Hayabusa Ikusa 10oz Gloves Review

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Recently we have looked at some of theAi??Hayabusa GlovesAi??from their more expensive ranges, so to do a bit of a comparison, we thought we would take a look at theirAi??Ikusa Series 10oz GlovesAi??(also available in White), from their less expensiveAi??Ikusa SeriesAi??line.

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Dual-Xai??? Wrist Closure System

All of the Ikusa Series Gloves feature the Hayabusa Dual-Xai??? Wrist Closure System to provide a secure and safe fit for the wearer.

Comfortable Fit and Padding

What also adds to the comfort and fit of these gloves is the considerable inner padding on the wrist area and front of the glove. When you put these gloves on, they feel safe and as though they would provide the necessary protection.

The gloves are easy to put on and are comfortable and unfussy with your hands forming the required shape naturally with ease.

Ikusa-Padding-Detail

Engineered Leather & High Quality Printing

TheAi??Engineered LeatherAi??feels soft yet durable and the printed Hayabusa and Ikusa Logo’s are crisp and clear. The durability of the printing is something that can only be tested over time after rigorous use, but we have been selling this range for a considerable time now and have no issues to report with respect to this to date.

Ikusa-10oz-DetailAi??Ikusa-Leather-DetailIkusa-Gloves-Strap-DetailAi??

Finishing & Stitching

As we have come to expect from Hayabusa, the stitching and finishing on these gloves is done to a high standard and Hayabusa have spared no expense with regards to this despite these gloves being at the lower end of the Hayabusa product price range.

Ikusa-Stitching-Detail

Comparison to Tokushu & Kanpeki Elite Series

When compared to theAi??TokushuAi??andAi??Kanpeki Elite Series, one of the most notable differences is that the Ikusa Series Gloves do not employ theAi??Fusion SplintingAi??construction feature. The Ikusa Gloves look like a more traditional style of glove on terms of the appearance and construction.

In addition to the absence of the feature mentioned above, another obvious difference when compared directly to the Kanpeki Elite Series Gloves, is that the Ikusa Series do not use the Premium Grade Genuine Leather used on the Kanpeki Elite Series, which of course enables Hayabusa to retail these gloves at a less expensive price.

Ikusa-Fist-Detail

On closer inspection, you will also notice that the palm of the Ikusa Gloves doesn’t have the breathable mesh material used on the Tokushu and Kanpeki Elite Series Gloves. The Ikusa Gloves have been constructed with a full Engineered Leather palm with breathable air holes instead.

Ikusa-Palm-Detail

Overall Rating

The Hayabusa Ikusa Series Gloves are a comfortable, well made glove that feature the excellent Hayabusa Dual-Xai??? Closure system and have all of the hallmarks of a quality made product that you would expect from this premium brand.

If you are in the market for something new and fancy spending a little more on a quality pair of bag gloves, but are not quite ready to go all out for the Tokushu or Kanpeki Elite Series Gloves, then the Ikusa Series 10oz Gloves are certainly an excellent alternative.

MMA Round Up: Castillo, Silva, Rousey

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Castillo to Fight Brenneman at UFC 173

Danny Castillo will fight a different opponent on his return to the Octagon. Initially expected to take on Isaac Vallie-Flagg on April 26 in Baltimore, Castillo now meets Charlie Brenneman, after Vallie-Flagg was moved to a lightweight bout with Takanori Gomi.

Castillo looks to get back on track following a defeat to Edson Barboza in December, while Brennemanai??i??s four-fight win streak came to an end following a submission loss to Beneil Dariush in his return to the UFC in January (Image: Sherdog)

Anderson Silva Back in Action


Silva InjuryTen weeks after a shocking injury during a championship fight with Chris Weidman at UFC 168 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the former middleweight is already kicking with his left leg.

His tibia and fibula were shattered when Weidman checked his kick back in December, but Silva said that being able to kick again is one of the greatest moments of his life.

“I compare this first kicks to the joy of the birth of my first sons,” Silva told UOL.

“Not itai??i??s time to overcome the fear, and Iai??i??ll get there. I still have much to do, but Iai??i??m confident and happy with the first results.”

As yet there are no plans for Silvaai??i??s return to the octagon (Image: Getty)

Rousey: ai???Iai??i??d Beat Mayweather in a Fightai???

D14-FMJR_SU_C_^_SUNDAYUFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey believes that she would beat Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr if she were to meet him in the ring.

The women’s mixed martial arts superstar appeared in a radio interview, where she was asked what would happen if she was to fight the boxing legend.

ai???I would drop down to the ground and crawl over to him as fast as I can,ai??? she said.

ai???I wouldnai??i??t even stand up, I wouldnai??i??t be near him. I would just do a little army crawl over there and he would have to run away. I would just bear crawl, too low for him to hit me, and tackle him down. I spent a lot of time on the ground, and I doubt that he does.ai??? (Image AP)

A Closer Look at the Hayabusa Kanpeki Elite Series 2.0 MMA Gloves

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By no means a new product, we just felt that these particular gloves were due a little more exposure due to the fact they still remain one of the most impressive looking products ever released by Hayabusa.

In fact, everything in the Kanpeki Elite Series range from Hayabusa looks just as good, with their classic, vintage leather look combining the latest MMA sports equipment technology, surely there’s nothing to dislike.

Sometimes, it is hard to get an accurate feel for a product when they are viewed online, so we’ve decided to get a few a close up pictures taken of the Kanpeki Elite Series 2.0 MMA Gloves to show just how good these gloves actually look and feel.

Kanp-MMA-Combo Kanp-MMA-Detail

(Embossed Hayabusa Logo -Ai??Wrist Strap Detail)Ai??

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(Embossed Hayabusa Logo – Inside Wrist Strap Detail)Ai??

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(Embossed Kanji Detail)

The above images really show off the quality of the Full Grain Premium Leather used to create these MMA Gloves, as well as the attention to detail of the embossed Hayabusa Logo’s and Hayabusa Kanji.

Features

Don’t be fooled by the vintage looking exterior of these gloves, there’s nothing primitive about their features or use of the latest patented Hayabusa innovations.

Dual-Xai??? Closure System

The images below show the same Dual-Xai??? Closure System as used on the Hayabusa Tokushu Series MMA Gloves. We’ve already praised this particular feature in a previous blog post about the Tokushu Series MMA Gloves, but to sum up in short, this closure system offers extremely effective hand and wrist support and provides such a snug fit that you may not have experienced before with any previous pair of MMA Gloves that you have owned.

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(Outer & Inner Velcro Strap)

 

Kanp-MMA-Closure3

(Inner Velcro Strap – Rubberised Tab)

Kanp-MMA-Closure4 Kanp-MMA-Closure5

(Outer and Inner Strap Detail)

Y-Volarai??? design

Again, this particular design feature can been seen on the Tokushu Series MMA Gloves, and we feel that it does it’s job in adding to the secure fit and minimising of unwanted shift for the wearer of the gloves very well indeed.

Kanp-MMA-Y-Volar

(Y-Volar Design Detail)

Overall Quality of FinishAi??

As you would expect from any premium Hayabusa product, the quality of stitching and finishing inside and out on these gloves is second to none.

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(Stitching Detail)

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(Inner Palm Stitching Detail)

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(Inner Padding Detail)

Just a final word about these gloves that no amount of images could ever do justice is their smell! As soon as you get them out of the bag you instantly notice that genuine quality leather smell!

Hayabusa 16oz Gloves Comparison

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We often get asked about the differences between the various ranges ofAi??Hayabusa Gloves, so we thought it would be useful to do a side by side comparison review for you of their Ikusaai???,Ai??Tokushuai???Ai??andAi??Kanpeki Eliteai??? 2.0 Series 16oz Gloves.

Haya-Glove-Compare

If you are familiar with Hayabusa products, you will know that they have many features listed in their product specifications. For quick reference we have listed the features that you will find in the three ranges of gloves that we are looking at here.

Haya-Glove-Quick-Compare

Beneath this table you will be able to get a brief breakdown of what the functions of some of the listed features are too.

Common Features

ai??? (A) Dual-Xai??? Closure system

One common feature that we have mentioned in previous blog posts is the use of the effective Dual-Xai??? Closure system that is featured across all three ranges. So whatever your budget or taste, if you choose any glove from the Ikusaai???, Tokushuai??? or Kanpeki Eliteai??? Series, you are ensured piece of mind a secure fit from this innovative patented Hayabusa velcro closure system.

Basically this closure system, developed by Hayabusa, uses multiple velcro straps secured at various points on the wrist area of the glove to make sure that you can tighten the gloves in place in a way that is as good as anything we’ve ever seen on any pair of gloves.

Click here to see the Official Hayabusa Dual-Xai??? Closure system video for more information.

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ai???Ai??Quality of Finishing

When comparing the quality of stitching and finishing, it is clear that Hayabusa pay close attention to detail with respect to this. Upon close inspection it obvious that all three ranges have been finished to a high standard.

Haya-Glove-Finish

ai???Ai??(B) Ectaai??? Bamboo Lining

All three ranges are made with the exclusive Hayabusa Ectaai??? bamboo lining which is said to provide “thermoregulating” and “deodorising properties” and provide “extreme comfort”.

When you put any of these gloves you will notice straight away, just how soft and comfortable the lining is.

ai???Ai??(C) Deltra-EGai???

The Ikusaai???, Tokushuai??? and Kanpeki Eliteai??? 2.0 Series all feature another Hayabusa trademarked development called Deltra-EGai??? Technology. This scientifically tested foam inner core boasts such qualities as “recovering instantly from strikes”, being able to “flawlessly manipulate impact energy” to “provide superior protection”.

Click hereAi??to see the Official Hayabusa Deltra-EGai??? Closure system video

Varying Features

ai???Ai??(D) Fusion Splintingai???

By comparing the three styles of gloves side by side, you can see that the Ikusa appear to be more simplistic in terms of their design and construction.

Haya-Glove-Fusion

The Fusion Splintingai??? design highlighted by theAi?? panelling and stitching pattern is the most obvious difference that separates both the Tokushuai??? and Kanpeki Eliteai??? Series from the Ikusaai???.

The Fusion Splintingai??? design is of course more than just a visual feature, it is actually an innovative development from Hayabusa to help increase hand and wrist protection and to ensure the correct hand alignment for the wearer of the glove.

Click hereAi??to see the Official Hayabusa Fusion Splintingai???Ai??video for more information.

ai???Ai??Engineered Leather, (E) Vylarai??? and Genuine Leather

A further notable difference between the three styles is the material used to make the gloves.

ai???Ai??The Ikusaai??? Series uses an Engineered Leather material that feels soft yet durable.

ai???Ai??The Tokushuai??? Series uses another kind of Engineered Leather called Vylarai???.Ai??This rigorously tested material has been put through it’s paces by Hayabusa and boasts hard wearing and resistant to damage properties.

Click hereAi??to see the Official HayabusaAi??Vylarai???Ai??video for more information.

ai???Ai??The Kanpeki Eliteai??? 2.0 Series uses a Full Grain Premium Leather material. The quality of the leather is evident as soon as you get these gloves out of the bag. The natural, distressed of look of this premium grade material gives the Kanpeki Eliteai??? Series a timeless classic look.

ai???Ai??Breathable Glove Palms

From the photo’s below, you will also notice that both the Tokushuai??? and Kanpeki Eliteai??? Gloves have a breathable mesh material constructed in to the palm areas. This differs to the Ikusa Glove palm, that has adopted a more traditional full covered palm with air holes.

Haya-Glove-Palm Ikusa-Palm-Detail

 

Final Comparison Overview

The Hayabusa Ikusa Series Gloves are a comfortable, well made glove that feature the excellent Hayabusa Dual-Xai??? Closure system and have all of the hallmarks of a quality made product that you would expect from this premium brand.

If you are in the market for something new and fancy spending a little more on a quality pair of sparring gloves, but are not quite ready to go all out for the Tokushuai??? or Kanpeki Eliteai??? Series Gloves, then the Ikusaai??? Series 16oz Gloves are certainly an excellent alternative.

With the Tokushuai??? and Kanpeki Eliteai??? Series, you are paying the extra amount due to the standard of engineered leather and genuine leather used respectively on these premium lines. In addition to this, both of the afore mentioned ranges utilise the Hayabusa Fusion Splintingai??? Technology for a more advanced level of hand and wrist protection too. With this in mind, you will be investing in the hours of research and testing that Hayabusa have carried out in order to develop this innovative technology.

MMA Training Drills ai??i?? ai???The Top Mount Positionai???

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Having a good stand up striking game is important as an MMA fighter, but to develop yourself as a good all rounder,Ai?? you will need to be able to draw upon the relevant skills and techniques to be successful when the fight goes to the ground.

If you do need to brush up on your ground technique, it will do you no harm to get back to basics.

Mastering positions like the Top Mount position are fairly easy to replicate and practice on your own without a training partner or dummy. You will use this position to dominate a grounded opponent during a fight.

Top-Mount1 Top-Mount2 Top-Mount3 Top-Mount4

1 – To start with, get yourself into a front plank position, with your forearms on the ground, hands formed in to fists and your feet placed two shoulder widths apart.

2 – Imagining that you are on top of your opponent, raise your hip and bring your knees in towards your shoulders.

3 – Bring your hands closer together and switching to open palms, use them to push up your upper body until your arms can’t be extended any further.

4 – To complete the position push your hips up and raise your upper body up straight.

If you are going over your ground fighting techniques in the gym with a training partner, you will come in to close contact with the mat and of course your opponent, not to mention resulting in you quickly working up a sweat.

To protect yourself against any unwanted scrapes, cuts and rashes and to wick away sweat, helping to keep you cool and dry, it is advisable to wear a good quality Rashguard that stands up to the job.

Also in the interest of enhancing your performance in this area, you may want to look at equipping yourself with a pair of Foot Grips. Specially designed to give you more grip and traction on the mat, this will increase your takedown power by giving you a more stable starting base. In addition to this, they will also offer support for your ankles and feet.

New Hayabusa Metaru Performance Shorts – ai???Out of the Bagai??? Review

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As the Official UK & European Distributor for Hayabusa, we are always excited to get our hands on their latest products as soon as they come in to us.

With the design of theAi??Hayabusa Metaru RashguardsAi??proving to be a massive success, we couldnai??i??t wait to see how the similar design would be applied to the newAi??Hayabusa Metaru Performance Shorts.

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Hayabusa Metaru Performance Shorts Front Detail

Hayabusa Metaru Performance Shorts Back Detail

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

ai??? The new Hayabusa Metaru Performance Shorts have been billed as being tough and durable, but without compromising on comfort. Straight out of the bag, you can feel how light these shorts are, but at the same time, how strong the material is. In addition to this, the finishing and stitching on the shorts was immaculate inside and out and looked very secure.

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STRETCH PANELS & SPLIT SEAMS

ai???Ai??If you know your Hayabusa Fight Shorts, then the Stretch FabricAi??crotch area (shown below) and Side Split Seams will need no explanation. For those of you not so familiar with such features, the Stretch Fabric, is just what it says in the name, a tough Spandex / Polyester fabric used to provide extra mobility and reduce restriction of movement for the wearer of the short.

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ai???Ai??The Side Split SeamsAi??(shown below), perform a similar function with regards to helping to aid mobility and reduced and kind of manoeuvrability restrictions. If you are not used to recentAi??Hayabusa Fight Shorts, then you may notice that the Side Split Seams are finished slightly higher in to the side of the leg than some other brands, helping to give more freedom of movement.

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VELCRO ENCLOSURE SYSTEM

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ai???Ai??The Velcro Enclosure systemAi??(shown above) looks as secure as ever, utilising multiple Velcro panels and is backed up the Hayabusa Innovative Tie System. You will see from the close up image that these shorts use a special kind of velcro panel that will not stick to the drawstring lace.

 

HAYABUSA INNOVATIVE TIE SYSTEM

ai???Ai??The Innovative Tie SystemAi??(shown below) uses a single, tough and durable drawstring that has been looped around the waist. The longer end is then brought across and behind the front of the waistband and looped through an eyelet which also sits behind the Velcro Enclosure System.

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ai???Ai??We know from previous Hayabusa Fight Shorts that use this kind of tie system that it really works to help secure the shorts in place extremely well, eliminating the issue of snapping the drawstring and losing it within the waistband.

 

INNER GRIP WAISTBAND

ai???Ai??The Inner Grip WaistbandAi??(shown below) is another feature that has been used on this particular short, and as you can see from the image, the many small rubber dimples that line the waistband provide an effective gripping system that will help to minimise unwanted movement and shift.

Hayabusa Inner Grip Waistband

 

DESIGN & FINSIH

ai???Ai??The actual design and use of the similar pattern as seen on the Hayabusa Metaru Rashguards (shown below)Ai??is quite subtle, so those of you in favour of more understated designs will be a big fan of these shorts.

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ai???Ai??Some of close up images above show you the pattern in more detail and help you to get a better impression of the look of these shorts. The sublimated printing is of a very high standard and is very crisp and clear. The designs are fused within the fabric fibres to make them very hard wearing.

ai???Ai??Overall the new Hayabusa Metaru Performance Shorts are highly impressive and are a great example of what you would expect from a premium level fight short. They feel tough and durable, yet light weight enough to be comfortable.

ai???Ai??With their additional features to assist with manoeuvrability and maintaining a secure fit, these shorts really do tick all the boxes in terms of being more than up to the job, plus they use the ultra cool Metaru honeycomb pattern and design, so they look as good as they feel too!

Out of the Bag Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars!

MMA Round Up: UFC 170, Las Vegas

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Cormier takes title in first

Fansided.com

Daniel Cormier needed just 79 seconds to knock out Patrick Cummins at UFC 170 on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre in Las Vegas.

The win over Cummins, who was a last minute replacement, means Cormier is now undefeated in his 14 fights and was made even sweeter by the fact that his former sparring partner Cummins had claimed before the fight that he had once made Cormier cry during wrestling practice.

“It had to happen this way,” Cormier said. “It could not have gone the distance. I’m mad he even hit me twice because of all the talking he did. When you talk, you’ve got to be able to back it up. That’s what I do.”

Cummins had accepted the fight on 10 days’ notice, when injury forced Rashad Evans off the co-main event (Image: Fansided.com).

Rousey takes a minute to show her class

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Despite being billed as one of the biggest events of her career, UFC 170 proved to be a relatively easy night for Rhonda Rousey.

A knee to the midsection caused former ex-Olympic wrestler Sara McMann to collapse to the canvas and the fight was stopped after just 66 seconds.

The crowd booed what it deemed was an early stoppage. But referee Herb Dean had little option after Rousey hit McMann with a knee to the body followed by an elbow, another knee, another elbow ai??i?? and then a final knee that put McMann on the floor (Image: AP).

For the first time in her career, Rousey had ended a fight without her trademark arm-bar in this, the fastest knockout in UFC women’s history.

MacDonald Punishes Maia

Rory MacDonald threw his hat into the ring as a contender once again, following a hard-fought decision over a veteran opponent in Demian Maia.

MacDonald (16-2) suffered a takedown in the early seconds of the bout, which led to him losing the first round. But as the fight wore on he picked Maia apart on the feet while defending a constant string of takedown attempts in the later rounds.

All three judges scored it the same, 29-28 for MacDonald.

MacDonald continued to land effectively with kicks to the body and straight, two-punch combinations into the latter stages of the fight and his momentum continued into the final round, where he continued to pick Maia apart with the jab, right hand and kicks.

Pyle Ends it in three

Mike Pyle rebounded from a heart-breaking knock-out loss in his last performance by defeating TJ Waldburger via TKO late in the third round.

The Las Vegas-based welterweight was at his best on the inside. Fending off Waldburgerai??i??s takedown attempts while frequently landing knee shots and elbows from the clinch.

Six of the best for Thompson

Kickboxer turned MMA fighter Stephen Thompson, earned the sixth finish of his career thanks to a TKO victory over Robert Whittaker, with the stoppage coming just 3.45 into the first round.

A straight right hand Ai??had initially dropped Whittaker but the welterweight managed to get back to his feet, with Thompson eventually putting him down again with another decisive right.

 

MMA Round-up: Overeem turns down fights, Rousey on Marijuana

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Alistair Overeem Turns Down 2 Title Fights with Junior dos Santos

alistair Overeem

Image: BlackZilians.com

It appears Alistair Overeem has not just turned down one, but TWO heavyweight title bouts in 2014.

Apparently Overeem was offered a five-round main event fight with former Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos in Brazil, but “The Demolition Man” turned down the offer.

He was then offered a three-round co-main event bout in Las Vegas with Cigano, but avoided that too – a decision which leaves him somewhat in Limbo.

The refusals have led many to believe Overeem is only interested in a money spinning bout with Brock Lesner.

Watch this space.

Ronda Rousey says marijuana testing is ai???invasion of privacyai??i??

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Image: Ace Showbiz

UFC womenai??i??s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has gone on record to say she is firmly against marijuana testing in MMA.

Speaking after the negative press in the wake of Jessica Eye becoming the first female UFC fighter to test positive for a banned substance, Rousey told MMA Junkie: ai???Honestly I feel like weed is not a performance-enhancing drug at all.

ai???We are tested for it for entirely political reasons. The athletic commission is there to make sure we compete fairly and they are testing us for something that has nothing to do with athletic competition.ai???

‘The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,’ series to be filmed in Las Vegas

the-ultimate-fighterUFC officials today announced ai???The Ultimate Fighter: Latin Americaai??? will film in Las Vegas this spring.

16 Latin American hopefuls vying for a UFC deal and registration is currently underway.

UFC Senior Vice President of International Development Jaime Pollack stated: ai???Latin America has become a huge market for the UFC, and weai??i??re excited to take it to the next level with ai???The Ultimate Fighter.ai??i??ai???

To be eligible for the contest must be between 21 and 34 years old, speak Spanish, have a minimum of three professional MMA fights and hold a verifiable winning record.

 

MMA Training Drills – The Hip Escape

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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques play a big part in the ground phase of MMA, many of which are used defensively to free yourself up from holds.

One of the most commonly used techniques is the Hip Escape. As with the Top Mount position practice drill in our previous blog post, it is possible to practice the Hip Escape without a training partner.

Hip-Escape Hip-Escape2 Hip-Escape4 Hip-Escape7Hip-Escape5 Hip-Escape6

1 / 2 – Start by lying on your back, then bring your right leg in and bend at the knee so that your right foot is firmly flat on the ground. Lifting it just a few inches off the floor, fully straighten out your leg.

ai???Ai??Cup both hands and bring them up towards your temples and raise your shoulders up from the ground.

3 – Turn your entire body to the right, keeping your arms and legs in the same position as outlined above.

4 – Just before your right elbow touches the floor, push out with both hands, extending both your arms and legs out straight.

5 – Turn your body back to the left until you are on your back once again and assume your starting position with your hands cupped up towards your temples. However this time, bring your left leg in and bend at the knee so that your foot is firmly on the ground. This time your right leg will be fully straightened out and slightly raised off the ground.

6(A) & (B)Ai??- Turning your body to the left, you will want to mirror the same manoeuvre as outlined above, and then bring yourself back in to the starting position on your back. This will complete on full repetition of this technique.

As any practitioner will know, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a highly technical discipline and requires appropriate apparel to be worn if you are to compete at certain levels and competitions. Competition and specific gym requirements can standardise the appearance and technical aspects of a Jiu Jitsu Gi, although not all tournaments and clubs impose such strict rules. You may be involved as a No Gi Jiu Jitsu practitioner, and therefore we recommend that you take a look at our previous blog that highlights the benefits of investing in a good quality Rashguard.

You might also want to check out the Jiu JitsuAi??discipline section of our website for all of your other Jiu Jitstu apparel and equipment needs.