Author Archives: fenomkimonos

BJJ in Brunei

19 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Fenomenal Women, Women's BJJ

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Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam) is a tiny country with a population of about 416,000 people. It is located on the Southeast Asian island of Borneo that is shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Brunei is a devoutly Muslim country but also respectful, and open to other faiths and beliefs. It is an oil rich country with some of the most breath-taking, untamed rainforests, and opulent buildings.

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A few months ago we started receiving gi orders from Brunei, and were wondering how in the world did Brunei jiu-jitsu women find us.

We asked one of our customers, Ling, to talk about BJJ in Brunei. Ling is a 33-year old mom of three, soon to be four, kids. She is a youth worker, and a life coach, and has been training for about 8 months now. She is a white belt, and her whole family trains together.

Ling, how did you get started and what is  happening in BJJ in Brunei?

I first heard about BJJ when I was a kid. My dad was huge fan of the Gracies, and he would bring home video tapes of the Gracies’ fights for us to watch. He said, if you want to learn how to be the best fighter, you need to learn BJJ. He was a 3rd degree karate black belt at the time. However, back then BJJ schools, and classes were unheard of in Brunei. Even the term jiu-jitsu would leave a lot of people clueless and confused.

Right now I’m glad to say that we are blessed to have access to BJJ. Our instructor Eazy is local. He is a purple belt, and participates actively in competitions. Occasionally we have black belt guest instructors who fly in to teach seminars. We have two branches, one near the capital and the other in another district. The academy is called Busiido BJJ, and we belong to Checkmat association. So far we have about 10 women who actively train BJJ. Our coach’s wife, Fuzzers, is a blue belt and the highest ranked woman in Brunei.

Is it challenging for women to train in Brunei?

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Initially because of our conservative culture, most women would feel a little awkward if they had to partner with a guy for the first time. However, eventually we get over our shyness because there is only a limited number of female partners. Over time we also develop healthy friendships with our teammates and that makes it easier to train. We can’t let the boys have all the fun!

The fees at our academy are affordable but buying gis is very expensive. Everything has to be ordered online internationally, and the shipping cost plus the exchange rate makes everything pricey. Another limitation is the lack of tournaments. If we want to compete, we have to travel outside of the country.

What do you like about BJJ?

I love that both my husband, our three kids, and I all train together. It draws us closer to each other, and make family time extra fun. I enjoy learning new techniques at BJJ. Right now it’s all about the chokes. I also love spider guard, and de la Riva guard. I enjoy seeing my endurance improve, and being able to perfectly execute that move after practicing it many times!

What makes Brunei a great place to live?

I would like to invite everyone to visit Brunei. It is a very beautiful, and very unique place. We are a tiny country but we have our own culture, and everyone is friendly here. It’s a peaceful place, a great place to raise kids, and we generally have an easy paced life. We are tax-free nation, and every Bruneian has access to free education and healthcare. We have some of the nicest beaches that are less crowded than other popular tourist spots. Come and visit us!

bruneipink

Black Belt Corner with Cindy Omatsu

07 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Fenomenal Women, Women's BJJ

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cindyCindy Omatsu was born on January 19, 1961, and started training in July of 1994 at Redondo Beach, California. She walked by the aerobic room at Gold’s Gym, and saw a bunch of guys rolling around on a big mat. At that time a lot of women in South Bay area were being attacked, so she thought it would be a great idea to learn some self-defense. She was hoping to find another woman in class but there were none. The one thing that really got her attention was when her training partner grabbed her wrist. The strength and force of a man’s grip was hard to deal with, and she realized why women would just give up when attacked. She was hooked after the first class. At the same time Cindy’s family was going through a rough time because her dad was battling cancer. Every class helped Cindy deal with her dad’s sickness, and gave her strength to help her mom care for him. Sadly, Cindy’s dad passed away.

After training for a year at Gold’s Gym under Renato Magna, she switched to the Machado Academy at Redondo Beach. Cindy received her black belt from Rigan Machado and Leka Vieira in 2002, making her the first American, as well as the first woman outside of Brazil to receive a black belt in BJJ. Cindy is currently teaching at Let’s Roll Academy in Torrence, and at The Brentwood Club in West LA. She is the OG of women’s BJJ in the US, and her contribution to the sport is invaluable.

What was the most challenging belt level for you?

I feel that my purple belt was one of my toughest belts. This is the belt where you learn which techniques really work for you, and your body type. Your game is really developing here, and you are learning to perfect your moves. I have had many purple belts tell me that they feel stuck or plateau at this belt. At purple belt level it feels like you advance five steps, and then get knocked back down ten. As an instructor, purple belt is where I see a lot of improvement, and growth in my students. With a lot of mat time, and consistent training the rewards will pay off!

What advice would you give to women?

Cindy Omatsu

Women who are at white or blue belt level, ask your instructor to watch out for you so that you are training with students who won’t injure you. If you can train with upper belts, do so because they will give you pointers as you roll with them.

I also tell jiu-jitsu women to give yourself kudos if you pass a guy’s guard or hold them in side control or mount. Sometimes you aren’t going to get the tap but you are getting dominant positions, and stabilizing them. Take it as a compliment when a guy starts putting more pressure on you or starts using more strength. It means he is getting frustrated, and your technique is working!

Injuries can happen at any belt level. It is important to let your injuries heal, and be very, very, very patient. I have had my share of injuries with strained MCLs, torn ACL, and shoulder. If you don’t take care of them or let them heal, they will definitely come back, and bite cha in the butt!

Enjoy the experience and journey that each belt level brings. Have fun! If you aren’t learning, and having fun then it is time to quit!

cindyhawaii

Pregnancy and BJJ Part 2

17 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by in Training, Women's BJJ

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In part 2 of the pregnancy article Melanie talks about the changes and challenges during the second and early third trimester. She also gives a few tips for women who are considering training while pregnant. We hope her story has been helpful to women who consider training during pregnancy as well as to their training partners, and families.

bumpWith my second trimester came the three B’s, the bump, the boobs, and the butt. Seriously, when I’m pregnant, I swear my bum grows at the same rate as my belly does. It’s all fine and dandy, except when you are trying to squeeze everything into a gi that you thought was huge before you got pregnant. Second trimester training was pretty uneventful. I tried to begin training with only partners I really trusted. Rolling with the newbie was a no-go as well as takedowns. I continued to roll but managed to be careful while doing so. Being careful does not mean you cannot give 100%. It means that you are more methodical with your actions, and reactions. I noticed that I was thirstier than ever, and really tried to keep up my water intake both before, and in class. I had to start wearing a different sports bra, and different shorts underneath my gi for optimal comfort, and agility. Anything super tight pressing across my hips was bothersome.

My pregnancy began to fly by but as I began entering the third trimester, I really found that no-gi was a lot easier to manage. With a changing body, growing by the millisecond, I was able to move more easily, and fluidly during our no-gi training days. I changed from my usual rash guard, and spats to a tight-fitting tank, and looser shorts over a slightly bigger pair of tights. As I mentioned, growing out of your gi is heartbreaking, even though you are growing an amazing life inside you, and you know that it is for the better. Trying to train in a gi that feels constricting is not fun. I had to tighten and re-tighten my gi top all the time, and that my gi pants were beginning to feel tight across the bum, and legs. You know how big gi pants are, right? Haha! I definitely should have ordered the curvy Fenom pants for pregnancy for sure. If you have multiple gis in multiple sizes, you are good to go but perhaps you won’t be like me, and you will be able to wear the same gi size your entire pregnancy.

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At the beginning of the third trimester, I finally told everyone in my tight-knit school at Brasil Wellness Center, Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu in Aldergove, Canada. I had been really nervous to tell them because how do you tell someone you have been rolling with for months that they have been rolling with a pregnant chick? Needless to say the guys were shocked but took it well! It is amazing what you can hide under a gi. I guess they just thought I was putting on weight. After a bit of teasing they all accepted it, and assured me that my little baby would be born trying to arm bar his umbilical cord. I feel so lucky to train with such an amazing bunch of guys! Around week 23 I began to make some changes. Avoided knee on belly, avoided take downs unless it was with a controlled partner, and took it a little easier in rolling.

Well, here I am at week 32/40, and still training. I may be a lot bigger, and wearing my coach’s gi but I’m still training! As the weeks go by, I ‘m beginning to feel slower. To be honest, it is hard to sit out of certain aspects of the training or warm up but at least I am there, and still learning every day. I try to do what I can, and improvise when I cannot, and that’s really the best any of us can do, right? It is hard when your mind is able but your body just cannot, and should not do what you want it to. I guess my midwives were right when they said to listen to your body. Our bodies are strong and capable, and we really do not give them enough credit.

A few tips for you pregnant BJJ women out there:

  • Always bring water to class. Stay hydrated both on and off the mats.
  • Invest in a few good sports bras. For 2-3 training days a week I ended up ordering 2 sports bras in a bigger size than I usually wear, and then a few months later an even larger one. Not just to reign those bad boys in, but because I was finding that the tight band was digging into my ribs and making it harder to breathe.
  • Get a few looser pairs of compression shorts for under your gi. My Under Armour type shorts that I had been wearing, began to dig into my hips and across my belly, and really started to bug me during training sessions. 
  • Borrow or buy a huge bigger gi. I tend to carry my babies really low, and by week 27/28 I had finally outgrown my beloved Fenom Kimonos gi, and had to wear my coach’s gi. Let me tell you, when you outgrow your gi, it is a sad, sad day.
  • Listen to your body, consult your doctor or midwives throughout your pregnancy, not just at the beginning. Involve your coach, and let him or her know your limitations. Ask for recommendations, and keep him or her informed. Only do what you are able to. Try not to feel guilty if you have to sit out. Do what you can, and modify what you cannot or do something else. When everyone is doing leap frogs during warm up, you do push ups!

We wish Melanie a great rest of the pregnancy and a complication free child-birth. We cannot wait to see the baby pics!

lucUpdate 10/15/2014: The beautiful baby boy, Luc Evan Thomas, was born on September 16th at 1:28am, weighing 7lbs 15 oz and was 20 inches long. Congratulations!

Pregnancy and BJJ Part 1

11 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by in Training, Women's BJJ

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Stretchy pants, mood swings, and insane food cravings are what most people think about when they hear the word pregnancy. Some women view pregnancy as the nine-month-eat-all-you-can vacation, some continue strenuous work-outs to the motto “no pain, no gain”. When you mention pregnancy and BJJ in the same sentence, emotions flare, and discussions get heated. Some support pregnant women in jiu-jitsu, and some are completely against it. Sophia Drysdale, and bloggers Meg and Ana have written extensively about training during, and after pregnancy. Black belt Emily Kwok also had a positive experience training, and teaching while pregnant with her first child. To train or not to train is a personal choice which should be respected.

When Melanie from Vancouver, BC, sent us a picture of her growing baby bump in the gi, we asked her to share her story. She is 31 weeks pregnant with her fourth child, and writes a two-part article about how training has been possible for her*.

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I must admit, when I first saw the double line on my pregnancy test that I had just taken in the bathroom at Starbucks, I nearly fainted. Selfishly, my first thought was, but I just got back to jiu-jitsu! Seriously, after three kids in four years, and five and a half years away from BJJ, I was just beginning to get my groove back. I thought I was going to have to quit cold turkey again, and that was going to be the end of it. No more jiu-jitsu for Mel ever, ever again. During my first pregnancy I had no idea that pregnant women could do anything other than swim, walk, and go to special mommy-to-be yoga classes.

My second thought was, FOUR KIDS! What the heck was I thinking! Hey, big families totally rock. Just think of the little jiu-jitsu clan I will have on my hands in the next few years. I just never pictured myself as a mom of so many. Not long after I met with my awesome midwives, and I was fully prepared for them to shoot me down, and tell me that I was crazy for even wanting to continue with jiu-jitsu. I tried to prepare my thoughts, how I would try to argue my thinking, my rationalizing.

However, they totally surprised me, and told me that I should just listen to my body, and continue within reason for as long as I was able to. Um. What? Mind blown. Listen to my body? They reassured me that my body was used to the intense training, the drills, and the movements. It would be entirely different if all of a sudden at four weeks pregnant I decided to start running marathons or something completely brand new. My body was used to jiu-jitsu, it was part of me. They reassured me that I was low risk since I had no previous injuries, and that the baby was fully protected inside my body. I could continue for the time being, and we could always re-evaluate as needed at my regular midwifery visits.

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Next I talked to my main coach. He laughed at me at first, but then told me he supported me 100%, and would help me continue training for as long as I could. Another score! I was so afraid that he would tell me I was a hazard to the club. You know how your mind just always jumps to the worst conclusions first. With a big sigh of relief began googling pregnant jiu-jitsu girls, and started to feel less nervous, and upset about being pregnant. I know this makes me sound completely selfish.

However, if you are like me, jiu-jitsu is your outlet. Especially after becoming a mother, and feeling like you have to re-discover who you are all over again. It is your time to re-charge, to feel human again, to be a better human again, and to de-stress.  It is your time to think about the moves, and where your body should be next. There is no drama on the mats. Jiu-jitsu doesn’t care if you have one baby or four. Turns out a lot of women train during their pregnancies, so I wasn’t so awful for wanting to continue. Here is an article about an awesome running mom, and here’s one about Alysia Montano competing at 34 weeks pregnant.

My first trimester was rocky but not awful. I actually found that I felt better when I went to class. I could go from being dead tired, and feeling nauseous to energetic, and happy within minutes of my feet touching the mats. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is magic, I tell you, magic! I found that my body was just as capable as before. Pregnancy actually has relaxed my muscles, and increased my flexibility! The only thing that I found especially challenging in the first trimester, and into the second one was the shortness of breath. When I was rolling, and my training partner’s gi was covering my face, I could not breathe, and I felt panicky. I had to tap or just stop.

Breathing during pregnancy is affected due to the increase of progesterone, which may make it feel as if you are working harder than usual to get air. In my case, I found this to be the case times 1000. It is important to remember that even though your baby bump may not be showing yet, your uterus is becoming bigger. It takes up more space, and creates pressure against your diaphragm. I tried to keep calm, wear looser fitting tanks, and sports bras under the gi, and breathe deeply.

Part II of the article can be found here.

*Training jiu-jitsu while pregnant is not for everyone, please contact your doctor to discuss your work-out plan.

Gi Weaves 101

27 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Gis for Women and Girls, Products

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womancallingWe get a lot of calls asking which one is our lightest gi, and what is the difference between weaves. When talking about the weight of the fabric, textile industry uses gsm, grams per square meter, measurement. This however is rather meaningless to the consumers who will never test the material for gsm. It is easier to use the weight of the full gi set, jacket and pants, when choosing a gi.

Our women’s gis range from 2 lbs 8 oz for an A0 to 4 lbs for an A4. The minor differences in weights between different gis can be contributed to the design elements: pants loops, cord or flat drawstring, collar thickness, extra embroidery, and variances that happen in cutting and sewing. Half an inch extra in jacket or sleeve length as well as added reinforcements, patches, and decorative tape can add some extra weight.

The trend in the gi industry over the past 5 years has been towards light weight gis. The lightest gis we have seen are 350 gsm, and the heaviest are 1150 gsm (samples only). A consumer needs to remember that the smaller the gsm number, the lighter the gi. Proper sizing is the key to feeling good about your gi. It is equally uncomfortable to train in a too small or too big gi no matter how light weight it is.

Sometimes the same weight material in different weaves feels lighter or heavier, and the gis feel like they are not the exact same size or fit. Also the expectation of having different weave gis behave the same way in washing and drying can be disappointing. If you are used to shrink to fit kind of gi that you can manipulate a lot, and then buy a pearl weave gi which does not shrink down a size, you may be upset “because it is not the same size” and vice versa. There are no bad materials, it is all about personal preference, and hard to measure feel factor.

Here is a list of materials we have used either in production or for sample gis. The short description may help you in the process of choosing your next gi.

PEARL WEAVE is the most popular weave on the market. Majority of the gis are 450-550 gsm but we have made our kids gis as light as 390 gsm. Pearl weave is tight woven, coarse, and at times can be super rough, and unpleasant on grips especially when wet. Most pearl weave gis are about 96% pre-shrunk, but some are close to 99% pre-shrunk. The gis are durable, dry fast, and feel light. Some pearl weaves stay rough, and stiff with air drying, almost like an armor. Pearl weave has very little pilling, and does not stretch out as much as softer weaves.

pearl weave

GOLD WEAVE used to be very popular about a decade ago. Gold weave has been replaced by pearl weave but old school jiu-jitsu peeps are familiar with this weave. If you started training in the past few years, you probably do not own a gold weave gi. Gold weave gis are slowly coming back to the market. The material feels soft and airy due to the looser weave. It feels sturdy but light at the same time. Gold weave gi lasts for years and years, and gets softer and over time. Well worn gold weave gi is as comfortable as a pair of pajamas. Older gis feel heavier because heavy-duty canvas reinforcements were added to all stitching lines. Gold weave is not the most attractive weave, its looks a little like a kitchen towel.

gold weave

CRYSTAL WEAVE is the material we have been using since 2009. Crystal weave gis are our most popular gis because of the softness of the material. This weave looks like a woven basket, and is very loose. It also moves a lot, and is easy to grab. At the same time, it is comfy and gentle on the skin, no gi burns ever! It feels thicker because of the fluffy look but in reality is light weight as well. Crystal weave shrinks more than pearl weave but can be stretched out when wet. Pulling the sleeves and sides straight after every wash is required in order to maintain the size. Some pilling happens but it does not interfere with the functionality of the gi.

crystal weave

PEARL WEAVE PLUS is a new weave we added to our product line this year. The pattern looks like rows of diamond cut rope chain necklaces side by side. Shoyoroll calls it Pearl Weave Pro, Killer Bee Kimonos calls it New “KillerBee” Weave. We are pretty sure other companies have different names for it, since it is very new to the market, and everyone wants to claim that it is their special weave. Pearl Weave Plus feels like a softer version of pearl weave, just a little bit different look. It holds up well in washes, and has no unexpected shrinkage.

pearl weaveplus

HONEYCOMB WEAVE gets its name from the partial resemblance to the hexagonal honey comb cells. This weave forms ridges and hollows that gives a cell like appearance to the texture. It is a soft material but does not stretch out too much. It breathes well, dries fast, and feels super airy and thin. We have just ran samples in this weave, and have not made a final decision whether or not to add this material to our gi line. Honeycomb weave feels somewhat like a waffle bath robe you would get in a fancy spa or a hotel.

honeycomb

Cotton Drill was once the only material used for gi pants. In the recent years ripstop pants have slowly pushed drill pants out but this material is still preferred by many martial artists. It is strong, heavily textured with its signature diagonal ribs, and lasts for a long time. Cotton drill pants shrink more in length than in width but the shrinkage can be managed by stretching the pants out after washing. The pants are super comfortable but may feel heavy when wet. The knees may stretch out while rolling and the after-training baggy look is not appreciated by gi snoobs.

drill

Ripstop is a very light weight, and strong material. Most ripstop pants on the market are 100% cotton, but some gi makers offer cotton/polyester combination which has a waxy, parachute feel to them. Ripstop material has reinforcement threads woven in 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm intervals, giving the fabric its distinctive 3D, square pattern. Even though ripstop pants are very durable, the name can be deceiving. Ripstop pants do rip at the stress points when they are a size or two too small, and wear out on the knees over time. Fitted or slim cut pants tend to stick to the skin when wet, and constant adjustment during training is distracting. Ripstop pants are preferred in hot weather training and in competition. Both ripstop and drill pants cost the same to manufacture.

ripstop

Second part of the series on new weaves, single weave gis and double weave gis can be found here.

Sparring in Heels in Poland

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by in News and Events, Women's BJJ

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heelsIrena Preiss, the newest female black belt in Poland has put together the very first women’s BJJ camp, Sparingi Na Obcasach (Sparring in Heels), this month. The camp is held on June 21-22 in Krakow, in Grappling Kraków club. An array of activities have been arranged for the weekend, not just lots of sparring.

Psychologist, Kasia Toeplitz, will be giving a lecture about successful mental preparation for a competition. CrossFit Krakow trainer, Magdalena Rutkowska, will show some useful exercises on how to strengthen the body, and how to stretch after training. Capoeira Feminina instructor, Natalia Panek, will prepare a traditional Brazilian warm up, and show various capoeira techniques that can be used in BJJ.

Irena Preiss, the organizer, describes the upcoming camp: “We have lots of things planned, and I’m sure we will manage them all. There will be plenty of time for discussions, and drilling techniques. Many of you worry that you have been training for just a couple of months, and that you lack experience. Don’t worry, you will do fine. Please don’t forget that the main goal of the camp is to learn from each other, to support each other, and have fun. You will have questions, and we will try to find answers. You will experience difficulties with certain positions, and we will try to show you how to handle it. You will be tired, but do not worry. You can take a break, and join us whenever you are ready. This will be great and we will make it unforgettable together”.

For more information please contact Irena at skarpeta@jestsuper.pl

Black Belt Corner with Jocelyn Chang

12 Thursday Jun 2014

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gabijocelynJocelyn Chang has been training jiu-jitsu for over two decades. She is a second degree black belt under Leka Vieira and at 4’9” the tiniest black belt in the world. Due to her size she has had to adjust the techniques to fit her frame. Furthermore, she has had to modify her training to protect her chest from any pressure. At the age of 39, in 2009, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Jocelyn underwent double mastectomy, 5 months of chemotherapy, and 30 days of radiation. Two weeks after the radiation treatment was finished, she was back on the mat. Jocelyn is a true inspiration for all women in BJJ. Being small or facing a deadly opponent is nothing when you have a never give up attitude. If you have a chance, try to visit her Let’s Roll BJJ Academy in Torrance, California.

What was the most challenging belt lever for you?

Throughout the years of training, the most challenging belt was my purple belt. As a purple belt you are no longer given a pass for any mistakes. The bad habits that you had at the blue belt level are now gone. You have to own the mistakes you make, and reap the consequences. The fun part of purple belt level is that you get to experiment doing more techniques. Mat time is the must, and that is the only way you will grow and succeed to the next level.

What advice would you give to women who are struggling?

Jocelyn-Chang

It is okay to take a break. Don’t worry, you never forget the basics when you decide to come back from a break. It is like riding a bike. If life completely takes over, BJJ will always be there for you when you find your way back. I’ve had challenging times lately but I don’t see myself giving up the BJJ lifestyle. I’ve recently gone back to working full-time, and still teach at my studio in the evenings. It is too important not to roll. I’m a 3 year cancer survivor, and I believe that doing jiu-jitsu prior to cancer helped me in my recovery both physically and mentally. If you do make time to train regularly, I applaud you. Keep it up, and don’t ever stop rolling!

To read more about Jocelyn Chang, please check out BJJ Legends interview.

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