Link Love

Wow!  Another womnderfully crazy day at the head offices of your friendly neighbourhood Crazy-Ass Gi comp organisor! We've had a ton more entries and I must say, the designs just keep getting better and better - you guys out there really have unleashed a torrent of creativity!

More online chatter about the contest - Portuguese White Belt offered us three of his feline inspired designs. I like these, they're very personal to the author and yet I could easily see these being worn in the dojo:

Crouching kitten from the Portuguese White Belt Blogger

Over in the Journey of Fenix, our Aussie based artist has been hard at work submitting seven eye-catching gi patterns. Yes folks, our gi design game is more addictive than Tetris!

Reminds of a sixties sci-fi TV program

And word seems to be spreading further afield as our Crazy-Ass gi contest has attracted the interest of several forums and news sites. Notably, MMAGearGuide.net gave us a bit of cool coverage. I like this site, it's like one huge shopping catalogue and Romeo the owner seems very on the ball, so I asked him to be a judge and he kindly agreed. I'm not sure he knows what he's taking on, after all, it's day three now and we've gathered over 75 entries already!

Our most prolific contestant is Julia Johansen who writes a very excellent blog. After submitting 20 or so entries I think her most recent is also her most personal, something she feels very passionately about. I'll let her explain:

"This gi is to help raise awareness of violence against women. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one way for women to help protect themselves. From http://www.saynotoviolence.org/ 'Based on country data available, up to 70 per cent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime.' Additionally, 1 in 3 women and girls worldwide may be abused in their lifetimes. I put the handprint behind the flap of the gi so it is only partly showing because it is an issue that hides in plain site."

JiuJitsoka by Julia Johansen

More online chatter, this time on the forums. Someone posted about our contest on The Underground and both Liam and I began threads on two large UK-based forums: EFNSports and Cagewarriors. You'll also find a thread started by Julia on JiuJitsuForums. We're leaving the other big US-based forums for now just so we don't get too inundated.

Thanks everyone, I leave you with this very attractive little number. If this one wins, I wouldn't mind asking Tatami if they can make an extra one just for me!

Hypno-tastic!