Karate Gi
Karate gi consists of two words that are taken from Japanese language. The word “Karate” refers to a form of martial art that originated from Japan. Meanwhile, the word “gi” in karate gi is a Japanese word that means cloth or uniform. Karate gi is a term commonly used to refer to the uniform used for Karate training or competition.
Origin of Karate Gi
As opposed to the other martial art uniforms, karate gi is designed to facilitate free movement of a karate practitioner. Karate uniform or karate gi is normally made of light materials with slightly shorten sleeves or pants. Many believe that the first form of karate gi or karate uniform is originally invented by the fisherman or farmers of Okinawa, a location in Japan.
Another theory gives a reason to the colour and shape of a karate gi. Due to the implementation of law that prohibited possession or usage of weapons, people train Karate in secret, mostly at night. The white colour robe (traditional karate gi) is said to resemble the sleeping robe and prevent the authority from spotting the illegal activities. The current karate gi is a thicker version of the robe (old karate gi) that was used during the banned period.
Components of Karate Gi
There are three basic component of a karate gi or karate uniform, namely: half body robe, pants and a belt.
Mostly, karate gi will be in white colour, though in modern days, some karate dojo accept different colour of the martial art uniform, such as: black, red or blue. There are no standard materials for making a karate gi. However light weight materials such as cotton or cotton-polyester is preferred as the material for karate gi for traditional karate trainees meanwhile a heavier and more durable type of fabric will be preferred by karate expert for competition and heavy duty training.
Buying Karate Gi
The first consideration should be the size of the karate gi / karate uniform. The size should directly correspond to the height of the karateka. This is the primary criterion. Other considerations for choosing karate gi are weight and length of the arms and legs. Avoid purchasing karate gi that fits perfectly at the stores. It is likely to shrink after a few washes. Purchase a karate gi that is slightly bigger, because such karate uniform will fit perfectly after a short period of usage.
KARATE GI comes in various colors. Many times the school determines the color of karate gi the students should have. Traditional schools prefer white karate gi. Other colors in use are black, blue and even red. Some schools introduce special patches on the karate uniform to distinguish themselves further.
The quality of the karate gi is also an important factor to consider. There are three types of karate gi sold today. The lightweight karate gi is about 6 oz in weight. It easily rips when grappled during extensive training. After extensive exercises, the karate uniform clings to the karateka in an uncomfortable manner.
Light canvas style material provides better quality of a karate gi. It is able to withstand vigorous training sessions without ripping. It has the capacity to absorb sweat and the karateka feels quite comfortable in such karate gi. This karate gi weighs about 10 oz. Such karate gi is the most popular. Manufacturers also make a heavier karate gi weighing 14 oz. The 14 oz karate gi absorbs the most sweat comparatively and keeps the player cool throughout the training session. Manufacturers have added another process to soften the canvas material and make it more comfortable for use. The only drawback with this type of karate uniform is that it takes up too much space in your training bag.
Traditional Karate Gi
The traditional karate gi comes with a drawstring waist. The drawstring waist helps to keep the pants from slipping off even when pulled. As an additional safeguard, the hem should be much wider than the drawstring. Lately manufacturers have added an elastic waistband to the pants of a karate gi. However, you still require a string to safeguard the elastic. The downside is that the elastic applies constant pressure on the stomach thereby hindering easy breathing during training.
The Different Cut of Karate Gi
Karate gi come in two cuts namely, traditional cut and tournament cut. The traditional cut karate gi has longer sleeves and pants compared to the tournament cut. Some believe the karate gi with tournament cut enhances speed and mobility. However, this is only a subjective opinion that has not basis on fact.
Once you find a karate gi that fits your purpose, it is advisable to purchase another pair of similar karate gi since you may not find another of such quality. There is no such thing as the best brand when it comes to purchasing karate gi. Manufacturers generally follow the same standards.
