Hail Mary Reviews - Interview HMR x GIfather

This interview is posted at the below link, but I'm putting it here in its entirety just in case the link becomes dead at some point.

Interview HMR x GIfather

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Hail Mary Reviews

Today, I have a very different sort of interview set up. I am interviewing one of the nicest dudes from the Aloha state in Mr. Doug Pothul!

You may be asking, who in the holy f*ck is Doug Pothul? Well, give me a second to explain. I asked Doug to give me a bit of a run down of his BJJ journey and questions about his immense rash guard and BJJ Gi collection which has a ton of us “GI Addicts” jealous of him. Doug Pothul runs a page on Facebook called “BJJ New and Upcoming Gear Offerings”. The page has really blossomed and actually has helped several less fortunate members get a GI or a deal.

Doug has also now joined ‘Grapplers Review”, it is a fellow review site which inspired me to speak about gear and products.

I hope you enjoy this fun and different interview.

   1. Doug, what is your rank and school?

DP: For jiu jitsu I’m a blue belt under Jason Izaguirre, a Royler Gracie black belt here in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. Years back I achieved a 1st Degree Brown Belt in Chinese Kenpo under Al Dutton in Springfield, Massachusetts. Al trained with heavyweight karate legend Joe Lewis, unarguably Bruce Lee’s most accomplished student. I started training Kenpo at age 12 back in 1974.

    2. How long have you been training BJJ for? What drew you into it?

DP: I’ve been training since September 2011, just before turning 49 years old. I was drawn to BJJ many years ago when a good friend of mine, Chris Laird, then a purple belt but now a black belt under Grandmaster Relson Gracie, when he lent me some of his old VHS tapes of Rickson. As a life-long martial artist, after viewing those videos I came away with the feeling that I had wasted my entire life in karate, and that jiu jitsu was far superior. I remember telling Chris when I returned his tapes, “Nothing on this planet that walks on two legs, short of a sasquatch, could beat this guy.” And I still feel that way.

When I moved to Kailua from Honolulu “town,” I was a widower with three young children. They were all in soccer and basketball then. Every afternoon I was running pillar-to-post taking them to one practice and then another. Saturday, game day, was the worst. I could never watch all three games and was always trying to arrange a ride for one of more of my boys because it was physically impossible to get them to all three of their games on time with overlapping games in different areas of the island. So when we moved, I found that “Gracie Jiu Jitsu” that I had seen on Chris’ VHS tapes years earlier and enrolled all three of my children. But it took me four more years to start. Now I wish I didn’t wait so long.

     3. What was the first GI you bought? and why?

DP: My first gi was one that they sold at my academy, a white, pearl weave Atama. I had one gi, and only one gi for the first year of my training. After one year, when I decided that I was going to stick with it, I bought my second gi, another Atama pearl weave, but this time it was blue. That I found on Craigslist locally. It was $100. I still have that 2nd gi, it’s one of my favorites and I rarely use it. It just fits so perfectly (when I’m not chubby like now.)

   4. What ignited your 40+ GI addiction?

DP: Well, as far as 40+ I’ve lost count. It’s somewhere between 50 and 60 or so now I think. I don’t keep track anymore. But I do keep them separate because some kimonos I have promised to give people a “first right to purchase” because they’ve been good to me in helping me find and buy certain gis. Others I’ve bought for friends in sizes other than my size (typically A2) because they didn’t have the money to buy them at the drop, so I did and I’m warehousing those until they have the money to buy them from me (at cost of course I don’t profit from my friends), and then there are the ones I have that are to be donated to needy BJJers who can’t afford a new or nice gi. And as some people know I run a program that puts gis and gear into the hands of those less fortunate of us who still love BJJ.

 5. What is the most expensive purchase you’ve made?

DP: For a single gi it would have to be the BNIB Shoyoroll White Illest. That purchase was arranged by a friend and I can’t disclose the price that I paid. But next it would be the two Navy Illest that I bought for $400 each. One has since been traded for three other gi’s.

  6. What GI is your least favorite and favorite?

DP: Well, some that I’ve sold that I didn’t like were my fault. I bought three Vulkan Pro Light gi’s, and I liked them as a “daily training” gi, but I bought A3’s when I should have purchased A2’s. They were early purchases of mine and are a decent gi, I just bought the wrong size.

I also didn’t like my first gi, the white pearl weave Atama. The top was sandpaper.

There was a Vulkan Ultra Light that I bought in a group of three gi’s from a friend. I didn’t even want to try and put it on. It was so light and thin that I knew it wouldn’t last a week.

But I guess the best answer here as far as least favorite would also be called my most disappointing gi. And that’s a DFKC Art Suave that I pre-ordered. I put it on once and it just fits poorly in several different places. It’s sitting in a bag in my closet now, waiting for me to sell it. Or I may review it and give it a chance before kicking it to the curb. If I don’t like it, then I can donate it.

As far as my favorite goes, well before naming my top three in rotation it’s important for you to know that most of my gi’s, over 90% are BNIB. And most of those I’ve never even taken out of the bag, much less tried on. So those can’t be considered when naming my top three.

The top of my rotation are: Shoyoroll Americana, CTRL Gigante, and Scramble Athlete.

And the interesting thing about all three of those gi’s is that I bought them used. I have a major phobia when it comes to taking a BNIB gi and wearing it. Sure I’ve done it, but I still regret doing it.

  7. What makes you buy so many?

DP: There are probably many reasons. I’m bored. I don’t work. I have time to always be looking for deals. It’s an extension of BJJ which I’m passionate about. I’m good at finding deals. I like to “collect,” but I’m not a hoarder of lots of things. Plus, I think my girlfriend would prefer I spend my days hunting down deals on gi’s rather than chasing other women or drinking or some other nefarious activity. So, it’s harmless and so far it’s been a good investment. I could easily liquidate my collection (and may do so) and not only get all of my equity back, but probably make 30% or more on my investment.

I’ve only really collected coins in my lifetime, not other knickknacks or trinkets or anything else. It started with coins when I was a child, and now it’s kimonos. If I had Jay Leno money, maybe it would be something different (like cars). But I don’t, so I can’t.

  8. Best advice for a company who is looking to make it big?

DP: First of all it is important to look at the landscape as far as who is out there now. And of those, who is successful and who isn’t and why.  And then step back and consider the hurdles and issues that are intrinsic with this specific type of business. Those being:

** Demand, related to Undersupply vs. Oversupply



** Production vs. Production Capacity



** Preorder delivery delays



** Capital/Equity/Debt relationships and requirements



** Quality control out of PRC and Pakistan for manufacturing



As far as who is doing well, there are old-time companies like Fuji, Atama and Tatami to name a few. They make quality products and have a faithful following. Yet most of their product is traditional in nature. And there is nothing wrong with that. We can’t all be wearing tie-dye kimonos. But that doesn’t draw a passionate following.

Then there is Shoyoroll, a company that is in a league of its own. No other company has what they have with respect to the loyalty, passion and outright seemingly insatiability of its cult-like followers. Nor do any other company’s kimonos go up in value 25%, 50% or more overnight from the drop. And I don’t know anyone who has 50 Atama’s in their closet. Yet some of us have 50 Shoyorolls.

Riding the wake of Shoyoroll is CTRL Industries. CTRL puts out a quality product with distinctive designs and in limited quantity. Some may argue that CTRL is a few years behind and following the business model established by Shoyoroll. That being: low production numbers of one-time batches that are unique in design and therefore project an urgency to purchase. Hence CTRL’s last two drops (Journeyman and Voyager) selling out in minutes. Which is funny because the drop immediately before that of their Consigilere took days to sell out. Then only a few months later the Journeyman hit and within seconds I was shut out of buying one in my size. As were hundreds of others trying to buy one.

Of course there are many, many others out there that are producing quality products and making positive changes in the industry and BJJ community. Due to my activities in my now nearly 3,000 member Facebook group that is full of BJJ gear-heads like me, I have gotten to know several of these brand owners. And I’ll have to say that all of them are determined to provide high quality product and secure a foothold in the industry for the long term.

Getting back to your question: as far as my best advice to a company that wants to make it big. Well, I have the following thoughts as to what is important.

Customer Service. Nothing is more important than keeping the customer happy. If they are happy, then they will tell a friend and keep coming back. If they are unhappy, then they will tell a hundred friends and not come back.

Quality Product. It goes without saying that whether your business is hamburgers or airplanes you need to produce a quality product. If not, then you’ll spend more time trying to win over new customers when you should be spending time building relationships with your current customers.

Listen To Your Customers. If people want a green gi; then make a green gi. If they want one that fits grapplers who are 6’8” and 150 lbs, then make it (in limited quantity with that example). But whatever it is, listen. That doesn’t mean you actually ACT on every customers idea, but at least listen and consider them.

Avoid Pre-Orders. For those of you who have never done this…don’t. And for those of you who have offered kimonos for preorder…you know what I mean. And it’s not the brand owners fault. The concept of a preorder makes great sense on paper. But all too often it doesn’t work out that way in practice. There are exceptions, like with Origin. But that is because Origin controls 100% of the manufacturing process in house. Very few companies can say that. And if you rely on a third-party manufacturer, then you are asking for trouble when it comes to delivering on preorders.

Avoid Debt, and Reserve Capital. With a background in finance and marketing (for commercial real estate), I know this area all too well. For the larger companies this shouldn’t be an issue. Most of them don’t have a large inventory at any given time, and that is good. And with the low barrier to entry in this business, we have an innumerable number of one-man shops who are trying to gain a foothold in the marketplace and able to do so quite literally out of their garage. The danger lies when these small companies that produce a handful of kimonos here and there want to move up and compete at the next level. That’s when the risk vs. reward equation can become unbalanced and even a single, small hiccup can result in total devastation.

It’s an interesting time in this business. Lots of growth potential and market share to be had. But with that there is potential for lots of corpses by the side of the highway as well.

9. What upcoming GI release intrigues you best?

DP: My problem is that I want to try them all. And now that I’m reviewing gear and kimonos for Grapplers Review, I have the chance to do just that. But that conflicts with my review process in which I donate all the gear that I review to others who are less fortunate and in need of BJJ gear (primarily kimonos). So I don’t even WANT the brand owners to send me gear in my size, because I need to avoid the temptation to keep it. And the huge benefit that the brand owner gets via the donation process is that their kimono (for example) will be used and used often by an active BJJer who will provide Grapplers Review feedback throughout the first year of use as to the fit, feel, durability and function under “combat” conditions. Then we update the review and everyone learns from the process.

That being said, and while hating to single out a few while potentially leaving out the many, I’ll have to say that what I’m looking forward to is as follows:

** Most new offerings by Shoyoroll and CTRL since they seem to be leading the industry. Especially the Shoyoroll Absolute which is going to be manufactured in Los Angeles.

** Origin’s new gi’s that are 100% made in America.

** Grab & Pull’s new kimonos that will be made in the UK.

But I don’t want to leave out many of the smaller brands like Vandal and Lanky who make great gear now, yet are among the sea of small BJJ manufactures struggling to get a foothold and gain market share in the industry. The great thing about being a consumer of BJJ kimonos (and rash guards), is that virtually every week there are new and exciting opportunities to consider.

10. How much $ have you spent on GI’s?

DP:: I used to keep track. I actually have a spreadsheet that details each kimono that I purchased, where I found it, the condition and price paid. But because of all the donations and trades that I’ve made, I don’t bother updating it anymore. With, say 60 gi’s in my house now, and 30 rash guards, you can do the math.

11. You seem to give back as much as you put in, what advice do you give companies to build a better bond with their customer?

I think that customer service is the most important aspect. Delivering a quality product and doing so on time also of course. Most of this is covered above. But those three aspects are at the top: Customer service, Quality Product, On time delivery.

In business I used to live by a few rules. And they probably apply here as well. Those are:

** Exceed expectations

** Differentiate yourself

** Be creative

** No matter how good it is, it can always be better so continually look back at your successes as well as your failures and figure out how to do it better tomorrow.

Of course, it goes without saying that you also need to be honest, respectful and work hard.

Check out these links to keep track of Doug’s and others collections/addictions:
BJJ Gear and Upcoming   (https://www.facebook.com/groups/BJJNewAndUpcomingGear/)

Grappler’s Review

Here are some pics of Doug’s collection..drooling is permitted.

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Reviewing Kimonos....worth reading before you leap into doing so.

Like many who venture down this path, I thought that being a "reviewer" of BJJ gis and gear would be fun and I would end up with a ton of new gear coming in on a regular basis. Well, while I am happy that I gave it a try and I learned quite a bit in my short venture down this path, I quickly discovered that I was not cut out for this in the long term.

For me, I was reminded of when I was a kid and would see my father mowing the lawn every other week. Sitting on the riding lawnmower and cruising around for hours on a Saturday afternoon seemed like a lot of fun at the time (never having done it myself). Then I turned 12 and it became my turn to mow the lawn twice a month. The first month or two were fun, then it became a JOB and was no longer any fun. The same cycle happened for me in reviewing kimonos; it quickly went from fun to WORK.

But let us start with the process of reviewing kimonos. At least how I believe it should be done.

Once the package arrives it's like Christmas. There is no denying that, at least at first. But as soon as you open the bag or box containing your new goodies, the work begins. You have been given this kimono with the expectation that you will review it. You can't just break it out and wear it to class that night. There are prerequisites that must be fulfilled while the gi is still BNIB (Brand New, In Bag).

First, you need to make note as to how it was packaged and shipped. Did it arrive in good order or was it simply stuffed into a box? Does it smell like mothballs or other chemical (as is common with a new gi). Were there unexpected goodies included, such as stickers, patches, CD's, etc.?

Now it is time to perform a few tasks that can only be done when the kimono is BNIB.

Take Initial Measurements

Ten measurements need to be taken, five for the jacket and five (or six actually) for the pants. The purpose of this is to determine shrinkage once you have washed and dried the kimono at least once (twice or thrice is better).

And it's best to get the help of someone to do this, because at a minimum the wingspan of the jacket (measurement "A") is difficult to do alone. To get this particular measurement right you should position the measuring tape underneath the jacket so that the collar does not get in the way. And with each person grabbing the sleeve cuffs, make sure that it is pulled tight and flat.

Once you've recorded all ten (or eleven) measurements you can move onto taking photographs. (Note, the 11th measurement that I often take is "A" on the pants. With many gi's today being cut lower in the front than in the back, the measurement from the pant cuff to the waist of the pants has two measurements, usually 1 to 1.5 inches different).

Take Photographs

While there are only two items that need to be photographed (three if there is a bag), still I would take between 50 and 75 photographs to get the 20 to 30 good, clean ones for the review. This process takes well over an hour as you get out the background and try and make sure all the wrinkles are out, and then position and re-position the jacket and pants to get pictures of the entire garment (inside and out) as well as closeup photos of the details such as seam tape, interior reinforcements and embroidery.

I learned early on that before moving from the front of the jacket to the back, and then to the pants, that it was best to upload all the pictures taken up to that point to my computer in order to make sure the lighting was right and there were no shadows in the way on the closeups. So between positioning the garment, going up and down the step-stool to get a good birds-eye view/angle, then closeups and uploading to see how each photo looked, this proved to be a time consuming task to say the least.

After the photos were taken then it is time to sit down and inspect every inch of the kimono, both inside and out. All the time looking for and then typing up the rough draft of the review on items such as:

• Missed stitches
• Reinforcements
• Seam tape
• Embroidery and patch application
• Construction
• Feel
• And more...

Just to name a few. And of course, you'll need to take photographs of any areas that you are referencing.

After that is all done, the initial measurements, thorough inspection, draft the written review, and taking and proofing of the photographs, then it is time to wash the kimono. For me, I like to wash in cold water and then hang dry for 3 full days before taking the second set of measurements. That way you can calculate the shrinkage. Here is an example of one that I did recently:

While the kimono is hung dry for three days you can continue to fine tune the written review and get more information from the Brand Owner that will help with the review. I prefer to put this information in a table format for easy access. Here is one sample that I did for the Vandal S2 Viper.

Once the gi is dry, you need to again take a full set of measurements for comparison and calculation on shrinkage.

Then you can finally USE the kimono! Or, like in my case I would give the kimono away to a deserving grappler who will (a) use it at least once a week if not twice, and (b) report back on the shrinkage, fit, feel and durability after months 3, 6 & 12. Because once you get past the look and design of a kimono, it is really a tool of our trade. And no matter how it looks and feels right out of the bag, what really matters is how it fits, feels and lasts over time. And that cannot be determined over the span of one or two weeks. The kimono has got to be put to use on a regular basis for a considerable period of time to make that determination.

In addition to having a full review available on the internet (view one that I did here), I also liked having a PDF file to send to people. So the formatting and construction of that 3-page document was also a time consuming effort. Here is one that I did.

As far as why I no longer formally review kimonos...quite frankly it's just too time consuming. And when the boxes would show up instead of feeling like Christmas it was depressing because I know how much work goes into a review and as soon as they arrive at my door I felt obligated to drop everything and get the review started. And because I didn't start a few of them right away, they piled up and then the handwriting was on the wall. I could not continue to process the reviews and surely didn't want to let the people down who were sending the gear to me.

So if you are considering venturing down this path, do yourself a favor and decide beforehand whether or not you realistically have the time to conduct a review that you can be proud of. If you are only doing it for the free gear, then you'll either stress out over the workload or let the people down who are sending the gear to you. Neither of those alternatives is a recipe for success.

I have assembled a list of the BJJ gear reviewers that I know of. You can find that list and a link to their websites &/or Facebook page here.

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BJJ New Gear - New Wall and Logo Project

We are in the process of designing a new Wall for the BJJ New Gear Facebook group. We just had a logo designed (see below), thanks to Katherine Sak Johnson. She's also designing the Wall.

Newly designed BJJ New Gear logo by Katherine Sak Johnson. 

The Wall is something that we would like you to be involved with. What we imagine is a collage of as many BJJ company logos as possible. Here is a sample that we found online that contains random logos and has the look that we're seeking.

If you are interested in adding your logo to the BJJ New Gear wall project, please send a high resolution copy of your logo, preferably in .ai or .eps format (vector format (.ai) is especially preferred to retain quality after re-sizing), to:

BJJNewGear@Gmail.com

Thank you!!!

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Posting in BJJ New Gear

If you have come across this post on your own, great. But if it is via a link that was PM'ed to you by someone else, it means that you have submitted a post to BJJ New Gear that is NOT going to be approved because it does not meet the minimum requirements for posting in the group.

So please take a minute and review the below basics, modify your post and submit it again for approval IF after reading this blog entry you feel that your submitted post SHOULD qualify to be posted in the group (with modifications most likely). If so, then we want to post it to the Group, but there are some basic requirements we really try and adhere to.

Who May Post In BJJ New Gear?

Both Brand Owner Members and General Members of BJJ New Gear can post. So basically anyone can post in the group as long as both:

1. what is being posted, and
2. the information/details contained within the post 

meet the minimum standards of the group. Anything short of that, and it likely won't get posted.

What Can Be Posted In BJJ New Gear?

We welcome postings for ALL TYPES of BJJ gear in the group. From kimonos and rash guards to instructional DVD's and soaps and everything in between. Even casual wear and ancillary items (such as tee shirts, sunglasses, coffee cups, dog gis, towels, etc.) sold by established BJJ Brands are more than welcome. As long as it's BJJ related, we want to see it. That being said, BJJ New Gear is for the primary market, not the secondary market.

What Can NOT Be Posted In BJJ New Gear?

• Anything that is not BJJ related. Such as MMA gear or gloves, etc. Sure BJJ and MMA are closely tied and related, but this is BJJ New Gear, not MMA New Gear. Hell, it's hard enough to stay on top of all the BJJ gear out there, much less the MMA gear. 

• Secondary Market Gear. This is a Primary Market Gear group. So items that are being sold by individuals is NOT allowed. There are many Secondary Market ("classified") groups for that type of transaction. For a list, please click here. 

• No gear direct from manufacturers (or manufacturers disguising themselves or pretending to be a brand). There needs to be a buffer, a responsibly party, between the manufacturer and the consumer. And that is the "Brand." Manufacturers are not set up to operate in the world of retail sales with customer service, returns, etc. As a cautionary note here, there have been many manufacturers who try and ignore this rule. To do so will get you kicked out of the group very quickly.

Posts & Content Therein

Please keep in mind that we do have some very basic standards with respect to the content of the posts to make sure they are meaningful for everyone in the group.

Several types of posts are welcome in BJJ New Gear. Here they are with the type of MINIMUM content required in a post.

For Feedback

Sometimes Brand Owner Members will want feedback and input on a design or concept from the members of BJJ New Gear. In that effort, posts seeking such are encouraged. When doing so it's important to post an image (or images) of what item(s) you want input on. And then some basic information on what you seek. It might be a colorway, weave, weight, cut, or other aspect that you'd like to gather from a large group of BJJ gear enthusasts BEFORE you spend the money on, say, a short sleeve rash guard when 80% of the people want LONG sleeve rash guards.

For Sneak Peeks

These are items not yet in inventory, but shall be so at a reasonable point in the future: For this type of post it needs to be clear that it is a "Sneak Peek" or "Coming Soon" item. So using those phrases is key. Also, the following would be beneficial.

• Photo(s) and/or Graphic Images. This is a necessity. 

• Price (if known).

• Details such as weave, weight, colorways, etc., are always good to make people aware of.

• Estimated (or known) date when the item will be available for purchase.

Above all, your post needs to BE CLEAR that it is a "Sneak Peek" and soon to be available. We want to avoid getting the members all excited about an item, only for them to later find out that they can't buy it today. Let them know UP FRONT that the item is "COMING SOON."







For new drops that are currently for sale:

1. Photos, and

2. Price, and

3. Direct link to where the item can be purchased.

The bottom line is, if you want to sell your gear then you need to make it easy for the buyer to buy. And that starts with presenting it properly (photo) and making it easy for them to place an order (direct link).

Also, keep in mind that if your brand is a non-USA-based brand, that approximately 80% of BJJ New Gear's members are located in the USA. So, please provide any prices in $ USD and provide information (including pricing) on international shipping (to the USA and elsewhere).

While BJJ New Gear's membership base is expanding internationally, we are still heavily USA located.


For "Sneak Peeks" (items not yet in inventory, but shall be soon or at a reasonable point in the future):

1. Photos, and

2. Price (if known), and

3. Estimated (or known) date when the item will be available.

Above all, your post needs to BE CLEAR that it is a "Sneak Peek" and soon to be available. We want to avoid getting the members all excited about an item, only for them to later find out that they can't buy it today. Let them know UP FRONT that the item is "COMING SOON."




For contests & giveaways BJJ New Gear has started a new group exclusively for contests and giveaways. No longer will such posts be permitted in the main group, and there is good reasoning behind it. So if you have a contest or giveaway to promote, please post it in BJJ New Gear - Contests.




If you desire feedback from the group on proposed designs, that is welcome as well. Just be clear in your post on what you are seeking and post a photo or two of the items (should you have them).




Also note, we try to avoid duplicate posts and frequent posts of the same items in any given week or weeks. If you want to arrange for BJJ New Gear to focus on your item for a week, then we have some programs available that do just that. Contact me to discuss.

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BJJ Belts

There are many philosophies on belts. Should they be: long or short? thin or thick? wide or narrow? stiff or floppy? and so on. And while most if not all of the BJJ kimono manufacturers (over 200 of them at last count, both big and small), carry their own line of belts, they are obviously not difficult to find.

The purpose of this post is intended more for the belt connoisseur who is seeking something different than the average belt. And while I have not owned most of these belts as of yet, I plan on getting my hands on one from each of these manufacturers and then I can provide a little more insight into each. 

I came across these belts while researching which belt I wanted for my blue belt, since I knew that was going to be a 5+ year adventure and wanted to have a high quality belt. So here are the belts that I came across in that search.

NOTE, if there are high quality and/or different/unique belts that you feel should be included in this list, please contact me and let me know the details. Thanks. 

PeelGi

Peel Gi offers a very different design of belt. You can tell by the photographs that it is not the average BJJ belt. I have not yet had one, but have been told they are thinner than the average BJJ belt, and more like a taekawondo belt. 

Website

Prana

As I could see just by the photographs this is a beautiful belt. And very classy looking. 

Website

Kataaro

Kataaro makes the belts for Modern Flow, see below, and on the Kataaro website you can design your own belt from scratch (see below) including: size (length), width, firmness, color, rank, etc.

Website

Modern Flow

Made by Kataaro for Modern Flow, these are, by all accounts, high quality belts. 

Website

Killer Bee

Now Killer Bee does have a line of standard belts, and for full disclosure Killer Bee makes the belts for my BJJ Academy (as well as our Kimonos). But I do have one of their more special belts - that being the Ligustica. This is a thick, woven belt  made from the same material as their Ligustica MK II kimonos. These belts are heavy duty yet very pliable. And while they claim that, "Once tied they are less likely to come untied because of the texture of the belt," I didn't find that to be the case whatsoever. My blue Killer Bee Ligustica belt doesn't stay tied any better than my white Atama belt did. Unless I tie it in a superknot, then it never has come untied. 

Nevertheless, I like this belt and would not only recommend it, I would order it again. 

Website 

Eosin Panther

Undoubtedly the most expensive belt that I've run across, like with Kataaro you can build your belt from scratch. And you can easily spend over $100 doing so. 

Website

And of course, I can't end this without the following:

Here is a video on how to tie your belt, including the superlock knot.

Linked here is a good article on why you SHOULD wash your belt. 

And RYU Reviews did a review on a half dozen belts, some listed above. Worth a read. 

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How to Tell an Authentic From a Fake Shoyoroll

The absolute best way to make sure you get an authentic Shoyoroll gi is to purchase from Shoyoroll directly. But of course that means you can't buy any of the older classics that many people desire. Plus, even scoring one at the drop is a chore in itself many times.

The second best thing is to purchase in the secondary market from a reputable source. And there are many such sources; all of them are individual people because there is no official "dealer" of Shoyoroll gis and gear other than the brand itself. While the number of trusted sources is large, too large to list here, if you PM me on Facebook or send me an email, I'd be happy to help identify if the gi you are considering is authentic or not, and if I know the seller (and I have dealt with many over the years), or not.

The next best thing you can do to protect yourself is to get photographs of the actual gi that you are buying. LOTS of photographs. Then join and post those photos in the Facebook group, Shoyoroll Drama Free Buy, Trade & Sell, and ask for help in telling if it is real or fake.

It is not only important to get photos of the full jacket and pants, but where the forgers often mess up are on the details. The patches, seam tape and tags are three areas to focus on. So those items must be clearly visible in the pictures.

Fake vs. Real - Can You Tell?

Below are two photographs of a Shoyoroll Brasileiro kimono. One is real....and one is fake. can you tell which one is which? The answer is below.

Cloth Bag vs. No Bag

Another common theme with fakes is that most, but not all, do not have matching cloth bags (for those Shoyoroll gi's that come with bags, which is most batches). While the presence of a matching cloth bag, or lack thereof, does not mean a gi is fake or legitimate on that measure alone. Recently we have been seeing some batches of fake gis with fake bags, including: Armstrong, Beef Cakes, RVCA, Leo V., and most recently, and disturbingly so, the uber-rare and highly-desired Black Undefeated, of which only 91 hand numbered gis were made. But all of these bags, in addition to the gis, are recognizable to someone who knows what to look for.

Keep in mind that most fakes don't have any cloth bag whatsoever, and those that do, the bag is often a dead giveaway that it is a fake.

Those Shoyoroll's that did not come with a matching cloth bag include:

• All gis prior to Batch #7 (7th Son and Golden State were the first to have cloth bags).
• Comp Lite XII
• The Ring
• Brasileiro
• Black Skies (Guma 2013 gi)
• GUMA 2014
• A&P V1
• A&P Athlete Prototypes (2015)
• Batch 50 (Worlds Drop, 2015)

All the rest should have cloth bags. However, please note that the mere presence of a bag does not mean the gi is legitimate. Oftentimes Shoyoroll fans will sell the bags after buying their gis from Shoyoroll to offset the cost of the gi. Those bags sell from $25 to $50 each. So someone selling a one-off fake could purchase a legitimate Shoyoroll bag on the secondary market and simply use that to try and hide the fact that the gi inside the bag is a fake. Personally, I've not seen this occur, but it is a possibility.

Commonly Faked Batches

Some batches of Shoyoroll kimonos are more often faked than others. Batch 17 Competitor seems to be one that is popular with the fakers, as does the Beef Cakes and Black Skies. Most recently I've seen (and even purchased) an Illest that was faked. I bought one just to see the quality (or lack thereof) and learn more about the fakes.

Recently I've seen fake Black Undefeated. And with those selling for several thousand dollars on the secondary market, you really want to make sure you know the pedigree of the one you are considering buying before you plunk down $3,000 or $4,000 on a gi.

There has also been a rash of fakes posted on the Australian eBay. The prices are very tempting, but in 100% of the cases where people have asked me to check out a Shoyoroll on eBay in Australia, it has been a fake.

In early 2016 fake RVCA and Leo V. gis started showing up. And those have bags.

Below I'll show some photographs of the fake and an authentic Illest, probably the most sought after Shoyoroll kimono. With only 100 Navy and 50 White kimonos sold, they are rare to come across and very expensive.

There is also a good video on YouTube where an authentic Batch 17 Competitor is compared to a fake one. It's worth a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOf-Ae2VIgQ

Here is a picture of a fake White Illest sent to me by a forger:

And here is the real deal.

Help & Resources

There is ONE online resources with photos of most Shoyoroll kimonos to date. This way you can always compare pictures of the gi you are questioning to those found on this site:

• Gi Database

And here are the two best Facebook groups that you can join and post the pics of the kimono you are concerned about; seeking feedback from a diverse group:

• All Things BJJ

• Shoyoroll Drama Free Buy, Trade & Sell (recommended)

Of course as I said earlier above, you can always send me some photographs via email or on Facebook via PM and I'll take a look at them and give you my thoughts. Please keep in mind that while I've seen many fakes and owned virtually every Shoyoroll from, and including, Batch #4 to the current drops, I do not promote myself as an expert. But if I have any questions as to whether or not a gi is legitimate or not, I can always call upon friends who know better than I do to help.

Click here to to go my profile where you can PM me anytime.

Warning - New Scam on eBay

Click here to read in Shoyoroll Drama Free on Facebook.

The Answer

Oh...and the real Brasileiro is the top picture. That kimono has a white size tag with red lettering. The second picture, despite having the Shoyoroll sticker attached, is a fake.

More Photos of Fakes

Fake Illest and some AP's also

Fake Black Illest

Fake AP 

A lineup of fake Beef Cakes

A hoard of fake illest

Fake Illest

More Fake Illest

Fake AP. This was before AP actually even made a blue gi.

Fake Batch 25 Shoyoroll / AP

More Fake AP. Made to look like Batch 25.

Fake AP

See how poorly the embroidery is done?

Fake Rio Koi

More Fake AP

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ABOUT the Facebook Group : BJJ New & Upcoming Gear Opportunities (aka, BJJ New Gear)

BJJ New Gear, as we call it for short, has both a Page and a Group on Facebook. The Page is reserved for special events, sales, promotions, and to hold the Groups' ongoing discount codes given to us from various Brand Owner Members. That way these items are easy to locate and do not get lost in the overwhelm of new gear that is added to the Group every day.

The Group was started with the desire to have a SINGLE SOURCE for BJJ Brand Owners to post their upcoming and new gear releases and promote them to a large audience of BJJ gear heads whom are politely called: "enthusiasts."

Most of what is in this blog posting is located in the "About" section of the Group. But that is difficult to find when viewing the Group via iPhone or Droid, and there is not "link" to send interested parties. Plus it is limited in character space, so we are posting an expanded version here for easy access.

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Open To All

Despite being categorized as a "closed" group by Facebook, the Group is open to everyone and is intended as the SOLE SOURCE for BJJ gear enthusiasts to stay on top of all of the latest BJJ gear offerings from hundreds of BJJ brands from around the world. From gis to rash guards, spats, hats, shirts, slippers, soap, you name it. All BJJ gear updated and expanding all the time!

Purpose

To give Brand Owners of BJJ gear, both large and small, a single place on Facebook to announce and promote their BJJ goods to the entire BJJ community. This is NOT a self help group or forum for questions and answers. This is a group where Brands can post their goods and the members can see them AND easily find out where to purchase them. It is very capitalistic and not at all Ann Landers-like. We have a sister group, All Things BJJ, that provides a forum to seek and give help and advice on...ALL Things BJJ.

Benefits

For BJJ Brand Owners – access to a LARGE group of BJJ Gear Enthusiasts to get the feedback on proposed designs, as well as promote and sell their goods. Unlike any other group on Facebook here we WANT to see what you have for sale and that is ALL we want. This is not an open or general topic forum where your gear will get lost in a sea of general BJJ posts. ALL posts are approved by me or one of the other administrators and we adhere to strict posting policies (see below).

And BJJ New Gear is for the Primary Market only. Not secondary market sales. There are other groups for that.

For BJJ Gear Enthusiasts – to have a single single-source to locate and track virtually all of the new and upcoming BJJ gear that is both on Facebook and the Internet. We have several VERY ACTIVE administrators that literally monitor hundreds of Brand Owners daily.

Membership

For the purpose of maintaining the privacy of our members, this group has been set up as a “CLOSED” group. Per Facebook what that means is non-members can see who is a member, but CAN NOT SEE what is posted within the group. Only other members can see your posts and comments.

Membership to this group is open to everyone.

For more on the benefits and restrictions of closed groups and what people can and cannot see, click here.

Posting

Ideally, posts should be made by BJJ Brand Owners announcing their new designs, offerings, updated available inventory, promotions and future drops. But any member can “share” a post of BJJ gear that is available from brand owners.

Posts are not limited to what’s on Facebook by any means. Any external internet link can be incorporated in a post.

We try to avoid duplicate posts and frequent posts of the same items. So, rather than submit a new post to the group for an item that was posted a few days or a week ago, search for (yes there is a search function in the group accessible via computer) or scroll down until you find the prior post. Simply make a comment with the update and it will automatically bring that post up to the top of the feed. That we can avoid multiple posts of the same item.

Post Types

The following posts are encouraged:

Sneak Peeks – Items not yet in inventory, but shall be soon or at a reasonable point in the future.

Product Drop – New items that haven’t yet been in inventory but are now in inventory available for sale.

Discounts – Sales discounts on existing inventory.  NOTE: there are some exceptions to this, so please see the UPDATE section below. 

Contests & Giveaways – Sales contests and product giveaways are NO LONGER allowed in BJJ New Gear unless they are within the structure of a BSP ("Brand Spotlight Program"), more on that in a future blog. However, in 2014 we did start a new Facebook group AND and Instagram page where we post NOTHING BUT sales contests and giveaways. We post all of the ones that we can find. That is: BJJ New Gear CONTESTS. 

Replenished Inventory – Gear that has previously been sold out or depleted and has now been restocked.

Feedback – Proposed designs or questions about designs or gear that BJJ Gear Sellers would like feedback from the group on.

Post Content

We'd like to see the following MINIMUM items in the posts:

Sneak Peeks – TWO  (2) ITEMS at minimum - Pictures &/or graphic designs, as well as estimated drop date and pricing (if known).

Product Drop – THREE (3) ITEMS at a minimum - Photographs, a DIRECT LINK to where the product can be ordered, and a price.

Discounts – Same as Product Drop + the discount amount (in $’s or %), and discount code.

Replenished Inventory – The same as with Product Drop

UPDATES 

2014
In late 2014 we've made some changes to the BJJ New Gear group. As we grow these changes become necessary to keep the group viable and useful to both the Brand Owner Members and General Members.

In 2014 we moved all Contests & Giveaways our of BJJ New Gear and into their own dedicated group. This was done in order to (a) keep the contests and giveaways easy to find for those who want to find them, and (b) keep the BJJ New Gear Group as uncluttered as possible. So we started a new group EXCLUSIVELY for BJJ gear contests and giveaways. And that group is logically called: BJJ New Gear CONTESTS.

We also started an Instagram account of that same name @bjjnewgearcontests, as we increase BJJ New Gear's reach into that medium. 

The exception to this is for contests that are part of a structured Brand Spotlight Program ("BSP"). For more details on the BSP, click here.  

2015
In mid-2015 we put in place a new and exciting program called: Brand Spotlight Program ("BSP" for short). This is a structured, week-long focus ON A SINGLE BRAND within BJJ New Gear. More information can be found on the blog post dedicated to the BSP. Just follow this link.


If you have any questions, it is always best to just PM any Admin to discuss. 

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