Friday, February 17, 2012

Dang gear is so expensive... a solution is at hand!

How much does it suck to buy a new gi... wash it once, and have it shrink too much to be wearable?  Or you try to shrink it, and it doesn't shrink enough?

How much does it suck to think you like your new gi, wear it a couple classes, and realize that it really doesn't fit you all that well?

How much does it suck to start out in BJJ and right off the bat it seems you have to spend $150 on a gi, when you're not even sure you're sticking with the sport?

Or how about you move, and you need a Gracie Barra gi for the new academy (or you're no longer training with GB and want to get rid of yours)-- what do you do?

I can tell you that few companies will let you return a worn and washed and dried gi for a refund.  It's hard to find Barra patch sets these days.  What if your academy sells "starter gis" for $125-- can you do better? What if you want to try out some muay thai and need some fight shorts? shin guards? And gloves?  But you didn't get a raise?

Check out the BJJ Gi Market.  Not just used gear... not just gis... but an affordable source for one-on-one sales of whatever you might need.  Some sellers are individuals, whereas some are direct (discounted) sales from the manufacturer.  (There's an A4 Ronin, brand new, for sale from the manufacturer right now for only $79.)

Here's what the site has to say:

"Welcome to BJJGiMarket.com.  Here you will find others who are looking to buy or sell gently used items relating to the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. If you are looking for cheap gear to buy, or have gear you do not need, and are tired of paying the high prices & fees on Ebay, then you have come to the right place. We do not charge for memberships or listings and we will host your photos and contact information so others just like you can search, browse, and buy or sell their gently used grappling merchandise.

We feel we are the best place to buy or sell used Gis, grappling shorts, shirts, gloves, and any other BJJ related gear or clothing on the web! From Kimonos to Tees you will find it all here at BJJ Gi Market.

***Please note we reserve the right to delete or edit any listing we feel is obscene or inappropriate and we do not allow the listing of undergarments or mouthpieces of any kind due to sanitary reasons and liability.  All else is fine as long as it is kept within the Terms of Service.***"

Right now I see some new and used Shoyorolls, some ladies' gis (and I'm about to add ten or so to that list this weekend), Atamas, Ronins, Break Points, Relson Gracie, Gameness... it's a good selection!  There are also fight shorts, new and used gloves, and a bunch of other stuff.  They also have categories for books and DVDs.  Are you a purple belt now and don't need Roy Dean's Blue Belt Requirements any more?  Let some whitebelt soak up the knowledge!

And, a special free gift if you purchase on the site: Stephan Kesting's A Roadmap For Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Ebook!

I've sold a few people gently-used gis before-- usually some young girl who sees one of my "dyed creations"-- and as long as you give it a good wash with about 1/4 cup of bleach in the water, a used gi isn't going to give you cooties. 





6 comments:

Afrorican said...

Great post! Thanks. I'm gonna check this out. I'm an A4 pants guy but A3 top and that is really frustrating.

Megan said...

Love this idea...

Jiu Jiu said...

Dear Georgette, for my birthday I would like a Fenom gi dyed purple. Thank you very much. Love, Jiu Jiu.

Brendan said...

I would like to add a vote for the market. it's such a great idea and i'm so glad somebody has finally gone through with it!

Dolph said...

Thanks for sharing this, Georgette!

Jiu Jitsu Maniac said...

Thanks for the advice. I'll check it out.