Our Story | Daruma Green Store

七転び八起き — Fall seven times, rise eight.

Founders

We're Márcia & João — the people behind Daruma. Between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, yoga, Muay Thai, and years of teaching, training became more than something we did. It became how we understood discipline, patience, and taking care of the body that has to show up again tomorrow.

Then one question got hard to ignore: how do you pursue a healthy, intentional life while wearing gear that isn't built the same way?

Most fight wear is synthetic, disposable, and made without much thought for what happens to it — or you — after the sale. That contradiction is where Daruma started.

We started Daruma in 2023 in Cascais, Portugal, after 25 years on the mats between us. The idea didn't come from a business plan — it came from replacing our own gis one too many times and asking why nothing built for people who train hard was actually built to last.

Daruma Green Store exists to close that gap: premium BJJ and training gear made from hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton — materials chosen because they perform better, not because they photograph well on a sustainability slide.

No polyester. No shortcuts justified by "that's just how the industry does it." If we wouldn't train in it ourselves — and we do — we don't sell it.

WHY 七転び八起き

The proverb means fall seven times, rise eight. It's a BJJ mat truth before it's anything else — you tap, you learn, you go again. We named the brand around it because that's also what building something the right way actually looks like: slower, harder, and worth it.

It's the same principle behind the material. Hemp doesn't wear out and get replaced every season — it gets better with every round, the same way you do.

Our logo — the Daruma doll — isn't just decoration. It's a promise built into every piece of gear we make.

When you receive your Daruma equipment, you'll notice one eye of the Daruma doll on our logo is already filled. That's the beginning of your journey — the moment you commit to a goal. Just as the doll starts with one eye filled with hope, so do you.

Every Gi ships with a single red thread for exactly this reason. When you achieve that goal — a new belt, a skill you finally landed, a competition you've been chasing — you have the honor of sewing or drawing in the missing eye yourself. It's not decoration. It's proof. A record of the work it took to get there, stitched into the gear you did it in.

We can't fill your second eye for you. That part's earned, one training day at a time.

WHO THIS IS FOR

Daruma is for practitioners who measure progress by more than the scoreboard — coaches building academies with real identity, athletes who've replaced one too many gis, and anyone who'd rather own fewer, better things than restock a drawer full of gear that let them down.

When you train in Daruma, you're not just buying a gi. You're choosing gear that respects the same discipline you bring to the mat.

With gratitude, Márcia & João
Co-founders

Ethical & Transparent

Daruma partners with suppliers who share our values:

✔ ethical labor standards
✔ responsible environmental practices
✔ supply chain transparency

When you choose Daruma, you’re supporting better industry practices — full transparency, not hidden costs.

Our hemp fiber is grown in Heilongjiang Province, then cut and sewn by our manufacturing partner in Dongguan, China. We visit in person once a year.

Words From the Mats

What our community keeps telling us:

"I have very sensitive skin and am prone to psoriasis, and this rashguard fits perfectly. It's so gentle on the skin — I'd highly recommend it for anyone with sensitive skin."

— Johan, Bluer Belt,Sweden

Verified Buyer

We couldn't agree more. If that matters to you, you're already training with Daruma.

Gear Built to Last

Most fight gear is made for looks, not lasting performance. We use natural, high-strength fibers like hemp and bamboo, chosen for superior tensile strength, breathability, natural odor resistance and durability.

Our gear lasts longer and performs better, session after session. No constant replacing. No wear-out hassles.