Rashguard Review: XMartial Pokemon Evo

Short Review: A colourful, well-fitting rashguard with a broad range of sizes, though I found that it does tend to ride up more than others I've worn. You can currently buy the rashguard for $45 from the main XMartial website. 

Full Review: As I've mentioned before, it is rare that I do reviews these days, both because I tend to be busy with Artemis BJJ, along with the mild bipolar thing I have going on. However, when I got an email from XMartial and saw their Pokemon design, I couldn't resist a rashguard that colourful. I asked if it was officially licensed (surprisingly often not the case, in my experience), to which XMartial replied they had written approval from The Pokemon Company, who are the copyright holders for all things pokemon. 

I was a little old for pokemon when it first came out, but I remember playing some of the original games: as I can recognise most of the characters, it looks like XMartial have mostly stuck with the classic selection, rather than the numerous updates. 

XMartial was founded in the US by Joe Gosselin, a brown belt with a decade of BJJ experience. The company dates back to 2016, with a number of sponsored athletes on its books. The best known to the BJJ community is probably Roxanne Modafferi, who has been around both BJJ and MMA for many years and well known for both her impressive skills and cheerful disposition. There are also guys like Breck Still, who often pops up on r/BJJ and elsewhere with instructional vids from his Leviathan Academy. 

The rashguard is made in China, the main alternative to Pakistan (the same is true for gi production). A majority of rashguards tend to be a combination of polyester with either spandex or lycra. In the case of the Pokemon Evo, it's 90% polyester and 10% spandex, which is a fairly standard mix. By comparison, the BJJ Globetrotter rashguards I have are 85% polyester and 15% spandex, while Gamma Fightwear went for 80% polyester and 20% lycra. I found that the Pokemon Evo was a good fit on me (for reference, I'm 170cm/5'7" and around 68kg), though the sizing is unusual. With other rashguard companies, I wear a Medium. 

For XMartial, when I sent over my measurements, they suggested an XS. It's comfortable, in terms of the chest and armpits (two of the potential problem areas for rashguards). The thickness is in keeping with most other rashguards I've worn, to which my BJJ Globetrotters rashguards are the main exception. They are notably heftier, which makes them a great choice for Winter training. 

The only disadvantage I could find with the Pokemon Evo is that it does ride up if you raise your arms, or at least the XS size does so on my body. That's mainly due to length. I prefer a rashguard with plenty of length, to prevent the riding up issue, especially as I'll often wear rashguards for kettlebell workouts and the like. 

Hence why I'm a fan of Gamma Fightwear (sadly no longer operational) and Valor (where I go for my club rashguards), as both of them have fairly long Medium. The other useful addition to prevent riding up is anti-slip waistband. That's present on both the BJJ Globetrotters and Gamma Fightwear rashguards, where the waistband is elasticated and also has small ridges to try and keep it in place. 

The XMartial waistband is elasticated, but it's smooth, so I found it less effective at preventing riding up. The XS is also shorter than the Medium I was contrasting it against, unsurprisingly (it would be interesting to compare the XMartial version of a Medium), which again means it is more prone to riding up. The sleeve cuffs are tight, which I prefer, as that means they stay in place, without being so tight that it's difficult to take on and off (like the one I have from Raven Fightwear). 

XMartial offer their Pokemon design in various formats, with options for longsleeve, shortsleeve, men's fit, women's fit and a kid's size. The size range is extensive, with the XMartial men's size chart running from 55kg and 160cm all the way up to 110kg and 200cm, meaning all but the most atypical body types should be catered for. You can currently buy the rashguard for $45 from the main XMartial website.

Equipment Review - Berserkur & IBJJF Legal Belt Colour Rashguards (Odin Fightwear)

Short Review: For those who prefer a plainer look, Danish company Odin Fightwear offer simple designs with a Norse twist. These rashguards also feature an anti-slip waistband and a modified cut for the armpit that avoids tightness in that area. You can choose from the Berserkur (in either brown/black or blue/grey) or the IBJJF legal ranked rashguard, which has a swoop of colour to fit the regulations for that particular tournament provider. Available to buy here, setting you back 32€ for the Berserkur and 34€ for the plainer ranked rashguard, but be aware that the sales tax to the EU bumps it up to 40€/42€, which is an unfortunate barrier to sales in that nearby market.

Full Review: Odin Fightwear was founded in Denmark during 2011 by Kári Gunnarsson, who is currently a brown belt at BJJ Globetrotter Christian Graugart's gym in Copenhagen. There is a vibrant jiu jitsu scene in Scandinavia, with some stand-out MMA fighters emerging from the region as well, such as Iceland's Gunnar Nelson and Sweden's Alexander Gustaffson. That means Odin Fightwear has a considerable local market, but they are gradually expanding to the rest of the world.

I've always been a big fan of mythology, especially Norse, as that's one of the coolest (trolls, dwarves, Thor: what's not to like?). My first encounter was probably a large book of Norse legends I borrowed off a friend when I was a child, then further down the line a couple of brilliant computer games in the early '90s, Heimdall and Heimdall II. Myth was another entertaining attempt to create something interactive from a whole range of myths (I didn't realise it was from '89: for some reason I thought it was later than Heimdall), then more recently games like Age of Mythology (though I guess it isn't that recent now: I haven't been seriously into computer games for well over a decade).

With a mythology that rich in brilliant imagery, you would expect that a brand calling itself Odin Fightwear would be releasing all kinds of awesome designs featuring mighty hammers, axe wielding vikings and rampaging frost giants. Instead, Odin have gone for an understated look: the link to Norse mythology is more through the Scandinavian location and some of the product names rather than a love of spectacular viking imagery. On the 'about us' page, it states:

The main goal of the company is to provide MMA/Grappling/BJJ gear of the highest quality, and just as importantly, with crisp/fresh designs. We don’t feel that the majority of MMA brands out there appeal to us, as we are not attracted to the “in your face” style that most companies seem to cultivate, so we aim to create crisp cool designs (though not necesarily minimalistic). We take our inspiration more from surf clothing than from other MMA brands, and try to incorporate that design feeling into clothing that is meant to withstand MMA/Grappling rather than surfing.

That can certainly be seen in the two rashguards I was sent, especially the IBJJF legal belt colour rashguard. It is almost completely devoid of illustration, except for a stylised raven in the logotype on the front, with 'Brazilian Jiu Jitsu' written on the back. There is a swoop of rank colour (in my case purple) down one side that curves around the back, fitting the IBJJF regulations on nogi equipment.

Of course, there are lots of other tournament providers besides the IBJJF, as despite what the IBJJF would like people to believe, they're just a company not a governing body. Still, they are the largest tournament company, so quite a few fightwear brands are providing specific IBJJF legal rashguards. I've got another one from Fenom, which has a comparably simplistic design. This is the relevant IBJJF rule, 8.1.13, on p29 of the rulebook:

Shirt of elastic fabric (clings to body) at a length that covers the shorts’ waist band, of black or white color, and displaying at least 10% of the color of the rank (belt) to which the athlete belongs. Shirts that are 100% the color of the rank (belt) the athlete belongs to are also acceptable.

The Berserkur rashguard is more intricate, because it doesn't stick to those regulations, though it's still far from flashy. The name is also considerably more interesting: for those of you unfamiliar with the term, 'Berserkur' is itself an overt nod to Norse mythology. What English speakers would call 'berserkers' were viking warriors who intentionally went into a battle-frenzy, chewing on their shields and fighting without armour. Appropriately, they were associated specifically with Odin. 'Berserkur' literally translates to 'bear shirt', which from what I've read is both a reference to wearing the pelt of a bear and the belief that berserkers could actually change their shape into an animal. There is a connection here to the legends surrounding werewolves (or to use the posh term, lycanthrope), as a similar group of warriors called the Úlfhéðnar wore wolf-pelts.

Instead of bears or wolves, the main theme on the Berserkur rashguard is again ravens. Two of them face in either direction on top of what looks like a sort of shield girlded with feathers. The raven is a common attribute of Odin, who has two of them, Huginn and Muninn (the latter has his own pair of Odin Fightwear shorts). Their names translate as 'thought' and 'memory' respectively. The ravens are essentially Odin's eyes on the world (which is handy, as he only has one of his own, having used the other to pay Mimir for a drink of wisdom), flying out each day then returning at dinner to fill him in on the latest Midgard news.

White text spelling out 'Odin' (in a suitably chunky Norse font) extends down from that illustration on the left chest. The middle of the rashguard is black (it says dark brown on the website, but certainly looks black to me, unless I misunderstood the text), while the side panels and arms are a light brown. That colour is broken up by a black strip under the armpits. You can also buy the Berserkur in a light blue, which instead of black has a light grey middle and armpit strips.

The material feels a bit more waxy (for want of a better word) than most of the other rashguards and spats I own, although the spats I reviewed recently from Combat Skin are a similar texture. As with the Combat Warrior spats, I'm not sure if that is simply a matter of texture or that the material is in fact thicker. It looks and feels durable, but obviously only time will tell if that is a correct assumption on my part.

I've been alternating between the two rashguards for the last month and found them similarly comfortable, despite them being different sizes. The label at the neck is printed onto the material, which is good as I always find those white flaps of label irritatingly scratchy. As is now standard with rashguards, the graphics are sublimited so they won't peel, crack or fade. The stitching is flatlock, again standard for modern rashguards.

Both the Berserkur and the ranked rashguard have an anti-slip waistband around the bottom, similar to the one in the rashguard I was kindly lent by Conor back when I attended the Rolles Gracie Jr seminar with him in Houston. The idea is that this stops the rashguard riding up. It feels quite bulky, as unlike the rest of the rashguard it is stiff and solid. There is also a tendency for the waistband to fold over on itself, but that could well be because I wear it under my gi jacket and trousers. Unlike the anti-slip waistband I've experienced on spats, it isn't especially tight, depending on how far down your body you pull it.

Unstretched, the Berserkur is 68cm from shoulder to hem and 39cm across the width of the waistband, but as you can see from the picture, there is a lot of vertical stretch. The ranked rashguard is 62cm shoulder to hem and 38cm across the waistband. Again, that stretches just as much as the Berserkur. The Berserkur I was sent is a Medium, so if I don't pull it down firmly there is some bagginess around the chest area. The ranked rashguard is a Small, which unsurprisingly felt tighter and is slightly shorter. However, both fit comfortably on my 5'7" and 66kg frame.

At the moment, you can only get short sleeve rashguards from Odin Fightwear. That is advantageous in hotter weather, but I prefer long sleeve due to the protection from friction for the elbows, useful with or without a gi. The neckline is high like on a surfing rashguard, similar to my Fenom. Looking through my rashguards that high neck is common to most of them, with the Gentle Chief being slightly lower.

If you lift up the sleeve of the Odin Fightwear rashguards, you'll notice that they are cut rather differently to most other rashguards. The stitching does not go across your armpit, instead there is an extra panel there (hence the black strip). It looks more like the crotch area of a pair of gi trousers, so there isn't anything that cuts into your armpit. Personally I'm quite skinny so this isn't much of an issue for me anyway, but if you've had any issues with discomfort in the armpit area from other rashguards, Odin could be the solution you're looking for. It's always good to see companies try something new, especially when it appears to be an eminently practical innovation.

The rashguards are available to buy here: it's 32€ for the Berserkur and 34€ for the plainer ranked rashguard. Unfortunately in what would otherwise be the obvious European market, Odin Fightwear are a little hampered by Danish sales taxes to the EU: that bumps up the price of their rashguards from 32/34€ to 40/42€. I'm not sure if the sales tax applies to other countries like the US, but it looks like it doesn't according to this.

Update April 2014: Gunnarsson put up the following explanation of sales tax on the Odin Fightwear Facebook page, stating "this is no different from any Business->Consumer sale within the European Union, there must always be sales tax (VAT) added. We have simply chosen to show the price with, and without the VAT, in order to make it easy for our US (and other non-EU customers) to see what their price is (since non-EU residents will not be charged the VAT). So we are not charging any extra tax that others do not, we simply show the price both with and without VAT, while most stores only show the price with VAT."

Equipment Review - Gentle Chief Rashguard (93 Brand x Gawakoto)

Short Review: The Gentle Chief features a stylish comic-book design from Gawakoto, gracing a very comfortable rashguard, judging by the Medium I was sent. I prefer my nogi equipment to be a tight fit, to benefit from the compression: that's definitely the case with the Gentle Chief. The construction is high quality and sturdy, apparently with not only anti-bacterial and anti-odour properties, but SPF 50 protection from the sun as well. The only flaw I noticed was a lack of trimming on the inside, but that was just a factory error on the particular one I was sent, which hasn't impacted on its functionality. Available to buy here, or from Gawakoto here.

Full Review: 93 Brand has only been on the market for around a year, but it has the considerable advantage of being headed up by Aaron Rubin. 93 Brand can therefore benefit from Rubin's considerable portfolio of e-commerce websites, most notably BJJHQ.com. 93 Brand is effectively the 'house brand' of BJJHQ.com and Rubin's other major site for BJJ merchandise, the pragmatically named Martial Arts Supplies.

At present, the loose theme of 93 Brand is Americana (as in, American culture and history, rather than the submission). There's been a 'Made in America' rashguard, the 'Goose' gi (named after two things: geese are grey, like the gi, then there's the Top Gun character called 'Goose') and now the 'Gentle Chief', drawing on imagery from cowboys and Native Americans.

The actual design is by Bong Abad (sublimated, as normal for modern rashguards), the artist behind Gawakoto. According to the website, "Gawa ko ‘to" is Filipino for "I made this", paying homage to Abad's ethnic roots. Abad's background is in comic book art, something I'm fond of myself. In my case it's mainly been the numerous titles attached to the X-Men, along with old Conan the Barbarian (or Cimmerian, if you're more of a Robert E Howard purist) comics, plus some of the obvious classics like The Sandman. There is a major downside to comic book art: it can be deeply flawed with regards to its representation of women (as discussed here). Keeping that in mind, it's still a genre I enjoy.

The image Abad has created for the 'Gentle Chief' reminds me a little (though it might just be because of Dani Moonstar, a Native American superhero) of my personal favourite example of comic book art, back when Bill Sienkiewicz had a stint on the original New Mutants in 1984-1985. I've been a fan of Abad's work for a while (especially this, this, this and this, appealing to my love of fantasy), but this is the first time I've had a chance to get my hands on a Gawakoto project (sadly I wasn't quick enough to snap up these spats).

On the front of the rash guard, the Gentle Chief himself looks calmly out from your chest in full Native American regalia. On the back, the Chief is depicted mid-air applying a flying armbar to a passing cowboy. Specifically, it's what I know as a 'Japanese armbar', with one foot under their near side, rather than both heels clamped to their far side. Due to the red monochrome on brown, the fine details of the back are difficult to make out: I didn't realise the Chief was actually in the picture along with the cowboy until I read the Gawakoto description of this product (a fun touch, as it gives the Gentle Chief a little narrative):

The Gentle Chief put his ear to the ground and heard the sound of hooves. His many years of experience let him pinpoint the direction they approached from, and the number of men riding together.

The sun and the years had turned his skin to the colour and texture of expensive leather. A smile formed on his usually complacent face.

As he waited patiently, he could feel his heartbeat steady as always. The sound of hooves grew louder, and his body coiled tighter with every passing moment. At the very last moment, when most people's ears would betray them into thinking they had missed the opportunity, he pounced. He lands on the cowboy with a perfect flying armbar, and the tap comes instantly. The snap comes shortly after.

No longer is he known as the Gentle Chief.

The marketing copy on Rubin's site describes the rashguard as possessing a number of features. Some look to be fairly typical for a rashguard, like "Blended fabric (performance spandex/premium polyester)", though I don't have the expertise to distinguish between 'peformance'/'premium' and 'normal' material. The Gentle Chief is also described as "anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking, and odor-resistant." Moisture-wicking is standard for rashguards, but anti-bacterial and odor-resistance are less commonly highlighted. Having worn this rashguard regularly to training for over three weeks now, I haven't noticed it smell, but then none of the other rashguards I've worn have smelled any different. Of course, something entirely distinct could be occurring at the bacterial level, but I'm not a scientist so that would also be difficult for me to judge.

Continuing with that official description, the Martial Arts Supplies site goes on to say that the rashie is "fitted for optimal compression and torso/sleeve length". For my frame, it is an excellent fit and easily the most comfortable long-sleeve rashguard I've worn to date (though I have only worn three others previous to this one, along with a couple of short-sleeve models).

Looking at the size chart (from my experience, you don't have to worry about shrinking with rashguards), I wasn't sure if the medium or the small would be a better fit for me. My chest is 35 inches, I wear 30 inch waist trousers and I weigh 145lbs (so in other words, scrawny ;D). That put me between a Small and a Medium (there is a good range of sizes, from X-Small to 2X-Large), so I emailed Rubin my measurements to get his opinion. He suggested the Medium, which fit perfectly: I'd therefore recommend you contact Rubin directly if you're at all uncertain about what size to buy.

Interestingly, the Gentle Chief is also noted as being "SPF 50 for UV protection on the beach, etc," harking back to the rashguard's origins in the surfing world (as I described in depth in my previous rashie review). In case you're wondering, 'SPF' stands for 'sun protection factor.' The not always reliable Wikipedia entry claims there is some confusion over exactly what this really means in practical terms, but either way, 50 is the maximum (in the EU at least). To those keen to avoid the sometimes dubious labour practices of the textile industry, the fact that the Gentle Chief is proudly - and rather appropriately, given the artwork - 'Made in America' is another advantage.

Finally, the description boasts that the Gentle Chief has "4 x 4 nylon flatlock seams (triple-stitched)." Looking at that stitching more closely, on the inside it is not what I expected, as normally flatlock stitching results in a tight, neat join. The Gentle Chief rashguard I was sent had material poking out from the stitching: you can see the difference when compared to my Fenom rashguard. I emailed Rubin to ask if it was some kind of defect, and he said that is how all high-end rashguards are made, but that it is normally trimmed: for some reason, the one I've got was not. However, having tested the Gentle Chief for several weeks, I haven't noticed any chafing or discomfort as a result, so it appears to just be an aesthetic question (and given this is on the inside of the rashie, not to mention that this appears to be a factory error, that's not an issue).

I've found the Gentle Chief a pleasingly snug fit underneath my gi, providing some warmth as the temperatures cool here in the UK. That's especially appreciated when I'm training at the Hit Fit gym, because it gets quite cold. I'm looking forward to checking out future Gawakoto designs, particularly if the rashguard/spats they adorn prove to be as well-made (untrimmed stitches notwithstanding) as the 93 Brand offering. Available to buy here, or from Gawakoto here.

Equipment Review - Fenom Rashguard (Fenom Kimonos)

Short Review: This 20% spandex/80% polyester short-sleeved rashguard from the market leader in women's BJJ gear is relatively thick and sturdy, but I didn't find it overly hot on its own. Under a gi was less comfortable, but then I don't like to wear any rashguard under a gi. It has a minimalist style, in keeping with the Fenom design ethos, along with the trademark Fenom quality. The waist felt wide at first, but this proved to be misleading: after several weeks of testing it has yet to ride up on my back. Available to buy here, in black with contrasting sleeves and side panels (currently, that's white, blue, purple or black. Brown is not an option).

Full Review: For a number of years now, Fenom Kimonos has been a prime mover in encouraging women's involvement in BJJ: seminars with top female black belts (e.g, Fenom Kimonos customers got to train with Hannette Staack for free on the 24th August, with others paying a reasonable fee), women only tournaments and of course gis designed for women. Hence why I have supported Fenom for several years too, having so far bought a t-shirt, patches, rashguard, gi trousers and a backpack, along with a gi that will be waiting for me on my third USA trip next year. Triin, the owner of the company, very kindly gave me a lift to and from Dallas airport during my 2012 Texas trip. She also gave me a Fenom gi (a plain white factory sample), which proved most useful for my US training. Not only that, but she's an excellent training partner too, if you're ever on the mats at RCJ Machado Dallas. ;)

I've been wearing my purple Fenom rashguard in conjunction with the Pony Club Grappling Gear 'Jessica' spats (reviewed a couple of weeks ago). As with the 'Jessica' grappling tights, I'm going to take the excuse to investigate the history of rashguards (if you want to skip all that, click here).

An article on the Australian Fitness Network suggests that compression wear was first used in a medical setting, "over 60 years ago" (the article isn't dated, but one of the sources is from 2011, so that probably means the '50s). The application was for the treatment of 'venous disorders' (such as deep vein thrombosis), which would fit with what I found in my previous research into compression tights.

Following links from trusty old Wikipedia, this site claims that the rash guard was invented in Australia, where at some point compression garments must have moved out of the hospitals and onto the beach:

Ironically, surfing rash guards were invented by accident in Australia during the late 1970s. The original rash guards were simply lycra turtleneck shirts worn underneath a surfer's wetsuit with the exclusive purpose of preventing chafing caused by the wetsuit. As the water warmed in the spring and summer months, these Aussie surfers began to be seen in the waves wearing rash guard shirts with their board shorts without any wetsuit. Surfers found that a wetsuit rash guard was also very effective at protecting their skin from irritation caused by contact with their surfboard as well as preventing sunburns. Hence, a new surfing product was born!

I'm not sure what source the author had for that, but it sounds plausible. For surfing and other water sports, the rash guard is normally used to - as its name suggests - prevent rashes from either the swimsuit or the surfboard, depending on if you're just wearing a rash guard and shorts. It also provides protection from the hot sun, a particularly important issue in ozone-layer deprived Australia.

They are generally made from some combination of lyrcra, nylon, polyester and/or spandex. Most will also tend to use something called 'flatlock stitching'. If you're not sure what that is, there is a wonderfully technical sounding description of various stitches over on FashionIncubator.com. For those of us unfamiliar with terms like "2 or 3 needle bobbin-less top stitching", the basic difference appears to be that a 'cover' stitch sticks up with a thicker seam, whereas a 'flatlock' stitch means the fabric stays flat (as the name suggests). To quote FashionIncubator.com:

Flatlocking is used primarily for performance goods, it has fewer layers to chafe. It depends on what you want to do. If you’re running a marathon, you definitely want tights with a flatlock. An overlocked coverstitched seam, while it won’t pull apart, will chafe along your legs and cause bleeding.

Continuing with the surfing theme, there's another set of descriptions from the Lomo Watersports website, in connection to its wetsuits:

Overlock stitching is the LEAST EXPENSIVE and least effective form of wetsuit stitching. The two edges of neoprene are rolled together with stitching lightly around them. This forms a ridge inside the wet suit that is both uncomfortable and it also allows water to penetrate the seam. [...]

Flatlock stitching is achieved by lapping the neoprene together, this creates a FLAT, COMFORTABLE SEAM but it also allows water to penetrate slightly. [...] Flatlock is identified by a band of interlocked thread on both sides of the suit, sometimes in contrasting thread colour for visual effect.

Jiu jitsu has long had a close connection to surfing, unsurprising given that BJJ's spiritual home looks out on the board-crammed beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Not by coincidence, the biggest BJJ hotspot outside of Brazil is California, which also happens to feature prominently in surfing history and culture. Hawaii is another area packed with both grapplers and surfers: it's arguably the most important location of all in surfing history, as discussed in this article.

Another potential source is more recent. It may be that it wasn't surfing, but the growing popularity of compression wear companies like Under Armour: unlike surfing rashguards, Under Armour shirts generally do not have a turtle neck, which is also the case with most grappling rashguards. Under Armour was founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank, an American Football player at university (or college football, as you'd say in the US). A Forbes profile relates the genesis of Plank's company:

It was on the football field that he came up with his greatest idea. Plank noticed that, after a practice or a game, the cotton T-shirt that he and the other players wore under their pads would be heavy, soaked with sweat. He believed the extra weight hampered performance. He came up with an idea for a lightweight, sweat-wicking synthetic T-shirt, which he originally made from fabric found in women’s undergarments.

Given the '90s date, it's equally possible that both sources fed into the use of rash guards for grappling. No-gi grapplers already using rashies from surf shops may perhaps have decided to try Under Armour style compression wear instead. Since then, rash guards have continued to increase in availability, meaning that today you can pick up a serviceable rashguard from your local sports shop or even Target/Wal-mart (I haven't seen them in British supermarkets yet).

I'm not certain of the oldest website selling BJJ merchandise, but the first one that sprang to mind was OnTheMat. Looking at previous versions of their page, the earliest example dates back to April 2002, when they sold HCK rash guards (listed under 'Valley Tudo Gear', which must be an intentional typo). There is no mention of 'rash guard': it is simply called 'vale tudo short sleeve' and 'vale tudo top long sleeve'. That would indicate that it was in MMA that rash guards first made an appearance.

According to the Wayback Machine, Howard Liu's site dates all the way back to at least December 1998 (the same year as the first ADCC, which has become the most prestigious no-gi grappling competition), selling four types of gi. By February 1999, Howard Combat Kimonos was proclaiming "New! HCK Vale Tudo Top and Shorts!" Although the link to those new products is unfortunately not in the Wayback Machine archive, I expect they were the same or similar as those sold through OnTheMat in 2002.

It's also quite possible compression tops had been used in Brazil before that, but looking at some of the older BJJ manufacturers (like Atama, MKimonos, Krugans), their websites do not appear to go back beyond 2000. Having said that, the classic vale tudo sartorial style, especially in a hot country like Brazil, was to fight in speedos, before progressing to vale tudo shorts (which are similarly tight).

My own first rashguard was from the now defunct XF Gear, bought back in 2007 in preparation for my no-gi debut at the Roger Gracie Academy. As I have never done a lot of no-gi (though I've been more regular recently), that rash guard is still in good shape, apart from the lettering on the front. Six years (but less than 40 no-gi lessons) down the line, the lettering has cracked and steadily flaked off. In the years since, sublimating has become the standard, which avoids that issue of all the lettering slowly wearing away.

According to Wikipedia, the definition of sublimation is a "printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto medium materials." John McDaniel has a brief history over on this site, which originally appeared in P&I News, June 2000:

Sublimation has been with us for quite some time. In the early computer years, circa 1970s, special ribbons impregnated with sublimation particles were used with dot matrix impact printers to create monochrome transfers. The first computer output sublimation system was developed in the mid ‘70s by Wes Hoekstra as an application of his image processing work with the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California. Wes has been credited with being the “father” of the computer image sublimation industry.

When electrostatic printing became affordable in copying machines and laser printers, it wasn’t long before toner cartridges containing sublimation solids appeared on the market. This equipment is normally used to create single color or limited color transfers. Recent innovations in color copiers and laser printers, have permitted the creation of full color transfers using this method.

The relevance to rashguards is that it permits more colourful and detailed designs, with the further advantage that sublimation is meant to prevent cracking, fading or peeling. Thus far, that has been the case with my Fenom rashguard after multiple washes. Its sublimated logo across the chest remains just as defined as when I unwrapped the packaging. That logo is the central embellishment, with a purple 'F'. There is no design on the back, so this rashguard should appeal to those who like an understated look.

Inside, the Fenom rashguard is white, just like my PCGG spats. The body of the Fenom rash guard is black, with purple sleeves and side panels. The reason for that is some competitions, mainly IBJJF, require a certain percentage of the relevant rank on your rash guard when you compete. There are several other colours available from Fenom aside from purple, corresponding to the other belts of jiu jitsu: white, blue and black (for some reason, brown is currently missing). At present, the Fenom rash guard is only available with short sleeves that end above the elbow. My preference would be long sleeve, as that reduces the chance of mat burn on the elbows, or abrasion from the inside of the sleeve if you're wearing it under your gi.

In my opening nogi test of the Fenom rash guard, I thought it felt a bit loose at the bottom and expected it to ride up, especially as I kept pulling it down during the warm up. However, it didn't ride up at all during sparring, where I spent a lot of time underneath side control and with people in my guard, meaning my back was constantly rubbing on the mat. This was when I was wearing the rashguard tucked into gi trousers, which I also tested tucked into shorts. My Bullshido fight shorts are much looser, so unlike the trousers did not stay tight over the bottom of the rashguard. Either way, the Fenom rash guard continued to remain in place.

Once my Pony Club spats arrived, I tested further configurations, wearing the rash guard over and under the tight leggings. Again, I found the Fenom rash guard never wriggled up my back or front, despite my constant expectation that it would. Presumably the reason for the wider lower part of the rash guard is because it is designed for the additional curves of a female body shape, but if you're a fairy slender man (like me), it appears to be a decent fit based on my testing.

Comparing this to the three other rashguards I currently own (which includes a brown surfing rash guard I picked up for a few quid from a charity shop), the length of the Fenom 'Large' is comparable to my old XF Gear, but not as long as the Masaru rashie. My XF Gear rashguard has certainly ridden up in the past: the difference between them is that the Fenom rashguard appears to be thicker with a white lining inside, which I guess must provide some friction. All of them except for the XF Gear have a raised collar by the neck, though the Fenom and Masaru are not as pronounced as the full turtle neck of the surfing rash guard.

There has been no shrinkage, given that this is not cotton so is less prone to that problem. On Triin's advice I bought a Large, measuring 67cm from cuff to cuff (without stretching). Shoulder to hem is 62cm, with a sleeve width of 13cm and the waist comes to 41cm, if the rash guard is just lying flat on the floor. I normally wear 30" waist trousers and there is some give to this, so I would have thought you would still be ok if your waist is larger than that.

However, it is tight across the chest and arms (as you would expect from a rash guard), so as ever, be careful when choosing your size. It is worth emailing Triin to ask what would fit you best, providing your measurements. For reference, my frame is 5'7" and 145lbs, with a chest about 35" (as this rashguard is aimed at women, I'm sure it can accommodate a lot more in that area) and my biceps are roughly 12", so I'm no beefcake. If you're similar, then a Large should fit you too. If you're much bigger, then that may be a problem: if you're smaller, you could go for a Medium or a Small.

There was some slight bobbling at the back, with a small white area. I am not certain where that came from: it could have been something velcro rubbing against it, either during training or in the washing machine. That's the only bit of damage I have noticed up until this point. The stitching is solid, with no loose threads that I could see.

When I cycled in my Pony Club spats on a hot day a while back, I wore the Fenom rashguard on my upper body. It was equally comfortable as the tights, so seems effective at keeping you cool and dry. It was less cool underneath a gi, but that's affected by my general discomfort wearing a rashguard under the gi: they always make me like I'm overheating. Hopefully there will be a long-sleeve option from Fenom in the future, either in this design or something entirely new, to prevent any rubbing on the elbows.

The Fenom ranked rash guard is available to buy here, in black with contrasting sleeves and side panels (white, blue or purple). You can also select 'black', which is presumably solid black. Brown does not appear to be available at present (though that could mean they're just currently sold out). The rashguards are currently on sale at $29, so your size and colour may sell out. I'm guessing they will be restocked, but then Fenom t-shirts are not, so it's possible this is a one-time design which will change for the next batch.