What gi should I buy? If you currently practice jiu-jitsu or are thinking of starting, you have probably faced this dilemma. There are so many different brands, weaves, and colors, the selection can be quite overwhelming. In the following review, I compare the Keiko Raca Limited Edition Special Gi with the Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono. Hopefully, this will help you in your quest to find the best gi for you.

I have tested many gi brands, and Keiko Raca continues to be one of my favorites for a few reasons. The jacket is made of light, soft cotton that unlike many other brands, doesn’t become crunchy after that first wash. I like the jacket because it has a wide fit that comfortably wraps all the way around my body when tied with a belt. If you have a strong upper body, this top may be too constricting in the shoulders. I like the versatility of this gi; there is a large color selection in case you are looking for some individuality while on the mats. If you decide to buy this gi, keep in mind that it shrinks just about every time you wash it so buy a size up.

The Keiko pants are often criticized for being too stiff and uncomfortable. Personally, I find that the legs are cut too straight and the fabric is thick and stiff, restricting mobility. It really feels like the pants were designed for a tall slender build in mind, someone like Braulio Estima. I often mix and match my Keiko jacket with a different brand’s pants, like those of the Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono.

Ouano has historically produced some amazing pants. Some of the most comfortable pants I’ve ever rolled in were Ouano brand. However, with Ouano you don’t always know what you’re going to get because the cuts of these gis change between batches. Sometimes, the pants have a very low crotch that forces you to either tie your pants high on your waist or train with a drooping crotch that limits your leg mobility. Other times, the pants fit perfectly and have just the right amount of bagginess. Low crotch or not, these pants are always very comfortable, even if you have to pull them up high on your waist.

Overall, the Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono has the potential to be a great gi for you. Like the Keiko, the jacket is made of a light, comfy cotton, but it has a different, thicker weave to it. It has a nice fit, but beware - this top will shrink at least once, and when it shrinks, it becomes shorter, sometimes so short that it untucks from your belt. I cannot stand the super short gi style and I prefer something more akin to a tighter judo gi style - like the Mizuno Eurocomp. The collar is thick due to EVA foam and many find this helpful to keep from getting choked out. Personally, I find the collar so thick that it often digs into my neck when I’m drilling a technique and no one is choking me at all.

So which is better? I’ll start off by saying you can never have too many kimonos. They get dirty and stinky, and if you train every day, you will be doing a lot of laundry.

That being said, I personally like the Keiko jacket and the Ouano pants the best. Because everyone’s body is so different, the best advice I can give is to try them both on and see which one fits you the best.

As a whole, I think the Keiko Raca Limited Edition Special Gi is reasonably priced and well worth the money. The Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono is a great buy, too, especially for beginners because it comes with a white belt and is the right price if you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to a more expensive gi when you’re just starting. For a little over a hundred dollars, you get a comfortable gi that doesn’t shrink repeatedly. Just be sure to try it on before you buy it.

Good luck in your gi shopping and happy training!

Kevin

Tags: Kimono Review

This entry was posted on Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 10:17 am and is filed under Kimono Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.