Common shorts have pockets; pockets that may catch a partner’s finger and dislocate it during grappling or mma training. Some shorts have belt loops that have the same risk. Other shorts have zippers or buttons that can inflict a huge gash or even a gaping wound on one’s partner. This will happen during intense groundfighting where fighters are extremely close to each other.

Board shorts and trunks used as mma gear have velcro and drawstrings are used instead of hard buttons and zippers. They also have no pockets. However, beachwear board shorts may have pockets. Such beachwear should not be used on the mat to demonstrate the utmost safety for one’s partner.

The fabric of common shorts absorb sweat instead of it wicking off. Soggy shorts clinging to one’s legs is quite uncomfortable during training or resting in between rounds. Basketball shorts, though meant to wick off sweat, may have an inner garment that can get wet. This can cause the same discomfort previously mentioned.

Doing splits is a sign of flexibility. It is also required if one desires the ability to perform high kicks. Common athletic shorts, like basketball shorts hinder this movement with a lengthy crotch area. This is why mma board shorts either have stretchy fabric or slits in the crotch and/or outer thighs. The shorts may also be ripped when submissions such as Eddie Bravo’s electric chair are attempted.

Eddie Bravo’s Electric Chair on YouTube

Hunter or Bad Boy trunks or Speedo-style swimming trunks can be used during mma training or submission wrestling. Unfortunately, teammates may refer to the wearing of such mma gear as “GAY!”

So those are the disadvantages of using common athletic shorts as mma gear. They may have pockets, buttons or zippers that can injure a training partner. The fabric can cling uncomfortably upon having absorbed sweat. Splits and high kicks can cause a tear in such shorts. And you may look gay.

mma gear: Combat Sports Fight Shorts - Seek and Destroy

The shorts are mostly made out of some sort of spandex-like material. This appears to be the same sort of fabric used for the crotch and outer leg area of other fight shorts. Other people I know do not complain of the material but it does feel funny against my skin for whatever reason. Of course, during actual sparring I forget whether this mma gear from Combat Sports is comfortable or not. So although I feel funny wearing the shorts, it’s not that uncomfortable when rolling. Anyhow, I do not actually wear the shorts outside the gym or in the beach.

The Seek and Destroy fight gear have two drawstrings for the waist area. One ties in front and one at the back. I have to tie the drawstrings of this mma gear in a special way so that the knots formed are not aligned. If one knot is directly in front of the other, there is a noticeable lump below my belly button. Unlike the feeling I have with the fabric, the lump does make certain positions in jiu-jitsu training uncomfortable like being mounted or being in side control.

One more thing is that the lettering on the left side of the shorts is unattractive to say the least. The black and white Combat Sports logo on the right leg, on the other hand, are quite nice.

The above are only minor discomforts. Seek and Destroy mma gear are a good deal from Combat Sports International at only $19.99, about half the original price. At full price, other brands with superior and more comfortable designs should be considered.

Check out the pictures for Affliction designs. Note the dark images that are intriguing and just simply need to be on your back. It is best to judge for yourself if you want such evocative imagery on your person. You’ll just either know if you have the compulsion to wear the shirts or not. If you do feel compelled enough, you may order from their site: http://www.afflictionclothing.com/

mma clothing: Affliction shirt with typical dark, gothic imagery.

mma clothing: Affliction shirt for Chuck Liddell with typical dark, gothic imagery.

mma clothing: Affliction shirt for Fedor Emelianenko with typical dark, gothic imagery.

For those who train martial arts like mma, jiu-jitsu or muay thai, seeing so many other people wear a Georges St-Pierre Affliction shirt may be a bit disconcerting. Keep in mind though, that Affliction heavily supports the sport of mma especially by having had a recent event with Fedor Emelianenko going against Tim Sylvia for somthing called the World Association of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) heavyweight title in the main event. The company needs much capital to put up a big event like that. Though a lot of people train mma or mma-related disciplines, that’s not enough of a market for Affliction to make money. The company needs to market to the whole 18-to-40-year-old age group. So the next time you see an overweight person, who probably has not done a sit-up in 10 years, wearing mma clothing like Afflcition, keep in mind that that person contributed to Affliciton and therefore contributed to the sport of mma.

Like other known clothing lines with terrific designs, Affliction mma clothing costs a bunch. Can you imagine spending between 60 and 90 US dollars on a T-shirt? Of course, if looking cool at a party is that important then the Affliction shirts are very much worth that much of your money. It must be noted though, that due to its popularity, you are definitely not going to be the only one who thinks they’ll look cool going out wearing Affliction.

Affliction also has jackets, polos and jeans with designs similar to the shirts. However, they are also the expensive kind. So if the price is more important to you that the design or the need to wear mma-related clothing, stick to the clothing you’ll commonly find at stores like Sears or Target.

MMA/ BJJ training book: Mastering The Twister by Eddie Bravo (cover)

Mastering The Twister is part of a set of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt Eddie Bravo’s instructional books. Mastering The Rubber Guard was his first full color book that covered his bottom and guard game. This book for review on the other hand, tackles Eddie Bravo’s just-as-unique top game.

One thing that is taught in basic bjj is not to give up one’s back. Eddie’s twister side control however, is a side mount wherein one turns his back to his opponent, facing the legs instead. From there, Eddie Bravo presents so many options that are likely not taught outside his academy, 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

Eddie also teaches his variant on the mount and back mount. For example, Eddie may step on an opponent’s hips during the mount or figure four his legs around his partner’s waist during back mount. Several nonconventional submissions and transitions then follow that one can use on unsuspecting opponents.

Some may say that Eddie positions are unlikely to be encountered during live sparring. I say though that by adapting his gameplay, one’s partners can be forced into those positions at least some of the time. Twister transitions for example may seem too exotic for some training in bjj or mma. But one can do some of these off a basic position like back control by locking one of the partner’s legs with one’s own legs in a figure four. The Twister is then easily obtained via rolling from the previously described position.

As usual for a Victory Belt publication, full color photos, meticulous details and alternate angles (when necessary) are present.

Mastering The Twister is not for grappling newbies. Whether you’re new at jiu-jitsu or have only begun training groundfighting for mma, knowledge of the basics is required in order to properly use this book. Proper leg positions for armbars and triangles are not explained so it is best that the reader has had at least a few months of jiu-jitsu classes before reading Eddie Bravo’s instructional.

Because Eddie Bravo advocates no gi training for bjj, this instructional book will be very useful for those training mma in order to improve their grappling skills, specifically from the top.

The only negative aspect I found in a training book this thick and expensive is that there are no passes. To completely cover the top game during bjj or mma training, positions and transitions should be accompanied by effective guard passing. Even Eddie Bravo’s black-and-white book, Jiu-jitsu Unleashed had a few guard passes.

Let’s go for the not-so-obvious this time. Here’s a top one can wear during mixed martial arts training or submission wrestling class. During no gi class, I wear an Adidas Clima Cool shirt. It’s comfortable and it keeps me cool with those pores that are usually seen jerseys in basketball or futbol (i.e. what Americans call “soccer”). Actually, these types of shirts were probably made for running or playing futbol. Other than bjj, I also use them for basketball. They can also easily be used in mma training or bjj class. But because it’s not as tight a fit as a rashguard, hands and feet may get caught in the sleeves or wherever. But that hardly happens and tucking the Clima Cool shirt in helps a lot.

This one's a cool design. There are simpler designs as well. These aren't too expensive for performance shirts. Between $20 to $40 a piece.

At my peak weight, I could fight mma rules in BJ Penn’s weight class (and subsequently lose in short order to the likes of Clay Guida or Joe Stevenson). However, due to the demands of work and studying, I’m more than 10 pounds over. Where is this going and what does this anecdote have to do with Adidas Clima Cool? I don’t always have the physique to wear a rashguard on the mat or in the Octagon (or half of one for training purposes). It would take guts on my part to wear a rashguard. Actually I can’t wear only a rashguard in mma training as a top because of my gut. The Adidas Clima Cool, already light, comfortable and cool, additionally hides my gut. So for the weekend warriors out there who don’t feel comfortable showing off their guts during training, a Clima Cool or similarly functioning shirt is for you. Furthermore, Adidas is a good brand and easily available at most malls.

As a reminder, shirts like the Clima Cool are not legal in actual competitions of North America like the UFC. They are however, more hygienic than rolling shirtless during bjj or mma training plus the advantages of Clima Cool previously described.