Gardner, who also created the Combat Card Game, is now marketing what he calls a self-defense wristband. The product resembles a simple bracelet but unfolds to create a strap that can be used for various grappling techniques typically reserved for gi training.
The wristband appears to address a common debate in martial arts circles about the practicability of certain techniques in real-world scenarios. By wearing this device, practitioners can potentially utilize gi-based techniques in situations where traditional training attire isn’t present.
“As a no gi only guy who has definitely said that ‘you can’t lapel choke me in a t-shirt so what’s the point’… I want to hate on this. I think you just shut down that argument though. I hate it and I think it’s cool at the same time,” remarked one commenter.
The community’s reaction has been mixed, with many expressing interest despite acknowledging the novelty factor.
“That’s so ridiculous. Where do I buy one?”
and
“This is nonsense. Where do I order?”
represent the paradoxical appeal of the product.
Some practitioners have raised practical questions about the wristband’s effectiveness. One commenter noted,
“Holding that quarter inch worth of strap is likely not as secure as you think,”
while others mockingly questioned its legal status in competitions, asking,
“Is it IBJJF legal?”
Legal considerations beyond sports have also emerged, with one user inquiring whether it could be considered a concealed weapon in some jurisdictions.
Despite these concerns, Gardner‘s innovative approach has clearly struck a chord with many BJJ enthusiasts. The product appears to be temporarily unavailable according to some would-be customers, suggesting lack of technical know-how.
For now, the self-defense wristband represents another example of the BJJ community’s ongoing evolution and adaptation of traditional techniques to modern contexts. Whether it becomes a mainstay in practitioners’ arsenals or remains a funny novelty item remains to be seen, but Coach Gardner has certainly succeeded in generating conversation about the intersection of traditional training and practical application.
