So, ATOS goes only "ATOS Gi" now?

[Toothless King]

These stupid policies and other tma'ish crap is one big reason i left my bjj club that ive been a part of for over 10years.

Bjj used to be that outsider martial art where your instructor was kind of cool and not the greedy cult leader type like most martial arts.

That being said i do feel that guys like the mendes bros and galvao deserve to fatten their pockets being multiple world champs.

mendes bros' academy does not require you to wear a certain brand name GI. heck, you are not even required to have their school patch/logo on your GI. the only requirement is the GI has to be white to match the academy white color scheme

 

[slideyfoot]

http://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1xugka/somy_gym_just_decided_that_all_members_have_to/

some quotes:
So my gym sent out an email stating that everyone must wear the gym approved Gi'
Storm with ATOS logo, and ATOS logo rash guard is the official dress code now.
ATOS out of San Diego.

If that's true, it's disappointing. I think forcing a uniform on your students is unethical, particularly if - as is the case with the Gracie Barra gis I've worn - the product is low quality but highly priced. Hopefully Atos at least makes sure the club gi has a good ratio of quality to price.

It's an interesting debate/policy (regardless if your Atos, GB, or whatever) I'd like to hear others' opinions on.

First of all, enforcing an exclusive gi rule means students do not have the choice to buy a cheaper gi. In the case of GB gis, I know from experience that not only are there cheaper gis available, there are cheaper gis (such as the

 

[Einarr]

Three days a week I do two hours of BJJ then go straight to Judo class. I couldn't wear a patched up gi to Judo - I'd get told to put on something appropriate (plain, white, unpatched judogi) before stepping on the mat. That would mean I'd have to carry two different gi around with me and wash two gi three nights a week. Fuck that shit - I'd either switch BJJ school if there was another one nearby, or I'd be turning up to class in an unwashed gi a few times a week. Not to mention that I think gi that look like an advertizing executive puked on them look absolutely hideous and gaudy. That and "official" gi are almost always poor quality, inferior products with an elite price tag.

It's a stupid, money-grabbing tactic. I will wear one small, non-ugly, unobtrusive academy patch on the biceps of my gi if I absolutely have to - if my instructor expects more than that I will take my custom elsewhere if I can (if not I hope he enjoys people training in stinky, unwashed gi and I'd be entering tournaments as an independent wearing a good-quality gi of my choice that suits my build and esthetic sensibilities). Luckily all of my instructors, past and present, have been cool guys who genuinely love the art, not people who are looking to bleed their students dry with oppressive, money-grabbing gi policies.

 

[CAnklerank]

If that's true, it's disappointing. I think forcing a uniform on your students is unethical, particularly if - as is the case with the Gracie Barra gis I've worn - the product is low quality but highly priced. Hopefully Atos at least makes sure the club gi has a good ratio of quality to price.



First of all, enforcing an exclusive gi rule means students do not have the choice to buy a cheaper gi. In the case of GB gis, I know from experience that not only are there cheaper gis available, there are cheaper gis (such as the

 

[Toothless King]

The stupid uniform policy is totally worth it if you train at big name school with well known blackbelts.


I have more problem with Gracie Barra in Boonieville, Iowa with unknown blackbelt making you wear their crappy & expensive GB uniform.

 

[slideyfoot]

GB bashing aside, the Storm kimonos are very good and certainly much better than the Tatami Nova. I would say they are better than the Tatami estillo but not by enough to justify the

 

[Rivet L]

I'm not against a uniform policy, assuming that it's a quality uniform that's sensible and affordable.

While Storm gis are ugly, poorly cut, and very unaffordable. It's great that they seem to be throwing money at large competitors, but has no one noticed how terrible the cut on that uniform is.

If you enjoy getting brabo'ed and toreando'd, you'll love the Storm gi cut.

 

[CAnklerank]

Yeah, I haven't tried the GB Storm gis (and never will now, since I've left GB). I've heard mixed reports on the quality, but even if the quality is improved, IIRC they cost something ridiculous like

 

[slideyfoot]

Perhaps your instructor was adding on a significant premium?

There was a difference between the prices on the GB Shop Europe site and the price you paid if you bought it at the school. IIRC, the reasoning was that the money would go to support the club: I don't personally find that argument convincing, but to each their own. I guess it must vary across GB, which is unsurprising given it is a huge organisation.

I know that there are some GB schools, like the one in Swansea, which is very relaxed. No rules whatsoever about wearing specific gis and no enforced formality, judging by the one time I visited: great place to train.

 

[Lenny7]

Obvious money grab.
I would rather they be honest about it and let me pay a "gi fee" and let me wear whatever gi I want. I have a lanky build and regular gis either come up to my elbows or I'm swimming in them. I need a gi with a slim or long fit.

 

[TangoMF]

If it is a higher level student who has moved to the area, they may well also be put off by the prospect of being forced to buy a whole load of new gis when they already have several perfectly serviceable gis from their previous training. That's even more the case if those GB gis are much more expensive and lower quality than the ones they already own.

The type of jiu jitsu practitioners who are set on training at Atos would train there regardless of the gi they make their students wear. I'm sure repping their gym with what is, by most accounts, a decent quality uniform won't bother too many students.

It is shitty for the current students like the fellow from r/bjj who is selling his shoyorolls (lol), but once the transition is made it won't really be that much of an inconvenience for current or prospective students.

Plus, it's a uniform to practice a sport, not a statement of one's personal philosophy.

 

[slideyfoot]

Plus, it's a uniform to practice a sport, not a statement of one's personal philosophy.

I'm not big on gi fashion either (I like a simple white gi with minimal branding, which was one of the reasons I hated wearing the garish GB gis so much), though many people are and should have that choice.

That point aside, It's not just a uniform, it's functional equipment. To be functional, there needs to be choice, otherwise you're trying to squeeze every body type, income bracket and preference into the one slot (or however many variations there will be on this mandatory gi).

If you look at football/soccer players, how many different shapes, brands and models of football boots do you see them wear? They all have different preferences (and sponsorships of course, at the higher levels). Even Manchester United wouldn't insist that all their players wore the exact same boots. I see a BJJ gi as comparable.

 

[TangoMF]

That point aside, It's not just a uniform, it's functional equipment. To be functional, there needs to be choice, otherwise you're trying to squeeze every body type, income bracket and preference into the one slot (or however many variations there will be on this mandatory gi).

If you look at football/soccer players, how many different shapes, brands and models of football boots do you see them wear? They all have different preferences (and sponsorships of course, at the higher levels). Even Manchester United wouldn't insist that all their players wore the exact same boots. I see a BJJ gi as comparable.

You lost me at football boot, is that anything like a hockey skate?

But I think you're right, in this case the uniform is also a piece of functional equipment, more like the football kit than the boots.

 

[slideyfoot]

You lost me at football boot, is that anything like a hockey skate?

Heh - perhaps comparable. Lots and lots of styles, which have changed over the years:

more like the football kit than the boots.

I'd disagree, because the football kit is something that does tends to be prescribed, as the players are part of a professional team. That's an argument I've heard from GB schools as well - you're part of the sports team so you should wear the kit - but it would only make sense if the student was being paid to train at that school, when that's not the case. The students are not professionals drawing a wage, they pay to train. Therefore, the student should decide what gi they get to wear.

 

[TangoMF]

I'd disagree, because the football kit is something that does tends to be prescribed, as the players are part of a professional team. That's an argument I've heard from GB schools as well - you're part of the sports team so you should wear the kit - but it would only make sense if the student was being paid to train at that school, when that's not the case. The students are not professionals drawing a wage, they pay to train. Therefore, the student should decide what gi they get to wear.

You pay for other sports (e.g., minor league hockey) too, still have to wear the uniform.

Personally I'd rather not deal with the hassle of a gym gi, but it wouldn't really bother me unless it was a symptom of a larger issue.

 

[slideyfoot]

You pay for other sports (e.g., minor league hockey) too, still have to wear the uniform.

Presumably that's because in hockey, you are going to be playing as a team against another team, so wear a different kit to distinguish which team is which on the field? That doesn't apply to BJJ. There is no need to distinguish from another team when you're training in class, as it's an individual sport, so it's not like you're going to accidentally pass the ball/puck to an opposing player.

You could perhaps make an argument for wearing a team gi to a competition, but even if we accept that argument, the vast majority of people training at a club tend not to be competitors.

 

[Aethyr]

Of all the complainers, how many actually train at ATOS SD?

 

[TangoMF]

You could perhaps make an argument for wearing a team gi to a competition, but even if we accept that argument, the vast majority of people training at a club tend not to be competitors.

Wasn't going to respond since I stopped caring about three posts ago, but I wanted to see if you think there could be another really interesting effect: Installing a common ingroup identity through enforced ingroup homogeneity? It's pretty clear that Atos has a major Us vs. Them mentality (for a good look at this there's a blog by a girl at Atos, can't remember her name), the uniform requirement could emphasize this further. I wonder if this is a conscious aspect of the change?

 

[bubkusjones]

What happens to guys like Keenan or JT that are sponsored by other gi companies?

It was posted on reddit that the competition team is allowed to wear their sponsors products. This mandatory policy is really only for the general student body.

 

[QingTian]

I don't like it. Not even patches. I don't join a gym to build a cult of personality.