Issue 047
March 2009
UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch is one of the most well-rounded and accomplished fighters in the world.
Staying afloat in such a stacked weight class, the uncompromising American maintains a hectic training schedule at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). He cannot afford to waste time with inferior products, so makes it his business to scour the market for the very best kit that money can buy.
Shorts
For the first three years of his career, Fitch wore an under £10 pair of shorts that he had bought at a market out of financial necessity. Now he imports much of his training gear from top-end Japanese company Reversal Dogi Design Works (RVDDW). “The Reversal shorts use a little bit different material; it’s not stretchy, but it’s very quick-drying. They are harder to get. Most people won’t be able to find them, even online, but they are very light, good summertime shorts especially. They have a different style to them, a lot of the American shorts all look the same. The Reversal shorts have a nice look to them, but they are still very performance-based shorts.”
Gumshield
As luck would have it, Fitch is good friends with a dentist who provided him with a custom mouthguard that he has worn in each of his UFC fights. The message is: accept no cheap alternatives. “Everybody’s mouth is a little bit different. Sometimes buying something off the shelf will choke you or gag you, sometimes they might dig into your gums and they are just not as good as a custom mouthpiece.”
Rashguard
The former UFC title challenger is a fan of the rashguards made by Toe-to-Toe and Reversal, but sets himself aside from the pack with his ultimate choice. “I’ve got a rashguard from Oakley, the sunglasses manufacturer; it’s a surfing rashguard. I got to try out some of those; they are not made for fighting at all but it works very well. It’s a little bit thicker and a bit more durable due to the harsh elements that they are put through in surfing.”
Shin pads
Due to the intense training regime at AKA, Fitch finds that even the best shin guards often need running repairs. “I have some Combat Sports ones, they work pretty well. But a lot of them, they don’t make them durable enough, they are good for a year and then they fall apart, especially at the rate we train at. I need to be a little bit handy with a needle and thread; I got to patch things up!’
Boxing gloves
Though on the more expensive side, Fitch accepts no substitute for quality. “Winning gloves are very durable. Floyd Mayweather likes their gear, that’s all he ever uses. They are very good for hand problems, they are a quality glove. The only problem I have with them is the laces, the gloves will last you three years but the laces you need to replace every year.”
Music
The American has a wide range of music on his iPod and finds a good rhythm to be an essential backdrop to three-hour training sessions. “When I train in stand-up, I like something with a beat, hip-hop or rap, also some nice reggae. Bob Marley is the King!”
New on the market
Understanding the importance of stretching before and after training, Fitch never leaves home without his stretch band. “I have a new thing that I’ve never really seen before in my ten years of athletic competition: it’s a stretch band with hoops in it. It’s super-good, you can do a leg stretch without anyone holding your legs for you. I’m not sure what company makes them, but you could probably use a gi belt or something like that.”
Jon Fitch spoke with Jim Page
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