Isami gi frustrations

[GottaGoPee]

Just a quick rant:

Ok, so want to purchase Isami double weave BJJ gi. Read a lot of positive reviews. Sounds like a great gi. Sounds like the Holy Grail of Gis.

While checking out various online stores, I Noticed size chart differences across Isami website to chokesport website to Fuji website to Budovideo/, kinji san etc etc.(kinji san references the special american sizing in their write up)

Email Isami turns out they made special batch of American sizing gis for Fuji that they in turn apparently sold to those other suppliers for resale.

But the size charts differ among these resellers and the size chart from Fuji which should be the correct one according to Isami(budovideos even has BOTH size charts for the same gi.)

HOWEVER Fuji states that they are not different special sizing made for them and are identical in cut to the original ones from Isami Japan wit hsizing for Japanese. (But they have up to A6 and Isami stops at A5, so MORE confusion)

Ask every one and No one has actual dimensional measurements of the gis so I could compare with my gis at home. (all gi manufacturers SHOULD DO THIS IT MAKES CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIZE A PIECE OF CAKE!!!!!! Seriously why do they not do this?!?!?)

So bottom line: There's enough of a difference in the sizing charts that I cannot choose, and am at an impasse.

It's silly I cannot get to the bottom of the sizing/is there a US cut vs Japanese cut issue to make a purchase. Dont want to spend $300+shipping to just say screw it and get a custom gi.

Seriously frustrating.

 

[TheBJJProfessor]

The reason a lot of brands don't put the size chart up there is because then it makes it super easy for another company to walk in and rip off the cut and style of their gis (or so I think).

Check out Lucky gi. I believe they post theirs.

 

[Regular Joe]

Why don't you just pick the store with the best price for your location, send them your measurements, ask them to recommend a size, and ask them to confirm that they'll exchange it for free if they fucked up and it doesn't fit right?

 

[Babality**]

ok, i have one from chokesports and it matches their sizing chart. choeksports is like the place for buying an isami in america. use their chart. fuck fuji's chart. fuck budo's.

here you go. have fun

 

[GottaGoPee]

The reason a lot of brands don't put the size chart up there is because then it makes it super easy for another company to walk in and rip off the cut and style of their gis (or so I think).

Check out Lucky gi. I believe they post theirs.

Hmm. Maybe. Will do.

Why don't you just pick the store with the best price for your location, send them your measurements, ask them to recommend a size, and ask them to confirm that they'll exchange it for free if they fucked up and it doesn't fit right?

That's a good idea.

ok, i have one from chokesports and it matches their sizing chart. choeksports is like the place for buying an isami in america. use their chart. fuck fuji's chart. fuck budo's.

here you go. have fun

Thanks. I did know about this size chart. The whole dilemma started when I noticed that the Fuji sizes didn't match up to the chokesport sizes. Fuji goes up to size A6 while Isami stops at A5 so I looked into it further, contacted Isami and found out that made gis for Fuj that are according to Fuji's specifications and differ from the standard Isami gi made in Japan.

So I was trying to find out those measurements to compare them with the chokesport sizing chart because they are in fact different cuts and for different weights, as in the Fuji "A" sizes are NOT the same as chokeports "A" sizing (btw Isami has one that differs from chokesports but chokesports takes shrinking into account while Isami Japan measurements do not include shrinkage rates. And I won't know which has the best fit even betwwen the two different A4s.

I guess I can buy them all and send them back but that's a lot of money.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[Thedj p]

I would just get two sizes or just go with another gi. I find it hard to believe this gi is that much better then most of anything else out there. I have 5 gi and and as long as they all fit nice they really are all good

 

[ironwolf]

I would just get two sizes or just go with another gi. I find it hard to believe this gi is that much better then most of anything else out there. I have 5 gi and and as long as they all fit nice they really are all good

I agree, getting obsessed with certain Gi's is a dark road to go down. I used to do this, now, if it fits then Im happy.

I busted my ass to get a CTRL...payed over 200 bucks one it was shipped, th sleeves are too long and the chest is too big (but the pants fit well), I could have gotten a better fitting go, of better quality for less $$$.

 

[ur2submit]

Isami did away with the Japanese sizing and only does the A0-A5. They did in fact have 2 different cuts but that is no more (the Japanese cut had shorter sleeves with wider cuffs, the American cut is more tapered).

Email Chokesports with your measurements. They are great at size suggestions. Truth is with the one sizing, you're fine sticking with your same BJJ gi size. Make sure you go with the sashiko cloth gi and not the diamond cloth or 50/50 one.

 

[fighting.spirit]

Isami did away with the Japanese sizing and only does the A0-A5. They did in fact have 2 different cuts but that is no more (the Japanese cut had shorter sleeves with wider cuffs, the American cut is more tapered).

Email Chokesports with your measurements. They are great at size suggestions. Truth is with the one sizing, you're fine sticking with your same BJJ gi size. Make sure you go with the sashiko cloth gi and not the diamond cloth or 50/50 one.

Why do you say that? I've been really interested in getting the diamond weave.

 

[GottaGoPee]

Isami did away with the Japanese sizing and only does the A0-A5. They did in fact have 2 different cuts but that is no more (the Japanese cut had shorter sleeves with wider cuffs, the American cut is more tapered).

Email Chokesports with your measurements. They are great at size suggestions. Truth is with the one sizing, you're fine sticking with your same BJJ gi size. Make sure you go with the sashiko cloth gi and not the diamond cloth or 50/50 one.

Yes the original japanese sizing is gone but per Isami Fuji commissioned a cut from them that differs from what they sell in Japan. In reply to my email:

The BJJ gi that those 3 stores offer are different from what we sell in Japan.
First, we made the special gi for Fuji Sports based on their specification of measurements. (I think it's for American customers)
Then, I guess Fuji sold those gi to other 2 retailers, because we are not doing business with those 2 companies.
So, it's special model for Fuji sports, and it's better for you to check with them if you have any questions.

In Japan (on our website), we are not offering American sizing gi. Sorry.

Best Regards,
ISAMI Japan


2014-07-07 11:41 GMT+09:00
Hello,

I was wondering if you could clarify something I noted in a few US websites that sell your double weave BJJ gi. There are three retailers I have found that offer them in sizing different than the Japan site or the chokesport site. They are Fuji Sports, Kinji San Sports, and Budovideos. In particular, they offer A1-A6 sizing. THe size chart shared by all three retailers is attached as a document to this email.

_________________________________________________________


SO now there are FUji A1-A6 and Isami Japan/chokesport A0-A5 that are NOT the same cut/fit/measurements. And no one has those actual measurements or is willing to take them which would pretty much clear things up immediately. (takes two minutes!) And fji resells to many other dealers so there are several who have their version

Just FYI.

 

[fighting.spirit]

Yes the original japanese sizing is gone but per Isami Fuji commissioned a cut from them that differs from what they sell in Japan. In reply to my email:

The BJJ gi that those 3 stores offer are different from what we sell in Japan.
First, we made the special gi for Fuji Sports based on their specification of measurements. (I think it's for American customers)
Then, I guess Fuji sold those gi to other 2 retailers, because we are not doing business with those 2 companies.
So, it's special model for Fuji sports, and it's better for you to check with them if you have any questions.

In Japan (on our website), we are not offering American sizing gi. Sorry.

Best Regards,
ISAMI Japan


2014-07-07 11:41 GMT+09:00
Hello,

I was wondering if you could clarify something I noted in a few US websites that sell your double weave BJJ gi. There are three retailers I have found that offer them in sizing different than the Japan site or the chokesport site. They are Fuji Sports, Kinji San Sports, and Budovideos. In particular, they offer A1-A6 sizing. THe size chart shared by all three retailers is attached as a document to this email.

_________________________________________________________


SO now there are FUji A1-A6 and Isami Japan/chokesport A0-A5 that are NOT the same cut/fit/measurements. And no one has those actual measurements or is willing to take them which would pretty much clear things up immediately. (takes two minutes!) And fji resells to many other dealers so there are several who have their version

Just FYI.

Have you confirmed this with FUJI?

 

[GottaGoPee]

Have you confirmed this with FUJI?

The plot thickens.

I did contact Fuji. The person who handled my customer service request said:

"Thanks for your interest in the Isami gis. There are no differences between this Sachiko and the one sold in Japan. At your height and weight I recommend size I recommend size A4. I'm sorry we do not have specific measurements for this gi."

_____________________

SHould have been the end of it. But it wasn't...

However Fuji Sports is I believe owned by Hatashita sports, and this rep may just not have been aware of this/did't actually bother checking/checked with someone who also didn't know etc. So what I am saying is it was probably Hatashita sports NOT Fuji who initated this American gi sizing special order thang.

Supporting this is this statement from the Hatashita Sports web page for the Isami gis Hatashita sells in the US (which has the same FUJI sizechart):

https://www.hatashitasports.com/product-description.php?PID=210&PBID=41http://

"All New Exacting Fit...
Isami and Hatashita Sports have customized the fit especially for you."

Not as direct a statement as I would have liked but now since this thread has gotten to this point I should probably email them too to further back this up haha.
___________________

Also from Kinji san website (a reseller of Fuji products, the following from their isami page...

http://www.kinjisan.com/isbrjuunbmai.html

"These Isami Bjj uniforms have been customized to fit the American & European Fighters. Please don't confused with the Isami uniforms from the Isami Japan website. Their sizing are different (Asian sizing)."

_____________


So when I stumbled on this I wanted to obtain measurements of these US hatashita/fuji specification-cut gis to compare with Isami Japan size chart bc it looks like Japans A5 might fit, if I bought the US version it would be according to their size chart A4 (or A5 bc several distributors had an A4 that was much smaller than the fuji one complete with altered size chart) or would Fuji A5 be better?! I don't know.

So now i want to get to the bottom of this and find out who has the better cut/szing because it sounds like an exceptionally well built and comfortable gi and I on trying to find a brand that most closely reaches what I imagine a "perfect" gi to feel like when wearing. And it has consistently gotten stellar reviews.

And it's fun sleuthing for sleuthing's sake.

 

[ur2submit]

Why do you say that? I've been really interested in getting the diamond weave.

If you're interested in getting a gi that's made completely of judo skirt material, then get the "diamond weave" one.

The "special" batch for Fuji is most likely the grossly overpriced "Nippon Edition" gi. I handled one at a Fuji booth before it was released. It caught my eye because the weave looked like the sashiko weave of the Isami. While speaking with the lady at the booth, she confirmed that the gi was made by Isami and that it was the same material. I gawked at the price and commented that I'd rather get an Isami for much less (which pissed the lady off).

If you're looking for an Isami, just get your regular size. I'm an A2 in Koral and Atama. The Isami A2 fit me perfectly when I tried it on (I had a Japanese size 4 Isami at the time... the A2 fit much better).

 

[GottaGoPee]

If you're interested in getting a gi that's made completely of judo skirt material, then get the "diamond weave" one.

The "special" batch for Fuji is most likely the grossly overpriced "Nippon Edition" gi. I handled one at a Fuji booth before it was released. It caught my eye because the weave looked like the sashiko weave of the Isami. While speaking with the lady at the booth, she confirmed that the gi was made by Isami and that it was the same material. I gawked at the price and commented that I'd rather get an Isami for much less (which pissed the lady off).

If you're looking for an Isami, just get your regular size. I'm an A2 in Koral and Atama. The Isami A2 fit me perfectly when I tried it on (I had a Japanese size 4 Isami at the time... the A2 fit much better).

No I'm pretty sure the special batch for fuji is American cut Isami BJJ gis. (in addition to the Nippon as well)

My regular size is usually A4 (although A4.5 would prob be the best). Isami provides detailed measurements fior their gis which would put me in an A5. However these are preshrinkage measurements and according to what I can expect from their given shrinkage rates it will then be too small (which are the measurements that chokesports provides on their size chart which is why they are different from Isami Japan sizechart)

So that's why I really want to find out the US version measurements so hopefully they are cut longer and still fit post shrinkage (like if the wingspan is two inches longer than the Japan version for example so instead of beig 70 inches shrinks to 68 its 72 inches shrinks to 70 and still fits. But tough to tell if that would be in an A4 or an A5 without the measurements)

 

[Einarr]

I find it hard to believe this gi is that much better then most of anything else out there.

I have an Isami and it really is. Handmade in Japan by skilled Japanese workers vs mass produced in some filthy factory in Pakistan by a bunch of malnourished, underpaid children. It oozes quality - there isn't a single missed stitch, the material is strong but light, the gi is unique not made to the same specs as every other gi on the market.

 

[Brocklee]

I followed the chart on Chokesports and double checked my choice with someone from Chokesports and bought the Japanese size that was supposed to fit me perfectly. 'Fraid not. The length was fine, but was really, really baggy. So baggy that I paid a tailor to figure out how it was made and make it fit better. $450 later (Gi + custom tailoring), I had a gi that fit just ok. The material was amazing, but was useless to me because of the poor fit. Btw, I had it tailored because returning or exchanging it would have been a loss for me money-wise. A few years later, I noticed Isami was making true custom gis, built to exact measurements. I carefully took the best dimensions from all my favorite gis and voila- I am the proud owner of an Isami gi that fits as if it were custom made to fit my body . Sure it was expensive (close to $400 with shipping), but it's by far the most comfortable, highest quality gi I've ever seen/worn. I figure if I'm getting smashed, I might as well feel nice getting smashed. Or... If I'm smashing someone, my partner/opponent should feel nice Isami material against their face as I smash. In short, if you plan to spend a lot of time on the mat, it's worth the extra $$ to have a superb gi that fits PERFECTLY.

 

[GottaGoPee]

I followed the chart on Chokesports and double checked my choice with someone from Chokesports and bought the Japanese size that was supposed to fit me perfectly. 'Fraid not. The length was fine, but was really, really baggy. So baggy that I paid a tailor to figure out how it was made and make it fit better. $450 later (Gi + custom tailoring), I had a gi that fit just ok. The material was amazing, but was useless to me because of the poor fit. Btw, I had it tailored because returning or exchanging it would have been a loss for me money-wise. A few years later, I noticed Isami was making true custom gis, built to exact measurements. I carefully took the best dimensions from all my favorite gis and voila- I am the proud owner of an Isami gi that fits as if it were custom made to fit my body . Sure it was expensive (close to $400 with shipping), but it's by far the most comfortable, highest quality gi I've ever seen/worn. I figure if I'm getting smashed, I might as well feel nice getting smashed. Or... If I'm smashing someone, my partner/opponent should feel nice Isami material against their face as I smash. In short, if you plan to spend a lot of time on the mat, it's worth the extra $$ to have a superb gi that fits PERFECTLY.

Nice! Sounds like a great gi! Sounds like your first one was the earlier judo-esque cut maybe.

Can't wait to get mine! Just said, "Fuggit!" and am going to go with the Chokesport A5, as they provide the actual measurements, and they are happily close enough to my favorite gi that I ain't gonna sweat it no mo' and just buy one!

Any chance for pics?