The Future of Jiu-Jitsu
ORIGIN RIFT BJJ GI - Made in America
We asked ourselves, what would we build if we started from scratch. If we stripped away cost, not having the right technology or machinery. If we said the only hurdle was our minds, what would we design for the sport of Jiu-Jitsu.
10,000 hours of gi manufacturing knowledge in one room, and a blank slate. We approached the equation with open minds. How does the body move on the ground? How does the body move when wrapped in the fabric? How does the fabric move against the vinyl mat? How do these three things work together? More importantly, how do they work AGAINST one another? Where does it bind and how can we free your body from friction?
What fiber works best? How should it be woven? And most importantly, how should we map it, not just to the human form… how should it map to your body DURING DYNAMIC MOTION?
It started with the idea that to wrap a piece of paper around a sphere and get it smooth would be impossible. But taking that same paper and cutting strips will allow you to spiral the paper around the sphere, becoming smooth and streamlined. This concept led us in the direction of a multi panel, body mapping system called the ORIGIN™ Spiral Wrap Cut©. Which utilizes seven panels of fabric, starting from the spine, the panels spiral symmetrically around your body.
We also asked, how should it stretch, or should it stretch? If the fiber was right, if the yarn was right, if the textile was woven right, why would we need extra reinforcement panels? Can we make it stronger and lighter, stripped down, lightweight like a performance car?
The answer to all these questions took 12 months, undocumented hours of research and development, and 100,000 dollars in custom machinery. We didn’t know the answer until we could test the equation in physical form. The answer was… YES!
We developed a proprietary, pre-shrunk PolySynth© yarn, engineered to be 10x stronger than our existing yarn, and 100x stronger than the industry standard. When twisted, the hexagonal structure of the staple fibers interlock with one another, allowing moisture to pass between the weave, but not get absorbed into the yarn itself. This would be the foundation for DragonWeave© GEN 3.
When the first fabric came off the loom, it was almost too good to be true. We abused it, washed it, dried it, and like Damascus steel, the fabric got better with time. We could say it was engineered, but that’s too technical, we could say it was forged, but that’s too literal. It’s the union of ideas, technology, engineering, bio-mechanics, and inspired by the art of Jiu-Jitsu itself. Simply put, the RIFT was SYNTHESIZED.
The culmination of 5 years of learning, weaving, manufacturing, bleeding, and training birthed not just a textile, but a product that should never exist. And the only reason it was created was because we decide to build a factory in the woods of Maine 5 years ago. The RIFT was born because it had to be.
All seams are locked together in such symmetry and flow, that the seams themselves terminate to a singular point. Watching the RIFT come together is like watching a Russian ballet. It’s so perfect that after the final stitch has been complete, not a single thread is left to trim.