u/Gigi_TT00

Early this year, I received an invitation from my friend to try his regular Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training sessions. Because I told my friend that I wanna do more exercises this year. In the beginning, I was quite skeptical about whether I would like this sport, hahah, as it seems to require lots of strength for a woman. However, after few times invitation from my friend, I finally registered for the trial early last month. I would like to say it was completely different from what I saw as an outsider.

Firstly, everyone in this sport at the place I went is so friendly. I am joining the all-level training session, and all participants are very kind and considerate. Everyone is patient to explain more to me due to my beginner level.

Secondly, I think my inner child really loves this exercise. The movement and the skill of fighting are helping me regain a stronger connection with my whole body. My job is mainly computer work, so I sometimes need to sit at my computer all day. The stiff sitting posture makes me feel like I'm almost losing connection with most of my muscles, because I don't really use them. And this exercise really helps me to build it back up. Also, with lots of ground and gamified (I'd love to call it this) movement, I feel very grounded and enjoyed. I can feel my giggles from the bottom of my heart every time during the class.

Lastly, the self-defence skills I learned from the class somehow empower me, especially being a woman. I feel like I'm more capable of keeping myself safe than before (if something happens). Honestly, this is one of the greatest satisfactions from this sport. Sometimes, being too weak or too strengthless made me frustrated. And I don't wanna be the one who can do nth when sth happens. After a few classes, I am actually feeling a very obvious sense of empowerment.

Anyone tried this sport too? How do you feel that hahah. I don't have much friends are doing that as this is not a common sport in my city. Just curious how do you feel about that.

Wanna share something I’ve been thinking about recently.

My BG first: recently joined a performance apparel company. before that, I already had their clothes, including their waterproof rain jacket, which used a lot for my one bag travelling or work commute. (I hate bringing too many layers when moving between city, rain or slightly colder areas 0-0)

Recently, I came across one insulation idea from them that I found quite interesting, and wanna hear what ppl here think about it from a techwear / layering point of view.

So it's “weather adaptive insulation”. Simple example to explain is the houses in cold countries. Most have a gap space between two walls, the trapped air slow down heat escaping from indoor. This insulation is kinda doing same idea, but in a wearable way. Small tube-like structures inside it. When it gets colder, they create more air space to trap the heat. When it gets warmer, tubes flatten down, in theory it became less bulky and heat-trappy.

For me, I found it could be helpful. I’m quite sensitive to temperature and body heat. When I’m still standing still or not moving much, its cold for me even in not that low temperature, but once I started to walk, or carry a bag, etc, I get too warm immediately and start sweating fast because the heat trapped. So the idea of no need to keep taking layers on and off sounds good. But I’m also still curious on its actual performance. I’m located in a warm (summer is already here), so I haven’t had the chance to try it properly yet. 

So, wondering how ppl who wear more techwear / performance clothing here look at this kind of design.

• Do you think adaptive insulation like this is actually useful?
• Are there any similar examples from other brands? I haven’t seen that many using the “changing air gap” idea so far

I feel this is the type of tech that sounds cool, but the real question is always whether it actually helps in daily wear hahah