Uniform snobs?

[Knight_Errant]

One of the things that pissed me off about karate was the uniform. It's expensive, it's pretentious and it looks like a set of pyjamas. Nowadays I train in street clothes (more or less- tracksuit and t-shirt and yes, I insist on wearing gloves and shoes for bag work), and I wanted to say so publicly.

[JediMasterChris]

I train in my Hakama and Keikogi or just some gym shorts. I like the hakama because it just feels like you are flowing while hitting people with a Shinai. :D

[paul paterson]

Osu,

Uniform Snobs?

Gi's and other "uniform" for the arts is not expensive apart from a certain art that requires a certain amount of shell protection -see JediMasterChris.

A typical light-weight karate Gi will cost you no more £12 and less if you buy at wholesale. Heavy weight Gi will cost on average £30. But given that most students will have a minimum of 2 the the cost is very little over time.

The Gi is never pretentious, it has no mind, no feeling, nothing. Hence one of the many reasons why a Gi is white.

Training in every day clothes has its benefits especially when partaking in life-like situations. However, at the end of the day wither its a Gi, tracksuit, shorts or day to day wear. Its still a uniform and should be treated as so, as well as with the respect it is due.

But everyone has an opinion, thats yours, as long as you feel comfortable and free and the job gets done. For many of us the Gi and the way it is worn and used is a part of what we do and is a part of our self as it shows others what we as individuals are like inside ourselves....

Osu.
Paul Paterson.

[Knight_Errant]

OK, I can accept that some people might want to wear uniforms. But not me.

[JediMasterChris]

I like wearing Uniforms actually. My Kendo Uniform cost 110$ in America and the armor is 450$Still think a Karate Gi is expensive? :D

[Knight_Errant]

for a cheap piece of cotton whose main aim in life is to be sweated on, yes I do.

[JediMasterChris]

I am sure you have shirts more expensive than that.

[JediMasterChris]

for a cheap piece of cotton



One of the things that pissed me off about karate was the uniform. It's expensive



So it is cheap and expensive?

[Adam]

Errant, if you don't have anything constructive to say about a sport, in this case karate, then fine, be that way. But please don't tell people that what they're doing is wrong if they like it and it works for them. Don't post just to bash.

[Andy Murray]

Hey, everyones got a right to express an opinion.
I don't think Errant is bashing, just telling us about a choice he made and why.
Sometimes that opinion clashes with our own, and that's what we try to discuss. As irrationally as possible usually. :D

Obviously he's not training in heavy duty Karate, as otherwise his T'shirt and tracky's would be getting ripped to bits every night.

[Knight_Errant]

You'd be surprised what is possible with a nice, old, T-shirt and combats. That said, I did once buy a uniform and if a class insists on me wearing it, it will happen because it's simpler that way. I thought it was something that could be discussed, but I have a way of writing inflamatory stuff...

[pgm316]

I like training in T shirt/track suite etc

Prob is they rip to easily or stetch badly out of shape with ease! :(

Gi is good for that, cheap, nothing else takes so much abuse or washing before needing replacing. Judo Gi is best to get hold of if you do plenty of grappling, heavier though.

Only other alternative is lycra :D

[Knight_Errant]

The judo gi, in my opinion, is a much better piece of kit than our karate one. My sister has one and she grapples like a demon!

But for your information, there is an alternative. Try nice heavy cotton combat trousers and a thick T-shirt.

[stump]

The Judo gi has a purpose.....most other material would rip under the abuse Judo Gis get.

Karate Gis are designed to make you look like an okinawan peasant

[Knight_Errant]

which would be cool. But I prefer to look like somebody with combats and a thick navy blue T-shirt on. The Judo gi is more use for serious martial artists.

[pgm316]

They look similar to me ???

The ones I train in at the moment are pretty tuff, not sure what style they are for, nearly as strong as the Judo Gi's.

Never seen a t shirt thats strong enough for grappling.

I like training in T shirts and stuff, I do a lot! But Gi's are so practical, hate to admit it! :D

[stump]

You should try Systema, I believe thats their uniform :)

[Knight_Errant]

Systema sounds like it rocks, from what I've read, but unfortunately I never did meet an instructor of it.

[cioGium]

i don't think that karate uniforms are to make you look like an japanese peasant(more or less an okinowian) because i've seen many pictures of old martial artists from vietnam and china that happend to wear white uniforms- and i think the reason is a more practical one - cotton! (or other material they used to fabric those uniforms):D

[KickChick]

Uniform snobs???.... how ludicrous!

I find there are more snobs out of uniform/dobok/gi than in one!:rolleyes: .... seems they (uniforms) are far more "humbling"... just my opinion.

[Knight_Errant]

well yeah, but the whole 'you must wear your gi or you're not a proper martial artist' thing is a bit wearying.

[Adam]

Strange. I've never come across that attitude in anyone, but then again, i wear a gi.
You can't tell a book by it's cover, nor martial artist by his clothes.
that's my five pence worth of wisdom.

[pgm316]

Originally posted by Knight_errant
well yeah, but the whole 'you must wear your gi or you're not a proper martial artist' thing is a bit wearying.

Any proper MA'ist knows it doesn't matter what you wear, its how you wear it! ;)

[KickChick]

:eek: ... you mean if I'm butt naked I'm still a martial artist??!!!!
LoL:D

[pgm316]

Oh yes and much much more! :D

[JediMasterChris]

LOL! :rolleyes:

[Knight_Errant]

Yeah, you are a martial artist butt-naked, and a very pretty one I bet (feel free to slap me at this point)- and when sensei gives an adult karateka pushups for not wearing his gi, what else is he saying than 'you must wear the gi'?

[Andy Murray]

Originally posted by Knight_errant
when sensei gives an adult karateka pushups for not wearing his gi, what else is he saying than 'you must wear the gi'?

Follow the rules like everyone else or piss off?

[Knight_Errant]

well, yeah, if the man wants you to wear a gi, why not do it. or alternatively, you can in fact piss off and find somewhere new.

[darlph]

You know, I follow the rules at the dojo when I am training or teaching. At home, anything that is comfortable. I agree some of the gi aka unforms, get expensisive. I always have the basic white and black ones for teaching. I have older more comfortable ones for class. You don't have to advertise you're a martial artist, you can do that by your actions.
You signed up for the classes why not respect the rules? Just like school, they don't allow you to wear certain things, if you do that you're only asking for attention. And in reality, it's not good attention.

[Knight_Errant]

I respect rules in karate clubs I dont want to get kicked out of, but not in schools I do...

[Joe karate]

I hate the gi top too. We only have to wear the pants and a shirt. Although we wear it during children classes because the parents like to see their little monsters in pajamas!

[Knight_Errant]

hee hee...

[RedDragon]

I'm going to jump in and give my opinion...
I am a traditionalist... I believe that a Gi is the only garment that we should train in when in the Dojo. We had the opportunity to train in our Gi pants, and our Club T-shirts, but we decided against it, but like I said, we are traditionalists.
Just my $0.02.

[booksie_girl]

I think that the uniform might actually work out to be cheaper than buying t-***** that just get ripped far easier. Also saves the instructor from some brainless idiot who wears a $60 t-shirt to class, rips it, and then flys into a rage.

Uniforms don't bother me, I've spent most of my life wearing school uniforms, and it cuts down on social differences between people. In a uniform, everyone looks the same, no matter how much money they have.

[Chazz]

I think a uniform is great. its light, baggy, i can move well in it. It feels good, and if it gets messed up, oh well thats what its made for. Here in the states you can get a light dobak (uniform) for 11-20 us dollars. You can even get them in many designs and colors.

[Andrew Green]

Dress according to what you are going to do. If you are going to do Judo, you need a gi because you need to be able to grab it.

If you graple no-gi, no need to wear a gi. T-Shirts occasionally rip, but not often. Or go with the Lycra ;)

If you are not grappling... You don't need a gi!

Unless your school says you do, then you do.

I don't like them, well I like the pants. Seen to many track pants and sweats split. But there are other options.

I don't like a belt, and a gi without a belt doesn't stay done up. Come to think of it a gi with a belt doesn't stay done up....