I’m rambling a little today. Fair warning. Ultimately, if only two things come out of this post, it’s to highlight a couple of cool, smaller, BJJ/MMA clothing lines that I like, and to make a plea to clothing designers everywhere to make some more understated shirts for people who train in BJJ, would wear training related t-shirts, but don’t want blood spatters on their shirts.
One of my buddies, Mikey, started up Scrap Fight Co., his line of clothing and gear… must be a little over a year ago, and he’s really come a long way in that time. He gave me a present a few days ago that I think is really cool. It’s a belt rank t-shirt, but nothing too (in my opinion) overt. Check it out.
What I like about it is that, for a BJJ t-shirt, it’s simple: just a triangular belt and the words Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Scrap Fight Co. makes some really cool stuff. The first thing I noticed about the shirt is that it feels a lot more substantial than most shirts. It’s made from 100% polyester, but the weave is very comfortable, super soft, anti-bacterial and moisture wicking. Very nice.
The other thing I noticed right away is that the image isn’t pressed on or stiff. Mikey uses a process called Dye Sublimation to transfer the image at a molecular level so that it never fades, peels or looks bad. In talking to Mikey, a lot of his business is creating custom gear for schools and promotions.
So, gratuitous and unsolicited plug for one of my training partners, Mikey and Scrap Fight Co. Please take some time and check them out.
Moving on, I think the Belt Rank T-shirt presents an interesting topic. I’m very proud to train in BJJ, and am prouder of my blue belt than I was of any rank acheived in my previous school. As a result, I like wearing shirts that are related to BJJ and will wear this belt rank shirt with pride.
At the same time, I’m not a cage fighter. I’m not interested in being a pitbull or wearing shirts that proclaim to one and all that I’m a badass, eat nails and glass or drink lava. There’s just no way. Most shirts made for BJJ are tied in some way to MMA (for better or worse), and most MMA shirts are aggressively designed, with icons connoting violence and sayings that suggest that the wearer of the shirt feels no pain, breathes to inflict bodily harm and eats puppies and kittens. Not my bag, baby.
I also suspect that most guys who wear these shirts don’t train and that most of the design and marketing for these shirts is for these guys. The shirts I end up with like this end up being given to my kids and worn as night shirts… where the images and messages just look ridiculous and make me laugh. Seeing my daughter wearing a Tapout shirt is just funny.
The shirts I really like are the ones that are more “insider” shirts. The ones that you kind of have to know about to…err… know about. If that makes sense. MMA brands like Fokai and Shoyoroll, or BJJ specific brands like Koral, Atama, or HCK. These are brands that guys who train can’t help but be familiar with, but outside of the BJJ/MMA world, it’s just a brand. Scrap Fight Co and Kaduku are some local brands.
It’s like this. If I see a guy wearing a Tapout shirt, I might wonder whether the guy trains or not… or I might not think about it at all. If I see a guy wearing a Koral shirt, I would wonder where he trains.
So, if you’ve made it this far, I have a couple of questions for you? First, do you like the idea of belt rank t-shirts? Tacky? Cool? What do you think? And do you like the idea of training related gear? Do you keep your training to yourself, or do you wear shirts/hats or whatever that in some way indicate that you train in martial arts? Do you like the more ‘in your face’ stuff?
Don’t forget, if you’re looking for BJJ gear, check out Razorback Jiu Jitsu. Douglas sells the full range of Atama gear, including the Mundial #7, and if you use the coupon code “STEVE” you’ll save 15% off of your offer.
Understated is definitely the way to go (for me). I think (belt rank t-shirts) is an awesome concept. For me it’s a lifestyle.
I like the Tapout show and really admire the empire the guys have created but I can’t wear the shirt. I have seen them discounted to rock-bottom prices at stores like ROSS and I couldn’t make myself buy them.
I’m more subtle. I would rather give signals out that only BJJ people would get.
Have you seen those “My child is an honor student” bumper stickers?
Imagine changing the text to “*I* am an honor student”, and instead of placing it on the back of your car, stick it directly to your forehead. Now that is equivalent to a belt rank T-shirt.
@jiujitsu365: Thanks for the comment. Subtle is definitely more along the lines of what I like, too.
@Chris: I see your point. However, I see a big difference between a shirt like this and, say, a shirt that says “Tap or Snap,” or “I choke people.”
Also, do you see this as being different from the school shirts often seen in every style?
Finally, Chris, do you think that any kind of apparel or decoration indicating training in martial arts is inappropriate? I know some people who do and wouldn’t think of wearing like this (or anything else martial arts related) outside of the school.
All other things being equal, this clothing will invite an aggressive response from strangers. Depending on one’s personality, that is a reason to avoid it or embrace it.
Which clothing invites an aggressive response from strangers, Chris? Shirts with Martial Arts related logos etc, or specifically BJJ related shirts?
Any shirt that implies the one wearing it is tougher than the one reading it!
Which is most all “black belt” shirts (any style), some Karate and BJJ shirts, and maybe not so many Tai Chi shirts.
Ah. I get it now. Yeah, maybe Tai Chi gets a pass.
I think the belt rank shorts are pretty cool. The only bjj related shirts I have are the ones from my school, Subfighter.
It has some MMA stuff on it, but it represents the school I train under. I know what you mean about the ridiculous designs of some shirts, like Affliction. If I can't read it, it's just messy.
http://shop.subfighter.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=113&category_id=19&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26
my.02
I feel your pain when I go out and see guys wearing a “cage fighter” shirt. I, like 365, am way more low key. How about this: a pair of scabbed up toes with tap wrapped around a few, buddy taped if you will. And the caption “only a jits guy knows the feeling.”.
Hey Steve,
I always get a lot of hits from your blog, which I am grateful for. However whenever I click on the referring link, I get to some dodgy fake site saying “this domain is parked by go daddy” or something with generic BJJ / martial arts advertisements on it… any idea whats going on?!
Matt: Not sure what’s going on with that. My domain is registered with GoDaddy, but I don’t know about the rest. Those bastards are stealing my linkbacks!
Still, glad you’re getting traffic. Your blog is funny as hell.
I don’t have an option. I train in a white Gi with a belt that marks my rank, and no exceptions. I train in that thick cotton gi regardless to how cool, or hot the room temperature is. ( Here’s wishing that the room is more cool than hot!)
I like belt rank shirts but refuse to wear them because I feel that wearing a belt rank shirt is just asking for issues. Thats not to say there will be but in some environments it can happen.
Advertising your rank, in my opinion, is like walking around with your social security number or something on your shirt and can give something away if you should happen to get into a confrontation.
I did not used to wear tapout shirts or gear at all but I got a hoodie for xmas and it has a nice design so now I do wear their stuff.