Josh: Hi, Thanks for the interview. Can you tell us your name and your title @ Submission FC?
Shakib: My name is Shakib Nassiri and I am the President of SubmissionFC
What is your average day like at SubmissionFC?
Well every day is different but it could get hectic at times. SubmissionFC is a new brand but is growing pretty quick which gives us more work to do as the days go by. Pretty much, answering emails, phone calls, and processing orders. We are also always on the lookout to improve our product in any way so we always here what our customers have to say even for the tiniest thing.
Since your products are made for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, can you tell me about how you got into jiu-jitsu and who you have and currently train under?
A few years ago I decided I wanted to learn some sort of martial art. I spoke to a cousin of mine a few days later and he told me he was doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I soon after found Jean Jeaques Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy and started training under him. I have been training under Jean Jeaques Machado since then.
What led to the creation of SubmissionFC?
Mostly the fact that all Jiu Jitsu Gi’s or Jiu Jitsu related products were so highly priced. I wanted to give people the opportunity to wear high quality Bjj Gi’s at a much more affordable price.
Which Gi was the first you designed/released?
The SubmissionFC Pearl Weave Gi was the first Bjj Gi we came out with.
How long did it take to come up with that first design and testing until you were able to wear one for the first time to roll in?
Actually it took much longer than expected. I’d say it took about 6 months from the day I began the idea of creating a Jiu Jitsu brand until we had the Gi for sale. Our main priority was to make sure the quality of the Gi’s were excellent, so it took us a while scoping through potential suppliers until we found the perfect one!
What were some of the challenges you encountered? I looked into custom making a gi for myself once and to say the least it was a daunting task…and eventually I gave up when the cost exceeded some of the more expensive gis out there.
The challenges I have to face on a daily basis in this business are unbelievable. If I were to list the challenges it would be all day. All I have to say is we have put so much work into this business that I do not believe there is a higher quality and lower priced Bjj Gi than any SubmissionFC Gi. Without our customers, our business would not exist, so the satisfaction of our customers and making them repeat customers is our #1 priority!
Your price point is extremely attractive in the world of BJJ Gis, a lot of your competitors are priced at almost twice what you are or more in some cases. Some people live by the mantra of “you get what you pay for” – What would you say to someone who thinks that way about your Gis?
That may be true in some cases but not in this one. Before we come out with any new Jiu Jitsu Gi, we take months perfecting it. We always try to match if not exceed the quality of the brand name Bjj Gi’s out there that have twice our price tag. If you do not believe us, ask anyone that has tried our Gi’s, or better yet simply buy one for yourself. Since the day I started SubmissionFC I have heard nothing but good remarks about our Gi’s.
Your website shows two different styles/weaves available in both white and blue – what can you tell us about your Gis, other than the weave what makes them different?
Currently, we have available the Pearl Weave and Gold Weave Gi. The Pearl Weave Gi is the lighter of the 2 and the Gold Weave Gi would be heavier. The main difference would be the weight but besides that it would be the way the Gi is stitched as well. The Gold Weave Gi has a much thicker collar and would be used mostly for training. However, the Pearl Weave Gi has a little less thickness in the collar but still very thick lapel for its weight and is made ideal for competition.
My first Gi came with nothing in the way of care instructions and when I first started out in martial arts I ended up shrinking it (a lot) by throwing it in with the regular wash/dry cycles. Do you include care instructions?
They’re available on our website:http://www.submissionfc.com/jiu-jitsu-gi-care.html
Are your Blue Gis “color locked” ahead of time?
Yes, our Gi’s are “color locked” ahead of time to prevent the color of the Gi to fade, but extra care is always recommended as it is still 100% cotton Jiu Jitsu Gi.
Do you have a personal favorite Gi out of the ones you offer?
Yes, my personal favorite Gi would have to be the Pearl Weave Gi. The main reason behind it is because I prefer lighter Jiu Jitsu Gi’s over heavier ones. But again that is just my personal preference.
I know a few guys who love to roll but hate wearing a Gi, do you have plans on coming up with something for the No Gi guys at some point?
Yes of course! As the SubmissionFC brand grows we will be carrying more and more Brazilian Jiu Jitsu products such as rash guards, fight shorts, etc.
Do you have any products that you’re working on that you can tell us about, or different colors/designs?
We keep getting calls and emails from our customers asking us to begin carrying the Ultra Light Gi. So to ensure the satisfaction of our customers we will be working on the designs within the next couple weeks and begin the process it takes to create and develop a high quality Ultra Light Bjj Gi.
Do you have a facebook page that people interested in your company can keep up with news/promotions on?
Yes! Our facebook page is www.facebook.com/SubmissionFC – be sure to become a fan of SubmissionFC on facebook as we always give out news, special promotions and giveaways!
Who’s your favorite professional fighter?
I would have to say GSP
What was your take on Silva vs Sonnen?
Anderson Silva didn’t seem like his usual self and Sonnen took advantage and performed exceptionally well. This just proves that under so much pressure knowing he lost pretty much every round Anderson Silva threw up a triangle out of nowhere to win the match mostly because of his experience level. Silva is the champ.
Even though it’s not supposed to be the main event a lot of people are treating Toney vs Couture like it is, any thoughts on the match up? Any predictions?
My prediction would have to be Randy Couture winning pretty easily by taking James Toney down and overwhelming him with punches and elbows until he can’t take them anymore or gets knocked out.
But then again you never know because if Toney catches him with one clean punch, Couture will be knocked out.
If you could create any match up between any two fighters (living or dead) who would you choose? why did you choose them?
Of course I would have to say Bruce Lee vs any modern day UFC champ. So maybe Bruce Lee vs GSP would be a great match up.
If you could tell the people who will read this anything about your company or your products, what would you want them to know?
I would like them to know that our products match if not exceed the quality of the brand name ones such as Koral, Atama, Gameness, etc. We even have a Gi Comparison chart on our website to prove this. It does not stop here as most Jiu Jitsu Gi companies price their Gi’s at around $200 + while we make sure that our Bjj Gi’s are always priced at less than $100. Based on the quality and price, I can assure anyone that once you try any Submission Gi you will be a customer for life!