IPPON GEAR scores again!
First off, I've fallen in love with the Ippon Gear brand and products. They really have leveled up their game over the last 12-24 months. Their attention to detail, quality of cotton, and precision stitching is spot on. They even go the extra mile to add little things like inside jacket stitch covering, something you only see in high end judo gis. Their design is modern and sleek and I definitely like the direction they are going with their logo and on gi embroidery. It's not loud, but it's also present and sleek. I purchased a size 4.0 jacket. I am 5'9", 190-200 lbs throughout the year, with a stocky muscular build. The size 4.0 fit like a glove in all areas. The arm length, skirt, crossover, lapel cross, etc. It was darn near perfect, except one small thing. My lats and back are just a bit too big for the slim. Mind you, the crossover and gi jacket fit, but as soon as I rotated my back or shoulders forward you could feel things tighten up. Not by much, but just enough to say that a wash and hang dry might make it just a tad too small. So here's my advice, don't go with the slim version if you're a stocky, muscular type of person. The slim version is really ideal for the person with the "swimmer" or "cross fit" build. Muscular is fine, but you'll want that leaner torso and longer muscle fiber type of physique for it to fit just right. Big lats, back, shoulder caps, or chest... consider a Mizuno or FUJI. I would have jumped up to a 4.5 but the skirt would have been too long. Other than that...amazing gi jacket! Light but definitely a double weave. Perfect for randori, shiai, or even kata. Should last several years based on the quality I felt. I'm returning mine and looking at other options for my body type.
