Team Spyder

[closequarters]

I only know the Spyder Invitationals as a tournament. Anyone know why so many pros are sporting Team Spyder patches? What is Team Spyder. Are they a gear company or something? I can’t find anything about them through Google.

A couple examples below but I’ve seen a bunch of others with lapel patches and butt patches.

 

[lts5025]

I think it’s just the grappling events. Keenan was sponsored by Five Grappling for awhile when they first started doing events. He’d wear their patch during IBJJF events and then compete in Five Grappling events. Pretty good way to bring in new viewers if you’re an up-and-coming promotion.

 

[closequarters]

Thought maybe it was some type of new coalition of bjj players cross training or something. A team away from their team.

Promoting Spyder events makes sense though.

They’re paying for prime real estate on Keenan’s ass for Pan Ams.

 

[leebyun]

Spyder is a athletic clothing brand. It became popular in Korea recently (over the course of 2/3 years)

https://www.spyder.co.kr/brand/history

It was originally a skiing brand, then Spyder Korea launched in 2015,
I think the owners/people who run Spyder Korea were big on BJJ. So they made a BJJ invitational tournament in Korea and invited some big names to participate in the tournaments offering cash prizes. They would cover accommodation and travel costs as well. Keenan was suppose to compete in a super fight last year but the California fires delayed his fight and missed the event. They also would bring in big names for seminars etc.

When you sponsor someone and pay them enough, they will sport your patches.