Okay, let me walk you through this whole anime jiu jitsu gi thing I went through.
Getting the Idea
So, I started rolling jiu jitsu a while back, really got into it. At the same time, I’ve always been a massive anime nerd, you know? One day, just thinking, wouldn’t it be awesome to mash these two things together? Like, imagine showing up to the mats in a gi decked out with some cool anime art. Seemed like a fun idea.
The Search Begins
First thing I did, naturally, was jump online. Started searching for “anime jiu jitsu gi”, “anime BJJ gi”, stuff like that. Honestly? The results were kinda thin. Found a couple maybe, but they were either crazy expensive, or the designs just weren’t hitting right for me. Like, they felt kinda generic, not the specific vibe I was looking for. A bit disappointing, really. I expected more options out there.
Okay, Plan B: DIY Time
After hitting a wall with ready-made stuff, I thought, “Alright, screw it, I’ll figure something out myself.” Decided the best route was probably to get a plain gi – maybe a solid black or blue one, nothing fancy – and then customize it. The main thing would be finding the right patches.
Finding the Goods (Patches)
- Scoured the internet again, this time looking specifically for anime patches.
- Looked on places like Etsy, some dedicated patch websites, even eBay.
- Found quite a few options, different characters, symbols, quotes. Some looked amazing in the pictures.
- Ordered a selection from a few different sellers. Had to wait for them to ship, some took ages.
- When they arrived, it was a mixed bag. Some patches were top quality, really nice embroidery. Others… looked kinda cheap, colors were off. You win some, you lose some, I guess.
Putting It All Together
Alright, so I had my plain gi, and I picked out the best-looking patches from the bunch I ordered. Now the tricky part: getting them onto the gi. First, I had to figure out where to put them. Remembered hearing there are rules about patch placement, especially if you ever plan to compete. Didn’t want to stick a giant patch somewhere illegal, you know? Looked that up quickly online.
Then came the actual sewing. Man, let me tell you, my sewing skills are pretty much zero. I tried doing it myself at first. Got the needle, thread… it was a struggle. Stitches were all over the place, crooked. Pretty sure I pricked my finger more times than I actually put stitches in the gi. It looked messy.
Considered taking it to a tailor or alteration place. Asked around, got a price… seemed kinda steep just for sewing on a few patches. Felt a bit defeated. Talked to a buddy at the gym, turns out his mom is pretty handy with a sewing machine. She offered to help me out, thankfully. She knocked it out way faster and cleaner than I ever could.
The Final Result
So, finally got the gi back with the patches properly sewn on. Gotta say, it looked pretty cool! Definitely unique. Wore it to training. Got a few comments, mostly positive. People asking where I got it. Felt good to have something personalized, representing my nerdy side on the mats.
Is it perfect? Nah. I still worry a bit about the patches holding up with all the washing and rolling. And yeah, maybe some folks think it’s a bit much. But end of the day, it was my little project, went through the steps, figured it out, and now I have this one-of-a-kind gi that’s totally me. It was a bit of a process, but kinda satisfying to see it through.
