A few weeks ago, I posted a cheap BJJ gi offer that was available for less than £40. This was a great offer and I bought one immediately. It is very rare to find a gi at that price and it would have been stupid not to pick one up. I said I would post my own review of the gi so here it is.
Service and Delivery
I bought the gi on a Friday and it had arrived the following Tuesday. I didn’t use the next-day/express delivery option, so I was pleased with how the order was completed. There were no problems at all with the online ordering process. I have ordered from Black Eagle quite a few times, and I was expecting an excellent level of service. They didn’t disappoint me here.
First Impressions
When I opened the packaging, the first thing I noticed was that the gi was MASSIVE! It reminded of tent more than a BJJ gi. I am about 5ft6 and weigh 72kg (just over 11 stone) so I bought an A2 sized gi. As with most gi’s, they need to be shrunk down to the right size after a few washes. There was no chance that I was going to train in a gi that big so I immediately put it in the washer on 30 degrees and waited to see what happens.
I ordered the plain white gi and it did look very comfortable. The collar wasn’t too thick or stiff and the jacket itself was similar to my Keiko Raca gold weave. I was very impressed with this. The trousers felt a bit softer and thinner than the other gi pants I own, but they look sturdy enough to withstand training. There weren’t many patches on the gi other than the Black Eagle logo on it, but some people like that plan look.
Anyway, after the first wash, the gi pants and jacket did shrink a lot. For most people, I think one wash is enough to shrink down to size. However, I’m a short and stumpy guy, and I prefer a tight fitting gi, so I tried shrinking it again. I washed it again on 30 degrees and even put it in the dryer for 30 minutes. I know they say you shouldn’t dry your gi in the dryer, but I felt it needed some “extra help” in the shrinkage.
After two washes and a dry, the gi was pretty much right for me. Still a bit baggier than I would like, but definitely ok to train in. I’m sure it would shrink a little bit more in the next wash.
First training session
Like I said before, the gi top was very comfortable. I had absolutely no problems with training in it. Some of my class mates were also impressed with the gi. The trousers were also loose enough for my to play various types of guard.
I believe the gi on offer is a first generation BJJ gi from Black Eagle, and they have made further improvements to their latest range of gis. I believe that if gi’s were cheaper, then more people may get involved in the sport. They are great gi’s for first timers, or people that still aren’t sure whether they like the sport. In the past, there was nothing worse than trying to convince someone to start BJJ, only to tell them that a gi would cost around £100. I have nothing against the other brands, but as much as I love the Korals, Vulkans, Shoyorolls and even Lucky Gis, they are beyond the price range of a lot people. I believe the Black Eagle gi’s are half that price, and offer the same quality.
The BJJ gi sale is still on at the moment, but I’m not sure for how long. If you want one, I would recommend getting one soon!
White BJJ Gold Weave Gi
Black BJJ Gold Weave Gi
Black BJJ Gold Weave Gi
I will write another update after a few training sessions in this gi also!
