost importance to examine that brands own size chart.

The important aspect to fit and sizine for a reviewer to consider is: how this gi fits per the brands size chart. So let’s take a look at that.

Wolfhound has a great size chart (see above, also linked here). It is in both metric (cm and kg) and imperial units (feet and lbs.). So there is no need for anyone to do the conversion. Per their size chart the A3 gi that I received should fit grapplers of the following range of height and weight:

5’9” (175 cm) to 6’2” (188 cm) and 154 lbs (70 kg) to 243 lbs (110 kg)

From my experience, I would say that the true range of this gi is from 5’8” to 6’0” in height, and 190 to 220 lbs.

Now, if you like your gis to fit tight or smaller, then yes, if you are taller or heavier you can consider this gi. Or vice versa if you prefer a roomier gi or one that is a bit longer, then by all means if you are 180 lbs you might like this. Plus, I did not try and shrink the gi, I have never done that to any gi. It’s always been washed in cold water and line dried. So there is the possibility of additional shrinkage if you so desire.

Upon initial cold-water washing and line drying I did not notice any substantial degree of shrinkage and it appeared to be in the normal range of 3% to 4% overall.

The Feel

Overall I liked the feel of this gi. My preference is soft gold weave like the Dabilla Series 2.0, and this one did not seem to stretch during rolling like some gold weaves will do. I’ve always preferred rip stop pants, and these are no exception. The gold weave gusset is a nice touch, and my personal preference. The pearl weave lining in the pants acts as decent knee padding, compared to gis that only add an additional layer of ripstop or twill, which really isn’t much of a padding. And unlike a gold weave knee reinforcement, pearl is knitted tighter and less abrasive on the skin of your knees.

Despite being 550 GSM, the jacket did not feel overly heavy or warm during training or rolling. The pants never became loose or untied. I prefer a non-stretchy rope like the one in the Wolfhound gi over those that stretch a lot. I tend to find myself retying those stretchy ropes at least once during every class while the Wolfhound rope never needed to be retied and the pants never felt as if they were loose.

The only aspect to this gi that did not feel right to me is the seam tape on the outside of the sleeves. If I were to keep the gi I’d remove that. I often wipe my forehead while rolling/drilling (when I don’t have access to a towel that is with my gear bag), and the seam tape was a little abrasive after a while. But other than that, this gi feels great in every aspect.

As a side note, this feature (outside seam tape) will not be included on future production of this gi. So once the existing inventory is sold out, this will no longer be an issue. It's always nice when a brand owner continues to seek to improve their products. And that's the case here. Kudos to Wolfhound.

Durability

This is one aspect that can’t really be addressed in a review unless the reviewer comes back after 6 months and a year or more and updates the review. And that we will do. The gi is now in the rotation of a purple belt and it’ll be used every week, at least once a week. So over time we’ll come back to the blog and update this aspect of the review.

Future Updates & Observations

This space is reserved to provide feedback and updates from the grappler who is live-testing Wolfhound Fightwear’s Dabilla Series 2.0 550gsm Gold Weave BJJ Gi.

Disclaimer

Some photos were taken by the reviewer associated with BJJ New Gear, others were provided from Wolfhound Fightwear or hijacked from their website. The opinions, observations and experiences contained within this review are those of the reviewer only, and not of Wolfhound Fightwear or BJJ New Gear. Yours may be different. Hell, let's just say that yours WILL be different.

The purpose of this review is simply to provide the reader with some basic observations of this gi, and not to provide any warranty or guaranty of the product and how it will fit you or the intended party, or how it will perform on the mat. That all depends if you purchase the correct size, know how to wash and dry it, and actually know some basic jiu jitsu.

Purchase this gi, in fact purchase any gi at your own risk. The real risk comes into play when you put it on and hit the mat. And that, you do at your own risk. If this gi shrinks, tears, catches your toes or fingers in a hole or orifice, or bursts into flames, don't come back to BJJ New Gear and blame us.

By breathing while you read this review you have thereby waived all rights to sue or to hold BJJ New Gear or it's affiliated people responsible for anything related to this product, You are an adult and responsible for your purchase decisions. Oss.

Read More

DogGi - Interview

BSP Date: September 28, 2015

What is the name of your brand(s)? 

DogGi

When & where was it founded, and where is it currently headquartered? 

It was founded over a year ago in Philadelphia and now its current location is Florida

Who are the founders/current owners? 

DogGi was invented by me, Guto Braga, and I am the sole owner

Is there any significance behind the name of the brand or its logo? 

It is a martial arts Gi for dogs so the name felt like a glove --DogGi

What was the driving force (or forces) behind the founding of the brand? 

I am a 25 years BJJ practitioner, a Renzo Gracie Team black belt, and a Dog lover. So it came to me like thunder hitting my head.

What are your personal strengths / the strengths of your brand? 

I am an apparel and graphic artist for the Jiu-Jitsu world, I have a company called Bjj graphics and have been working with the big names in this industry for many years. This product was very well made and thought. It looks good, fits great and all the dogs move freely with comfort.

What was your first product produced (prototype or otherwise)? 

I had probably 5 prototypes of the DogGi made and it took almost 10 months to perfect it.

In that first year or so, what were your primary struggles in getting the brand off the ground? 

I still struggle to get the brand known worldwide. Marketing is a very tough thing to do and yet the most important.

What would you consider to be your signature or keystone item(s) to date? 

DogGi:) it's unique and awesome

What items do you also sell that people may not be aware of? 

I do designs and produce apparels such as embroidered hats, silk screen shirts and tournament trophies/medals.

Do you have anything exciting coming up in the next few months or so that you can share with us? 

I just launched DogGi Teams, with Renzo Gracie, Carlson Gracie and Ribeiro Association logos on it. Let's see how it goes.

Geographically speaking, where is your primary customer base? 

USA

A common question/concern among our members is the issue of shipping. We have found that some brands will not ship worldwide or have carved out certain countries from their territory. So if you would, please explain your shipping policy, pricing and any geographic restrictions that you have with regard to the sale of your goods. 

I sell thru Amazon and so far I'm not doing international business with them. So when I have an item sold overseas I just ship myself. Usually costs around $18.00. I already sold to Australia, Canada and England.

Do you have any sponsored athletes? If so, do you have specific criteria for selecting such athletes? 

No I don't, I have friends that put the logo on their clothes to help.

Where do you get the inspiration from in designing new gear for your brand? 

I am very creative. I have been doing this for a long time.

What differentiates you and your brand from other BJJ brands? 

My unique product

What other brands are out there that you admire? And why? 

I admire them all, we are all chasing the same dream.

Is your company direct sales only? Or do you have distributors? 

Direct only for now

Do or have you participated in tournament booths or sponsorship's of tournaments? 

No, not yet.

Any plans for future expansion? 

There are always plans, but I need to live the reality of today :)

Please tell us a little about yourself, where you grew up, your BJJ experience, home life, education, military service, etc. Anything that might help our members get to know you a little better. 

I grew up in Rio de Janeiro Brazil and I was part of the first Gracie Barra, now I live in Florida with my 2 boys ( single dad) . I have my bachelor degree in advertising and communications and I'm a Graphic designer for living.

What hobbies do you enjoy? 

Diving, surfing, shooting, snowboarding, training etc...

Do you have any pets? 

Yes an English Bulldog named Boogie

Where did you grow up and attend school (University/College)? 

Rio de Janeiro and Rio de Janeiro

Tell us a little about your background in martial arts/grappling. 

I started when i was 4 with Judo, then I did tae kwon do, Full Contact, Box Thai and at the age of 17 started Jiu jitsu

Quick Fire

These questions are designed to allow for short, one or two word answers. Oftentimes just yes or no, and from a personal perspective.

Rash Guard – Short or long sleeve?

Long

Preferred gi colorway?

White

Rash under your gi?

Sure

Spats under your gi?

No

Gi Pants – Rip Stop, Cotton Twill/Drill Cotton, or Cotton/Poly Blend?

Cotton

First gi that you owned?

Krugans

Favorite submission?

Armbar inside the guard

Last stamp on your passport?

Belize

Beer or wine?

None
Tea or coffee?

It depends on my mood

Do you wash your belt or not?

NOOOOOOOOO

Regular knot or superlock knot in belt?

Regular of course

Isle or window seat?

Isle

What is your website address? Do you have more than one? And what social media do you participate in and what are those addresses?

Website: http://originaldoggi.com/

Amazon Storefront - Click here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/originaldoggi
Also, personal page: https://www.facebook.com/guto.braga.5

Instagram: https://instagram.com/original_doggi/

Final Thoughts

DogGi is a real work of art that was created to look cool but most important, to be comfortable to our 4 legged babies. A lot of work was put into it and it takes a lot to make it too. Thank you to all of you that support this idea. OSS !!

Read More

LEaO OPTiCS - Interview

BSP Date: September 28, 2015

What is the name of your brand(s)?

LEaO OPTiCS

When & where was it founded, and where is it currently headquartered?

We were founded in 2015 and located in Oceanside CA

Who are the founders/current owners?

The founders and owners are husband and wife Lionel Turner & Jemelee Turner

Is there any significance behind the name of the brand or its logo?

Being named “Lionel” I have always loved lions. LEaO is Portuguese for “Lion”. The LEAO OPTiCS brand is dedicated to and rooted in the Jiu Jitsu community and Lifestyle. Lions have always been synonymous with jiu jitsu. Some of the things that I love most in this world? Lions, BJJ and sunglasses. Bring them all together... “LEaO OPTiCS”.

What was the driving force (or forces) behind the founding of the brand?

We wanted to make a unique and quality item with a foundation in the jiu jitsu lifestyle. We wanted to do something that no one was doing but at the same time something that anyone would appreciate and like to own even if they didn’t practice jiu jitsu.

Sunglasses are one of the few things that I try take extra good care of and I felt there was a void in regards to a sun-glass company that supports the jiu jitsu community.

What are your strengths / the strengths of your brand?

We feel the strengths of the brand are the “Details”. Everyone wears sunglasses and we try to go the extra mile when it comes to the details and branding of our eye-wear. We try to over deliver with our quality, branding and packaging so our customers feel that they are receiving a piece of eye-wear with some thought and passion behind. I have always enjoyed opening a new Kimono.

I like inspecting the details that are hidden in the cuffs and lining or stitching. The new gi bag designs are really nice as well. As much as we can I would like to help our customers have that same  experience when they open their sunglass box for the first time.

We Use 100% bamboo for our frames because of the history bamboo and wood for that matter has played in the history of martial arts. Not to mention it’s just really cool. The feel and weight is different then what you get with plastic or metal and it brings a “Natural” element to our brand. We are also are also looking into different kinds of woods such as Ebony and skateboard.

All of our glasses have UV400 polarized lenses which offer amazing clarity. All of our glasses have stainless steel spring hinges that help to keep the eye piece sitting properly and in place.

The springs also help to expand out a bit if need be.

Also our customer service. We do our best to do same day shipping with tracking numbers quickly provided. We have a very quick response time to questions through all channels. Our main goal is customer satisfaction… period

What was your first product produced (prototype or otherwise)?

The “OGs”… That was the first styles that we did. I went after a style that I would wear. I don’t see us even not producing them in the future. The OGs and the BUMPS can be considered our “COMP STANDARD.”

In that first year or so, what were your first struggles in getting the brand off the ground?

Getting our name out there and our glasses in customer’s hands has been the hardest struggle so far. We have been actively increasing our following and receiving great feedback from either customers who have received a pair and had a chance to see the quality and detail up close or people who want them but are not sure about sizing. We are currently working on some things to help customers make a good buying decision for themselves on our website. But at the same time our personal customer service can take care of any of these issue and make sure you get the right pair in your hands.

What would you consider to be your signature or keystone item(s) to date?

“OGs” and OG BUMPS” as of right now they are our only two styles available. They are stylish and universal.

What items do you also sell that people may not be aware of?

Nothing as of yet but new styles and different wood materials are in the works. Also we are working on shirts and hats and patches.

Do you have anything exciting coming up in the next few months or so that you can share with us?

Yes we do. Early next month we are releasing the “SUAVECITO’s” which I personally really like and wear daily now. They are a good happy medium between the OGs and OG BUMPS with wide legs. There is also some extras details that will be on them that we are keeping a hush hush on…. We are also working some styles for the ladies.

Geographically speaking, where is your primary customer base?

We are building a good base here locally in SOCal but our social reach has us sending a lot of boxes back east and west to Hawaii. We have sent glasses to Brazil, Japan, UK and Mexico as well.

A common question/concern among our members is the issue of shipping. We have found that some brands will not ship worldwide or have carved out certain countries from their territory. So if you would, please explain your shipping policy, pricing and any geographic restrictions that you have with regard to the sale of your goods.

We will ship where ever we legally can as long as the customer receiving them is willing to pay for shipping.

Do you have any sponsored athletes? If so, do you have specific criteria for selecting such athletes?

Yes we do. We have a few high level purple belts that compete often. Also a really good green belt kid from out here is San Diego.

I like to see some sort of social following or influence other than just what they do on the mat. I like people who use social media quite a bit and can make people laugh from time to time. But most of all people who truly appreciate our product

Where do you get the inspiration from in designing new gear for your brand?

Jiu jitsu and the SoCal Lifestyle scene. It’s what I’m around and its what I love.

What differentiates you and your brand from other BJJ brands?

Currently there is no one doing what LEaO OPTiCS is doing so I would say “Everything”. But we are striving for quality and style so we hope to always be separated from the rest.

What other brands are out there that you admire? And why?

CTRL IND, Shoyoroll, RVCA, Triumph United, 93 Brand

CTRL and Shoyoroll have their fans waiting for them to come out with new things. They are not just feeding the market with another gi or rash guard. RVCA and Triumph United has crossed over to many aspect of combat sports and extreme sports. 93 Brand makes really clean and quality GI for a very good price.

Is your company direct sales only? Or do you have distributors?

We are direct and we are also in a couple retail locations

As of now we are in one retail store, but we are really not pushing in that direction. We are working with BODEGA BJJ and Pasando Guardia on better distribution to Mexico and Latin America. We are very excited about this.

Do or have you participated in tournament booths or sponsorships of tournaments?

We just had our first. It was the Grand Opening for Carlson Gracie San Diego. They just moved to a very nice new location and asked us to come out and share our line. It was a great time.

Any plans for future expansion?

For now our plans are strictly eye-wear but we see more styles coming down the pipe in the future.

Please tell us a little about yourself, where you grew up, your BJJ experience, home life, education, military service, etc. Anything that might help our members get to know you a little better.

I am from Oceanside CA and have been doing BJJ since 07 though I did not get serious until 2011. I am currently a Purple Belt under Mark Hopkins who is under 7th degree Carlos Valente.

I rep under the 99 banner under the Turtle Master Eduardo Telles. I live in a jiu Jitsu household. My partner in crime in my wife Jemelee of 16 years who happens to be a blue belt.

And we have one son LJ (12) who has been training jiu jitsu since he was 6 and also wrestles and plays football.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

Outside of jiu jitsu I’m a foodie. I truly believe that when you are with good people eating good food for that moment in life you are a “Billionaire.” Nothing gets better.

Do you have any pets?

We have 3 dogs. Dozer, Bubbles and Pork Chop

Where did you grow up and attend school (University/College)?

I grew up in Oceanside, went to Oceanside High and then the school of Hard Knocks.

Tell us a little about your background in martial arts/grappling.

I boxed in high school for a local club and competed in Golden Gloves and Jr Olympics. I really enjoyed it and it has stuck with me through the years.

I started jiu jitsu in 07 but did not take it seriously until 2011 at the PANS. We went up to see a team mate compete and while I was there I decided……”I’m getting my blue belt this year”. I did.

I have been training pretty extensively since. I have competed in PANS and MASTERS at blue and purple….no podium.

Quick Fire

These questions are designed to allow for short, one or two word answers. Oftentimes just yes or no, and from a personal perspective.

Rash Guard – Short or long sleeve?

Long Sleeve

Preferred gi colorway?

Blue or Black..I can’t decide

Rash under your gi?

No

Spats under your gi?

No

Gi Pants – Rip Stop, Cotton Twill/Drill Cotton, or Cotton/Poly Blend?

Comfortable

Gi jacket weave?

GOLD!!! Love it

First gi you owned?

OUANO 99

Favorite submission?

North South Choke

Last stamp on your passport?

Mexico

Beer or wine?

Beer

Tea or coffee?

Coffee

Do you wash your belt or not?

That’s bad Juju

Regular knot or superlock knot in belt?

Regular

Isle or window seat?

Window

And finally…what social media do you participate in and what are those addresses?

Currently we are on Facebook and Instagram

Website: http://leaooptics.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaooptics

Instagram: @LEAO_OPTICS

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Wolfhound Fightwear - Interview

BSP Date: September 14, 2015

What is the name of your brand(s)? 

Wolfhound Fightwear

When & where was it founded, and where is it currently headquartered? 

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Ireland

Who are the founders/current owners? 

Ian Stewart, Marko Conroy & Roger Dardis

Is there any significance behind the name of the brand or its logo?

The name was chosen for many reasons, the Wolfhound is a peaceful yet formidable dog that we feel represents BJJ practitioners.

It is an animal that is very much associated with Ireland, hence why it’s called the Irish Wolfhound. The Wolfhound is also part of ancient Irish folklore, which we base our products around, and it represented in the tale of Cu Chulainn, a very well-known Irish tale that has been passed on for centuries.

Our tagline 'Tada Gan Iarracht' is an old Gaelic expression that translates to 'Nothing Without Effort'. We felt this was especially applicable to BJJ as anyone who trains in BJJ understands the immense effort and time that is required to succeed.

Finally, the actual logo features the Wolfhound Head and all the belts looping around it as we felt that too many brands focused on the black belt, using it in their logo, when the journey is more important; we have also incorporated this message into our hoodies with the message 'Is tábhachtaí an aistear ná a cheann scríbe' which directly translates to 'The journey is more important than the destination.'

What was the driving force (or forces) behind the founding of the brand?

The brand was founded in 2012 after Ian and Marko discussed the lack of Irish BJJ apparel available. BJJ was still quite a small sport at the time and if you wanted a Gi, you would have to pay big money and get it sent from the UK. It took close to 14 months, a lot of money, many samples and a lot of investment from various manufacturers until we found 'the one'.

Wolfhound was launched to the market in 2014 with 3 products, a white 450gsm pearl weave gi, a black 550gsm gold weave gi and a rashguard. It has been growing year on year with new gis added, more rashguards, shorts, kids gis, t-shirts and hoodies and we sell globally from Australia to the US to Russia.

What are your personal strengths / the strengths of your brand?

We are all BJJ practitioners and train a lot so we know what is needed. Marko Conroy is a Purple belt who has trained over 6 years and Ian Stewart is a blue belt with over 3 years training. Roger Dardis came on board in 2014 and is a very well respected and decorated Marcello Garcia Brown Belt having trained over with him in New York for years.

Ian Stewart also holds a BSC in Product Design so we actually have a product expert in our management team who knows textiles inside out and who technically designs the products from scratch. We do all our own design work in-house and we have worked with some of the top BJJ clubs in Ireland doing custom gear. This is a service that really makes us stand apart.

What was your first product produced (prototype or otherwise)?

We launched with 3 products, the Puca 450gsm pearl weave which is still our top selling Gi, the Dabilla 550gsm Gold Weave which we have modified and updated to the Dabilla 2.0 and finally our first rashguard.

In that first year or so, what were your primary struggles in getting the brand off the ground?

Getting the right supplier! We spent 14 months finding the right supplier. We wanted to ensure we had a premium product that was affordable and that lasted before we went to market. Each sample was rigorously tested until we found the right manufacturer. Getting awareness of the brand was the next big challenge but we literally contacted every academy in Ireland and the response was phenomenal.

We did have an issue with the first batch of white gis and the material was over treated in some of them, we immediately contacted every customer and told them that we would replace any gis with problems and although it cost us a lot, it really helped our brand profile.

What would you consider to be your signature or keystone item(s) to date?

The first 2 Gis, they are still in production and as popular as ever. They are very reasonably priced for the quality and we have heard nothing but positive comments about them.

What items do you also sell that people may not be aware of?

Our design service is something that a lot of clubs outside Ireland are not aware of. It’s completely free and we have a minimum order quantity of 20 units for rashguards / tees / hoodys and shorts and the prices are very competitive, like all our products :-)

Do you have anything exciting coming up in the next few months or so that you can share with us?

Oh yes, we have something that will address one of the biggest problems for BJJ people, unfortunately, we cannot share it with you but let’s say, its addressing a big problem in a unique way :-)

Geographically speaking, where is your primary customer base?

Ireland and the US at present.

A common question/concern among our members is the issue of shipping. We have found that some brands will not ship worldwide or have carved out certain countries from their territory. So if you would, please explain your shipping policy, pricing and any geographic restrictions that you have with regard to the sale of your goods.

We ship worldwide and try to keep the rates as low as possible. We have a rep in the US who takes orders and they we bulk ship them. We are hoping in 2016 to have a drop shipper in the US to reduce the rates even further.

Do you have any sponsored athletes? If so, do you have specific criteria for selecting such athletes?

We have some very high profile athletes. These include UFC fighter Neil Seery, BAMMA fighter Chris Fields, Sam McNally a current European IBJJF champion, Brendan McGarry, Darren Curtis, Lee Hammond, Tom Halpin, Roger Dardis and Steve Cassidy in the US. All these fighters are active competitors.

We don't have a specific selection criteria and we decide based on the merits, all our sponsored athletes are representatives of the brand so they need to be respectful. We do generally tend to lean towards fighters who are medaling at high profile competitions, this gives potential athletes something to aim for so it’s beneficial for them and us.

As we are a small growing brand, we don't have too many sponsored athletes as we take it very seriously and wherever possible, we help them out financially as competing, especially on the international stage, is quite expensive.

Where do you get the inspiration from in designing new gear for your brand?

Irish mythology is our inspiration. We grew up listening to these tales and loved them. We are all very proud to be Irish and we let this flow through our designs.

What differentiates you and your brand from other BJJ brands?

Our Celtic inspiration, the quality of our merchandise and our values. We are very much a part of the BJJ community and we also like to give back. We recently produced a rashguard to highlight suicide awareness and all profits were donated to a charity. Our pricing is also very good, especially with the dollar / euro conversion and the quality is top notch.

What other brands are out there that you admire? And why?

Tatami are probably the brand that we aspire to, they started and have built up a very good brand that is probably the biggest in the world. Design wise I love Ronin stuff, I don't have a gi but I think their designs are really nice.

Is your company direct sales only? Or do you have distributors?

We are direct sales company but we have a US rep. We stock some club stores but being honest, we are a new brand and we try to keep the margins down so that our products are affordable.

Are you set up for wholesale accounts for BJJ schools and/or distributors? Please elaborate if so.

Yes, we do offer generous discounted rates for clubs as we know how costly running a club is. The club owner can sell at retail prices, which are still very good, and keep the margin to invest into the club, or they can sell at cost price.

Do or have you participated in tournament booths or sponsorships of tournaments?

Yes, we have been sponsoring the Irish Open since it launched and we also sponsor other events. We are looking internationally at events but it’s all about the money and return on investment.

Any plans for future expansion?

Yes, we dipped our foot into casual wear and the response has been brilliant, especially the BJJ dogs t-shirt. We intend to continue expanding of our range and adding more casual wear. We have some really cool new gis in development and we also have an entry level gi that will be extremely competitively priced but of the same quality as our other products. We are growing the business organically through reinvestment of profits, to date, we haven't taken a cent from the company so we are in it for the long haul!

Please tell us a little about yourself, where you grew up, your BJJ experience, home life, education, military service, etc. Anything that might help our members get to know you a little better.

I was born and raised in Ireland and I am 38 years young. I am married with a son who I absolutely idolize and I will mold into a future BJJ world champion... he is 3 years old and knows the spider guard folks, don't teach your kids spider guard, makes changing them an absolute nightmare!

I have been studying various martial arts since I was 8 but in my teens I started playing football and that took over my life until I smashed my knee. I started training in BJJ 3 years ago but I was out for 9 months with a torn ACL in my other knee kids, never drink water on the mat!!!!

I have a degree in product design and I have also studied animation and design and have a full time job as a marketing manager so I bring a lot of my skills to this company.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

BJJ, BJJ, BJJ, BJJ, BJJ, BJJ... I also enjoy cycling, cooking and I am a book worm. Being honest, when you have a kid, hobbies go out the window because you want to spend as much time as possible with them. I try to train as often as possible but having a full time job and also a company to run, you have little free time, I am trying to get as many friends and family involved in BJJ so that when I build a house I will have a training room to invite them over to get choked out :-)

Do you have any pets?

Nope, I would love a dog but I wouldn't have the time to care for it properly.

Where did you grow up and attend school (University/College)?

I grew up in Leixlip, Co. Kildare. A lot of people who have never visited Ireland have an idea that it’s all quite green and rural. It’s a big town with a lot of tech businesses. I went to school in Leixlip and when I finished I started an apprenticeship as a mechanic. I then went to study animation and design before then switching to Industrial Design and later Product Design in the UK.

Tell us a little about your background in martial arts/grappling.

I started martial arts when I was 8 doing Kempo and studied that for 2 years. The academy closed and I then started studying Bushido and stayed with that for a further 2 years until football took over. In my late teens I took up boxing but I had to move away for college and never got back into it. After I shattered my knee, football wasn't an option so I started doing Judo and then MMA. But it was the BJJ in the MMA that I loved, and soon I just focused completely on the BJJ.

What drew you into Jiu Jitsu and now that you are "hooked" (like most of us), what keeps you excited about training?

The tactical side of it is what hooked me. I am a naturally big bloke and when you have a guy half your size flipping you like a pancake, you can’t but help to be intrigued. I remember looking up YouTube videos and I couldn't understand how exactly they were doing these things.

When I started it was tough, I was not used to being dominated but thankfully I didn't have an ego and could accept it. It’s hard to join a club when you are much older than everyone else. You have to persevere and when you start to piece things together and hold your own, then it becomes additive.

Tearing my ACL was very tough because I had built up momentum and then I lost it, and was set back. I saw lads that started after me being promoted and it was hard to go back, especially when you are a lot older than most others it’s not an ego thing, but there is some pride involved. I shoved those feelings back and I went back and I am so thankful that I did. It definitely has changed my life and I love the sport.

Quick Fire

These questions are designed to allow for short, one or two word answers. Oftentimes just yes or no, and from a personal perspective.

Rash Guard – Short or long sleeve?

Short

Preferred gi colorway?

Black

Rash under your gi?

Definitely

Spats under your gi?

No way

Gi Pants – Rip Stop, Cotton Twill/Drill Cotton, or Cotton/Poly Blend?

Cotton Twill

Gi jacket weave?

450gsm Pearl

First gi that you owned?

Non branded one I bought off a Judoka

How often do you typically train in a given week? Teach? Assist?

3 days

Favorite submission?

Kimura

Last stamp on your passport?

Argentina (mainly travel in Europe so don't get stamped)

Beer or wine?

Red Wine (Malbec)

Tea or coffee?

Coffee

Do you wash your belt or not?

Hell YES

Regular knot or superlock knot in belt?

Regular, took me long enough to learn

Isle or window seat?

Isle

Your primary mode of transportation to and from work and/or the dojo?

Car

What is your website address? Do you have more than one? And what social media do you participate in and what are those addresses?

Website: http://www.wolfhoundfightwear.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wolfhoundfightwear

Twitter: www.twitter.com/wolfhoundfight

Instagram: www.instagram.com/wolfhound_fightwear

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RollBliss Kimonos - Interview

BSP Date: September 7, 2015

What is the name of your brand?

RollBliss Kimonos

When & where was it founded, and where is it currently headquartered?

RollBliss Kimonos was founded in 2015 and is currently headquartered in Kyle,Texas.

Who are the founders/current owners?

Mo Siddiqui.

Is there any significance behind the name of the brand or its logo? 

At RollBliss we don't just sell Kimonos. We live, breath, and embody the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spirit. That spirit, along with our personal philosophy, is exemplified in our very name;RollBliss.

--Roll-(Rolling): Represents free sparring which is an active part of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice.

-- Bliss: Refers to the perfect state of happiness also known as oblivion.

RollBliss is the happiness you gain from training jiu-jitsu.

What was the driving force (or forces) behind the founding of the brand?

One day after coming home from training jiu-jitsu my wife was looking at my gi and thought it would be fun to design one for me. My wife was already in the beginning stages of starting her own business with a friend where they were going to design clothing and sell it online. After she made me my own gi I thought it was so great I encouraged her to do it full time. My wife being as cool as she is didn’t hesitate to push full steam ahead and shortly thereafter RollBliss was founded. She has the coolest the job in the world and I’m happy to work for her. She pays me in gis!

What are your strengths / the strengths of your brand?

I remember a time when the customer was king. I want to bring that philosophy back. At RollBliss customer satisfaction is our priority. I think it’s a big deal when a customer takes their hard earned money and spends it in your business when they could of gone anywhere else. We want to let our customers know that we realize and appreciate that by doing everything we can to provide them the best product possible along with unmatched customer service.

What was your first product produced (prototype or otherwise)?

The RollBliss Original BJJ Gi. It’s our top of the line 450gsm pearl weave.

In that first year or so, what were your first struggles in getting the brand off the ground?

Getting people to know we exist! You can have the greatest product in the world but if people don’t know you exist it does no good.

 

What would you consider to be your signature or keystone item(s) to date?

Our “Brazillion” 100% rip stop gi. It’s one of the lightest bjj kimonos on the planet and it’s super comfortable.

What items do you also sell that people may not be aware of?

We also sell premium rash guards.

Do you have anything exciting coming up in the next few months or so that you can share with us?

We have a few ideas for belts, competition gis, and we’ve been receiving lots of requests to design a gi specifically for women.

Geographically speaking, where is your primary customer base?

United States and Canada.

A common question/concern among our members is the issue of shipping. We have found that some brands will not ship worldwide or have carved out certain countries from their territory. So if you would, please explain your shipping policy, pricing and any geographic restrictions that you have with regard to the sale of your goods.

Currently we are only shipping in the U.S. and Canada. Shipping anywhere in the U.S. is always free. However, if we have a customer on the other side of the globe that really wants one of gis we will find a way to get it to them!

Do you have any sponsored athletes? If so, do you have specific criteria for selecting such athletes?

We do have a couple sponsored athletes. We like our sponsored athletes to be a genuine fan of our products before they are actually sponsored by us. We like our athletes also to be active on social media and have a large following so that they can help promote our products.

We currently don’t offer financial sponsorship, but we try to get our athletes the best gear we have in stock for training and competition.

Where do you get the inspiration from in designing new gear for your brand?

Our gis are designed with BJJ athletes in mind. To us a BJJ athlete is not just someone who competes, but anyone who religiously trains BJJ and puts a lot of time in on the mat. Our gis are designed with those people in mind. We want to give them the most comfortable gear possible, because if you are comfortable you will perform better. In addition, BJJ is a physical martial art. So we design our gis with this in mind and try to produce gis that will withstand the toughest training environments.

What differentiates you and your brand from other BJJ brands?

That’s hard to say because I’m not too familiar with the other brands out there. What I can say is that at RollBliss it’s not all about selling gis and making money. We are currently producing BJJ specific blogs and high definition training videos to the BJJ community, and all that stuff costs us time and money to make but we provide it for free to the BJJ community on our website and on our social media. Our goal is to help all BJJ practitioners along their journey. Perhaps they will read one of our blogs or see one of our training videos, and if this helps them on the mats in someway I would consider our company successful.

What other brands are out there that you admire? And why?

To be honest, there are a lot of good gi companies out there and we admire anyone who takes the plunge to start their own company and tries to turn a dream into a reality!

Is your company direct sales only? Or do you have distributors?

Currently we are direct sales only.

Do or have you participated in tournament booths or sponsorship's of tournaments?

No.

Any plans for future expansion?

Yes.

Please tell us a little about yourself, where you grew up, your BJJ experience, home life, education, military service, etc. Anything that might help our members get to know you a little better.

I grew up in the central Texas area. I attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a degree in government and a minor in philosophy. I was a nationally ranked amateur boxer but hung the gloves up after graduating from college. I still had the warrior spirit inside me and I was looking for another outlet to release it without getting punched in the head! That’s when I stumbled upon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and never looked back. I’ve been training BJJ for two years and I am a blue belt studying under Ryan Shinto, who received his black belt from master Cleber Luciano.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

Jiu-Jitsu! What else is there? I also like to read…about jiu-jitsu.

Do you have any pets?

No.

Where did you grow up and attend school (University/College)?

I grew up in the central Texas area and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

Quick Fire

These questions are designed to allow for short, one or two word answers. Oftentimes just yes or no, and from a personal perspective.

Rash Guard – Short or long sleeve?

Long sleeve.

Preferred gi colorway?

White, blue and black. I like variety.

Rash under your gi?

Absolutely!

Spats under your gi?

Haven't tried that yet. Perhaps when RollBliss comes out with a line of spats I'll give it a go!

Gi Pants – Rip Stop, Cotton Twill/Drill Cotton, or Cotton/Poly Blend?

Rip stop all day everyday.

Gi jacket weave?

Rip stop and pearl weave…I go back and forth.
 

First gi that you owned?

The first gi I owned was a Gameness.

Favorite submission?

Anyone I can get!

Last stamp on your passport?

London.

Beer or wine?

No alcohol.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee for sure.

Do you wash your belt or not?

Always wash.

Regular knot or superlock knot in belt?

Regular knot. Unless I’m in the middle of a hard roll and I need to take a breather…then we go with the old superlock!

Isle or window seat?

Window seat.

What social media do you participate in and what are those addresses?

Website: http://www.rollblissgi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Roll-Bliss-BJJ-Kimonos-938303166182758/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rollblissgi
Instagram: @rollblissgi www.instagram.com/rollblissgi
YouTube: RollBliss Kimonos

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