Our Beginnings

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.      — Chinese Proverb

My name is Ed. Not that it should matter to you. I’ve been training BJJ for two years now in Suzhou, China. I compete occasionally in Shanghai tournaments and inter-gym competitions. I’ll never be one of the top guys, never be on the Danaher Death Squad or have a Youtube breakdown of one of my matches (unless it’s a BJJ blooper real).

None of that bothers me. I came to the sport late, starting in my thirties and I’ve never been a super athletic guy. But I love BJJ. I love talking about it. I’ve had to put a self-imposed filter on my discussions so I don’t just ramble on about it or worse, get two beers in and start showing Youtube videos to people who could care less about people wrestling around in their pajamas.

I feel lucky in my experiences with BJJ so far. I travel and have dropped in at gyms in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Armenia, as well as other gyms across China. I find if you walk in with a humble attitude, other practitioners tend to be really chill and open up. Going to different BJJ gyms is a great way to find the best spots in a city. Meet a new training buddy and they’ll definitely show you the best bars, restaurants, and  spots in their city.

That’s where the idea for Rabid Panda BJJ came from. I’ve always been welcomed to new gyms both large and small. But BJJ is still a growing sport in many parts of the world and as a consequence, it’s difficult for many gyms to get gis and other gear.

Our mission at Rabid Panda is to supply customized gis and gear to gyms across Southeast Asia at an affordable price. We want to help spread the gospel of BJJ by offering quality products. And we want to promote gyms throughout Asia and the world.