You've been training consistently, putting in the hours, drilling techniques, and pushing your limits. But have you ever stopped to consider whether your gear is keeping up with your dedication?
Real renshuu—that consistent, deliberate practice that transforms beginners into masters—demands gear that can handle the intensity. Unfortunately, not all training apparel is created equal. Here are five telltale signs that your current gear isn't built for serious practice.
1. It Loses Its Shape After Just a Few Washes
You buy a rashguard that fits perfectly, but after three or four training sessions and washes, it's stretched out and baggy. Sound familiar?
Quality training gear should maintain its compression and fit through hundreds of wash cycles. If your rashguard is losing its shape quickly, it's likely made with inferior materials or construction methods that can't handle the demands of regular training.
What to look for: Gear made with high-quality spandex blends and reinforced stitching that maintains compression over time.
2. The Seams Split During Intense Training
Nothing kills your flow like having your shorts split during a hard roll or your rashguard tear at the seams during a scramble. If this has happened to you more than once, your gear isn't built for the realities of grappling.
Real training gear should be able to handle the full range of motion, stretching, and stress that comes with serious practice. Seam failures are often a sign of poor construction or inadequate materials.
What to look for: Flatlock seams, reinforced stress points, and materials that can stretch without breaking.
3. It Rides Up, Bunches, or Shifts During Training
You're in the middle of drilling guard passes, and you have to constantly adjust your gear. Your rashguard rides up, your shorts bunch in uncomfortable places, or your gear shifts around when you need it to stay put.
This isn't just annoying—it's a distraction that takes your focus away from technique and improvement. Gear designed for real training should move with you, not against you.
What to look for: Proper cut and fit designed specifically for grappling movements, with features like longer torsos and gusseted crotches.
4. The Colors Fade or Bleed After Washing
Your black rashguard is now a faded gray, or worse, it's bleeding color onto your other gear. This isn't just about looking good—it's about the quality of the dyes and materials used.
Cheap dyes and poor color-setting processes are often indicators of overall poor quality. If the manufacturer cut corners on something as basic as colorfast dyes, what else did they skimp on?
What to look for: Colorfast materials that maintain their appearance through regular washing and training.
5. It Doesn't Wick Sweat or Dries Slowly
You finish a hard training session, and your gear is soaked and stays wet for hours. Or worse, it traps moisture against your skin, creating an uncomfortable and potentially unhygienic training environment.
Quality training gear should wick moisture away from your body and dry quickly. This isn't just about comfort—it's about performance and hygiene during those long training sessions.
What to look for: Moisture-wicking fabrics that pull sweat away from your skin and dry quickly between rounds.
The Real Cost of Poor-Quality Gear
Here's the thing: buying cheap gear that fails isn't actually saving you money. When you factor in:
- Frequent replacements due to wear and tear
- Distractions during training that hurt your progress
- The frustration of gear that doesn't perform when you need it
- Potential hygiene issues from poor moisture management
You realize that investing in quality gear from the start is actually the more economical choice.
What Real Renshuu Gear Looks Like
Gear built for serious practice should:
- Maintain its fit and compression through hundreds of training sessions
- Feature reinforced construction at stress points
- Move with your body without shifting or bunching
- Keep its color and appearance over time
- Wick moisture effectively and dry quickly
Most importantly, it should disappear during training—you shouldn't have to think about your gear when you're focused on perfecting your technique.
Your Training Deserves Better
If you're putting in the work—showing up consistently, drilling techniques, pushing through tough rolls—your gear should match that commitment. You deserve apparel that supports your practice, not gear that holds you back.
Real renshuu requires real gear. Don't let subpar equipment limit your potential on the mats.
Ready to upgrade your training gear? Explore our collection of battle-tested apparel designed by grapplers, for grapplers.
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