Gi Care

[Rowlie]

A real manly question: can my white cotton gi be tumble dried? There are two sets of instructions which both differ from each other.

[Melanie]

I always drip dry my Gi. I put it on hangers and put it in the airing cupboard so wouldn't know sorry!

[ladyhawk]

Same here. I always hang dry mine.
My gi has the relaxed fit that I like so I don't
want to chance shrinking them.

[YODA]

My Gold Weave BJJ Gi goes in the tumble dryer - haven't had any problems with it.

[Saz]

I used to tumble dry my gi too, It was Ok but it shrank a bit. Not a problem since it was way too big anyway :)

[YODA]

Yeah - My Gi shrank a bit the 1st few times I tumble dried it - but it was a little baggy anyway and BJJ Gi's are meant to be "snug" - the arms shrunk maybe an inch.

[Rowlie]

I have avoided hanging my gi to dry over the back of our Ercol chairs this time. The varnish stained the jacket on the shoulders and trousers by the crotch. Looked like I had had an accident. Luckily it came out with the next wash.

[Melanie]

If you spin dry the Gi it shouldn't be sodden when you get it out of the machine - just chuck it onto a hanger and put it in the airing cupboard or on a curtain rail over a radiator - its shouldn't take too long

[Chazz]

Depending on the type for dobok that you have. The lightweights i do put in the machine but the thicker heavy weights i hang dry on a plastic hanger .

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Never had a problem with any of ours (we've been through about nine total) so I'd guess tumble drying is fairly safe, if you get it out still warm it saves on ironing too.

[Greyghost]

Washed my Gi for the first time...it came out bright orange.....fortunately i had a yellow sash and a hong kong book of kung-fu to go with it.

regards,

Penry,

(mild mannered janitor):D

[Rowlie]

I didn't expect so many replies on gi care. Haven't managed to dye mine a different colour yet, Greyghost. Give it time though.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Yeah, you don't wanna mix it with colours if you can help it. I spent two months training with someone in a pink do-bok, could barely move for the laughter.

[Rowlie]

Could the pink do-bok be the ultimate type of defence? (A little like Monty Python's funniest joke used on helpless German troops?)

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Nah, he got irritated by my laughing and tensed up, meaning that he slowed down and telegraphed. Besides, could you walk around in a pink do-bok?

[waya]

ewwwwww I look bad in pink.... Fushia maybe, with brown dots on it lol

[KarateKid1975]

I got a problem with the TKD dobok. It shrank! gggggrrrrrrrr The Centery ones are bad with shrinking. But my school does have another brand (I can't remember what it is off hand) that doesn't shrink, and I keep bugging them for it.

As far as washing and drying .... I was mine with only lights. I also use Oxy-Clean, because I have hard water. If I didn't, my uniform would turn yellow. I tumble dry also, because a lack of time LOL.

[waya]

Does your school use logos on the uniform, or can you purchase your own?

Rob

[Rowlie]

'Pink Dobok' sounds like a 50s number. As for logos on the uniform - I'm unaware of any but I know that Melanie sports something on her shoulder. It could be the Shotokan tiger. But then I'm male and unobservant, see! (Or not...)

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Motto in korean on one lapel, logo of the art on the other, country flag on one sleeve and korean flag on the other, then the name of the martial art and motto again on the back. And instructors wear a badge of either Assistant Instructor, Instructor or Chief Instructor above the country flag.

[Melanie]

Hahaha - the logo on my arm is from another organisation. As we haven't appeared to have been in any competitions so far - I don't think its become necessary for us to sport any particular logos as yet.

At least you noticed something eh Rowlie? :)

[Rowlie]

I try. Did you get the message about Wednesday?

ckdstudent - is there any room on your uniform?

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Plenty, the badges are fairly small, there's a picture in the photo gallery I think.

[Melanie]

Yep - sure did Rowlie - Pity...I was looking forward to hitting you again :D Till next wednesday I suppose! Beat ya up Friday too :D

[YODA]

BJJ Gi's (or Kimonos as the Brazillians call them) are usually resplendent in all sorts of patches.

Mine has a big "Gameness" logo in Gothic script down the front (The bottoms have the same patch on the right thigh), a small "Gameness comptition gear" embroidered on one sleeve, a Gamness Pitbull logo embroidered on the other sleeve - and a BIG Gameness Pitbull patch on the back - with the following words around it...

"Gameness means that neither fatigue nor pain will cause the fighter to loose his enthusiasm for fighting contact"

Cool huh? LOL!

[KarateKid1975]

We have the school name on ours (on the back), and they won't let us buy uniforms from somewhere else (except the pants).

[Rowlie]

How long, on average, will a gi/dobok/kimono last?

[YODA]

The way my Gi is built I can't see it ever wearing out - quality product!

[Saz]

I guess it depends on how the gi gets treated. Mine don't seem to last long, I'm on my second gi in 2 years. I bought a better one this time, so I hope it lasts longer.

Has anyone had their Gi brushed up, so that it goes fleecy? It sounds weird I know, but a few of the guys at my club have had it done with theirs.

[Chazz]

Has anyone had their Gi brushed up, so that it goes fleecy? It sounds weird I know, but a few of the guys at my club have had it done with theirs.

What do you mean by "brushed up, so that it goes fleecy"

[Rowlie]

The mind boggles.

[Saz]

I don't know what exactly they do to it, but they have some kind of brushing done that makes it go a lot softer and fluffier than it normally would be. Maybe they're just being softies :D

[Rowlie]

Another little devil!

[Chazz]

I wish i could have mine done. Our black belt get the heaviest uniforms our company make and sometime we feel like we will die in a work out with them on

[Rowlie]

Is there a significance as to why different MAs wear different style/colour gis? (If that is how you spell the plural?)

[Pacificshore]

Some wear certain colors, such as all white or all black, based on tradition. Some wear colorful ones for tournament shows and performances. Some are only allowed to wear a white gi until they make their black belt rank, then they may be allowed to wear the black gi, or mix and match their gi colors. Alot depends on the school's instructor too.

[Sam]

ive found the best way to dry my gi and then not have to iron it basically i put it in the tumble dryer till its only slightly damp hten put both arms over the corner of medium sized radiator to let it finsh off drying ive always put mine in the dryer and never had any problems

skc