Brand Info
Here's all the information you need to know about the various brands we stock. We are committed to stocking the best brands from around the globe, to increase the availability of premium gear to New Zealanders.
ARAWAZA
Arawaza is a brand with a genuine passion for martial arts that pioneers technical and innovative products in order to provide users with the highest performance equipment for competition, training and instructing all around the world.
Based on martial arts heritage that started in Canada over 25 years ago, ArawazaⓇ quests for perfection by committing to push the boundaries of innovation and design through the development of state-of-the-art equipment that allows martial arts enthusiasts to surpass their limits.
We do not settle for the ordinary. We never did and never will. This is one of the reasons why we are a top supplier in martial arts equipment worldwide.
Arawaza is a gi of choice worn by many world champion karateka.
CORE
Established in New Zealand in 2010 the CORE brand has been developed by a passionate martial artist with over 18 years Karate experience and currently graded San Dan (3rd-degree black belt) in Shotokan Karate. CORE has evolved into a trusted quality brand used by numerous martial artists in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.
The CORE story has only just begun. The future is very exciting as we continue to develop our range of uniforms, protective and training gear into world-class products. Make no mistake, our goal is to establish the CORE brand as the gold-standard for martial arts innovation, style and design.
The aim at CORE is to provide our customers and distributors with the highest quality that can be found in martial arts gear anywhere.
In 2020 CORE will release the CORE Premium 2.0 which will rival top brands such as Arawaza, Tokaido and Shureido with it's uncompromised quality and material.
FUJI SPORTS
FUJI Sports provides high quality Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and Judo gi and gear for students and academies worldwide.
FUJI Sports (together with Hatashita Sports) was founded in 1969 by Frank Hatashita, 8th Dan. Hatashita Sensei was Vice-President of the IJF (International Judo Federation), and President of the Pan American Judo Federation, among other positions including an IJF referee, and owner of many dojo and affiliates. He was instrumental in lobbying to get Judo into the Olympics. His sense of knowing what was most important in martial arts was second to none; and, anyone that knew him would attest to that.
FUJI is lead with the careful eye and passion of Lia Hatashita and Jimmy Pedro. Jimmy, a 4x Olympian, 2x Olympic medalist, World Judo Champion and most recently coach to U. S. Olympians including 2x Olympic Gold medalist, Kayla Harrison. Jimmy brings an astounding amount of first-hand product knowledge to the company and wants only the best for athletes, and anyone who commits to learning a martial art. FUJI’s products have been put to the test during rigorous competitions and training sessions.
The result is a high quality brand of products that are built to last and have proven to withstand the athletic battlefield.
Zenjo is the NZ distributor of Fuji Sports Gear.
GR1PS ATHLETICS
Gr1ps is an Italian brand which has taken the combat sportswear market by storm, with a clear purpose to become the leading manufacturer of kimonos and MMA shorts. ... Gr1ps brings you very high-quality garments that won't leave you indifferent.
GR1PS has been researching materials and shapes for many years to create a Gi able to help athletes to give their best during fights. Plenty of attention is given to the aesthetics of the garment which tries to be elegant and contemporary while remaining always compliant to IBJJF competition requirements.
TATAMI FIGHTWEAR
Tatami Fightwear was established in 2009 with the goal of addressing the need for high quality Jiu Jitsu products at affordable prices.
Founded by Gareth Dummer and Lee Jones in the heart of South Wales, UK, Tatami now has a diverse and driven team committed to expanding the sport worldwide. Gareth, himself a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, had spent years teaching the sport in lower income areas and local communities and found it increasingly difficult to find high quality products that his students could afford.
That is where Tatami Fightwear came into the equation. From day one, we've worked tirelessly to develop innovative products and support the growth of the sport and make it accessible to a wider-ranging audience.
Our aim is to expose combat sports to more people worldwide and uphold the values of BJJ, and this drives our work with associations such as the Royal Marines REORG foundation that ties into our mission statement to make the sport accessible to all.
After a near decade of continuous development and innovation, our range now includes performance and lifestyle gear, from Gi's to rash guards to leisurewear and everything in between, to showcase people on their Jiu Jitsu journey.
As well as having a loyal and growing customer base, we are proud to support some of the world's best Jiu Jitsu athletes and pioneers, such as JT Torres, Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro, Robson Moura and Michelle Nicolini, and also sponsor some of the next generation of up-and-coming stars that buy into the Tatami Fightwear mantra.
Tatami gear sells out very fast and they have limited runs of all of their gear. So if you like a particular design you have to get in quick.
TOKAIDO
Since 1956, Tokaido has been supplying karate practitioners in Japan and all over the world with the finest uniforms, belts and other karate products. Tokaido has become the world-wide standard to which other uniforms and belts are compared.
In answer to the increasing demand for the highest-quality Tokaido uniforms and black belts from karateka globally, we are happy to provide this service allowing anyone with internet access the ability to purchase our products directly from Japan. Through our service, ordering a uniform or belt will be a relatively easy, interactive experience. You will feel as if you were shopping in person at our Suidobashi store here in Tokyo, but without having to learn Japanese!
Now, you can order uniforms and belts, personalized to your preferences, including your name in Japanese characters, chest emblem patches, and labels to match many organizations and styles. All of this work is done directly by the Tokaido factory in Japan.* We offer a full range of sizes and uniform weights, many of which were previously only available in Japan. Also, for those who already know and appreciate our highest level of quality, we are pleased to offer tailor-made uniforms made to your specifications by master tailors.
All our uniforms and belts are cut and sewn by hand, one by one as they are ordered, by artisans whose expertise has been acquired through long years of dedication to their art. The cotton we use comes from a centuries old process that has been used for making the best cotton textiles of Japan. This is why a Tokaido uniform, if properly cared for, will actually improve with age and can be worn for as long as 10 years. In fact, we have had many customers tell us that they have used their uniform for more than 20 years!
Many people say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Tokaido was the first company in the world to manufacture uniforms exclusively for karate practice, after the art arrived from Okinawa and was founded by Mr. Shizuo Sugiura. Many have tried to imitate Tokaido's high-quality uniforms and belts over the years, only proving what several generations of karateka have known all along: Tokaido makes the best uniforms and belts for serious karateka.
If you practice karate hard to become the best that you can, we think you deserve to feel and look your best, too. Wear a Tokaido uniform and belt, and you will understand why it is the choice of top instructors and competitors. You can order from us, and have our assurance that we will manufacture the best possible uniform, from top materials and with unsurpassed craftsmanship, as we have been doing for over 60 years. Please refer to the links to the left for further details and ordering information.
Tokaido is a gi of choice worn by many world champion karateka and is particularly popular with practitioners of Shotokan karate.
VENUM
Venum will become the UFC's new exclusive global outfitting and apparel partner starting in 2021
Venum is an innovative brand, in continuous search for performance. It is not a question of recreating what already exists, but driving change, proposing new experiences day after day.
In 2004, Paris France, Franck Dupuis, then a salesman at IBM, decided to put an end to a promising career to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: the creation of the Venum brand. His ambition: to revolutionize the world of combat sports by proposing something never seen before.
Since the beginning, he has been pushing the development of new collections, both apparel and equipment, and is actively involved in every stage of production. Product design, quality control, sponsorship, logistics, e-commerce management...
The business began operating in 2005 and its success was dazzling: MMA fans around the world quickly adopted the brand and its innovative and revolutionary product designs. Venum had something unique to offer, something original, sometimes provocative - but the brand remains authentic, like the fighters. This is precisely what Franck Dupuis wanted to create: an iconic brand, representative of combat sports and the mentality of athletes.
Why the name Venum?
The snake is an animal carrying strong symbolism. They are lively, often fatal, inspiring both fear and fascination. The name Venum refers to the poison administered by the snake at the time of a bite. The U replaced the O for graphical harmony and balance. From inception, Venum is very proud of its logo and it is undoubtedly linked to the brands success.
Venum gear sells out very fast and they have limited runs of all of their gear. So if you like a particular design you have to get in quick.
VULKAN
VULKAN emerged as the premier brand in 2002 with the sole purpose of revolutionizing the Jiu Jitsu market. Vulkan designed a Gi that would be not only strong and resilient, but also light and comfortable to the athlete. The founder and CEO, Black Belt - Matheus Costa combined all of the elements of being a Jiu Jitsu practitioner to put this project together and in 2004, Vulkan created the very first Pro-Light Gi. The Pro-Light Gi has become the benchmark Gi worldwide. In 2009, Vulkan elevated the game once again by designing the lightest Gi ever made in the market. The Ultra-Light Gi by Vulkan paved the way for the concept of “light weight Gis” in the Jiu Jitsu industry. Vulkan's product line is extensive and combines our premier designs and cuts, PRO & ULTRA with Special Edition Gis, Limited Edition Gis, Exclusive Fits and much more. We have been working tirelessly developing Gis with love and passion to surpass your expectations.
The Vulkan brand manufactures its own Gis in the birthplace of Jiu Jitsu, Brazil. With the same commitment that the Gracie family had when receiving the knowledge that Mitsuo Maeda shared with them over 100 years ago, it is our same commitment that we extend to you, the practitioner. The martial art/sport has evolved tremendously and it is Vulkan’s commitment to do the same.
VULKAN is a pioneer responsible for bringing quality and light weight Gis to the U.S. Quality is NEVER sacrificed, so much attention is paid to the little details and consistency is key when exceeding customer expectations.
QP SPORTS
QP Sports originated in 1978 in New Zealand, when nuns from a New Plymouth girls’ school wanted to protect their students’ chests while they played soccer. An orthotics specialist from the local hospital was asked to develop a prototype, and the first women’s chest guard was born.
Shortly afterwards in 1981, QP Sport was established to manufacture and sell the new product. The polymer clay of the prototype proved impractical, so it was replaced by lightweight plastic. We still sell the original Econoguard today – although it has changed significantly since then.
During the 80s, sales were limited, but they picked up as martial arts and fencing associations discovered our products in the 90s. European CE standards for chest and breast protection were introduced around the same time, and in many cases, our products were used as the default standard for protection. All our products meet the relevant European standards today.
QP Sport started with a completely new product, and we haven’t stopped innovating since. We’ve always been at the forefront of women’s sports protection, with new products like the Maxiguard and CoolGuard giving women more options for a range of sports. In 2011, we moved into a new market by developing a men’s chest guard – the BodyGuard.
Our products are now sold all over the world. They’re used in a wide range of sports, from the original fencing and martial arts to lacrosse, rugby, and roller derby. As the only producer specialising in chest and breast protection, we enjoy a strong following among sportspeople and sporting experts. We keep up with trends and changes in the industry by meeting with our distributors and travelling to major karate, fencing, and martial arts events.
QP Sports body guards are sold to and rebranded by many of the top karate brands, including Tokaido.