Attanto Customs

Higher Level MMA Kit

September 27, 2024

Higher Level Martial Arts was a part of the Lanark MMA /Dinky Ninja Fight Team since 2001. Higher Level Martial Arts was then founded as a separate entity in 2012. James Doolan founded Higher Level Martial Arts. His martial arts journey began at the age of 8, inspired by Bruce Lee films and his father, who trained in Karate.

Following in his father’s footsteps, James started training in Shotokan Karate and has since gained vast experience across multiple disciplines, earning 4 black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Taekwondo, and Karate.

James knew from the age of 16 that he wanted to become a coach, but felt he needed to compete at least once to be a better teacher. That “one fight” turned into to an impressive fighting career, including a 12-0 Kickboxing record, a 12-1 Muay Thai record, and a 17-2-9 professional MMA record.

In 2013, James retired from fighting to fully focus on coaching.

Higher Level has since become the largest MMA gym in Scotland and one of the most prominent in the UK. The gym has produced athletes who compete in top MMA promotions around the world, including the UFC, PFL, and Cage Warriors.

Taken By Moses MMA Photography

We’ve worked with Higher Level athletes since the early days of Militar, and they were one of our first custom kit orders.

For the kit design, James had a clear vision: blue with gold logos to match the gym’s brand colours and featuring the iconic tartan print.

Taken By Moses MMA Photography

The tartan was a great idea as it holds deep cultural significance for Scots. Historically, tartan was worn to represent clans, and today it symbolizes resilience, strength, and unity, all core values at Higher Level.

The final design included the tartan pattern on the main body of the t-shirt, with plain blue sleeves. For the shorts, a strip of tartan was added across the hem for a sleek, cohesive look.

Taken By Moses MMA Photography

We also incorporated the Higher Level logo on one sleeve, while the kit’s official sponsor, Ryan Gavin Transport (make sure to check them out!), was featured on the other sleeve.

Taken By Moses MMA Photography

James’ clear direction made the design process smooth, and we were able to bring his vision to life. The kit was a huge success, with everyone at the gym loving it. We are now collaborating on more custom items for Higher Level.

As James said, “We were involved in every step of the design process, and the custom kit was designed exactly how we wanted it. The final product was better than I imagined.”