Asian dragonMMA cutCloud motifsXS to 4XL
In short: The Asian dragon is not the European monster. It guards no treasure and breathes no fire: it is a water creature, tied to rain, rivers and control. Red and black fight short. 8 sizes, XS to 4XL. €39.
Two dragons for two views of fighting
In Europe the dragon is the enemy — the thing the knight runs through. In Asia it is the reverse: the Chinese long is benevolent and protective, tied to water and to breath. You do not fight it, you try to resemble it.
That difference says something about the two martial traditions. On one side the frontal confrontation; on the other the idea that the highest power is the one that does not need to break anything.
What the shorts look like
Red ground worked with stylised cloud motifs. On the right leg, a green and gold dragon coiled on itself, jaws open, wingless, in the classic Asian treatment. The left leg is black with a red trim and vertical characters.
The waistband is red with the same cloud motifs. Side slits. Sublimated print.
Clouds and dragon, two levels of reading
The red ground is not plain: it carries stylised clouds in a close tone, barely darker than the ground. At three metres you see a red short and a green dragon; at one metre the ground turns out to be worked.
That double level is a convention of Asian textiles — a legible main motif over a ground that only gives itself up at short range. For the full detail of the fight short cut, see the grey geometric fight short.
Technical specifications
Worth knowing: the red dominant covers a red-corner requirement in amateur competition while carrying a figure, which a plain red short does not. Check your association’s rules before a sanctioned bout.
Getting the size right
European cut — take your usual size. Eight sizes, XS to 4XL, where most of the market stops at XXL on a fight short. The cloud motifs are scaled per size, so the density of the ground does not change. The drawcord takes up a change in waist measurement. In a groin guard, go one size up.
Also worth a look
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an Asian and a European dragon?
The European dragon is a monster to be killed; the Chinese long is a benevolent water creature tied to rain and protection, and it has no wings. One is fought, the other is emulated — which is why it appears on fight kit rather than on a knight’s shield.
What is the difference between MMA shorts and boxing shorts?
An MMA short is built for the ground as well as the feet. It runs longer, to just above the knee, with a side slit on each leg so a closed guard and a leg pass do not bind the hip, and a flat drawcord waistband that stays tied when an opponent pulls on it. Boxing shorts have none of that.
Do these fit true to size?
Yes. European cut — take your usual size. Eight sizes run XS to 4XL. The drawcord takes up a change in waist measurement. If you train in a groin guard, go one size up.
Does the print wear off in the wash?
No. The design is sublimated into the fibre rather than laid on top of it, so there is no layer to crack or peel on the mat. Wash inside out at 30 °C / 86 °F and skip the fabric softener.
Do these come in big and tall sizes?
Yes, up to 4XL. Most of the market stops at XXL on a fight short.
How do you wash MMA shorts?
Machine wash inside out at 30 °C / 86 °F, no tumble dryer, and no iron on the design. Avoid fabric softener: it coats the weave and slows how fast sweat moves through it.
