My Hunt for an Anime Jiu Jitsu Gi
Okay, so I’d been doing jiu jitsu for a bit, you know? Got the basics down, got a couple of standard gis, the usual white and blue ones. But man, they felt kinda… plain. I kept seeing folks online, or sometimes even at bigger competitions, rocking these really unique gis. Then it hit me – I love anime, always have. Why not combine the two? Get myself an anime jiu jitsu gi.
First thing I did was jump online. Just typed it straight into the search bar: “anime jiu jitsu gi”. And yeah, some stuff popped up. A lot of it was just… okay. Some had maybe a small patch, or were inspired by a color scheme, but it wasn’t quite hitting that spot I was looking for. I wanted something more obvious, something that screamed the show, you know?
I spent a good few evenings just scrolling. Found a few companies that seemed to specialize in more graphic gis. Some looked amazing, like full-on artwork inside the jacket lining or down the pants. I saw some designs based on the really popular shows, stuff like Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece. That was more like it!
Making the Choice (and Spending the Cash)
The tricky part was picking one. Some looked awesome but the reviews were kinda sketchy, talking about the colors fading fast or the material feeling cheap. Others were from big, reputable gi brands but cost an absolute fortune. I wasn’t looking to spend hundreds and hundreds on this, it was more for fun. I eventually found this one place, seemed like a smaller brand, but they had this design I really liked. It was based on Attack on Titan, which I’m a huge fan of. Had the Survey Corps wings stitched on the back and some cool details on the shoulders and pants.
So, I checked the size chart like ten times. Gi sizing can be weird, right? You’re never quite sure if you’re an A2 or an A3, or somewhere in between. Measured my old gi, measured myself, read their recommendations. Finally just picked a size and hoped for the best. Hit the order button and waited. The shipping wasn’t super fast, took maybe two weeks to actually get here.
Unboxing and First Rolls
When the package arrived, I was pretty hyped. Ripped it open right away. First impression? Looked pretty cool! The embroidery on the back was solid, nice and thick. The color was good, a sort of muted green like the show’s jackets. The material felt decent too, maybe a little stiff, but most new gis are like that until you wash and wear them a bunch.
I washed it right away (cold water, hang dry, always!). Then came the real test: wearing it to class. I gotta admit, I felt a little self-conscious walking onto the mat the first time. It definitely stands out more than a plain white gi. A few people noticed immediately.
- “Whoa, cool gi!”
- “Is that Attack on Titan?”
- “Where’d you get that?”
It was actually a good conversation starter. During warm-ups and drilling, it felt fine. Moved okay, didn’t feel too heavy or restrictive. The real test was rolling. Would the patches get ripped? Would it feel weird during scrambles?
Honestly, it performed just like any other decent gi. It got grabbed, pulled, twisted, the whole nine yards. It held up fine. No rips, no seams popping after the first few sessions. It breathes okay, maybe a tiny bit warmer than my ultralight gi, but nothing major. It’s softened up a bit after a few washes too, which is nice.
So, Was It Worth It?
Yeah, I’d say so. It’s fun. It makes me smile when I put it on. It’s a little bit of personality on the mats. It didn’t magically make my jiu jitsu better, obviously, but it adds a bit of enjoyment. Finding it took some digging, and you gotta be careful about quality versus price, but if you’re an anime fan and want to show it off a bit while rolling, go for it. Just make sure you check those size charts carefully!
