Gold tigerMMA cutSide slitsXS to 4XL
In short: The tiger belongs to Muay Thai as much as to kung fu: the Thai suea, the Chinese tiger style. This fight short works it in gold and midnight blue on black. 8 sizes, XS to 4XL. €39.
The animal Asian martial arts never let go of
Among the five animal styles of kung fu, the tiger stands for bone strength and the frontal attack — open claws, direct commitment, no evasion. It is the style taught to strong practitioners rather than to fast ones.
In Thailand the word suea, tiger, turns up in a great many Muay Thai fight names, a way of claiming that same directness. Two traditions, one animal, and the same reading in both.
What the shorts look like
Black ground. On the right leg, a large tiger head worked in gold and midnight blue, fangs showing, filling nearly the whole surface. The left leg carries a smaller gold crest of the same animal, and a gold trim runs along the slit.
The waistband is black with a gold trim. Sublimated print.
One motif on each leg, at two scales
The right leg carries the tiger head large, the left the same animal reduced to a crest. That is not repetition: at distance you see one figure, close up you see two, and the crest gives the left leg a focal point it would otherwise lack.
The gold trim along the slit ties the two scales together. For the full detail of the fight short cut, see the grey geometric fight short.
Technical specifications
Worth knowing: gold on black is the one combination in the MMA range that reads as dress kit rather than training kit. It is the short people pick for a walkout.
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 crest on the left leg is scaled per size along with the large head. 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 does the tiger stand for in martial arts?
Bone strength and the frontal attack. In the five animal styles of kung fu the tiger is the direct, committed one, taught to strong practitioners rather than fast ones. In Thailand suea, tiger, appears in a great many Muay Thai fight names for the same reason.
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.
