Types Of Karate Gi

[Shari Blair]

The humble Karate Gi, a simple jacket and trousers affair, designed by
the Japanese as the standard uniform in Karate training. No one can
probably remember why it was designed so, but, with an educated guess,
one can probably conclude that it was simple to make, functional, and
allowed for freedom of movement and practical demonstration of a wide
variety of movements. As with much that is Karate, and therefore
Japanese, tradition is everything. It doesn't really matter why, or
where from, it just is! And so the humble Karate Gi has changed very
little in the concept of functionality.
However, no longer is the choice simply a white all cotton Karate Gi.
Once, the only place you could buy your Gi was from your Instructor,
and many of us happily parted with '20 for a very basic Gi, and well
over '100 for a 'top of the range' Tokaido! There was just nowhere you
could go to buy these on the high street, and therefore, the
Instructor made a nice extra income from the sale of clothing, and
equipment, and no one minded, and quite rightly so!
Now we live in a far different age, where the Internet has not only
brought communication to the farthest reaches, it has, consequently,
shrunk our world. No more expensive phone calls at un-Godly hours of
the day to suppliers at the other end of the World, no more painfully
typing our a Telex (who, reading this, remembers those?), and even the
once technological marvel, the Fax, it has all been replaced by that
most instant of messaging services...the email! Websites can be up in
minutes, and a few minutes later, your shop can be viewed from
anywhere in the World.
Suddenly, everything that was once difficult to obtain, became easy,
and it is getting easier all the time! Costs, as a result, have
plummeted, because people refuse to pay those once high prices. No
longer do customers simply trust their Instructor, they go out and
research the product, and will find the best bargain they can! Prices
have also tumbled because production has moved out of Japan, and into
more cost effective areas such as China and Pakistan. It still exists
in Japan, of course, but these tend to be very much the premium priced
products.
So has this affected the quality? Well, yes and no. A Japanese made Gi
is still held in high esteem, especially among traditionalists, but it
is no longer the sole bastion of a quality Karate Gi. With such a high
demand, it was always inevitable that a more cost effective solution
had to be found. And with that, so the development of raw material
began, hand in hand with world demand, driving prices down through
higher demands. As with all products in any market place, there is
good and bad, but a few well placed questions and research will
generally help you sort out which is which.
As a result of all this, the humble Karate Gi has not only matured, it
has spawned many an offspring, with a multitude of colour options,
different blends of polyester and cotton, and even different fabric
types. White is still by far and away the most popular choice. But,
even then, you have a wide choice of styles available:
Japanese Cut - Traditional, still favoured by many, especially in
competition. Recognisable by it's shorter sleeves and legs.
European Cut - Increasingly popular, the jacket and trousers follow
more traditional western dress codes of a full length leg and sleeve,
in the same way as, say, a traditional 2 piece suit.
Kumite Gi - A specially made Karate Gi for fighting, or Kumite
Sparring. These tend to be a blend of polyester and cotton, with a
'ribbed' fabric finish, designed to be light and give the competitor
more mobility. They also aid cooling by allowing sweat to pass through
the Gi, and away from the body.
Kata Gi - Designed for competition Kata, or 'patterns, a set piece
whereby a Karateka (someone who practises Karate) performs a series of
set moves, demonstrating blocks, kicks, counter strikes etc. Each
grade, be they Kyu (coloured belt ranks) or Dan (black belt ranks),
each of these grades will have their own Kata to perform. These are
typically available in 3 weight sizes, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz, and in
Japanese or European cut. At this level, it is very much a preference
of the competitor.
Training Gi - Usually the most basic Gi, typically anything from 6oz
to 10oz in weight, and made from 100% cotton or a polyester/cotton
blend.
Generally, as students progress, so their preference for heavier
weight Karate Gi develops. The weight refers to the thickness of the
material used to make the Gi. Medium and heavy weight Karate Gi tend
to be exclusively cotton, as polyester blends are not as practical or
cost effective at these weights.
There are even different finishes available on Karate Gi. The standard
'canvas' style that is the most commonly available, can also be
produced with a 'brushed' finish. Again, this is more typical of the
heavier Karate Gi. Brushing created a much softer feel, and is
certainly a superior quality. It 'hangs' better from the body, and
presentation wise, in competition at least, can really set one
competitor apart from another!
As well as traditional white, you can also buy your Karate Gi in
Black, Blue, Red, or even 'dual coloured'! Certainly not as common as
white, but Black is probably the next most common colour of Karate Gi.
With all Martial Arts Clothing increasing in variety and design, which
it is easy to become confused. As a general guide, if you are a
beginner, look for a standard training Gi, typically around the '11 to
'14 mark is a good guide. Material type is a personal choice. Cotton
is still the best, but it does shrink, whereas polyester blends do
not. Polyester/cotton also feels slightly different, can be prone to
static, and is not suitable for anyone with allergies to man made
fibres.
Beyond your first Karate Gi, what you buy thereafter will more than
likely be based on recommendations of your fellow students, or even
your Instructor. The Internet offers a wealth of possibilities in
researching various types and brands, so don't be frightened to have a
good look around, maybe call a couple of suppliers and talk to them
about their products. And, remember, buying a Gi to try is a
worthwhile option. If you don't like it, you can always return it, so
the risks are minimal, but the ability to get the right Gi for you has
never been simpler!

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