Kaiju poster styleMMA cutRed discXS to 4XL
In short: A giant monster silhouetted against a large red disc, in the style of Japanese film posters. The kaiju — literally strange beast — has been a genre of its own in Japan since 1954. 8 sizes, XS to 4XL. €39.
The kaiju, a genre born in 1954
The word kaiju covers the giant creatures of Japanese cinema. The genre was born in 1954 and became one of the most durable in Japanese film history, with dozens of pictures and an imagery recognised worldwide.
These creatures share one trait: they are neither good nor evil, they simply are. They cannot be reasoned with and they cannot be beaten in the ordinary sense — which is roughly how a fighter describes the opponent nobody in the gym wants to spar.
What the shorts look like
Bright red fills the right leg, carrying a large paler disc against which the black silhouette of a giant monster stands, jaws open. On the left leg, a second monster in grey and white on black, worked as an engraving.
The waistband is black with red lettering. Clean side slits. Sublimated print.
The red disc, a poster device
A silhouette cut against a large pale disc is a poster construction: the disc isolates the shape and makes it legible without needing detail. It is the same principle as a logo on a circular ground, and it is why the figure stays identifiable at distance despite the fineness of the line.
The left leg takes the opposite approach, a second monster engraved in grey on black, which resolves close up. For the full detail of the fight short cut, see the grey geometric fight short.
Technical specifications
Worth knowing: two different treatments on one garment, poster on the right and engraving on the left, means the short reads one way from across the mat and another way up close.
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 red disc is scaled per size, so the silhouette holds the same proportion from XS to 4XL. 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 a kaiju?
A giant creature from Japanese cinema. The genre was born in 1954 and has run for dozens of films since. What defines a kaiju is that it is neither hero nor villain — it is a force, not a character.
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.
