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"To Gi Or Not To Gi..."

From: Jason Stanley
3rd Dan Shitoryu
August 23, 2004

My heart sank as I pulled it from my training bag.

It had been sitting in there wadded up and suffocating for 4 days.

Nothing else would survive for that long without oxygen and my karate uniform was no different.

The $20 bedsheet that I'd been wearing had not endured the weekend and somehow in the next 3.5 minutes I was sure I could make it look respectable before I entered the tatami... Well, I was hoping...

It was 1988 and I'd just begun training - and like most karate newbies I fell directly into the trap into which all new karateka fall. I took off my uniform after training, jammed it into my karate bag and completely forgot about it... until a few minutes before the next class.

When I removed it , it was green...

....and didn't smell that great!

And when I put it on, I realized something to make matters worse - it was still damp!

Yuk!

If that wasn't bad enough...as I walked down the hall to the tatami, I noticed that my buddy had decided to play a big ole joke on me. He'd stuck a bright blue triangular "Ghostbusters" badge directly over my club patch!

Somehow he thought this would be a laugh and it would have been if I'd discovered it anytime other than right before class... but the fact that my gi was already green, stinky and a wrinkled mess probably wasn't going to go over well with my sensei! Luckily I was able to remove the patch before my sensei saw it.

These are the memories I have of my first gi - it was a nasty, low quality "newbie" special. The kind we all get when we first start. At this point in our karate training we aren't sure if we'll be doing it for long, so we justify our choice by reassuring ourselves that we can get a better one later on.

And like anything... pay peanuts and you get monkeys. That's exactly what a cheap uniform is... the monkey of karate gis. As soon as you work up a sweat, it'll stick to you like a shower curtain. Furthermore because of the "clinginess" it can make you feel bad about your technique (because you're so uncomfortable) which shows when you practice.

Not to mention if you ever do any kind of grappling or wrestling wearing it, you can kiss this uniform goodbye after the first session - because you'll be lucky if those little ties on the side that hold your uniform together aren't the only things that get ripped off at the first sign of stress.

We've all had them at one point in our karate lives - and if yours is/was anything like mine then you'll know what I'm talking about!

Many of us have 'seen the light' and have since gotten a heavier, better quality gi. Some are still in their first gi, suffering through the insufficiencies. And others are still debating what they get as their first gi. So what are the pros and cons of the Newbie Special?

The Newbie Special

Pros

• inexpensive - great if you have a family of kids that do karate - 5 uniforms for 50 bucks!

Cons

• sticks to you like a wet bedsheet when you work up a light sweat
• seams and stitching may not survive harsh wear
• low quality material - tears and wrinkles easily
• standard one-cut-fits-all

After my first gi I thought I'd take the plunge and dive right into a brand new 14 ounce heavy duty canvas special. I'd seen some senior students at the club with these and thought one of these was for me.

At last I'd have a duruable uniform that would survive a grappling session; a uniform that would give my technique the coveted "crack" that leaves new students in awe. And no way was this one going to stick to my body and make me look like a drowned cat!

So I invested the better part of $75 in a heavy duty gi and for many years it stood the test of time. It was great -- durable and fit reasonably well. In fact I liked it so much that I continued to wear it until the collar was completely frayed and the ties on both sides had been ripped off several times. Eventually, when even after a good wash couldn't make it white, I thought it was time to let the angel of death claim it for good.

Heavy Duty

Pros

• durable - will survive a grappling session no problem - but still untie the ties on the side or when you finish class your gi will be like a drawn stage curtain
• makes a great 'crack' during techniques =)

Cons

• heavy & thick - maybe too thick for some. It could probably stand vertically by itself.
• hot!

After a couple of years I was ready for another gi and this time I thought I'd try out one of the 3/4 sleeve type gis that also had the longer cut top. I'd seen some instructors wearing this kind of gi and thought that I'd like one.

The only thing that I wasn't crazy about was that it only came in a medium weight - 10 to 12 ounce. I convinced myself that this would probably be ok since the heavy duty cardboard monster I'd been wearing for so long really didn't have the nice cut of this style.

So again, it was out with the old and in with the new and before you knew it, I loved this uniform too. It served me for many years... until a heavy grappling session when the side ties fell off and the uniform started to rip.

Medium Weight

Pros

• lighter than the heavy duty so your movement is easier
• comfortable and shouldn't stick to you like the newbie special

Cons

• will be challenged under heavy wearing - not designed for grappling/wrestling

After many years of stitching the side ties back on to my uniform and putting up with a frayed collar, I finally bit the bullet and invested in a high quality, perfect-fit uniform. Perfect fit in a karate gi?

Rare to find this, true....but certainly possible.

If you're frustrated because your gi is a little too big, but to go smaller you'd have to make longer ties on the side, OR if you find that you're swimming in the gi you own already, then a "half size" might be for you.

That's right! The best manufacturers make gis in half sizes.

They also make uniforms in a variety of cuts, shapes and sizes.

And of course they have different weights available.

So where do you find the right uniform for you?

Kamikaze to the Rescue!

I found the latest edition to my karate fashion wardrobe at KamikazeUsa.com

Kamikaze USA have a whole range of different uniforms. You are bound to find something that suits your needs. And if you're overwhelmed by all the different options and not sure which one to choose - do what I did. Pick up the phone and call them for advice.

In just a few minutes, Larry Rogers gave me the run down on their whole line. He let me know which gi was good for which application and all the pricing information. And then when my uniform arrived I was rapt.

So what did I get that I'm so impressed with?

I originally wanted the Kamikaze America and I needed it immediately however it was out of stock when I ordered - probably due to it's popularity. So instead I chose the Budokan Samurai - with which I've got to say I'm delighted. Apparently it's the same uniform as the Kamikaze America - just with a different tag.

It's a 14 oz (heavy weight) brushed cotton gi. That means it's a heavy weight gi that is durable and tough but is very comfortable to wear because of the "brushed" effect. The other thing I like about it is that it's the perfect size for me. It's a 5.5 which is great for someone 6' tall. A size 6 would be a little too big and a size 5 would just be small enough to frustrate me.

Finally the cut of the uniform is terrific. It has the long top that I like and the pants actually fit! It doesn't cling to me when I work up a sweat and it helps display stances and technique very well, unlike some gis that are cut so wide that they hide your legs from view.

So next time your considering a new gi, don't fall into the Newbie Special and Cardboard Monster traps that I did. First check out what www.KamikazeUsa.com have to offer. Speak to Larry and he'll be happy to give advice and recommend what will suit you best.

In summary here are a list of things that are important when considering a new uniform.

If you're going to invest in a quality gi, then it should...

• fit perfectly - yes perfectly. And if it doesn't then have it hemmed. You want to be comfortable!
  
• have the cut you desire - to show stances nicely and to have plenty of room for movement
  
• be the correct weight for your desire - to endure a wrestling session, or be of lighter weight if you're doing long intense sparring sessions in which a heavy gi will be uncomfortable
  
• not stick to you like gum on a shoe when you work up a sweat
  
• be made of high quality material so it breathes well and keeps you comfortable

Remember to check your uniform before your wear it! Also, please remember to take it out of your bag between sessions to avoid embarrassment and show it the respect it deserves!

Until next time,

Stay safe, train hard.

Jason Stanley
www.karatetips.com