it's all in the name.

In this illustrious world of jiu jitsu that we practitioners live in, theres all but one thing we love to do, well in my case; I love to buy gis. I've only been in the sport for 3.5 years on and off (which I've been solidly training since oct.) I'm a two stripe white belt and had over 30+ GIs, no lie, in fact, at gym I train, they call me "Nic the gi". As far as my blog name of "the real nic jitsu" I  don't have credentials but a bronze at naga two years back, I'm sure there are a lot better Nics in jiu jitsu. But who cares so forth..

I grew up in the 80's with the awesome action actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Rocky Balboa. That where on TV one way or another. One movie that struck me was BLOODSPORT, and also KICKBOXER. I wanted to get into Muay Thai (kickboxing originating in Thailand with the legal use of knees and elbows) so bad. There was a local gym here, Matial Arts Training Acadamy ran by Mark Olsen. I did a very, very short stint in all but maybe a year or less. It was very fun, I just hated sparring , I didn't like getting hit. So MMA for me, was not an option. Do not get me wrong I love kickboxing, I took some private summer sunday classes with Victor Young, whom is a very talented all around martial artist, and that is where I had asked him for the blessing of training in the gi. And he said go for it! (he currently does jiu jitsu now) 

My first jiu jitsu class was April 20, 2011. I was wearing my red vulkan gi, and there was a purple belt (now a brown belt) guy named Derek that jokingly (not joking) said he hated the red Gi's and decimates ones who wore them, I learned quick he really didn't like the red gis. Derek is the purple belt in front of me.

Gi's I've owned and sold throughout , if you have any questions on them please feel free to ask.

Competidor brand gi-

Vador (black on black)

R2G2 (white with blue contrast stitching)

Mean Tech (navy blue with green) 

Tatami brand gi-

Estilo 3.0 (black with red contrast stitching)

Storm kimonos- 

Storm typhoon (white)

Storm T2 (black)

Scramble gi-

Athlete (blue)

Athlete (white)

Do or Die-

Hyperfly (blue)

Hyperfly (black)

CTRL industries-

Rook II (black) 

Vulkan gi-

Vulkan pro light (red)

Ronin gi-

Ronin samurai 

Shoyoroll-

D-Lux batch #19 (white with blue contrast) 

The Ring batch #12 (black with purple contrast) 

Rio Koi batch #12 (white with green contrast) 

Cement batch #23 (navy with cool grey contrast) 

Competitor batch #17 (white with red stitching)

KINGZ kimonos-

KINGZ 420 ripstop V2 (black) 

KINGZ 420 ripstop V2 (blue) 

 

Hayabusa gi-

Hayabusa pro jiu jitsu gi (black with gold contrast) 

Gis I own that are in my current rotation.

KINGZ kimonos 

KINGZ 450 comp V3 (silver)

KINGZ 450 comp V3 (navy)

KINGZ 420 light V3 (white) 

KINGZ 420 light V2 (blue)

KINGZ 420 light V2 (black) 

X-Guard Gi

Carlton (khaki with brown contrast) 

Moya brand

Standard issue (white with olive contrast) 

Gis I own but are not in current rotation.

Shoyoroll gi-

Shoyoroll comp standard XIV (black with yellow contrast)

Moya brand kimonos 

Kasual Drift (blue with brown contrast)

Sapphire Kola (blue with white contrast) 

X-Guard brand kimonos 

Pinoy pride II (blue with yellow contrast) 

Sentinel R1 (olive drab with black contrast stitching) 

Grind (mahogany brown with white contrast)

Webslinger (navy with red contrast) 

GI Review - Kingz Kimono 450 Comp V3 Silver Edition

Gi Review - KINGZ kimonos 450 COMP V3 SILVER EDITION 

SUMMARY- 

One of the many new BJJ kimono brands on the street is KINGZ kimonos. I've heard they are from Canada and also heard they are from Milwaukee, WI. So that's something I'll look into. You can find KINGZ kimonos on fightersmarket.com or kingzkimonos.com 

The brand has come out with several lines . The 420 light V3, 420 ripstop V3, 450 comp V3 , the new sovereign and ballistico. 

DISCLOSURES-

I am in no way shape or form connected to KINGZ kimonos. All of this will be in my own view 

INTRODUCTION-

While browsing on Instagram I noticed that KINGZ kimonos and Andre Galvao whom is KINGZ new sponsored fighter, were promoting a new gi coming out. I got hooked on the new colour as I've always wanted a grey (silver gi), and the contrasting white logo on the shoulders looked pretty awesome.

SIZE-

For reference to the vertically challenged, I am 165lbs (in hopes to be 150-155 around competition time) and 64.5" tall,  67" wingspan, 35" waist, 36" in leg length. I wear A1 Gis throughout all the Gis I've owned. 

I unfortunately do not have the pre size measurements so I do not know how much the gi has shrunk. 

KINGZ kimonos offer many sizes for all shapes and forms including H sizing and L sizing which I think is husky and long. 

JACKET- after several washes in cold water and hung dried (then delicate dry after a few days)

Wingspan - 58.5" 

Width - 23.5"

Wrist cuff - 5.5" 

The jacket is made from pearlweave cotton. It is 450 grams weight hense the 450 in the name. The gi feels very light, I hang dry the gi so it tends to get stale, I put it in the dry with a fabric softener under delicate setting 

A 100% cotton top, made of one piece fabric for superior strength and durability with triple reinforced stitching across all stress points. The jacket is some sort of quick dry material and is breathable. The shoulders enshrine a high count embroidered logo on both shoulders.

A heat resistant lapel insert, a single piece of vulcanized (hardened material by treating with sulfur at high temperature) rubber inside the collar keeping the gi light, fast drying and the lapel fungus free and bacteria free. 

Exterior yellow taping with cotton mating up to it 

 

Inside the jacket it's a yellow KINGZ lining which is a very nice looking contrast. With triple reinforcement stitching 

Inside the wrist cuff is more liner and I believe is the same material as the pants in the drill cotton . 

This year, KINGZ came out with a new crown logo style . 

PANTS- After several washed in cold and dried in delicate heat.

Length - 35"

Waist - 20" 

Ankle cuff - 8" 

The pants are made up of 10% light weight drill cotton with triple stitched over lapped seam, 6 drawstring loop and a high quality rope draw string. The pants feature minimal detail but has an embroidered crown just below the left knee, and a patch with their name and washing tips on the right hip. 

CONCLUSION- 

I got on to KINGZ when the V2 versions came out. Fightersmarket.com had a free rashguard with a purchase of a kimono deal. And that deal just so happen to come around again. For the price it is a good deal at $159.95 (with a free rash guard) a couple of things though. The pants do not feel like other "cotton" pants on the market, it almost feels like canvas more than anything. They are a very light pants but only semi comfortable. The shrinkage on the pants seemed minimal and length was perfect for me. The jacket fit great body length wise, after a wash and the dry that I do, the sleeves shrank quite a bit (as seen on the above picture.) all in all the gi is great and fun to roll in. 

"You'de never see us hanging out if it wasn't for jiu jitsu."