Gi

The gi (pronounced "gee," with a hard-g) is the standard uniform of many martial arts schools, which consists of baggy pants and a double-breasted jacket. These clothes are common to both European and Asian cultures, to ensure that grabbing techniques will work in any country. Additionally, when everyone looks the same, students must reach into themselves to find and cultivate what makes them different a unique, instead of hiding behind pieces of flair.

[Photo of a Gi, laied out on the floor]

Nomenclature

Calling a martial arts uniform a gi is mostly a English-language slang term; “-gi” is a suffix in Japanese. The more appropriate term would be a keikogi (“practice uniform”) or dōgi (“Way-uniform”).

The pants (zubon) are held up with a drawstring. Contrary to popular belief, karate belts play no role in keeping your pants up. Gi pants feature a large rhomboidal patch in their inseams (a gusseted or “diamond” crotch) so students can stretch and kick without ripping their pants.

The gi jacket (uwagi) is double-breasted, and held closed with a belt. While many gi jackets have additional string ties, these are often more trouble then they are worth. Small items can be stored in the little pocket formed by the belt and the left front side. The gi jacket has a reinforced collar and lapels because these are the most commonly-grabbed parts, and are subject to the most abuse. Karate involves less grabbing and grappling than jūdō and jūjutsu/jiu-jitsu, so karategi are lighter and aren't quilted like jūdōgi.

The belt (obi) is made from quilted canvas, and is much longer than most people expect. The belt wraps around your waist twice before being tied with a square knot. When tied properly, both ends of the belt hang downward. Belts are color-coded to the student’s rank, as a mnemonic to help instructors know where a student is within the school's curriculum.

Regulations

Goshin-Jutsu stylists wear black gi exclusively, since they are easier to maintain. A once-black gi that has faded to grey is also acceptable.

Each manufacturer has their own gi sizing system, which does not correlate to any other sizing system. Try before you buy. Most instructors have extra gi sitting around, so this isn’t an issue, but if you insist on getting your own from a website or catalog, check their return policy or caveat emptor.

Gi sleeves and pant legs arrive extremely long, since manufacturers err on the side of caution and assume that everyone is gangly. You will most likely need to hem the sleeves and pants to meet the criteria for a properly fitted gi:

• The sleeve cuffs must be above your wrists, but below your elbows.
• The leg cuffs must be above your ankles, but below your knees.
• The jacket must cover your butt.
• The ends of your belt must hang down to the bottom of your jacket.

Women may have some difficulty finding a properly fitting gi, because they are unisex clothes -- and by unisex, we mean men’s. As such, there are no darts (i.e., triangular patches which account for bust sizes), and the pants assume the wearer's hips and waist are of equal size. Women should also note that the left side of the jacket goes over the right.

Please comply with the following additional uniform rules and regulations:

• Once you have been issued a gi, you are not permitted to train without one.
• Always clean your gi before training.
• No one (except children waiting for their ride) should wear their gi in public.
• Never wear a gi without an obi.
• Avoid wearing an obi without a gi jacket.
• Male students must wear a groin cup and supporter to be in uniform.
  • While they may seem uncomfortable at first, it beats the alternative.
• Female students are permitted to wear T-shirts, camisoles, or rashguards under their gi jackets to preserve their modesty.
• Long hair should be tied back into a ponytail or bun.
• Students must train barefoot to preclude rolling their ankles. Wearing shoes can also contaminate the mats with staph/MRSA or ringworm.
  • If a student has a foot-related medical issue that requires wearing shoes, they should discuss this with their instructor.
• Finger and toe nails must be kept trimmed. Long nails will cut other students. You cannot make a proper fist with long nails, resulting in broken hands.
• For student and item safety, the following are forbidden during training:
  • Hats and sunglasses.
  • All jewelry, excluding wedding rings.
    • This includes any and all necklaces, bracelets, anklets, watches, talismans, amulets, and non-wedding rings -- regardless of their personal significance.
  • Any and all body piercings must be removed prior to training.
    • Tape or bandages will not secure piercings. We’ve got some horror stories.
  • Chewing gum and/or food.
  • Metal or plastic items worn in the hair.

History

Traditionally, karateka had no standard uniform. Since many jūdō and jūjutsu techniques involve grabbing the opponent’s clothes, most of the great karate masters throughout history stripping to their underpants before fighting as a defensive countermeasure.

Karate was initially rejected when it was first introduced to Japan, in part because karateka lacked uniforms, which the Japanese thought to be necessary for spiritual development. Gitchin Funakoshi corrected this by appropriating the jūdōgi, which could not be rejected because jūdō was extremely popular at the time.

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