Over the past two years I have received a lot of questions ranging from,”What’s your favorite glove?” to “What shorts fit the best?” and so on. However the question that I get the most is,”Do you use any supplements?” This sis something that I think goes along with working out in general. Everyone ones to get bigger, stronger, and faster as quick as possible, and are willing to spend hundreds of dollars to do so. Its not like I am not one of those people, but I do know the first thing is putting in the work. Anyway enough about that, the reason for this is recently I got a chance to try out two different supplements from Driven Sports. I tried them in a stack form which means I took them both at the same time. Here is some preliminary info on both of them.

TESTOSTERONE…

It builds men. But you don’t want to let your own physical limitations hold you back! What you need is an equalizer. You need Activate Xtreme™!

Activate Xtreme™ is the pinnacle of testosterone enhancement in the sports nutrition industry. Not only does Activate Xtreme™ rapidly increase free testosterone, it also provides total testosterone enhancement, adaptogenic support, estrogenic control, and boosts sex drive.

Optimize TOTAL testosterone: Activate Xtreme™ was thoroughly researched over a year in order to create the most rounded product available!
Increase FREE testosterone: Divanil™ is the ONLY scientifically proven extract for binding SHBG and boosting free testosterone!
Increase SIZE and STRENGTH: More testosterone, more strength, better performance!
Do you want to bust through plateaus, set new personal records and get bigger?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, then welcome to the world fuelled by Activate Xtreme™.

MAXIMUM HORMONAL DOMINATION

You WANT SIZE, you WANT STRENGTH and you WANT IT NOW! But your body has other ideas.

Sound familiar?

Thought so. Your body has several hormones it releases that govern muscle mass, with the king being the hormone that makes a man a man: Testosterone. On a daily basis the body only releases a certain amount of testosterone, which creates a problem for those wanting to get as big and strong as possible in the shortest amount of time. This is controlled by what is called the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis (HPTA). Now its time to level the playing field, because thanks to Triazole™ your HPTA met its match!

Triazole™ represents a REVOLUTION for the sports nutrition industry. Never before has an anti-estrogen been so powerful. The Triazole™ formula is based on a potent all natural aromatase inhibitor that simultaneously acts to protect the liver and provides anti-oxidant support to the whole body! Expect MAXIMUM HORMONAL DOMINATION!

• Control estrogen to boost testosterone: By short-circuiting the machinery that creates estrogen, your body is FORCED to create MORE TESTOSTERONE!
• Higher testosterone = more muscle mass: By increasing androgen binding on muscle cells, testosterone will rapidly increase protein synthesis rates leading to MORE SIZE!
• Improve in-gym performance: NOTHING increases strength in the gym like testosterone, so prepare for the gains of YOUR LIFE!

Huge promisies right, well if you are anything like me you may have looked at some of these and thought if they worked. I can honestly say that these two supplements did change my workouts. I did not get any blood work done so I can not prove whether or not these really did make my testosterone any higher, but I can tell you what I noticed. The most noticeable thing was recovery time, it went from maybe being sore for two days down to one day at the most and my workouts were still just as hard. I also noticed that I was leaning out faster than I normally do and my diet did not change. I have never been the type of person that could put on muscle easy and typically have to work harder than most just to put on five pounds(yes I am trying to gain size) and while taking these supplements I may have put on three or four pounds but visually I looked more defined. My strength did go up some but nothing that I would call,”Freakish” and my overall mood seemed to be better than normal.

Bottom line do they work? First there is not a supplement out there that is going to give you big muscles without putting in the work, not even PED’s. For me, they have been one of the supplements that I have tried that I have actually had some results with. Will they work for everyone? I don’t know, as everybody type is different. I would imagine that some people would get a lot better results then I did. If you have been looking at these supplements and have been on the fence I can say go ahead and give them a try. These are some of the few supplements out  there that MMAGearAdvice.com will put their stamp of approval on. Please be sure and visit Driven Sports’ website at www.getds.com for more info.

**Disclaimer** I received these at no cost for the purpose of review and received no payment from the company to do the review.

Per Manufacturer- Exclusive Gel Enforced Lining® and multi-layered foam padding form an unbeatable combination of power, performance and protection. GEL® lining delivers a winning layer of custom form fit and impact resistance for champion results. GEL® infused tri-stacked cuff with 360 degree wraparound wrist strap with hook-and-loop closure provides extra support and security. Removable elastic cuff sleeves allow athlete to convert from bag gloves to sparring gloves in seconds. Moisture wicking hand compartment liner helps deliver cool, dry and comfortable training. Crafted from select hides of full grain leather.

First Impression- When I got these gloves out of the box that they came in I was immediately impressed. Just from looks, they are extremely clean looking and you can tell they are made with quality in mind.

Construction- These gloves are absolutely excellent. The stitching is done very well, with very few loose threads, and has double stitching in all the right places. The leather on these is soft, yet durable. One thing that bothered me on the previous title glove I tried was the hook and loop system was almost all made of elastic. Well they have done away with that, and gone to a small piece of elastic and the rest is actual leather. These gloves have a gel lining that goes over the fist and offers more protection for your hand than just normal padding. They also feature a breathable panel in the palm of the glove. In the past I have not been a fan of this but this one is small enough, and feels like it will be durable enough to maintain lots of use. The inner lining of these gloves is extremely soft and does a great job at wicking away moisture. Everything about these gloves screams quality and I am not the only one who thinks it. Check out what Matt M. (@MushiPanda on twitter) has to say as well,

“I can honestly say after 15 plus years of stand up training, there is no better glove out there, period. Title has left nothing to spare with the new Intense, its designed to be an all around glove and surpasses most sparring or bag gloves designed for the one use only, Title is proving why they are being noticed more and more in the gym and in the bags of most elite strikers.”

Fit- Whenever I get a new pair of gloves this is the biggest area of concern to me. I can get over small quality control issues, but fit is just that. It either fits well or it doesn’t. Well these gloves fit perfectly. They are tight where they need to be and feel very secure on my hand. When I first slid my hands into these gloves I was blown away with how comfortable they are. These are a 16oz gloves and feel like it. It is very easy to make a fist in them, and the attached thumb is in the perfect position. With the hook and loop style closure system you can get just the right amount of wrist protection. In the previous version of this glove I had noticed that my hands got very sweaty due to the fact that there was virtually no ventilation, well that s no longer the case with the added mesh panel in the palm. Now my hands don’t get as sweaty and that mesh provides just the right amount of ventilation. Really the only negative thing that I could come up and its small, is that they are not the easiest to open the hand so some clinch work was harder than others.

Mitts/Pads- I really could not find a use where I did not like these gloves. They work great when using pads or mitts. Provide plenty of protection for the hands and the wrist, and feel great while doing it. The gloves don’t feel overly heavy and are actually very well balanced. There was little to no hand fatigue as it was very easy to make a fist.

Heavy Bag- This is just another great use for these gloves. There really isn’t a whole lot I can say that I haven’t already said. They feel great, and do acutely what they are suppose to do. The padding in them does an excellent job at keeping your hand safe and I had no soreness after using these like I have experienced with other gloves after many rounds on the heavy bag.

Sparring- Now I thought, typically gloves are good for either bags and mitts, or sparring not both. Either they are too stiff or too soft. Well finally Title brings you a gloves that you will love for both. Not only will you love them but so will your sparring partner. Something that I haven’t really touched on is that these gloves come with a detachable sleeve that goes over the hook and loop closure system to protect both you and your partner. These still provide plenty of support and the padding is soft enough that you will not cause serious injury to your sparring partner.

Pros-

*Fantastic Construction

*Overall Fit

*Multi Use

Cons-

*Not as easy to open the hand for clinch work(I am really digging here guys)

Overall- If there is one review you read of mine and think I might buy this product please let it be this one. These are without a doubt the best gloves I have used and continue to use them almost on a daily basis. With an excellent fit and unbelievable construction you really cant go wrong, so if you are in the market for a new pair of gloves, and maybe if your not, be sure and check out these gloves. You will not be disappointed and be sure and tell them MMA Gear Advice sent you.

Click here to buy TITLE Gel® Intense Bag/Sparring Gloves

**Disclaimer** I received these at no cost for the purpose of review and received no payment from the company to do the review.

Per Manufacturer-

Triple layer foam padding, This gloves provides complete protection for both the fist and wrist, features a unique double strap, safety strap closing system that offers the utmost in security and support. Attached padded thumbs, soft poly/nylon lining for quick drying.

First Impression- Like many things from Ring to Cage I was really looking forward to trying these gloves out. They looked well put together, and had the usual green colors that Ring to Cage is known for.

Construction-I have looked at so many different pairs of gloves and have seen so many levels of construction. I would put these gloves at the higher end of that spectrum. While they are not the best gloves that I have seen or tested they are build very well. There is no loose threading and all of the stitching is done very well. The leather on them is pretty stiff, but these are bag gloves so that was to be expected. Something on these that you wont find on every glove is a dual closure system. In this glove it is done well, but I will get more into that in the “fit” section of this review. The lining on the inside of this glove is soft, and feels good against the hand.

Fit-The fit of these was just okay for me. If you have read some of my previous reviews you know that I have smaller hands, and these gloves were even a little tight on me. The lining on the inside of the gloves did a good job at wicking away the moisture, but at the same time made my hands feel hot. Now onto the closure system. For me I thought that it was just okay. I have tried other gloves with this same style of closure system, and sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. This was one of those times where it was just in the middle. What I mean by that is while it was comfortable I do not know if having the extra strap really made that much difference in the wrist support.

Pad/Mitts- I tried these out just like I would any other glove in the three stand up areas I normally would. First is Pads and Mitts. These gloves are really not designed for this so the be perfectly honest I gave them a little time on the mitts, and moved on. The reason is that there are other gloves that I like so much more for this and really wanted to get to what these gloves were intended on being used for. If someone were to ask me if I like these for using with mitts or pads I would simply tell them,”Ehh.”

Heavy Bag- Here is what these gloves are designed for, the heavy bag. I strapped them on and got to work. They feel pretty good during the workout although like I mentioned before my hands would get hotter then when I have used other gloves. The wrist support was good, but not the best that I have ever used, and the padding did exactly what it is suppose to do when making contact with the bag. Was there anything that I really did not like about these gloves, no they work well at what they are designed to do. They have a good weight to them(12oz) which adds to your workout, but does not make them feel bulky, and found it easy to make a fist without my hand becoming fatigued half way into my workout.

Sparring- Really all I can say is do not use them for this. Not only is the padding to dense to begin with, but with all that work on the heavy bag they are only going to get harder. Do your training partner a favor and leave these for the bag.

Pros-

*Great Construction

*Good Design

Cons-

*Tight hand compartment

*Need better ventilation

Overall-Really what it comes down to is do I recommend these gloves or not. If you are looking for a solid pair of bag gloves then I say yes. If you are looking for a more well rounded glove that you could use in many different types of drills then maybe you should look at something else however you can still look at Ring to Cage as they have many different gloves to choose from. These gloves can be purchased for right around $55.

Click here to buy Ring to Cage Safety Strap Bag Gloves

**Disclaimer** I received these at no cost for the purpose of review and received no payment from the company to do the review.

Per manufacturer-

Intimidation Clothing makes clothes for MMA and boxing fans and fighters, inspired by the lifestyle and the attitude of the industry. We’re not afraid to be bold and edgy, and we know that you’re not either. Our goal is to make our products affordable and accessible so that everyone can enjoy them. Looking good and feeling great in our t-shirts won’t set you and your budget back, and that’s a promise we plan to keep.

First Impression- When I first pulled these shirts out I really liked the difference in styles of the shirts. One of them was closer to your Affliction style of shirt, while another was a much more conservative and toned down look. Let see how they stack up.

Construction- The construction of these shirts is great. There is no loose threads and all of the stitching is done very well. They use different types printing on the shirts, some use a , where as others are a discharge style ink for that super soft feel that only a premium shirt has. Intimidation uses a 4.3oz 100% ring spun cotton in their shirts, but recently in some shirts are using a 5.5oz cotton for an ultra premium feel.

Fit- I received three different shirts from them all in a medium size, and while they all fit me there are some differences. The “Authority” t-shirt that they sent me seems to be the one that has the fit which is like most other medium shirts that I wear. The other two shirts are just a little bit smaller. Now one thing that really bothers me about shirts is after you wash them for the first time and they shrink. Intimidation does use different blanks for different shirts, which is something that is pretty normal so I found that there was some shrinkage, but not to all the shirts. The “Authority” t-shirt had zero shrinkage, but the other two shirts there was some, so just read which blank they are using an order accordingly. I am sure that you can always ask them for sizing tips as their customer service is top notch.

Design- Just from my stand point I like most of their designs. They are well done and cover a large amount of styles, so most people should be able to find something that they like. Yeah, there are some in your face styles, but there are also some more subtle styles just depends on what you are into.

Pros-

*Solid construction

*Lots of different styles

Cons-

*Shrinkage in some shirts

Overall- What can I say? Intimidation clothing for the most part makes a great shirt. The construction is excellent and they have some solid designs and styles. Really the only negative that I could find is that some of the shirts shrink and some of them do not. Be sure that if you are in the market for some new t-shirts and want to wear something that you are not going to see every two minutes while walking down the street, check out Intimidation Clothing. I do not think that you are going to be disappointed.

Click here to buy Intimidation Clothing T-shirts

**Disclaimer** I received these at no cost for the purpose of review and received no payment from the company to do the review.

Per Manufacturer-

This Loose Compression Rashguards ultra breathable Bamboo/Spandex blend provides a cashmere-like feel and comfortable formed fit that protects the skin during grappling and rolling.

• 95% Rayon from Bamboo, 5% Spandex construction naturally effectively wicks moisture
• 4-way stretch and ergonomic cut ensures an athletic contoured fit that forms to the body without limiting movement
• Strategically placed mesh panels help regulate body temperature
• Flat-lock stitching for long-lasting durability
• Hidden mouth guard pocket

First Impression- When I first saw this rashguard I was impressed by the quality. I however prefer a tight rashguard over a loose fitting style, but with the bamboo construction and the overall look of this rashguard lets see if this one can convince me otherwise.

Construction- While looking over this rashguard you will see how well it is made. All of the stitching is done very well with no loose ends or torn fabric. This is easily the softest rashguard I have ever come across. The combination of the bamboo and spandex fabrics make it feel incredibly durable. It does have screen printed logos, but it has been through quite a few washes already and they look good as new. Jaco really tried to innovate new features into this rashguard and I think they pulled it off. You will notice that there is an internal mouthguard pocket which is located towards the bottom of the rashguard on the inside. Another thing to point out is the mesh panels. Up until about a month ago this is the only rashguard that I have seen that features something like this and I really enjoy having these built in. It is manufactured in Vietnam.

Per Manufacturer-

This life is but a season and when it is over all we have is our legacy, what we have left behind for the greater good of others.  It is not what we have but what we do with what we have to inspire, uplift and serve those around us.  It is these core values that drive our company.
We at Driven are dedicated to giving you the clothes, gear and accessories to fuel your driven lifestyle. We know that you are driven in your pursuit of your career, sport and passions. Whether it is driving, surfing, saving lives, serving our country, keeping the streets safe or working with those in need, we have the gear for you. 

Welcome to the Driven Nation!

First Impression- When I first received this shirts I noticed one thing right away. How soft they feel. You can tell just from the first touch that these are high quality t-shirts.

Construction- The t-shirts from driven are definitely premium level t-shirts. The cotton is extremely soft to the touch and all of the stitching is very well done. They use a 100% ring spun, 30 single blank for the actual shirt. The printing on these shirts is water based ink similar to the shirts from Affliction and Xtreme Couture.

Fit- When it comes to fit I got both of these shirts in a medium. The fit between the two of them was a little bit different. However I find that to be the case with most shirts is that one never fits like another. Its not that big of a deal to me because they are close in fit, but still something to be noted. As far as comparison they are pretty true to size. When washed they do shrink some like most cotton shirts will, but not to the unwearable point. I noticed the most shrinkage in length, but overall shirts stayed very close to its original size. I would classify these shirts as having a normal fit as opposed to a sport or slim fit, so go with your regular size when ordering.

Design- This is always the hardest part for me to review because this is solely based on opinion. Now that I got that out of the way I like Driven’s style. The designs are unique but still do not scream, “I am a fighter and a badass.” However some of the shirts I would still consider to be loud, just not in the, “Fighter” sense. I know some people are thinking, “Don’t scream mma, that ones says ground and pound” and while that is true the majority of people that I run into do not know that term, but know Tapout is for people who train to be “cagefighters.”(Pardon the Joke) Really, overall solid and well done designs that I like.

Pros-

*Premium level t-shirt

*Not in your face design

Cons-

*Designs may not be to your taste

*Shirts vary a little when it comes to sizing

Overall- These are great shirts that I would recommend to anyone looking for a high qualiy shirt that is not on every streetcorner. While there could be some small sizing issues, as long as you go with your usual size you should be fine. These shirts can be purchased anywhere from $25 to $35. The other thing about Driven as a brand is that each one of their shirts have some sort of meaning behind them. Here are some examples of what I am talking about straight from Driven.

Here it is almost the end of 2010 and I know what you are thinking. I have all this extra cash left over after Christmas and I need to buy some new mma gear. Well what are you waiting for? There is tons of great gear out there and I am going to take you through what I think is some of the best of the year. Whether you are thinking shorts or gloves, mouthguard or gi, or ever just a new hoodie I got you covered. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy a look at what I think are the best of 2010, and with 2011 coming up I can not wait to see what is just around the corner.

I think the best way to do this is I am going to present this in portions… first up shorts.

SHORTS

Every one of us that is a hardcore gear addict knows this is the staple of our addiction. You can never have too many pairs of mma shorts. I know that I can’t, and just continue to get them no matter how many pairs that I have. As new stuff comes out, I must have to have it. These are just a couple examples of the shorts that I have reviewed that I think are ones that you should not live without.

Sprawl Fusion-S Shorts  

These are really some of the best shorts out on the market. With almost every key feature combined into one short this is surely not a pair that you will want to pass up.
Click here to go to my review of Sprawl Fusion S Shorts

Clinch Gear Elite Shorts

I am sure that you have seen these around. They are some of the best shorts out there. With top notch quality and customer service to match these shorts should not be passed up on.
Click here to go to my review of Clinch Gear Elite Shorts

Jaco Resurgence MMA Fight Shorts

One of the most innovative shorts out there. These will be sure to get you through those long workouts, and hey they are Jaco so you really cant go wrong. Speaking of Jaco be sure and check out there vale tudo shorts.
Click here to go to my review of Jaco Resurgence MMA Fight Shorts

Hayabusa Competition White Shiai Fight Shorts

I just finished my review of these and they are a last minute addition just due to how good these shorts are. Really a fantastic pair of shorts that should not be overlooked.
Click here to go to my review of Hayabusa Competition White Shiai Fight Shorts

Now for the underdog pair of shorts….

PrimeTime Ltd Edition Fight Shorts

You know these are really a very quality pair of shorts. With really nothing wrong with them, they are extremely hard to pass us. Be sure if you are looking to get some new shorts you take a look at these.
Click here to go to my review of PrimeTime Ltd Edition Fight Shorts

Feel like there is something that I should add? Maybe you think your shorts should be here. Well do not feel bad. These are just the ones that I really feel like were ahead of the others. Plenty of other sections to go so don’t get your jockstrap in a bind just yet.

Per Manufacturer-

First Impression- I have tried out many white shorts and still have yet to find a pair that does not become transparent during and after and intense workout. This particular pair of shorts seems to be thicker than than other shorts that I have tried so hopefully it can pass the test. Looking forward to seeing what these can do.

Construction- Like other products that I have tried from Hayabusa the construction of these shorts is excellent. There was not loose stitching and like I have previously mentioned the material of the shorts themselves is thick and very durable. The logos on these shorts are sublaminated so they will stand up to all of your toughest training. For those of you who have read some of my previous articles you know that I prefer shorts that do not have a split seam. For me it is something that is just not necessary as I have rarely had that effect and sort of performance or technique. Well these shorts do have a spilt seam, and I would say one that is slightly longer than most. They also feature a stretch panel  Now, for one of my favorite things about these shorts, the closure system. The closure system on these is unlike any other system out there. Yes, it has standard hook and loop style Velcro, but that is where any kind of similarities end. It features a very different kind of drawstring system which allows for the tightest fit possible and if that is not enough it has a rubber running along the inside of the waist band which Hayabusa calls their “Guardlock” system. There is also some elastic in the waistband just to get that perfect fit.  These shorts are made out of  100% polyester(90% Mechanical 10% Performance)and are manufactured in Taiwan.

Fit- This where we get to see if all those features these shorts have actually work. I am here to tell you that they do. I ordered a 32 in these shorts and that was prefect for me. With so much room for adjustment it was hard to make these fit wrong. The length of them is mid to just below the knee. The material of the shorts feels nice, but they do feel a little heavier than other shorts. The waistband system works just as advertised. Once you have these shorts on there is no way that they are coming off. The only real negative thing that I can say about the fit is that the drawstring almost always get tangled up in the Velcro, and it does pull the treads part.

Stand Up- For stand up these are easily in my top 3 favorites to use. They feel extremely comfortable while doing any sort of stand up. I did not have any problems with any sort of technique and did not feel restricted at all. While the split seam could be helpful for some, for me it was not necessary. One thing that really bothers me about mma shorts in general is a lot of them require adjustments in between rounds. These are one of the only pairs I have ever used that required ZERO adjustments not only between rounds, but for my entire workouts. With the way the closure system works and the “guardlock” once these shorts are tied, they are not moving. Keep in mind that you can feel these shorts on you as they are heavier than others, but once you get going it is not as noticeable. These do however absorb a fair of amount of sweat so they can take a little while to dry out.

Ground- When using these for ground I would rate this as good. It is not that they do anything wrong, I just think it might be because they are so good during stand up that its hard to match that performance. Once again they stay very tight around the waist and there is no shifting or rid up from them. Since the material is thicker there is less riding up on the legs, but because the split seams are longer, when they do rid up it is very noticeable. These shorts are not restricting at all and found them to be very comfortable.

Pros-

*Excellent construction

*Great closure system

*Sublaminated logos

Cons-

*Material a little heavy

*Ride up on the ground

Overall- These really are a great pair of shorts, but not perfect so I could not give them an overall five stars. Oh, I almost forgot, you are probably wondering how they did with them being white and if they became transparent. Well I can report that these are the best shorts that I have test when it comes to that. While they still did absorb a lot of sweat, they are much less transparent then any other short that I have used. With that in mind, if you are looking for a new pair of shorts, then please take a look at the Hayabusa White Shiai Fight Shorts. They are also available in black and gray if white is not your color. I really rate these as one of the best shorts I have ever trained in. They can be purchased for right around $65.

(Highly Recommended)

Click here to buy Hayabusa Competition White Shiai Fight Shorts

Here are some more pictures plus other colors. Enjoy!!

**Disclaimer** I received these at no cost for the purpose of review and received no payment from the company to do the review.

Per Manufacture- Revgear Vigilante Gel MMA Gloves. The most comfortable MMA glove you will ever wear. Open palm for solid grip. Unique crossing wrist strap for support. Full one inch of padding including 5 mm gel padding over the punching area. Durable leather construction. Size: S, M, L, XL, XXL. Color: Black

First Impression- When I first opened these gloves up I was a little worried because they seemed like they were going to be bulky as the padding felt thick. The construction looked good and I could not wait to put them through some workouts.

Construction- I would rate the construction of these gloves as better than average. While the leather is well done, but there is some loose stitching. The closure system on these is a dual strap style closure, one thing I really like about this particular closure system is the Velcro goes all the way around providing a very tight fit around the wrist. The fingers are not individually split so for some people that may be annoying, but it did not bother me. The logo across the front is screen printed on and over time while probably become either faded or come off altogether. The lining on the inside of the glove has a satin feel to it. I really like the padding in these as it is not only thicker than most but also feels like it is very shock absorbing. Plus it features a 5mm gel lining across the knuckles for that added protection. These gloves are manufactured in.

Fit- This is with out a doubt my favorite thing about these gloves. There is a ton of adjustability with them, the wrist strap really provides the support that you need when using an mma glove. The lining feels great against the hand, and even though the fingers are not split, you can still easily make a fist. The finger loops are comfortable and do not dig into your hands but on occasion I did have a finger slip out of one of the loops. These gloves are available in several sizes so you can be sure and get the right size.

Stand Up- These gloves work well for stand up, but I do not think that I would consider them competition style gloves as the padding across the knuckle area is just to thick. For light sparring I think that these gloves work just fine. They provide plenty of protection for your hands, while still being able to make a fist. I also like these for use with mitts. My hands did not get sore, but I did develop some rawness between my fingers due to the fingers of the gloves not being split individually.

Ground- I had mixed experiences with these gloves while on the ground. First let me tell you about my main problem. With the padding being so thick I found that the gloves felt a little bulky. There were certain submissions that were harder to get than normal due to the glove actually being in the way. It was not huge, but I could tell they were there more than other gloves that I have used. That was really the only thing that bothered me about these gloves. Everything else while on the ground worked just fine.

Pros-

*Better than average construction

*Great Wrist support

*Very comfortable

Cons-

*A little bulky

*Fingers not split

Overall- These are a pair of gloves that I can recommend and with a small tweaks that I mentioned in the review they could be one of my favorites. If you are looking for a pair of mma gloves to use during training be sure and look at these. If you are looking for some competition gloves you may want to look somewhere else. They can be purchased for right around $60.

(Recommended)

Click here to buy Revgear Vigilante Gel MMA Gloves

**Disclaimer** I received these at no cost for the purpose of review and received no payment from the company to do the review.

Per Manufacturer-

Oxygen4Energy

Oxygen Enriched Air

Up to 50 shots of 95% Oxygen Enriched Air

Convenient sized, lightweight can

Easy to Use

Feel the difference your very first use

Please recycle cans when empty

First Impression- First seen on a national scale at Strikeforce: Houston, the small cans of oxygenated air caused message boards to explode with curiosity following their use by fighters K.J. Noons and King Mo Lawal. The product’s use and purpose seemed sound, and I was curious to see if they were all hype, or if there were real performance benefits to be gained.

Product Tips-

Guideline: 1 Shot = approx 1 sec of O2

Inhale a Shot of Oxygen DEEP into your lungs Hold briefly then Release.

Do not hold for more than 1 second. That is counterproductive.

Repeat 5-15 times as needed.

Each can contains up to 50 shots of 95% oxygen enriched air.

Sports and Fitness-

Take 10 shots just before 30-45 minutes of intense physical exertion to increase endurance, power and explosiveness.

Take 5-7 shots every additional 30 minutes as needed.

Take 10 shots immediately following intense exertion for recovery (if recovery is important to you).

The harder you push yourself, the more noticeable the benefits will be.

Here is a short video from their site.

Usage- I wanted to use Oxygen4Energy’s product in all aspects of my training to see if the intended benefits were limited to one specific area, of if they applied to a range of disciplines and exercises. According to the directions, one should take ten shots prior to a workout, which, I’ll be honest, took some experimentation to find the right technique. After taking the shots and heading to the gym, I could definitely feel a difference. It wasn’t enormous, but it was tangible. It felt as though my endurance and recovery had been increased, meaning if I previously could lift a given weight for seven reps, I was now able to do nine or ten. This may not seem like a huge increase, but over the course of a workout the additional reps quickly add up. More than anything, I felt as though my recovery time between sets was reduced noticeably.

Prior to grappling and sparring, I, once again, took ten shots of the product, and, once again, the performance increase was noticeable after the first round. Recovery time between rounds was absolutely incredible. I would have 30 seconds between rounds, and by the time the next round began I would feel fresh, with my breathing rate and muscle fatigue feeling as though I had just started sparring. This increase in recovery time carried over to each round, leaving me feeling as though I didn’t fatigue as quickly during moments of intense action.

Although the product mentions that using oxygenated air before exercises designed to increase cardio performance would be counter productive, I decided to give it a try anyway, just to see how it would work. I use running and sprints as a means to improved my cardio, but I wanted to see what kind of benefits track athletes could gain from Oxygen4Energy’s product. I took the prescribed number of shots and noticed a familiar theme developing. During my workout I didn’t get as fatigued or out of breath, and, once again, recovery time was improved.

Overall- At the end of the day, I feel as though every athlete, regardless of sport, could benefit from using oxygenated air. It not only allows you to train harder and longer, but also recover quicker. It is important to remember that while Oxygen4Energy is approved by WADA, you should still check with your specific athletic commission if you intend on using it during competition. During training, it was hard to find fault with Oxygen4Energy’s product beyond having a finite number of uses per can. If you have a chance, give it a shot. You wont be disappointed.

Click here to buy Oxygen4Energy Oxygen Enriched Air

**Disclaimer** I received these at no cost for the purpose of review and received no payment from the company to do the review.