Girly Gear Review Chikara Magazine is proud to bring you “Girly Gear Reviews.” The reviews aim to offer readers accurate information brought to you by the practitioners themselves and their opponents. 
Blue Nova Basic Tatami Gi
I wanted someone who was knowledgeable about gi's to give an accurate review. I enlisted the help of my grappling coach and BJJ Blue Belt, 2nd stripe, Courtney Pratt. (Courtney was the first person in Atlantic Canada to create an all female submission grappling program).
  Sizing, Fit and Overall Look
The gi we are reviewing is a royal blue gi, men's size A1. The first thing we noticed when we opened the package was the colour was bold and beautiful. The stitching is immaculate, no loose threads and attention is paid to stitching detail. There is triple stitching in stress points for durability. The gi is super light and has a rubberized collar. The collar appears lightweight but is actually quite durable. The rope drawstring on the pants is excellent for quick cinching. Courtney had to cut approximately 10” off the rope so it wasn't hanging down to her knees. The pants are light with reinforced knees. Before rolling with the gi it was washed with a little vinegar to help maintain the colour. Because Courtney wanted to shrink the gi she washed it in hot water and dried it at the highest temperature. The gi was the correct size off the website (accurate measurements) however, a bit long both in the pants and jacket. The gi ended up shrinking approximately 2” and it was an even shrink all over. Once it's shrunk the gi was repeatedly thrown in the dryer, taking 20 mins. or less to dry. Also, it's a quick drying gi (less than overnight) making it a perfect summer gi.
Rolling
Courtney has rolled in the gi more then half a dozen times and it was washed after each roll. When rolling she found the gi to be super light. There was a lot of movement for her hips however, the pants tended to feel heavy when wet compared to other gi fabrics. Tatami gi is a cotton twill. Even after being washed numerous times, the Tatami gi has maintained it's bold color, hasn't shrunk any more and the structure has no apparent changes since first being worn.    
   Opponent's Viewpoint
So, now we know what the gi is like for the person wearing it, but what did her opponent, BJJ Blue Belt and BJJ instructor Steven Greencorn, think of rolling with Courtney while she was wearing the Tatami Gi.
“Compared to other light weight gi's I found it difficult to choke with the Tatami. The collar was deceptively stiff compared to the softness of the gi. I found it easier to hang on to the sleeve grips over other cotton blend gis,” says Steven.
Wrap-Up
Do keep in mind the gi tends to stretch easily. I guess that is the compromise for the lighter cotton. It's a great summer gi that tends to wash well and hold it's fabulous colour. There is room for hip movement and the craftsmanship on the stitching is appreciated. Overall, it's a great gi for the price. Overall Rating: 8/10
For more information on this gi visit http://www.bjjhq.com and http://www.zengu.com  Courtney Pratt and Steven Greencorn teach BJJ and no-gi grappling at http://www.bushidokai.ca
Disclaimer: Chikara Magazine is not affiliated, supported or sponsored by any of these companies.
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