Squat:
-70x3,4
Very stiff
Deficit deadlift:
-110x5
-142x5
-165x3
Kept it easy
Chins:
-bw x 8,8
+punching bag
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Squat 190 PR attempt - miss
Squat:
-70 x 5
-110 x 4
-130 x 3
-153 x 1
-165 x 1
-185 x 1
-190 x 0 (PR attempt)
Chins:
-BW x 8,8,8
-70 x 5
-110 x 4
-130 x 3
-153 x 1
-165 x 1
-185 x 1
-190 x 0 (PR attempt)
Chins:
-BW x 8,8,8
Friday, December 28, 2012
Snatch
Started off with some warmup on the heavy bag, then snatched light. Had to go collar to collar for my shoulders to work with it, otherwise they were too tight. I'll have to work on that a bit or get used to it. Finished off with some more rounds on the heavy bag.
Snatch:
-40 x a lot - shoulders were tight
-60 x 1,2
-70 x 2
-80 x 2 - this was a little heavier than I wanted to go
-70 x 2
Snatch:
-40 x a lot - shoulders were tight
-60 x 1,2
-70 x 2
-80 x 2 - this was a little heavier than I wanted to go
-70 x 2
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas Eve - squat 400 then 335x10
Squat:
-70 kg x 5
-110 x 3
-132 x 3
-151 x 1
-164 x 1
-181 x 1 (400 lbs)
-151 x 10 (335)
Chins:
-bw x 6, 5
-70 kg x 5
-110 x 3
-132 x 3
-151 x 1
-164 x 1
-181 x 1 (400 lbs)
-151 x 10 (335)
Chins:
-bw x 6, 5
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Squat 153 kg then Clean 130
Decided to keep the squats light and have some fun.
Squat:
-70 x 5
-110 x 3
-130 x 2
-153 x 1
Clean:
-70 x 3
-90 x 2
-105 x 2
-115 x 1
-125 x 1
-130 x 1 (286, 93.5%)
Squat:
-70 x 5
-110 x 3
-130 x 2
-153 x 1
Clean:
-70 x 3
-90 x 2
-105 x 2
-115 x 1
-125 x 1
-130 x 1 (286, 93.5%)
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Review of Adidas PowerPerfect II Weightlifting Shoes
Buy it here!
ADIDAS Power Perfect II Weightlifting Boots
Manufacturer: Adidas
ADIDAS Power Perfect II Weightlifting Boots
 |
| Stock Image of the Shoe |
Cost: Varies - $119-179
Review categories: Price, Comfort, Durability, Aesthetics. Rating from weak to strong.
Review:
Price: Okay
At $119, its certainly not a cheap shoe, but as weightlifting shoes go, its in the middle of the price ranges. You can get VS shoes for around $50 if you look, or you can spend $200 on Romaleos or AdiPowers. I think for what you pay for, these shoes hold up.
At $119, its certainly not a cheap shoe, but as weightlifting shoes go, its in the middle of the price ranges. You can get VS shoes for around $50 if you look, or you can spend $200 on Romaleos or AdiPowers. I think for what you pay for, these shoes hold up.
Comfort: High
Adidas lifting shoes tend to run narrower than most others, specifically in the toebox (the front of the shoe where the toes sit). I don't have especially wide feet, but when I lace them up tight, I can certainly feel the sides of the shoe, and sometimes its too tight. The solution is just to loosen the laces and the strap.
That being said, this is a shoe built to aid in your performance for weightlifting. If it isn't tight and your foot slides, you will not lift as well. I have a pair of Ristos with a huge toebox, and my feet just slide around. Unless you have extra wide feet, these are nice shoes.
The heel height is the standard. Its a raise of 3/4 inches, but it comes out to 1.15" because the entire shoe is raised due to the rubber sole. This is normal, and consistent with other lifting shoes, except the Adidas PowerLift shoes but those are not for Olympic lifting.
The strap does a pretty good job of keeping the shoe tight. I'd prefer it a little lower on the shoe, but thats subjective.
Adidas lifting shoes tend to run narrower than most others, specifically in the toebox (the front of the shoe where the toes sit). I don't have especially wide feet, but when I lace them up tight, I can certainly feel the sides of the shoe, and sometimes its too tight. The solution is just to loosen the laces and the strap.
That being said, this is a shoe built to aid in your performance for weightlifting. If it isn't tight and your foot slides, you will not lift as well. I have a pair of Ristos with a huge toebox, and my feet just slide around. Unless you have extra wide feet, these are nice shoes.
The heel height is the standard. Its a raise of 3/4 inches, but it comes out to 1.15" because the entire shoe is raised due to the rubber sole. This is normal, and consistent with other lifting shoes, except the Adidas PowerLift shoes but those are not for Olympic lifting.
The strap does a pretty good job of keeping the shoe tight. I'd prefer it a little lower on the shoe, but thats subjective.
Durability: High
I've had these shoes for almost 2 years now, and they are still in great shape. The velcro is strong and just like new - my pair of Ristos barely stick anymore and I only used them for a year.
Word of wisdom - don't let the laces touch the velcro. It frays the laces and will hurt the stickiness of the velcro. I have been pretty careful, but I've had to replace the laces. Luckily, laces are cheap and easy to replace, while velcro is not easy to replace.
The tread on the sole is still in great shape. The good new about this shoe as opposed to some of the fancier shoes with split heels, and holes in the heels, is that this can be re-soled pretty easily. If you want to go that route. After many years.
I've had these shoes for almost 2 years now, and they are still in great shape. The velcro is strong and just like new - my pair of Ristos barely stick anymore and I only used them for a year.
Word of wisdom - don't let the laces touch the velcro. It frays the laces and will hurt the stickiness of the velcro. I have been pretty careful, but I've had to replace the laces. Luckily, laces are cheap and easy to replace, while velcro is not easy to replace.
 |
| Front view - new laces. |
 |
| Tread remains in great shape. |
Aesthetics: Okay
Of course this is a subjective score, but the shoe looks classy. The materials appear (and are) high quality, the red, white, and black color-scheme is nice. Unfortunately it only comes in one color scheme, which is why I give a score of okay instead of high.
Summary:
Price: Okay
Comfort: High
Durability: High
Aesthetics: Okay
After using this shoe for over two years and still going strong, I'd highly recommend the Adidas Power Perfect II to anyone looking for lifting shoes - at any level.
Of course this is a subjective score, but the shoe looks classy. The materials appear (and are) high quality, the red, white, and black color-scheme is nice. Unfortunately it only comes in one color scheme, which is why I give a score of okay instead of high.
Summary:
Price: Okay
Comfort: High
Durability: High
Aesthetics: Okay
After using this shoe for over two years and still going strong, I'd highly recommend the Adidas Power Perfect II to anyone looking for lifting shoes - at any level.
Thursday - First day lifting at home for winter break
Kept it short, and just squats and chins, did some other training but not lifting afterward.
+some punching handwork
Squat:
-155 x 5
-245 x 3,3
-315 x 2
-355 x 1
-380 x 1
-315 x 10
I was feeling incredibly weak and stiff on the squats. They were all slow and bad. I almost quit after 5 reps with 315.
Chins:
-BW x 8,8,8
+some punching handwork
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Weightlifting Shoes
I originally wrote this post for the UMD Weightlifting Club and it was informative, so I figured I'd repost it here. I'm the author.
This isn't a review, but its about merchandise so I thought it was warranted.
While no shoe styles are mandatory, if you want to train the Olympic lifts you need proper weightlifting shoes. The prices can range from $40 if you find a good deal to $200 if you have money to burn. The main difference between weightlifting shoes and normal shoes is the heel. Made of a solid wood wedge or composite piece, the heel allows the lifter to squat lower into the snatch or clean (as well as front and back squats during training). In addition, due to its incompressibility, the sole of the shoe is able to direct all force from the lifter into the ground and not dissipate the force in the softness of the shoe (for example, a normal running shoe has soft heels which compress under heavy loads).
You won't find weightlifting shoes in many stores in the US, so look online for a good deal. You can find them from:
This isn't a review, but its about merchandise so I thought it was warranted.
While no shoe styles are mandatory, if you want to train the Olympic lifts you need proper weightlifting shoes. The prices can range from $40 if you find a good deal to $200 if you have money to burn. The main difference between weightlifting shoes and normal shoes is the heel. Made of a solid wood wedge or composite piece, the heel allows the lifter to squat lower into the snatch or clean (as well as front and back squats during training). In addition, due to its incompressibility, the sole of the shoe is able to direct all force from the lifter into the ground and not dissipate the force in the softness of the shoe (for example, a normal running shoe has soft heels which compress under heavy loads).
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| Adidas Ironwork II |
You won't find weightlifting shoes in many stores in the US, so look online for a good deal. You can find them from:
This is not a conclusive list, but these are several manufacturers to check. In addition, the links are to manufacturers main sites in many cases, and the best deals can often be found elsewhere.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday - Final session of the semester
Last time lifting in the ERC for the fall.
Squat:
-135 x 5
-225 x 5
-275 x 3
-315 x 2
-355 x 1
-375 x 1
-315 x 10
Some cleans
Press:
-95 x 5
-115 x 5
-135 x 4,4,3
Chins:
-BW x 10,8,8
Squat:
-135 x 5
-225 x 5
-275 x 3
-315 x 2
-355 x 1
-375 x 1
-315 x 10
Some cleans
Press:
-95 x 5
-115 x 5
-135 x 4,4,3
Chins:
-BW x 10,8,8
Monday, December 17, 2012
Review of Century Black Label Grappling Gloves
Buy it here!
Century Black Label Grappling Gloves
Manufacturer: Century Martial Arts
Cost: $29.99
Materials: Vinyl, foam, velcro
Categories under review: Price, Comfort, Protection, Durability, and Aesthetics.
Review:
Price: Strong
At $29.99 retail, its tough to find MMA gloves that are cheaper, with the exception of Christmas special deals. The range of MMA glove prices is relatively small, but this product still warrants a strong here.
Comfort: Okay
These are comfortable enough, but they tend to loosen up over time. I have very wide fingers, and I am finding after about 10 months of use the fingers don't fit very tight any more. It doesn't effect protection, but its something a higher quality product would not suffer from.
The thumb is a nice addition, which is why these are called "grappling gloves". I can't compare the thumbed glove with other non-thumbed gloves, but I'll say that its comfortable and has not, unlike the fingers, widened over time.
The joints in the padding is put in a good place to bend when I make a fist, which I did not find to be the case with the Silver MMA gloves by Century.
Protection: Okay/Strong
These glove have a very large piece of foam on the front of the glove, which managed to cover all the way to the first knuckle on the finger, at least on my hand. Most gloves I've used don't cover this far, so it was a nice feature.
This thick foam protects your knuckles and your partners face pretty well - not as well as a 16 oz boxing glove, but this isn't a boxing glove. The thumb essentially stops the thumb from scraping and keeps the glove on a bit tighter.
This glove won't stop knockouts, but it does protect pretty well against bruising and cuts from most hits.
Durability: Weak/Okay
Over the past months of use, the glove has gotten looser - the stitching has gotten looser, and eventually it will fall apart. The threading that holds the foam pieces together in the joints of the padding is beginning to weaken. The velcro remains strong.
These gloves have been used by many people well over 150 times since I purchased them, but it has not yet been a year and wear and tear is showing. Eventually gloves will break, and these weren't that expensive. You get what you pay for.
Aesthetics: Weak
These gloves look pretty cheap. Its very possible to make vinyl look and feel high quality, but this product does not deliver here. Also, the black/red combo is the only color choice. This doesn't effect the utility, but looks are poor, especially when threading starts to come undone.
Summary:
Price: Strong
Comfort: Okay
Protection: Okay/Strong
Durability: Weak/Okay
Aesthetics: Weak
These are cheap, no doubts about it. Its a good entry into the MMA glove market, and if your use isn't too high, they may last a long time. Padding is pretty good, and the additional thumb is nice if you are looking for that.
I'd recommend them to someone looking for their first pair of MMA gloves for occasional sparring, who doesn't want to spend too much.
Century Black Label Grappling Gloves
Manufacturer: Century Martial Arts
Cost: $29.99
Materials: Vinyl, foam, velcro
Categories under review: Price, Comfort, Protection, Durability, and Aesthetics.
Review:
Price: Strong
At $29.99 retail, its tough to find MMA gloves that are cheaper, with the exception of Christmas special deals. The range of MMA glove prices is relatively small, but this product still warrants a strong here.
Comfort: Okay
These are comfortable enough, but they tend to loosen up over time. I have very wide fingers, and I am finding after about 10 months of use the fingers don't fit very tight any more. It doesn't effect protection, but its something a higher quality product would not suffer from.
The thumb is a nice addition, which is why these are called "grappling gloves". I can't compare the thumbed glove with other non-thumbed gloves, but I'll say that its comfortable and has not, unlike the fingers, widened over time.
The joints in the padding is put in a good place to bend when I make a fist, which I did not find to be the case with the Silver MMA gloves by Century.
Protection: Okay/Strong
These glove have a very large piece of foam on the front of the glove, which managed to cover all the way to the first knuckle on the finger, at least on my hand. Most gloves I've used don't cover this far, so it was a nice feature.
This thick foam protects your knuckles and your partners face pretty well - not as well as a 16 oz boxing glove, but this isn't a boxing glove. The thumb essentially stops the thumb from scraping and keeps the glove on a bit tighter.
This glove won't stop knockouts, but it does protect pretty well against bruising and cuts from most hits.
Durability: Weak/Okay
Over the past months of use, the glove has gotten looser - the stitching has gotten looser, and eventually it will fall apart. The threading that holds the foam pieces together in the joints of the padding is beginning to weaken. The velcro remains strong.
These gloves have been used by many people well over 150 times since I purchased them, but it has not yet been a year and wear and tear is showing. Eventually gloves will break, and these weren't that expensive. You get what you pay for.
Aesthetics: Weak
These gloves look pretty cheap. Its very possible to make vinyl look and feel high quality, but this product does not deliver here. Also, the black/red combo is the only color choice. This doesn't effect the utility, but looks are poor, especially when threading starts to come undone.
Summary:
Price: Strong
Comfort: Okay
Protection: Okay/Strong
Durability: Weak/Okay
Aesthetics: Weak
These are cheap, no doubts about it. Its a good entry into the MMA glove market, and if your use isn't too high, they may last a long time. Padding is pretty good, and the additional thumb is nice if you are looking for that.
I'd recommend them to someone looking for their first pair of MMA gloves for occasional sparring, who doesn't want to spend too much.
Review of Century Silver Shin Instep Guard
Buy it here!:
http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Sparring_Gear/Silver_Training_Gear/Century_Shin_Instep_Guard.aspx
Manufacturer: Century Martial Arts
Cost: $79.99 retail ($39.99 wholesale)
Materials: Vinyl, foam, gel, velcro, elastic, canvas (Note: the large have a canvas backer, but the small/medium have a different material.)
Categories under review: Price, Comfort, Protection, Durability, and Aesthetics.
Review:
Price: Okay
These are pretty expensive at $80. There are a lot of shin-instep guards that cost half that amount, though the amount of padding will vary. On the other end, you could drop $150 on some Hayabusa shin-instep guards that would look really cool. These are relatively costly, but you get what you pay for.
Comfort: Strong
After using various cloth and foam shin-instep guards in my many years training in taekwondo, I expected these to slide around and move. This is not the case. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times these have moved during sparring in the past 6 months, and this was during grappling.
The velcro has yet to be affected by wear after this amount of time. The elastic on the foot is a bit ruffled, but its still as tight as it was, and keeps the instep section on tight. The canvas backer isn't abrasive, and it helps to mitigate any sliding, though it certainly gets sweaty. I've eliminated smell by air drying mine out of my gear bag after every session.
It took a while to get used to the strap enclosure and get it right, but once I figured out how to make it best fit me, these are incredibly comfortable.
Protection: Strong
These are the thickest shin-instep guards I have ever used or seen. After putting these on, I can block anything and not feel it much. It covers most of the foot but not the toes. The gel coupled with really thick foam will protect you 100%. People looking for a more tactile feel should not purchase these guards.
I have not noticed any negative effects on my kicking ability from the excessive padding. Its important to note that if you want to condition your shins to take and give hits, don't wear these all the time.
Durability: Strong
I've been using these for 6 months, which amounts to well over 100 sessions sparring with these pads on. There are no rips in the material, the padding is entirely intact, and the velcro still works as well as it did in the beginning.
The canvas backer is durable and dries quickly, which helps to eliminate smell. The stitching on the straps is thick, as is the stitching holding the instep to the shin guard. The gel and foam has yet to compress noticeably.
The elastic one one of mine that holds the heel tight has become ruffled, but it still remains tight and unripped.
Aesthetics: Okay
These are plain looking and come in one color - blue, which matches the entire Silver MMA Line. I like blue because I can write my initials on the back, but I use these in a club setting where that is important.
These are no-frills design. If you are looking for something fancier looking, this isn't the product for you. I like the look, but I give an okay simply because having only one color choice is restrictive.
Summary:
Price: Okay
Comfort: Strong
Protection: Strong - Very Strong
Durability: Strong
Aesthetics: Okay
The Silver Shin Instep Guards are not the cheapest out there, but they don't deserve to be. Quality is high, protection is very high, and these appear to be a very durable product. I can't speak for the entirety of the Silver MMA Line, but this product far outclasses the Silver MMA gloves, from the same product line, in quality and protection.
I highly recommend these shin-instep guards.
http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Sparring_Gear/Silver_Training_Gear/Century_Shin_Instep_Guard.aspx
 |
| The product after 6 months. The white on the bottom isn't a rip, its athletic tape residue from a foot injury. |
Manufacturer: Century Martial Arts
Cost: $79.99 retail ($39.99 wholesale)
Materials: Vinyl, foam, gel, velcro, elastic, canvas (Note: the large have a canvas backer, but the small/medium have a different material.)
Categories under review: Price, Comfort, Protection, Durability, and Aesthetics.
Review:
Price: Okay
These are pretty expensive at $80. There are a lot of shin-instep guards that cost half that amount, though the amount of padding will vary. On the other end, you could drop $150 on some Hayabusa shin-instep guards that would look really cool. These are relatively costly, but you get what you pay for.
Comfort: Strong
After using various cloth and foam shin-instep guards in my many years training in taekwondo, I expected these to slide around and move. This is not the case. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times these have moved during sparring in the past 6 months, and this was during grappling.
The velcro has yet to be affected by wear after this amount of time. The elastic on the foot is a bit ruffled, but its still as tight as it was, and keeps the instep section on tight. The canvas backer isn't abrasive, and it helps to mitigate any sliding, though it certainly gets sweaty. I've eliminated smell by air drying mine out of my gear bag after every session.
It took a while to get used to the strap enclosure and get it right, but once I figured out how to make it best fit me, these are incredibly comfortable.
Protection: Strong
These are the thickest shin-instep guards I have ever used or seen. After putting these on, I can block anything and not feel it much. It covers most of the foot but not the toes. The gel coupled with really thick foam will protect you 100%. People looking for a more tactile feel should not purchase these guards.
 |
| Profile of the product to demonstrate the thick padding. |
I have not noticed any negative effects on my kicking ability from the excessive padding. Its important to note that if you want to condition your shins to take and give hits, don't wear these all the time.
Durability: Strong
I've been using these for 6 months, which amounts to well over 100 sessions sparring with these pads on. There are no rips in the material, the padding is entirely intact, and the velcro still works as well as it did in the beginning.
The canvas backer is durable and dries quickly, which helps to eliminate smell. The stitching on the straps is thick, as is the stitching holding the instep to the shin guard. The gel and foam has yet to compress noticeably.
The elastic one one of mine that holds the heel tight has become ruffled, but it still remains tight and unripped.
Aesthetics: Okay
These are plain looking and come in one color - blue, which matches the entire Silver MMA Line. I like blue because I can write my initials on the back, but I use these in a club setting where that is important.
These are no-frills design. If you are looking for something fancier looking, this isn't the product for you. I like the look, but I give an okay simply because having only one color choice is restrictive.
Summary:
Price: Okay
Comfort: Strong
Protection: Strong - Very Strong
Durability: Strong
Aesthetics: Okay
The Silver Shin Instep Guards are not the cheapest out there, but they don't deserve to be. Quality is high, protection is very high, and these appear to be a very durable product. I can't speak for the entirety of the Silver MMA Line, but this product far outclasses the Silver MMA gloves, from the same product line, in quality and protection.
I highly recommend these shin-instep guards.
Review of Century Silver Line MMA Gloves
Buy it here!
Silver MMA Gloves
Manufacturer: Century Martial Arts
Cost: $18.99
Materials: Vinyl, foam, thread, velcro
For this review, I'll rate several different categories, from strong to weak, with strong being good for that attribute, and weak being bad.
I'll discuss: price, comfort, protection, durability, and aesthetics.
Review:
Price: Strong
I've had these gloves for a few months now, so I feel that its been long enough to review them fully. First thing I was to talk about is the price - you could certainly spend a lot more (going by the retail price), or you could spend less, but honestly, its going to be tough to get much cheaper. That being said, you have to remember that you usually get what you pay for, so don't expect magic from these gloves.
I'll give the gloves a pretty strong price point, since they are certainly one of the cheapest you can get (not counting all those deals around Christmas), but they aren't incredibly cheap that any quality concerns would be overlooked - which I will get into later on.
Comfort: Okay
I'll be honest, I have not purchased numerous other MMA gloves from different makers, but have tried many on from time to time, and these are not the best there is. Of course, that is to be expected, but the fit of these gloves compared to others I have used is not as good.
Maybe its my hand, but the joint in the glove on top (the padding is broken into two pieces as seen in the photo) doesn't actually fall in line with my own joint, and the padding sits further back on my knuckles compared to other MMA gloves I have used, exposing more of my fingers. You can't expect fingerless gloves to cover all the knuckles, but others brands have done more.
However, I do like the tightness of these gloves - in several months using them 4-5 times per week, they have yet to loosen much at all, which is something I like. The fit is okay, and its consistent.
Protection: Weak
The padding itself is pretty thin - this is a pretty bare bones glove. I bought it with that in mind and it suited my needs, so I had no complaints on that end. If you want something with more padding, look at the picture. It covers the knuckles, and thats about it. There are plenty of MMA gloves with more padding.
These gloves are good if you are looking for something to stop your knuckles from impacting your partners face. You can't hide behind these gloves.
Durability: Okay
I've had these gloves for several months now and taken them on and off, used them, had others use them, for well over 50 sessions. There is no wear on the velco, the stitching is intact, and there are no cracks in the vinyl. I've kept them from smelling by taking them out of my bag after every session to air out. So far so good.
I did have one issue upon using the gloves for the first time, that should not have happened. Seen in the picture below, on my first training session a piece of the thread that holds the vinyl tight against the glove ripped. I re-stitched it with stronger thread, and there have been no more issues.
The issue would not have compromised the integrity of the glove - the vinyl is attached in several places. The padding MAY have moved around a bit, or the threading could be further removed due to fraying and have an effect on the structural integrity of the glove. The other glove did not have this issue. This is more a quality control issue than a durability issue, in my opinion.
Aside from that, I've had these on and off constantly during sessions, I've had them grabbed when I throw people, and no rips, tears, or anything. Aside from that minor first issue, I'm very happy with the durability of the glove - its the only reason I can't give them a strong in this category.
Aesthetics: Okay
If you want gloves with big logos on them, or a snake, or whatever, go buy Rival or Hayabusa. Personally, I have a soft spot for solid colors and no-frills design. The color consistency is 100%, the color has not bled, and it doesn't look low quality (as subjective as that is).
The gloves match the entire Century Silver Training Line, which is the middle-end set of training products Century puts out. They have the all-leather Gold Line, the blue vinyl Silver Line, and the black-and-red vinyl Black Label Line, the cheapest of the three (though I have had good experiences with Black Label).
If you like a solid color - blue - and no unnecessary logos or designs, than these gloves may be right for you. I give an okay for the look of the product, because one color is restrictive.
Summary:
Price: Strong
Comfort: Okay
Protection: Weak
Durability: Okay
Aesthetics: Okay
If you want something that isn't too expensive with a basic looks and don't want excessive padding, these may be for you. Everything has its purpose, and I've enjoyed training with these gloves. They suited my needs, they may suit yours. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in a comment.
Silver MMA Gloves
 |
| Century Silver MMA Gloves top and bottom |
Cost: $18.99
Materials: Vinyl, foam, thread, velcro
For this review, I'll rate several different categories, from strong to weak, with strong being good for that attribute, and weak being bad.
I'll discuss: price, comfort, protection, durability, and aesthetics.
Review:
Price: Strong
I've had these gloves for a few months now, so I feel that its been long enough to review them fully. First thing I was to talk about is the price - you could certainly spend a lot more (going by the retail price), or you could spend less, but honestly, its going to be tough to get much cheaper. That being said, you have to remember that you usually get what you pay for, so don't expect magic from these gloves.
I'll give the gloves a pretty strong price point, since they are certainly one of the cheapest you can get (not counting all those deals around Christmas), but they aren't incredibly cheap that any quality concerns would be overlooked - which I will get into later on.
Comfort: Okay
I'll be honest, I have not purchased numerous other MMA gloves from different makers, but have tried many on from time to time, and these are not the best there is. Of course, that is to be expected, but the fit of these gloves compared to others I have used is not as good.
Maybe its my hand, but the joint in the glove on top (the padding is broken into two pieces as seen in the photo) doesn't actually fall in line with my own joint, and the padding sits further back on my knuckles compared to other MMA gloves I have used, exposing more of my fingers. You can't expect fingerless gloves to cover all the knuckles, but others brands have done more.
However, I do like the tightness of these gloves - in several months using them 4-5 times per week, they have yet to loosen much at all, which is something I like. The fit is okay, and its consistent.
Protection: Weak
The padding itself is pretty thin - this is a pretty bare bones glove. I bought it with that in mind and it suited my needs, so I had no complaints on that end. If you want something with more padding, look at the picture. It covers the knuckles, and thats about it. There are plenty of MMA gloves with more padding.
These gloves are good if you are looking for something to stop your knuckles from impacting your partners face. You can't hide behind these gloves.
Durability: Okay
I've had these gloves for several months now and taken them on and off, used them, had others use them, for well over 50 sessions. There is no wear on the velco, the stitching is intact, and there are no cracks in the vinyl. I've kept them from smelling by taking them out of my bag after every session to air out. So far so good.
I did have one issue upon using the gloves for the first time, that should not have happened. Seen in the picture below, on my first training session a piece of the thread that holds the vinyl tight against the glove ripped. I re-stitched it with stronger thread, and there have been no more issues.
 |
| Break in the threading that I re-stitched. |
Aside from that, I've had these on and off constantly during sessions, I've had them grabbed when I throw people, and no rips, tears, or anything. Aside from that minor first issue, I'm very happy with the durability of the glove - its the only reason I can't give them a strong in this category.
Aesthetics: Okay
If you want gloves with big logos on them, or a snake, or whatever, go buy Rival or Hayabusa. Personally, I have a soft spot for solid colors and no-frills design. The color consistency is 100%, the color has not bled, and it doesn't look low quality (as subjective as that is).
The gloves match the entire Century Silver Training Line, which is the middle-end set of training products Century puts out. They have the all-leather Gold Line, the blue vinyl Silver Line, and the black-and-red vinyl Black Label Line, the cheapest of the three (though I have had good experiences with Black Label).
If you like a solid color - blue - and no unnecessary logos or designs, than these gloves may be right for you. I give an okay for the look of the product, because one color is restrictive.
Summary:
Price: Strong
Comfort: Okay
Protection: Weak
Durability: Okay
Aesthetics: Okay
If you want something that isn't too expensive with a basic looks and don't want excessive padding, these may be for you. Everything has its purpose, and I've enjoyed training with these gloves. They suited my needs, they may suit yours. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in a comment.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Too long of a break - Friday - Squat mostly
I've been getting some great martial arts training in, but with a combination of schoolwork, finals, getting sick for a few days, and a mild ankle sprain, I took almost 2 full weeks off of lifting. Gains down the drain.
Came back into it today (Friday the 14th) with light stuff.
Squat:
-135 x 5
-225 x 3
-275 x 3
-315 x 2
-335 x 1
-365 x 1
-315 x 8
Nothing tough, just getting back into it.
Bench:
-135 x maybe 10 sets of 6-7, all paused, maybe more.
Chins:
-BW x 8,8,some
+some stretching and messing around
Came back into it today (Friday the 14th) with light stuff.
Squat:
-135 x 5
-225 x 3
-275 x 3
-315 x 2
-335 x 1
-365 x 1
-315 x 8
Nothing tough, just getting back into it.
Bench:
-135 x maybe 10 sets of 6-7, all paused, maybe more.
Chins:
-BW x 8,8,some
+some stretching and messing around
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday - Squat ladder 360 x 3
Back Squat:
-warmup
-360 x 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3
Press:
-95 x 5
-115 x 5
-120 x 5,5,5,5
Cable Crossover:
-55 x 8,8
Ab Roller:
BW x 10,10,10
+assorted other random stuff
-warmup
-360 x 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3
Press:
-95 x 5
-115 x 5
-120 x 5,5,5,5
Cable Crossover:
-55 x 8,8
Ab Roller:
BW x 10,10,10
+assorted other random stuff
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