Rashguard Review: XMartial Pokemon Evo

Short Review: A colourful, well-fitting rashguard with a broad range of sizes, though I found that it does tend to ride up more than others I've worn. You can currently buy the rashguard for $45 from the main XMartial website. 

Full Review: As I've mentioned before, it is rare that I do reviews these days, both because I tend to be busy with Artemis BJJ, along with the mild bipolar thing I have going on. However, when I got an email from XMartial and saw their Pokemon design, I couldn't resist a rashguard that colourful. I asked if it was officially licensed (surprisingly often not the case, in my experience), to which XMartial replied they had written approval from The Pokemon Company, who are the copyright holders for all things pokemon. 

I was a little old for pokemon when it first came out, but I remember playing some of the original games: as I can recognise most of the characters, it looks like XMartial have mostly stuck with the classic selection, rather than the numerous updates. 

XMartial was founded in the US by Joe Gosselin, a brown belt with a decade of BJJ experience. The company dates back to 2016, with a number of sponsored athletes on its books. The best known to the BJJ community is probably Roxanne Modafferi, who has been around both BJJ and MMA for many years and well known for both her impressive skills and cheerful disposition. There are also guys like Breck Still, who often pops up on r/BJJ and elsewhere with instructional vids from his Leviathan Academy. 

The rashguard is made in China, the main alternative to Pakistan (the same is true for gi production). A majority of rashguards tend to be a combination of polyester with either spandex or lycra. In the case of the Pokemon Evo, it's 90% polyester and 10% spandex, which is a fairly standard mix. By comparison, the BJJ Globetrotter rashguards I have are 85% polyester and 15% spandex, while Gamma Fightwear went for 80% polyester and 20% lycra. I found that the Pokemon Evo was a good fit on me (for reference, I'm 170cm/5'7" and around 68kg), though the sizing is unusual. With other rashguard companies, I wear a Medium. 

For XMartial, when I sent over my measurements, they suggested an XS. It's comfortable, in terms of the chest and armpits (two of the potential problem areas for rashguards). The thickness is in keeping with most other rashguards I've worn, to which my BJJ Globetrotters rashguards are the main exception. They are notably heftier, which makes them a great choice for Winter training. 

The only disadvantage I could find with the Pokemon Evo is that it does ride up if you raise your arms, or at least the XS size does so on my body. That's mainly due to length. I prefer a rashguard with plenty of length, to prevent the riding up issue, especially as I'll often wear rashguards for kettlebell workouts and the like. 

Hence why I'm a fan of Gamma Fightwear (sadly no longer operational) and Valor (where I go for my club rashguards), as both of them have fairly long Medium. The other useful addition to prevent riding up is anti-slip waistband. That's present on both the BJJ Globetrotters and Gamma Fightwear rashguards, where the waistband is elasticated and also has small ridges to try and keep it in place. 

The XMartial waistband is elasticated, but it's smooth, so I found it less effective at preventing riding up. The XS is also shorter than the Medium I was contrasting it against, unsurprisingly (it would be interesting to compare the XMartial version of a Medium), which again means it is more prone to riding up. The sleeve cuffs are tight, which I prefer, as that means they stay in place, without being so tight that it's difficult to take on and off (like the one I have from Raven Fightwear). 

XMartial offer their Pokemon design in various formats, with options for longsleeve, shortsleeve, men's fit, women's fit and a kid's size. The size range is extensive, with the XMartial men's size chart running from 55kg and 160cm all the way up to 110kg and 200cm, meaning all but the most atypical body types should be catered for. You can currently buy the rashguard for $45 from the main XMartial website.

Equipment Review - 'Real Dope Pants' (Datsusara)

Short Review: A considerable improvement over previous Datsusara gi trousers I've tried, the Real Dope Pants are easily among the most comfortable gi trousers I've ever worn (and I've worn a lot in the last decade). The green and black colour scheme is striking, although the gentle humour of the embroidery may still be too much for some. I also found the drawstring was too long for me, but that is an issue with most drawstrings, easily resolved by cutting and singeing the ends. These trousers are not cheap at $75 (available here, from the Datsusara website), but if you value comfort, it's money well spent.

Full Review: Datsusara have remained the most prominent name in the hemp gi market, a profile that has risen since their sponsorship of the Eddie Bravo Invitational. On that event, you may have seen the referees wearing some stylish trousers with a green drawstring. Those are the 'Real Dope Pants', a marked departure from Datsusara's previous HCG ('hemp combat gi') model, at least in terms of the older editions I've tested over the years (the HCG-02 and HCG-03: Datsusara is currently up to the HCG-06).

Those older gis used a weave that was comfortable and breathable, if comparatively heavy. The same weave was used in the Flow Kimonos hemp offering (which I reviewed here). They've proven to be excellent training gis, but are too bulky for travel. This is in contrast to another hemp gi I own, currently my favourite of any gi: The Green Gi. I own two jackets and one pair of The Green Gi trousers. The weave is tighter than either the HCG-02/03 or the Flow Hemp, which may explain why it feels lighter and is easier to pack.

The Green Gi gets my vote for top spot because it's ridiculously comfortable. After I first put them on, the Real Dope Pants immediately reminded me of The Green Gi: they are just as comfortable. If the HCG-06 is made out of the same weave, then that is going to make for a very tempting purchase the next time I'm in the US.

The striking green and black colour scheme of the Datsusara trousers elicited plenty of comments when I first walked in wearing them, but as regular readers will know, if I own something black it doesn't stay that way for long: I like colour. I bleached and then dyed the trousers, as I wanted something I could match with my second The Green Gi jacket, which I dyed dark green a while back. Before I attacked it with various chemicals, the black was attractively set off by the green stitching and embroidery, along with a green bungee cord drawstring.

I found that drawstring overly long for my taste, though this is a problem with every bungee cord style drawstring I've tried so far. It's easily rectified, as you can simply cut the superfluous material, then singe the ends with a candle to prevent fraying. It comes undone more easily than my favourite drawstrings (which are from Fenom Kimonos), so there is perhaps slightly less friction in the finish compared to the Fenom.

I've been wearing both The Green Gi and the Datsusara trousers regularly over the last few months, culminating in an open mat where I switched between them midway through. I also asked my student Milka to test both of them, which proved illuminating. Her preference was the Datsusara, though she felt they were both excellent. To quote her:

These [the Datsusara] are the most comfortable. These [The Green Gi] are just as comfortable, thicker, so for the winter they'd be perfect. However, I can feel the stitches, because they are right across my thighs. But with this [the Datsusara], it's like wearing nothing.

As soon as she rolled in them, she was asking me where she could buy a pair. Personally, I prefer The Green Gi, but it's close. The reason is that while I find them equally comfortable, I prefer the cut on The Green Gi and they have thicker reinforcement panels by the knees. I haven't had any issues with the stitching on the trousers, though I did have the seam tape by the sleeve cuffs removed due to itchiness (I think from the seam tape edge, rather than the stitching itself).

A photo posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Aug 14, 2016 at 7:00am PDT

I also prefer the plain design of The Green Gi. Normally Datsusara are notably plainer than most other companies, so the shift to increased embroidery and patches on the Real Dope Pants was a departure. I don't mind the kanji, it was the 'Real Dope Gear' embroidery I found off-putting. I live in Bristol, where you will often smell pot wafting down the street. My attitude is that as long as they aren't smoking it on my mats, I don't mind: what you do at home is your business. However, even the gently pro-pot implication of the 'Real Dope' pun wasn't a message I felt comfortable displaying on my gi, especially as an instructor. I therefore covered it with a patch, though the embroidery would also be fairly easily to remove, judging by my quick test unpicking a few of the threads.

Before washing, the A1 trousers I got were 93cm long. After several months of regular washing at 30 degree Celsius, they have shrunk to 90cm. If you stick to 30 degrees, then that would indicate you can be relatively confident that the sizes on the website are not going to shift dramatically.

It will be interesting to see what the durability is like on the Real Dope Pants, so I'll update this review in a couple of years. There are many alleged benefits to hemp (see my old HCG review for more discussion of that), but as ever the only one I can currently confirm is that hemp clothing has a considerably greater level of comfort compared to cotton.

The Real Dope Pants are an impressive achievement by Datsusara, which hopefully will carry across to their gis as well, if it hasn't already. If Datusara are able to produce a jacket as comfortable as these trousers, I suspect I will soon have a new favourite gi. ;)

The Real Dope Pants are available to buy here, from the Datsusara website

Spats Review - Samurai in Combat (Combat Skin)

Short Review: The second spats available from Combat Skin draw upon the classic martial arts image of the samurai, with several changes since their last pair of tights. The drawstring has gone (personally I'm glad to see it go, but your preference may vary), as have the anti-slip cuffs on the ankles. That anti-slip waistband is still there, but more comfortable this time around. The spats are also a little longer and wider than before (at least in Medium), making them a slightly better fit on my 5'7 and 66kg frame. Available to buy for $59 here.

Full Review: Since launching in November 2013, Combat Skin has continued to expand. I previously had the opportunity to try out their Combat Warrior spats, part of owner Steven Loi's inaugural market offering. That featured a design by Meerkatsu, replicated across a number of different BJJ fightwear products. The latest design I've been able to test, the 'Samurai in Combat' spats, has received similar treatment. Just like Meerkatsu's artwork, the Samurai in Combat appears on a t-shirt, rash guard and even a gi patch, as well as a gi.

It is not a new design: those samurai had already been revealed when I wrote my last review in March, although at that time it was being sold on a t-shirt. Notably, those sales had a charitable element. 20% of profits went to Bulig Isko, an organisation connected to disaster relief after the Haiyan Typhoon in the Phillipines. That's part of Combat Skin's stated aim of 'giving back to the community'. They've continued to back up that part of their mission statement, not just with various sponsored athletes, but helping out community projects and events too.

For example, Combat Skin provided the t-shirts for Jodie Bear's GrappleThon held in August, where she raised money to support the Donna Louise Trust. Jodie is herself now a sponsored athlete: you can check out her (slightly out of date, as she's since earned her blue belt) page on the Combat Skin website here.

Another part of the mission statement regarded using artists that train, something in evidence with the Samurai in Combat design. The two samurai that feature on these Combat Skin spats were created by Jay Acosta, who is based in the Philippines. He is also known as 'JayBhoi', the name under which you'll find his work on sites like deviantART and behance.net. His artwork on the left leg features a pair of samurai in full battle-dress, one wearing red armour while the other is in blue (there is a clearer picture of the design over on his Facebook page).

Drawing on Japanese tropes is a good move for a piece of BJJ fightwear. Anything Japanese is especially popular in martial art circles, from manga to cultural rituals. BJJ's titular Brazilian heritage has counter-acted judo's original stiff formality, although a few schools have poured some starch into the old Brazilian laid-back vibe. Still, although we might not be swishing our hakama skirts, the grapplers of BJJ nevertheless tend to love ninja and samurai just as much as the Japanophiles of a karate or aikido school. That also gives me an excuse to babble about samurai in general. Hooray!

The term 'samurai', which apparently translates as 'those who serve', was first used in a purely military context during the 10th century (according to military historian Stephen Turnbull). Their significance ramped up over the coming centuries: for example, the Gempei War (or Genpei War, depending on how you transliterate from the Japanese) in the 12th century, the rather fortunate repulse of the Mongols in the 13th century (the weather helped quite a bit), the Onin War of the 15th century and the following Period of Warring States, lasting around 150 years.

Tokugawa Ieyasu emerged as the victor of all that warring, after climactic battles at Sekigahara in 1600 and Osaka in 1615. The next two centuries would be remarkably peaceful by comparison to what came before, meaning that the samurai didn't have to do a whole lot of fighting. The fanatical Christian aspect of the Shimabara Rebellion in 1638 (one of the exceptions when the samurai did need to dust off their armour) triggered Japan's withdrawal from the world, codified in the 1639 Exlusion Edict that banned almost all foreign trade, barring a tiny selection of Dutch merchants based in Dejima. By the time Commodore Perry shattered that arrangement in 1853, the samurai had gone from feared fighters to pen-pushing bureaucrats.

From what I've read, the historical reality of samurai is not particularly elevated, much like the reality of European knights is far less 'chivalrous' than the Arthurian mythos might lead you to believe. Similarly to their European counterparts, samurai started off basically as mercenaries and bodyguards. Bushido was about as relevant to the original samurai as Idylls of the King was on the medieval battlefields of Europe (in other words, not very much). The samurai myth (again, judging by a few books and internet sites, so I could be wrong) was largely a 17th century creation, just when the real samurai were transitioning from a life of constant warfare to a life of political intrigue.

There's an article about myth versus reality over on TheGoldenEggs: I'm not sure how well researched that is as there aren't any footnotes, but it makes for interesting reading. Or have a read of this piece about a scholar of Asian history, which has several intriguing quotes. For example:

Samurai rarely used swords in battle — instead they most often used arrows. So the idea of the sacred Samurai sword isn't exactly accurate. Their weapon of choice was actually the pike, which was essentially a spear. Swords were very expensive, so they weren't used often, which also explains why they survived. [...]

Loyalty has been grossly exaggerated. Warriors were interested in reward and recompense. Conlan found evidence that warriors moved from one side to another depending on the reward they would receive.

Of course, outside of academia it doesn't matter all that much what samurai were actually like. What matters is their status in popular culture. In that context, they're undeniably cool. Whether that's in Kurosawa films and the work he inspired (Star Wars being perhaps the most notable example), Ghost Dog or countless katana-wielding anime warriors, samurai through modern eyes are sleek, graceful and honourable to a fault. The positive image of the samurai as an intensely loyal aesthete with a sword, despite not being borne out by history, also remains powerful, as does their rather better founded status as elite soldiers. One of my own BJJ heroes, Saulo Ribeiro, has proudly described himself as a "samurai of the modern world." So, samurai imagery is an easy sell to BJJers (including me).

My knowledge of samurai armour comes mainly from Akira Kurosawa and playing Wizardry (hence why 'ashigaru' is a familiar word to me, as they kept stabbing my characters to death), but Wikipedia has an impressively detailed picture with a complete key of all the parts. Based on that, it looks like JayBhoi has kitted his samurai out with ō-yoroi ('great armour'), rather than the later more mobile dō-maru. That also means I've now learned a new word: I'm a fantasy and history geek so I love armour and weapons, but 'poleyn' isn't something I've read before. Apparently that's the bit that covered the upper leg through to the knees (4 on the diagram). ;)

JayBhoi's Red Samurai is trying to chop into Blue Samurai with a blood-stained katana. However, Blue Samurai has managed to overcome him through - of course - jiu jitsu (I somehow doubt BJJ would help you against a great big sword in real life, but it's a cool concept for BJJ fightwear). The difference in armour tone is a satisfying touch, as it makes Blue Samurai's triangle-armbar attack much clearer.

The main body of the spats is a rich blue, setting off the red stitching that continues the colour scheme of the samurai. That blue background contains a blown-up watermark of the samurai design, extending across the entire surface of the spats. Directly behind the two combatants there is a large oriental dragon, mouth agape and claws raised. She looks partially armoured herself, further enhancing the samurai theme. The ethereal light blue colour presumably indicates that this dragon represents the fighting spirit of the samurai. On a personal note, it fits pretty well with some of Jodie's own dragon artwork, which she tattooed on my left foot a few months ago. ;)

At the bottom of the left leg, Acosta's personal logo (a quizzical stylised head, atop a plate with 'JAYBHOI' written across it) stares out. On the right leg, 'Combat Skin' is written down its length in large white letters. The 'CS' logo sits at the top of the leg, looking like it has just been sliced in half. The waistband of the spats has 'Comabt SKin' written all along it, separated again by that CS logo (untouched by a sword this time).

Acosta's artwork has the standard sublimation to prevent cracking, peeling and fading, while the spats have the equally standard flatlock stitching for comfort. The tags are sublimated too, greatly preferable to those irrtating flaps you get in most clothes. Combat Skin have also helpfully pre-washed the tights, so you shouldn't have to worry about the various chemicals from the manufacturing process that can linger in new clothes.

There have been a number of changes compared to the Combat Warrior spats. The Samurai in Combat do not have that 'waxy' sheen, presumably because instead of 80% polyester and 20% lycra, they are 82% polyester and 18% spandex (the same blend as the Mashuu 2.0 from Strike). The dimensions for 'Medium' have changed as well: the Samurai in Combat is noticeably longer than its predecessor. They remain a good length for my 5'7 and 66kg frame, because I prefer spats to extend to my ankles. They are 93cm rather than 85cm (unstretched), while the width is 34cm, compared to the Combat Warrior's 31cm (measuring it flat on the floor on one side, again unstretched). Overall I'd say these are an improved fit compared to the Combat Warrior, which was already among my best fitting spats.

Those Combat Warrior anti-slip bands on the ankle cuffs have gone, with added reinforcement: the Samurai in Combat has three lines of stitching on the cuffs compared to the Combat Warrior's two. The drawstring has gone as well. There is still an anti-slip waistband on the Samurai in Combat, but it's more comfortable than on the Combat Warrior. As you can see if you click on the picture, the pattern of stitching on that waistband is different too. For me that again is an enhancement. Drawstrings have been superfluous in my experience with spats so far, though if the elastic loosens over the years, the Combat Warrior drawstring will have renewed purpose.

The Combat Warrior spats arrived in a small plastic pouch. This has been upgraded to a mesh bag for the Samurai in Combat, with a toggle drawstring. That's perfect for wet clothes you want to compress, so I'm currently using the bag for my old travel towel. The Samurai in Combat spats are available to buy from the Combat Skin website for $59, here.

Equipment Review - Berserkur & IBJJF Legal Belt Colour Rashguards (Odin Fightwear)

Short Review: For those who prefer a plainer look, Danish company Odin Fightwear offer simple designs with a Norse twist. These rashguards also feature an anti-slip waistband and a modified cut for the armpit that avoids tightness in that area. You can choose from the Berserkur (in either brown/black or blue/grey) or the IBJJF legal ranked rashguard, which has a swoop of colour to fit the regulations for that particular tournament provider. Available to buy here, setting you back 32€ for the Berserkur and 34€ for the plainer ranked rashguard, but be aware that the sales tax to the EU bumps it up to 40€/42€, which is an unfortunate barrier to sales in that nearby market.

Full Review: Odin Fightwear was founded in Denmark during 2011 by Kári Gunnarsson, who is currently a brown belt at BJJ Globetrotter Christian Graugart's gym in Copenhagen. There is a vibrant jiu jitsu scene in Scandinavia, with some stand-out MMA fighters emerging from the region as well, such as Iceland's Gunnar Nelson and Sweden's Alexander Gustaffson. That means Odin Fightwear has a considerable local market, but they are gradually expanding to the rest of the world.

I've always been a big fan of mythology, especially Norse, as that's one of the coolest (trolls, dwarves, Thor: what's not to like?). My first encounter was probably a large book of Norse legends I borrowed off a friend when I was a child, then further down the line a couple of brilliant computer games in the early '90s, Heimdall and Heimdall II. Myth was another entertaining attempt to create something interactive from a whole range of myths (I didn't realise it was from '89: for some reason I thought it was later than Heimdall), then more recently games like Age of Mythology (though I guess it isn't that recent now: I haven't been seriously into computer games for well over a decade).

With a mythology that rich in brilliant imagery, you would expect that a brand calling itself Odin Fightwear would be releasing all kinds of awesome designs featuring mighty hammers, axe wielding vikings and rampaging frost giants. Instead, Odin have gone for an understated look: the link to Norse mythology is more through the Scandinavian location and some of the product names rather than a love of spectacular viking imagery. On the 'about us' page, it states:

The main goal of the company is to provide MMA/Grappling/BJJ gear of the highest quality, and just as importantly, with crisp/fresh designs. We don’t feel that the majority of MMA brands out there appeal to us, as we are not attracted to the “in your face” style that most companies seem to cultivate, so we aim to create crisp cool designs (though not necesarily minimalistic). We take our inspiration more from surf clothing than from other MMA brands, and try to incorporate that design feeling into clothing that is meant to withstand MMA/Grappling rather than surfing.

That can certainly be seen in the two rashguards I was sent, especially the IBJJF legal belt colour rashguard. It is almost completely devoid of illustration, except for a stylised raven in the logotype on the front, with 'Brazilian Jiu Jitsu' written on the back. There is a swoop of rank colour (in my case purple) down one side that curves around the back, fitting the IBJJF regulations on nogi equipment.

Of course, there are lots of other tournament providers besides the IBJJF, as despite what the IBJJF would like people to believe, they're just a company not a governing body. Still, they are the largest tournament company, so quite a few fightwear brands are providing specific IBJJF legal rashguards. I've got another one from Fenom, which has a comparably simplistic design. This is the relevant IBJJF rule, 8.1.13, on p29 of the rulebook:

Shirt of elastic fabric (clings to body) at a length that covers the shorts’ waist band, of black or white color, and displaying at least 10% of the color of the rank (belt) to which the athlete belongs. Shirts that are 100% the color of the rank (belt) the athlete belongs to are also acceptable.

The Berserkur rashguard is more intricate, because it doesn't stick to those regulations, though it's still far from flashy. The name is also considerably more interesting: for those of you unfamiliar with the term, 'Berserkur' is itself an overt nod to Norse mythology. What English speakers would call 'berserkers' were viking warriors who intentionally went into a battle-frenzy, chewing on their shields and fighting without armour. Appropriately, they were associated specifically with Odin. 'Berserkur' literally translates to 'bear shirt', which from what I've read is both a reference to wearing the pelt of a bear and the belief that berserkers could actually change their shape into an animal. There is a connection here to the legends surrounding werewolves (or to use the posh term, lycanthrope), as a similar group of warriors called the Úlfhéðnar wore wolf-pelts.

Instead of bears or wolves, the main theme on the Berserkur rashguard is again ravens. Two of them face in either direction on top of what looks like a sort of shield girlded with feathers. The raven is a common attribute of Odin, who has two of them, Huginn and Muninn (the latter has his own pair of Odin Fightwear shorts). Their names translate as 'thought' and 'memory' respectively. The ravens are essentially Odin's eyes on the world (which is handy, as he only has one of his own, having used the other to pay Mimir for a drink of wisdom), flying out each day then returning at dinner to fill him in on the latest Midgard news.

White text spelling out 'Odin' (in a suitably chunky Norse font) extends down from that illustration on the left chest. The middle of the rashguard is black (it says dark brown on the website, but certainly looks black to me, unless I misunderstood the text), while the side panels and arms are a light brown. That colour is broken up by a black strip under the armpits. You can also buy the Berserkur in a light blue, which instead of black has a light grey middle and armpit strips.

The material feels a bit more waxy (for want of a better word) than most of the other rashguards and spats I own, although the spats I reviewed recently from Combat Skin are a similar texture. As with the Combat Warrior spats, I'm not sure if that is simply a matter of texture or that the material is in fact thicker. It looks and feels durable, but obviously only time will tell if that is a correct assumption on my part.

I've been alternating between the two rashguards for the last month and found them similarly comfortable, despite them being different sizes. The label at the neck is printed onto the material, which is good as I always find those white flaps of label irritatingly scratchy. As is now standard with rashguards, the graphics are sublimited so they won't peel, crack or fade. The stitching is flatlock, again standard for modern rashguards.

Both the Berserkur and the ranked rashguard have an anti-slip waistband around the bottom, similar to the one in the rashguard I was kindly lent by Conor back when I attended the Rolles Gracie Jr seminar with him in Houston. The idea is that this stops the rashguard riding up. It feels quite bulky, as unlike the rest of the rashguard it is stiff and solid. There is also a tendency for the waistband to fold over on itself, but that could well be because I wear it under my gi jacket and trousers. Unlike the anti-slip waistband I've experienced on spats, it isn't especially tight, depending on how far down your body you pull it.

Unstretched, the Berserkur is 68cm from shoulder to hem and 39cm across the width of the waistband, but as you can see from the picture, there is a lot of vertical stretch. The ranked rashguard is 62cm shoulder to hem and 38cm across the waistband. Again, that stretches just as much as the Berserkur. The Berserkur I was sent is a Medium, so if I don't pull it down firmly there is some bagginess around the chest area. The ranked rashguard is a Small, which unsurprisingly felt tighter and is slightly shorter. However, both fit comfortably on my 5'7" and 66kg frame.

At the moment, you can only get short sleeve rashguards from Odin Fightwear. That is advantageous in hotter weather, but I prefer long sleeve due to the protection from friction for the elbows, useful with or without a gi. The neckline is high like on a surfing rashguard, similar to my Fenom. Looking through my rashguards that high neck is common to most of them, with the Gentle Chief being slightly lower.

If you lift up the sleeve of the Odin Fightwear rashguards, you'll notice that they are cut rather differently to most other rashguards. The stitching does not go across your armpit, instead there is an extra panel there (hence the black strip). It looks more like the crotch area of a pair of gi trousers, so there isn't anything that cuts into your armpit. Personally I'm quite skinny so this isn't much of an issue for me anyway, but if you've had any issues with discomfort in the armpit area from other rashguards, Odin could be the solution you're looking for. It's always good to see companies try something new, especially when it appears to be an eminently practical innovation.

The rashguards are available to buy here: it's 32€ for the Berserkur and 34€ for the plainer ranked rashguard. Unfortunately in what would otherwise be the obvious European market, Odin Fightwear are a little hampered by Danish sales taxes to the EU: that bumps up the price of their rashguards from 32/34€ to 40/42€. I'm not sure if the sales tax applies to other countries like the US, but it looks like it doesn't according to this.

Update April 2014: Gunnarsson put up the following explanation of sales tax on the Odin Fightwear Facebook page, stating "this is no different from any Business->Consumer sale within the European Union, there must always be sales tax (VAT) added. We have simply chosen to show the price with, and without the VAT, in order to make it easy for our US (and other non-EU customers) to see what their price is (since non-EU residents will not be charged the VAT). So we are not charging any extra tax that others do not, we simply show the price both with and without VAT, while most stores only show the price with VAT."

Equipment Review - Combat Warrior Tights (Combat Skin)

Short Review: Combat Skin have produced a range of Meerkatsu designed equipment, encompassing both nogi and gi. Their Combat Warrior grappling tights feel a little different than others I've tried before, with a 'waxier' (for want of a better word) sheen to the material, but they're still comfortable to wear: a Medium was a good fit on me (for reference, I'm 5'7 and around 66kg). They also have anti-slip bands on both the waist and ankle cuffs along with a drawstring: this is intended to keep the tights in place, but in my experience it isn't entirely necessary. However, if you've had trouble with tights slipping, you'll be able to fasten these very securely to your hips. The design is a vibrant orange Qilin from Chinese mythology, with 'Combat Skin' written down the other leg in bright yellow. Available to buy from Combat Skin here for $55.

Full Review: The fightwear market continues to grow, but in a shift from recent years, the potential product line has also evolved. Previously, it would be a matter of sending off a gi design to Pakistan or China then releasing a gi largely the same as every other company, just with different patches and perhaps some embroidery. Now, it has become fairly standard to also offer rashguards and grappling tights (known alternatively as spats). I would assume those are also often made in Pakistan and China: not all of my rashguards and spats have a label stating where they were made, but of the three that do, two are from Pakistan.

In November 2013, Steven Loi (possibly the same Steven Loi who runs BJJ Video Vault) officially launched his contribution to that expanding market, Combat Skin. It's a good name, bringing up associations with cool sci-fi armour from films and computer games. I first became aware of the brand due to another positive pop culture reference from my past, in the form of their 'Street Jitsu' t-shirt, paying homage to classic beat-em-up Street Fighter II.

Over time, I have realised that a good product and customer service are not the only aspects of a company that matter to me, though both are of course important (I'm therefore going to babble about that for several paragraphs: to skip straight to discussion of the product, click here). In my case, I am equally swayed by how the company responds to what used to be called 'Corporate Social Responsibility' back when I worked in business. The Combat Skin mission statement indicates that is indeed one of their central concerns:

Our success will be based on how we serve the martial arts community and this includes:

* Creating the best designs and fight wear for combat arts/sports

* Providing a high quality service that leads to exceptional customer satisfaction

* Using designers and artists that train

* Supporting practitioners by giving back to the community (e.g. sponsorships)

The first two points are to be expected: pretty much any business is going to want to create the best product possible and aim to deliver high quality service: if they did not, then unless they are operating a monopoly, that business would not last long. The third and fourth points are more interesting. I can't think of any other fightwear brand that has a specific goal of only using designers and artists that train. There are quite a few in jiu jitsu, so I'll be interested to see what new artists may get a chance, along with established jiu jitsu designers such as Meerkatsu and Gawakoto.

Many companies claim to 'give back to the community': Combat Skin have attempted to back up their advertising copy with a charity t-shirt featuring a samurai image on the front. Combat Skin have also shown their willingness to engage with their potential customer base, using Facebook to discuss those charitable efforts. For example, for the samurai charity shirt, they first asked on Facebook if people thought it was a good idea, then went ahead and donated 20% of the t-shirt's profits to an appeal supporting the Haiyan typhoon survivors. A few weeks earlier, they announced they would be supporting the Inspire women-only open mat. I'm not sure what exactly that support involved (perhaps providing some t-shirts for the event), but either way it's a positive sign of their commitment to more than just lip service to the oft-quoted goal of 'giving back'.

Finally, 'giving back' can be seen in the Combat Skin approach to sponsorship. According to Facebook, they examine several factors on top of competition results. In fact, they specifically state you don't even have to compete. That greater scrutiny of potential candidates is important, given that there are both people and whole teams out there who can prove they have plenty of jiu jitsu talent, but possess a less than stellar reputation off the mats.

Moving on to the actual product, this is the sixth pair of spats I've owned. Although I only rarely train nogi, after getting hold of my beautiful Pony Club Grappling Gear unicorn spats, I've gotten into the habit of always wearing both spats and a rashguard under my gi. The Combat Warrior tights have a slightly waxy feel to the material compared to my other spats, a texture I have so far previously encountered in rashguards. That's not meant to be at all negative, I just can't think of a better word to describe it. The last time I encountered that kind of material was when I wore a rashguard Conor lent me to train nogi in Houston. While writing this review, I also received some rashguards from Odin Fightwear that felt similar.

That feel could be down to the mixture of materials. The Combat Warrior tights are 80% polyester and 20% lycra. That contrasts to the 82% polyester/18% spandex on my Strike Fightwear spats and the 80% polyester/20% spandex of my RGA Bucks Tatami rashguard. However, the Gentle Chief rashguard I reviewed a while ago has a comparable blend of 82% polyester/18% lycra, but lacks that same slightly waxy texture. I would therefore guess the Combat Warrior tights are either a bit thicker or perhaps has had some kind of treatment: either way, it's only a minor difference and doesn't affect my comfort, so I'm mainly speculating out of interest.

Unstretched, the Combat Warrior spats are 85cm long and 31cm wide, but keep in mind there is a lot of stretch in them due to the fabric. They have proved to be a decent fit on my 5'7 and 66kg frame. I prefer spats to pull down past my ankles, meaning they end lower than my gi trousers. In comparison to my other grappling tights, Combat Skin fall in about the middle of the range, although those tights are in a range of sizes and indeed each company has quite different ideas of what constitutes a 'Small' or a 'Medium'. As can be seen by lining them up, the Meerkatsu 'Medium' is by far the longest, followed by the Pony Club Grappling Gear 'Medium' and the Combat Skin 'Medium'. The Meerkatsu flaming rooster bunches at my ankles as it is too long, so the best fitting spats I have are from PCGG and Combat Skin (though the larger size of the rooster spats does mean they are the easiest to put on).

Like the Mashuu 2.0 spats from Strike Fightwear, the Combat Warrior tights have an anti-slip waistband, as well as smaller bands stitched to the ankle cuffs. I ended up removing the waistband from the Mashuu 2.0 and expected I'd experience the same unpleasantly constrictive feeling with Combat Skin's offering. Initially I thought my expectations had been confirmed when I heard that same ripping noise as I struggled to pull the waistband over my hips. However, while I assume that means that again the threads attaching the waistband to the spats were breaking, I think that first impression was misleading.

The Combat Warrior waistband is not as tight as the anti-slip waistband in the Mashuu 2.0 and the width is also broader. The compression around the legs is a lot more comfortable than the Strike Fightwear spats, though I would assume much of that is because I opted for Small in the Mashuu 2.0 when I should have gone for Medium. It's also worth noting that I like a tight fit, so it is possible you might want to get the next size up in the Combat Warrior tights or consider removing the anti-slip waistband.

The Combat Warrior tights have a drawstring in the waistband, as do the Meerkatsu flaming rooster spats I bought a few months ago. Personally, I think that's a superfluous addition in both the Meerkatsu and Combat Skin tights, but that is probably just a matter of preference. Especially with the anti-slip waistband in the Combat Warrior spats, I have had no need to use the drawstring to keep them up above my hips. I have never bothered tying the drawstring on either pair of spats and had no issues with slippage. Then again, I also haven't regularly trained with them in a nogi class, so perhaps that would pose more of a challenge. You could also argue that wearing them under gi trousers increases the friction and risk of slippage compared to nogi class. Either way, they stayed put.

In terms of the chosen design, I enjoyed the vibrant sublimated graphics, a mix of orange, red and yellow. This stands out against the black, in a way reminiscent of the Mashuu 2.0. This is subjective, but I think that Combat Skin have done a better job than those Strike Fightwear spats regarding the design proportions, resulting in a sharper finish on the main illustration. In a similarly subjective judgement, I am less keen on the text dominating the other leg (as I prefer graphics to text when it comes to spats), but I do like the bright yellow colour they've chosen.

Combat Skin decided to release multiple products off the same Meerkatsu concept, meaning you can kit yourself out with a whole Meerkatsu wardrobe (Seymour put up a post about it here). That includes a gi, rashguard, spats, t-shirt and shorts. The specific artwork builds on the mythical Qilin figure, explained on Combat Skin's website as having "the head of a heavenly dragon, the body of a lion, scales of a Koi fish, a tail similar to a raging bull and the hooves of a great stallion."

Along with that large Qilin design down one leg, there is a Combat Skin logo on the upper right and a Meerkatsu one on the lower left leg. The spats arrived in a small display bag, with a monochrome Qilin printed on the back and a clear plastic panel on the front. Combat Skin's product description notes that these are prewashed, meaning that you can wear them straight away if you're concerned about chemicals used in the production process. At $55, the price is close to other spats on the market: available to buy from Combat Skin here.

Equipment Review - Mashuu 2.0 Spats (Strike Fightwear)

Short Review: The Mashuu spats from Strike Fightwear are a gloriously bright yellow, featuring a sublimated Meerkatsu design down the leg. There are anti-slip elasticated bands on the waist and the ankle cuffs, which personally I didn't find all that comfortable but are meant to prevent slippage. Be careful of the sizing: I went with Small, but it was much tighter than I expected (though in fairness I got used to it after a few months). I bought them from here for £15 on sale, but they will presumably be at least twice the price once (if?) they come back in stock.

Full Review: As I was so pleased with my beautiful Pony Club Grappling Gear 'Jessica' spats (reviewed here, with a potted history of grappling tights), I was keen to pick up some more. Somebody on reddit mentioned Strike Fightwear were having a sale, leading me to snap up a pair of Mashuu spats back in August.

The selling point for me is that the spats are bright yellow: I'm a big fan of colourful nogi equipment, in direct contrast to my preference for plain and simple gi design. The macaque design adorns almost the entire left leg, Mashuu covering the back of the leg as well. The right leg is plainer, staying yellow down the upper leg and past the knee, followed by a black section around the calf. That has 'SF//' in white text, finished with a kanji in a white circle at the very bottom. The same SF// design is repeated along the waistband, interspersed with the word 'Strike', in black text on yellow. Finally on the upper right leg, there is a monkey wearing a kabuto (samurai helmet) in front of crossed katana, with some more text below it and the Strike Fightwear logo. The monkey with the helmet was not designed by Meerkatsu: instead, it was modified from something he created earlier.

Strike Fightwear started in 2011 and has since become known for offering extremely cheap gis. Based in the UK, Strike FW have also often worked with designer Seymour 'Meerkatsu' Yang, who created their Red Dragon gi along with a range of nogi artwork. The macaque was one of Yang's early designs, featured on both a rash guard and grappling tights. Dubbing the macaque 'Mashuu' was a result of a Strike Fightwear naming contest, won by another UK blogger, Will Wayland. Apparently, it is a little-used Japanese forename. Doing a quick Google, there is a Lake Mashū in Japan as well.

There was no size chart on the website, which is a major problem, particularly if you're buying in a sale and don't want to risk the product selling out (otherwise I would have emailed them to check the size). I therefore decided to base my decision on the PCGG spats I already owned, given that they are a size Small and fit well (I normally wear 30 inch waist trousers, to give you a point of reference).

As it turned out, a PCGG 'Small' is much more generous than a Strike Fightwear 'Small': having since bought several other spats, it's become clear that there is no sizing consensus across different fightwear companies. Therefore while I can generally trust an A1 gi will fit me, I lack that certainty when it comes to spats. To any fightwear companies reading this, it would be really handy for the customer if you could make sure you stick in a spats size chart (preferably with full waist circumference numbers), if you don't already. ;)

So for me, the Mashuu 2.0 initially felt far too tight, especially the waistband. I struggled to pull that over my hips. Once it slid past my hip bones, I didn't feel discomfort (unless I pulled the waistband over my underwear and directly onto my skin), but the insufficient size was noticeable when I looked at my legs. The fabric on my legs was stretched out to such a degree that not only could I see the hair on my legs, strands actually poked through when I was cycling. I am assuming that this was purely down to the fact that the spats were too small for me, rather than the fabric itself being much thinner than that used for the PCGG spats.

There was another possibility to try, which was removing the thick rubber waistband. This also explained the ripping noises I had heard earlier: they were caused by the loosening of threads attaching that waistband to the spats. I cut the rest of it free, a simple process until I got to the heavily stitched main join between the band and the spats. That thin strip at the back was too entwined with the spats to remove all the threads, but I could still cut it off with some scissors.

This resulted in a much more comfortable fit, although of course that doesn't help the material straining on the legs. Having said that, I'm now used to them after four months of use, to the extent that my PCGG spats actually feel a bit loose. I have also since bought a pair of spats that feel even tighter, but I'm hoping that like the Mashuu spats, they will begin to feel looser after continued testing.

In terms of specific measurements, when the Mashuu grappling tights are lain flat on the floor unstretched, the waist is 10 inches (26cm) wide. From top to bottom they are 82cm long, while the ankle openings are 10cm wide. Needless to say, there is a lot of stretch: I wear 30 inch waist trousers and can wear these without discomfort, despite my initial concerns when I first tried them on. According to the inner label, the construction is 82% polyester and 18% spandex.

The anti-slip bands are supposed to stop the leggings from shifting up or down. I did not like the feel of the waistband, hence why I removed it, but that may have been down to tightness rather than the anti-slip ridges. I left the anti-slip strips on the ankle cuffs: they do a decent job of stopping the tights from riding up my legs, of particular use if you're rolling in spats and a rash guard for nogi.

I rarely train nogi myself, but always wear a pair of spats underneath my gi trousers. That's partly for warmth, as the venue where I currently train is quite cold, but I have also found the compression helps relieve the niggling groin injury I've had since last September (I've been to two different physiotherapists since then, so it's possible that's more psychological at this point). As with any pair of spats, the tightness takes some getting used to: I don't mind a really snug fit, but you will want to choose your size very carefully.

If you have no issues with a tight fit and are a similar size to me, then the Mashuu in Small should work, but a Medium is probably a better bet for the average person. It is a good idea to contact the supplier with your measurements, though even then you may not get the right size. Best of all would be asking any training partners who also wear spats, or checking reviews like this one to get an idea of the actual size. Should they come back in stock, the Mashuu 2.0 grappling tights can be bought here.

Equipment Review - Gentle Chief Rashguard (93 Brand x Gawakoto)

Short Review: The Gentle Chief features a stylish comic-book design from Gawakoto, gracing a very comfortable rashguard, judging by the Medium I was sent. I prefer my nogi equipment to be a tight fit, to benefit from the compression: that's definitely the case with the Gentle Chief. The construction is high quality and sturdy, apparently with not only anti-bacterial and anti-odour properties, but SPF 50 protection from the sun as well. The only flaw I noticed was a lack of trimming on the inside, but that was just a factory error on the particular one I was sent, which hasn't impacted on its functionality. Available to buy here, or from Gawakoto here.

Full Review: 93 Brand has only been on the market for around a year, but it has the considerable advantage of being headed up by Aaron Rubin. 93 Brand can therefore benefit from Rubin's considerable portfolio of e-commerce websites, most notably BJJHQ.com. 93 Brand is effectively the 'house brand' of BJJHQ.com and Rubin's other major site for BJJ merchandise, the pragmatically named Martial Arts Supplies.

At present, the loose theme of 93 Brand is Americana (as in, American culture and history, rather than the submission). There's been a 'Made in America' rashguard, the 'Goose' gi (named after two things: geese are grey, like the gi, then there's the Top Gun character called 'Goose') and now the 'Gentle Chief', drawing on imagery from cowboys and Native Americans.

The actual design is by Bong Abad (sublimated, as normal for modern rashguards), the artist behind Gawakoto. According to the website, "Gawa ko ‘to" is Filipino for "I made this", paying homage to Abad's ethnic roots. Abad's background is in comic book art, something I'm fond of myself. In my case it's mainly been the numerous titles attached to the X-Men, along with old Conan the Barbarian (or Cimmerian, if you're more of a Robert E Howard purist) comics, plus some of the obvious classics like The Sandman. There is a major downside to comic book art: it can be deeply flawed with regards to its representation of women (as discussed here). Keeping that in mind, it's still a genre I enjoy.

The image Abad has created for the 'Gentle Chief' reminds me a little (though it might just be because of Dani Moonstar, a Native American superhero) of my personal favourite example of comic book art, back when Bill Sienkiewicz had a stint on the original New Mutants in 1984-1985. I've been a fan of Abad's work for a while (especially this, this, this and this, appealing to my love of fantasy), but this is the first time I've had a chance to get my hands on a Gawakoto project (sadly I wasn't quick enough to snap up these spats).

On the front of the rash guard, the Gentle Chief himself looks calmly out from your chest in full Native American regalia. On the back, the Chief is depicted mid-air applying a flying armbar to a passing cowboy. Specifically, it's what I know as a 'Japanese armbar', with one foot under their near side, rather than both heels clamped to their far side. Due to the red monochrome on brown, the fine details of the back are difficult to make out: I didn't realise the Chief was actually in the picture along with the cowboy until I read the Gawakoto description of this product (a fun touch, as it gives the Gentle Chief a little narrative):

The Gentle Chief put his ear to the ground and heard the sound of hooves. His many years of experience let him pinpoint the direction they approached from, and the number of men riding together.

The sun and the years had turned his skin to the colour and texture of expensive leather. A smile formed on his usually complacent face.

As he waited patiently, he could feel his heartbeat steady as always. The sound of hooves grew louder, and his body coiled tighter with every passing moment. At the very last moment, when most people's ears would betray them into thinking they had missed the opportunity, he pounced. He lands on the cowboy with a perfect flying armbar, and the tap comes instantly. The snap comes shortly after.

No longer is he known as the Gentle Chief.

The marketing copy on Rubin's site describes the rashguard as possessing a number of features. Some look to be fairly typical for a rashguard, like "Blended fabric (performance spandex/premium polyester)", though I don't have the expertise to distinguish between 'peformance'/'premium' and 'normal' material. The Gentle Chief is also described as "anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking, and odor-resistant." Moisture-wicking is standard for rashguards, but anti-bacterial and odor-resistance are less commonly highlighted. Having worn this rashguard regularly to training for over three weeks now, I haven't noticed it smell, but then none of the other rashguards I've worn have smelled any different. Of course, something entirely distinct could be occurring at the bacterial level, but I'm not a scientist so that would also be difficult for me to judge.

Continuing with that official description, the Martial Arts Supplies site goes on to say that the rashie is "fitted for optimal compression and torso/sleeve length". For my frame, it is an excellent fit and easily the most comfortable long-sleeve rashguard I've worn to date (though I have only worn three others previous to this one, along with a couple of short-sleeve models).

Looking at the size chart (from my experience, you don't have to worry about shrinking with rashguards), I wasn't sure if the medium or the small would be a better fit for me. My chest is 35 inches, I wear 30 inch waist trousers and I weigh 145lbs (so in other words, scrawny ;D). That put me between a Small and a Medium (there is a good range of sizes, from X-Small to 2X-Large), so I emailed Rubin my measurements to get his opinion. He suggested the Medium, which fit perfectly: I'd therefore recommend you contact Rubin directly if you're at all uncertain about what size to buy.

Interestingly, the Gentle Chief is also noted as being "SPF 50 for UV protection on the beach, etc," harking back to the rashguard's origins in the surfing world (as I described in depth in my previous rashie review). In case you're wondering, 'SPF' stands for 'sun protection factor.' The not always reliable Wikipedia entry claims there is some confusion over exactly what this really means in practical terms, but either way, 50 is the maximum (in the EU at least). To those keen to avoid the sometimes dubious labour practices of the textile industry, the fact that the Gentle Chief is proudly - and rather appropriately, given the artwork - 'Made in America' is another advantage.

Finally, the description boasts that the Gentle Chief has "4 x 4 nylon flatlock seams (triple-stitched)." Looking at that stitching more closely, on the inside it is not what I expected, as normally flatlock stitching results in a tight, neat join. The Gentle Chief rashguard I was sent had material poking out from the stitching: you can see the difference when compared to my Fenom rashguard. I emailed Rubin to ask if it was some kind of defect, and he said that is how all high-end rashguards are made, but that it is normally trimmed: for some reason, the one I've got was not. However, having tested the Gentle Chief for several weeks, I haven't noticed any chafing or discomfort as a result, so it appears to just be an aesthetic question (and given this is on the inside of the rashie, not to mention that this appears to be a factory error, that's not an issue).

I've found the Gentle Chief a pleasingly snug fit underneath my gi, providing some warmth as the temperatures cool here in the UK. That's especially appreciated when I'm training at the Hit Fit gym, because it gets quite cold. I'm looking forward to checking out future Gawakoto designs, particularly if the rashguard/spats they adorn prove to be as well-made (untrimmed stitches notwithstanding) as the 93 Brand offering. Available to buy here, or from Gawakoto here.

Equipment Review - Fenom Rashguard (Fenom Kimonos)

Short Review: This 20% spandex/80% polyester short-sleeved rashguard from the market leader in women's BJJ gear is relatively thick and sturdy, but I didn't find it overly hot on its own. Under a gi was less comfortable, but then I don't like to wear any rashguard under a gi. It has a minimalist style, in keeping with the Fenom design ethos, along with the trademark Fenom quality. The waist felt wide at first, but this proved to be misleading: after several weeks of testing it has yet to ride up on my back. Available to buy here, in black with contrasting sleeves and side panels (currently, that's white, blue, purple or black. Brown is not an option).

Full Review: For a number of years now, Fenom Kimonos has been a prime mover in encouraging women's involvement in BJJ: seminars with top female black belts (e.g, Fenom Kimonos customers got to train with Hannette Staack for free on the 24th August, with others paying a reasonable fee), women only tournaments and of course gis designed for women. Hence why I have supported Fenom for several years too, having so far bought a t-shirt, patches, rashguard, gi trousers and a backpack, along with a gi that will be waiting for me on my third USA trip next year. Triin, the owner of the company, very kindly gave me a lift to and from Dallas airport during my 2012 Texas trip. She also gave me a Fenom gi (a plain white factory sample), which proved most useful for my US training. Not only that, but she's an excellent training partner too, if you're ever on the mats at RCJ Machado Dallas. ;)

I've been wearing my purple Fenom rashguard in conjunction with the Pony Club Grappling Gear 'Jessica' spats (reviewed a couple of weeks ago). As with the 'Jessica' grappling tights, I'm going to take the excuse to investigate the history of rashguards (if you want to skip all that, click here).

An article on the Australian Fitness Network suggests that compression wear was first used in a medical setting, "over 60 years ago" (the article isn't dated, but one of the sources is from 2011, so that probably means the '50s). The application was for the treatment of 'venous disorders' (such as deep vein thrombosis), which would fit with what I found in my previous research into compression tights.

Following links from trusty old Wikipedia, this site claims that the rash guard was invented in Australia, where at some point compression garments must have moved out of the hospitals and onto the beach:

Ironically, surfing rash guards were invented by accident in Australia during the late 1970s. The original rash guards were simply lycra turtleneck shirts worn underneath a surfer's wetsuit with the exclusive purpose of preventing chafing caused by the wetsuit. As the water warmed in the spring and summer months, these Aussie surfers began to be seen in the waves wearing rash guard shirts with their board shorts without any wetsuit. Surfers found that a wetsuit rash guard was also very effective at protecting their skin from irritation caused by contact with their surfboard as well as preventing sunburns. Hence, a new surfing product was born!

I'm not sure what source the author had for that, but it sounds plausible. For surfing and other water sports, the rash guard is normally used to - as its name suggests - prevent rashes from either the swimsuit or the surfboard, depending on if you're just wearing a rash guard and shorts. It also provides protection from the hot sun, a particularly important issue in ozone-layer deprived Australia.

They are generally made from some combination of lyrcra, nylon, polyester and/or spandex. Most will also tend to use something called 'flatlock stitching'. If you're not sure what that is, there is a wonderfully technical sounding description of various stitches over on FashionIncubator.com. For those of us unfamiliar with terms like "2 or 3 needle bobbin-less top stitching", the basic difference appears to be that a 'cover' stitch sticks up with a thicker seam, whereas a 'flatlock' stitch means the fabric stays flat (as the name suggests). To quote FashionIncubator.com:

Flatlocking is used primarily for performance goods, it has fewer layers to chafe. It depends on what you want to do. If you’re running a marathon, you definitely want tights with a flatlock. An overlocked coverstitched seam, while it won’t pull apart, will chafe along your legs and cause bleeding.

Continuing with the surfing theme, there's another set of descriptions from the Lomo Watersports website, in connection to its wetsuits:

Overlock stitching is the LEAST EXPENSIVE and least effective form of wetsuit stitching. The two edges of neoprene are rolled together with stitching lightly around them. This forms a ridge inside the wet suit that is both uncomfortable and it also allows water to penetrate the seam. [...]

Flatlock stitching is achieved by lapping the neoprene together, this creates a FLAT, COMFORTABLE SEAM but it also allows water to penetrate slightly. [...] Flatlock is identified by a band of interlocked thread on both sides of the suit, sometimes in contrasting thread colour for visual effect.

Jiu jitsu has long had a close connection to surfing, unsurprising given that BJJ's spiritual home looks out on the board-crammed beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Not by coincidence, the biggest BJJ hotspot outside of Brazil is California, which also happens to feature prominently in surfing history and culture. Hawaii is another area packed with both grapplers and surfers: it's arguably the most important location of all in surfing history, as discussed in this article.

Another potential source is more recent. It may be that it wasn't surfing, but the growing popularity of compression wear companies like Under Armour: unlike surfing rashguards, Under Armour shirts generally do not have a turtle neck, which is also the case with most grappling rashguards. Under Armour was founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank, an American Football player at university (or college football, as you'd say in the US). A Forbes profile relates the genesis of Plank's company:

It was on the football field that he came up with his greatest idea. Plank noticed that, after a practice or a game, the cotton T-shirt that he and the other players wore under their pads would be heavy, soaked with sweat. He believed the extra weight hampered performance. He came up with an idea for a lightweight, sweat-wicking synthetic T-shirt, which he originally made from fabric found in women’s undergarments.

Given the '90s date, it's equally possible that both sources fed into the use of rash guards for grappling. No-gi grapplers already using rashies from surf shops may perhaps have decided to try Under Armour style compression wear instead. Since then, rash guards have continued to increase in availability, meaning that today you can pick up a serviceable rashguard from your local sports shop or even Target/Wal-mart (I haven't seen them in British supermarkets yet).

I'm not certain of the oldest website selling BJJ merchandise, but the first one that sprang to mind was OnTheMat. Looking at previous versions of their page, the earliest example dates back to April 2002, when they sold HCK rash guards (listed under 'Valley Tudo Gear', which must be an intentional typo). There is no mention of 'rash guard': it is simply called 'vale tudo short sleeve' and 'vale tudo top long sleeve'. That would indicate that it was in MMA that rash guards first made an appearance.

According to the Wayback Machine, Howard Liu's site dates all the way back to at least December 1998 (the same year as the first ADCC, which has become the most prestigious no-gi grappling competition), selling four types of gi. By February 1999, Howard Combat Kimonos was proclaiming "New! HCK Vale Tudo Top and Shorts!" Although the link to those new products is unfortunately not in the Wayback Machine archive, I expect they were the same or similar as those sold through OnTheMat in 2002.

It's also quite possible compression tops had been used in Brazil before that, but looking at some of the older BJJ manufacturers (like Atama, MKimonos, Krugans), their websites do not appear to go back beyond 2000. Having said that, the classic vale tudo sartorial style, especially in a hot country like Brazil, was to fight in speedos, before progressing to vale tudo shorts (which are similarly tight).

My own first rashguard was from the now defunct XF Gear, bought back in 2007 in preparation for my no-gi debut at the Roger Gracie Academy. As I have never done a lot of no-gi (though I've been more regular recently), that rash guard is still in good shape, apart from the lettering on the front. Six years (but less than 40 no-gi lessons) down the line, the lettering has cracked and steadily flaked off. In the years since, sublimating has become the standard, which avoids that issue of all the lettering slowly wearing away.

According to Wikipedia, the definition of sublimation is a "printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto medium materials." John McDaniel has a brief history over on this site, which originally appeared in P&I News, June 2000:

Sublimation has been with us for quite some time. In the early computer years, circa 1970s, special ribbons impregnated with sublimation particles were used with dot matrix impact printers to create monochrome transfers. The first computer output sublimation system was developed in the mid ‘70s by Wes Hoekstra as an application of his image processing work with the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California. Wes has been credited with being the “father” of the computer image sublimation industry.

When electrostatic printing became affordable in copying machines and laser printers, it wasn’t long before toner cartridges containing sublimation solids appeared on the market. This equipment is normally used to create single color or limited color transfers. Recent innovations in color copiers and laser printers, have permitted the creation of full color transfers using this method.

The relevance to rashguards is that it permits more colourful and detailed designs, with the further advantage that sublimation is meant to prevent cracking, fading or peeling. Thus far, that has been the case with my Fenom rashguard after multiple washes. Its sublimated logo across the chest remains just as defined as when I unwrapped the packaging. That logo is the central embellishment, with a purple 'F'. There is no design on the back, so this rashguard should appeal to those who like an understated look.

Inside, the Fenom rashguard is white, just like my PCGG spats. The body of the Fenom rash guard is black, with purple sleeves and side panels. The reason for that is some competitions, mainly IBJJF, require a certain percentage of the relevant rank on your rash guard when you compete. There are several other colours available from Fenom aside from purple, corresponding to the other belts of jiu jitsu: white, blue and black (for some reason, brown is currently missing). At present, the Fenom rash guard is only available with short sleeves that end above the elbow. My preference would be long sleeve, as that reduces the chance of mat burn on the elbows, or abrasion from the inside of the sleeve if you're wearing it under your gi.

In my opening nogi test of the Fenom rash guard, I thought it felt a bit loose at the bottom and expected it to ride up, especially as I kept pulling it down during the warm up. However, it didn't ride up at all during sparring, where I spent a lot of time underneath side control and with people in my guard, meaning my back was constantly rubbing on the mat. This was when I was wearing the rashguard tucked into gi trousers, which I also tested tucked into shorts. My Bullshido fight shorts are much looser, so unlike the trousers did not stay tight over the bottom of the rashguard. Either way, the Fenom rash guard continued to remain in place.

Once my Pony Club spats arrived, I tested further configurations, wearing the rash guard over and under the tight leggings. Again, I found the Fenom rash guard never wriggled up my back or front, despite my constant expectation that it would. Presumably the reason for the wider lower part of the rash guard is because it is designed for the additional curves of a female body shape, but if you're a fairy slender man (like me), it appears to be a decent fit based on my testing.

Comparing this to the three other rashguards I currently own (which includes a brown surfing rash guard I picked up for a few quid from a charity shop), the length of the Fenom 'Large' is comparable to my old XF Gear, but not as long as the Masaru rashie. My XF Gear rashguard has certainly ridden up in the past: the difference between them is that the Fenom rashguard appears to be thicker with a white lining inside, which I guess must provide some friction. All of them except for the XF Gear have a raised collar by the neck, though the Fenom and Masaru are not as pronounced as the full turtle neck of the surfing rash guard.

There has been no shrinkage, given that this is not cotton so is less prone to that problem. On Triin's advice I bought a Large, measuring 67cm from cuff to cuff (without stretching). Shoulder to hem is 62cm, with a sleeve width of 13cm and the waist comes to 41cm, if the rash guard is just lying flat on the floor. I normally wear 30" waist trousers and there is some give to this, so I would have thought you would still be ok if your waist is larger than that.

However, it is tight across the chest and arms (as you would expect from a rash guard), so as ever, be careful when choosing your size. It is worth emailing Triin to ask what would fit you best, providing your measurements. For reference, my frame is 5'7" and 145lbs, with a chest about 35" (as this rashguard is aimed at women, I'm sure it can accommodate a lot more in that area) and my biceps are roughly 12", so I'm no beefcake. If you're similar, then a Large should fit you too. If you're much bigger, then that may be a problem: if you're smaller, you could go for a Medium or a Small.

There was some slight bobbling at the back, with a small white area. I am not certain where that came from: it could have been something velcro rubbing against it, either during training or in the washing machine. That's the only bit of damage I have noticed up until this point. The stitching is solid, with no loose threads that I could see.

When I cycled in my Pony Club spats on a hot day a while back, I wore the Fenom rashguard on my upper body. It was equally comfortable as the tights, so seems effective at keeping you cool and dry. It was less cool underneath a gi, but that's affected by my general discomfort wearing a rashguard under the gi: they always make me like I'm overheating. Hopefully there will be a long-sleeve option from Fenom in the future, either in this design or something entirely new, to prevent any rubbing on the elbows.

The Fenom ranked rash guard is available to buy here, in black with contrasting sleeves and side panels (white, blue or purple). You can also select 'black', which is presumably solid black. Brown does not appear to be available at present (though that could mean they're just currently sold out). The rashguards are currently on sale at $29, so your size and colour may sell out. I'm guessing they will be restocked, but then Fenom t-shirts are not, so it's possible this is a one-time design which will change for the next batch.