CatrinaMMA cutAll-over printXS to 4XL
In short: The female face painted as a flowered skull is called a Catrina. Born from a Mexican engraving around 1910, she is a reminder that death draws no distinction of rank. 8 sizes, XS to 4XL. €39.
The Catrina, an engraving that became an emblem
Around 1910 the Mexican engraver José Guadalupe Posada drew a skull wearing a large feathered hat. The image was aimed at Mexicans who disowned their origins to imitate the European aristocracy: under the hat, every skeleton looks the same.
Taken up later by Diego Rivera, the Catrina became one of the most recognisable figures of Mexican culture, and the face of Día de Muertos worldwide.
What the shorts look like
A dense composition on white and black. At the centre, a gorilla head hooded in red and, beside it, a Catrina face made up as a flowered skull. Around them, red roses and green foliage run across the whole surface.
The waistband picks up the green and black. Clean side slits. Sublimated print.
The densest composition in the range
Gorilla, Catrina, roses and foliage share the surface with no neutral zone. This is the short where the eye finds nowhere to rest — the opposite of an isolated motif on a plain ground.
That density is the density of the Mexican floral compositions the Catrina comes from: empty space does not exist in them. For the full detail of the fight short cut, see the grey geometric fight short.
Technical specifications
Worth knowing: this is the most detailed print in the collection. It rewards a close look, which is worth knowing if you are choosing between it and something that reads better at distance.
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 composition covers the whole surface and is scaled per size, so the density 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 a Catrina?
A female figure with her face painted as a flowered skull, from an engraving by José Guadalupe Posada around 1910. It mocked Mexicans imitating European aristocracy — under the hat, every skeleton is identical. Diego Rivera later made it an emblem of Mexican culture.
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.
