I know this is mostly a Scuba diving blog, but my second passion, and one I have been doing a lot longer than scuba diving, is training martial arts. I have been a lifelong practitioner of kickboxing, boxing, jiu-jitsu, and MMA. Still, as I have moved into my 40s, jiu-jitsu has really solidified my core interest when it comes to combat sports. That is why I thought I should share my experience with the number one selling jiu jitsu Gi on Amazon, The Sanabul Essential Bjj Gi.
If you are training jiu-jitsu and you have had a couple of Gi’s to this point, you, I am sure, are finding out that not all Gi’s are the same and price doesn’t always dictate quality. Everyone might be looking for something different in a GI, but I’ll explain what I normally look for in a GI and what I thought about the Sanbul gi, which is the#1 seller on Amazon.
I have trained jiu-jitsu much longer than the colour of my belt dictates ( blue belt), and because of that, I have had several Gis in the past. Normally I look at what other people on the mat’s are wearing and how they look on the individual. Is it tight fitting, is it a heavy or light weave and how long does the GI last have often been the criteria that I used for selecting my Gi’s in the past.
Some of the brands I have used and still use are the Tatami Estilo 3.0, one of my favourite Gi’s, very long-lasting, very little shrinkage in the wash, a Havey weave, making it difficult for my opponents to grip and when it comes to price its in the mid to high range for a GI approximately $200. I have also been a long fan of the Brazilian Brand ATAMA Mundial, another heavy weave gi that is long lasting and has more shrinkage than the Tatami but not too bad. I also have had a long history with the Koral Competition gi. All these Gi are well-established brands with long histories of being used in the Jiu Jits community and all priced between $150-$250.
I use an app to journal my jiu-jitsu training, and in the app, there is a feature to track which Gi’s you train in so you can see how long they last and how many training sessions happen till you get your money’s worth out of the gi. That’s why I want to mention the Sanbel Essential Gi from Amazon.
I was in need of a new GI but didn’t want to spend $200 as my finances were a little tight at the time, having a newborn in the house. I also did’t want to wait the shipping time if you order it directly form the brands i mentioned above. So, on a whim, I thought I should take a chance on this $99 CDN ($67USD) gi that has a tone of sale and some good reviews on Amazon, and I have been very pleasantly surprised with my experience.
Sanabul Essential Bjj gi
The gi comes preshrunk, and the fit is true to size in the size chart. One thing that threw me off was how light the GI is compared to my other Gi’s. As I mentioned earlier, my other Gi’s are pretty stiff, which is all I have known when it comes to Gi’s. Hence, they are uncomfortable when I wear them to train, but I know every time someone grabs my Gi, it is even more uncomfortable for my opponent, so I have always been content with that. Well, I’ll tell you I have been missing out on the Sanabul Gi. It is soft and very comfortable, and it is very light compared to my other Gi’s.
Yes, it is easier for my opponents to grip my gi because it is so soft; that’s okay because for a gi worn for regular training and not competitions, it is better for me to be comfortable during class than worry about how hard I am making it for my opponent after all everyone we train with in class is not the competition they are friends—helping us get better each day.
I would highly recommend this gi for the price, even if it only lasts 2-3 years. With three rolls a week, I feel like I’ll get more than my money’s worth.
If you are looking for an affordable, very soft, light, and comfortable gi, look no further than the Sanabul jiu-jitsu gi for your everyday rolls. If you are a competitor, I recommend you have one of the other brands in a heavy gi just for competition to help give you the edge over other Sanabul Essential Gi all day!!