Green Hill Olympic IJF cert Gis

Hello. Im currently enrolled in Ohio State U. and will be goin to the judo club.

Id like to get a top of the line gi, and Im wondering how good the green hill gis are (the olympic/ijf ones). They are pretty cheap on the USA Judo site (+\- $100) and I was just wondering about the quality and how they feel (stiff or nice and maneuverable or hard or soft or somewhere in between). I have seen NO reviews on this gi.

I do have some cheaper gi's to work with but look Im the type of guy who if I can afford it will get top of the line stuff. So yes Ive been looking at all the nice brands like Mizuno, KuSakura, Fighting Films, Matsuru, Fushida, Toraki, Addidas, etc... The reason Ive been looking at say the Green Hill or other stuff opposed to the Japanese gis is simply because of diminishing returns. 2% better performance is not worth $120. 10% might be. The KuSakura will cost me $240 shipped. The Mizuno senpai will cost me $215.

In case your wondering my experience Ive been in martial arts for a while over 20 years on and off and started in karate and kenka aiki-jitsu and was the uke for my instructor whenever he was demonstrating throws. Ive done much more since but thats only to show that I am not totally new to this and would have an understanding of what I may or may not like.

And yes after going to a boxing gym on the east side of Cleveland where I was the only white guy and training like a pro, I am embarrassed I ever took karate... lol.

So to sum up, does any body have experience with the TOTL Green Hill gis, if so please tell me about em, and are the Japanese made gis worth the extra coin in comparison to the upper mid range gis?

Thank you.

The Japanese made Mizuno and KuSakura judogi are totally worth the money. They will last almost a lifetime and have a quality infinitely superior to the others on your list. Make sure that you get a Japanese made one. Some, like most other judogi are made in Pakistan.

I looked at the Green Hill's and finely bought one, it didn't fit well when I first got it,   after a few washings one sleeve shrunk more than the other and I gave it away. I would not recommend buying a green hill it was the worst gi I have ever purchased.   I do own four Japanese mizunos one kusakura that I realy enjoy. Last week one of the yudansha in my dojo got a Fuji double weave from Hatashita it is a great gi and I plan to purchase one my self not close to a Kusakura but I would buy it for less than $80
before I pay $350 for the kusakura. JMHO

Well thank you both and thanks for the heads up on the GH gis. Not dissenting on the quality of the Japanese brands, but whether it is worth it or not. One yes and one no. I can get the "cheaper" KuSakura (that isnt Chinese) for $242 shipped ems directly from KS and The Senpai is a light double weave for $199 plus shipping. Both are Hecho en Japano. I think I would go with the KuSakie because I can use it in contests at least until the IJF outlaws it and makes us wear rash guards and outlaws arm throws... just a matter of time I tell ya... "NO TOUCH LEG!!!" lmao...

KShaft wrote:Well thank you both and thanks for the heads up on the GH gis.  Not dissenting on the quality of the Japanese brands, but whether it is worth it or not. One yes and one no.  I can get the "cheaper" KuSakura  (that isnt Chinese) for $242 shipped ems directly from KS and The Senpai is a light double weave for $199 plus shipping. Both are Hecho en Japano. I think I would go with the KuSakie because I can use it in contests at least until the IJF outlaws it and makes us wear rash guards and outlaws arm throws... just a matter of time I tell ya... "NO TOUCH LEG!!!" lmao...

FWIW, I haven't bought a jûdôgi since 2003/2004 and those were all KuSakura or Mitsubôshi. None of them to this day has required any repairs or has any holes in it. They are both super gi-brands, pricey but well worth the cost. One cavet before making analogies, evidently all jûdôgi I am referring to were natural cotton-colored and obviously not of wabi- and sabi-deprived 'bleached' props.

Good luck !

Cichorei Kano wrote:
FWIW, I haven't bought a jûdôgi since 2003/2004 and those were all KuSakura or Mitsubôshi. None of them to this day has required any repairs or has any holes in it. They are both super gi-brands, pricey but well worth the cost. One cavet before making analogies, evidently all jûdôgi I am referring to were natural cotton-colored and obviously not of wabi- and sabi-deprived 'bleached' props.

Good luck !

Does your judogi last so long because you only wear it when visiting the judo forum? or do you use your blue judogi for that?

Well I went ahead and bought the Fuji DW. It is a damn nice Gi. All for 86.00 shipped. The reason I did not go ahead and buy the Mizuno Yusho Japan which was on sale for $250 is because I am fat. Not only am I fat, I am out of shape and get winded within 2 mins of Newaza. Not only this but I am very rusty on top of this. So, when I get back in shape, loose the gut, and loose the rust and adjust the JuJitsu (not BJJ) to the Judo, I will then, get the Mizu or KuSakura. I dont want to be the guy out there with a $3000 customized 1911 who can barely hit the target of a b27 type 10 yards out.  I was kind of embarrassed to even think about the Mizuno after my  lousy performance.  So I signed up for an actual accredited class (I was just going to go for a day because I missed the last class waiting for the gi to get here!) and attend the club (which is where you have the more experienced and better players) so If I dont get decent soon Im a hopeless cause!
Thanks everyone for their help.
KS