The Karate Uniform: More Than Only An Outfit
"The Karate uniform, or Karate gi as it is formally known, is a traditional white outfit worn by those who practice the martial art of Karate and similar sports. This outfit most often consists of a jacket, trousers, and a belt that keeps the jacket shut.
Though the outfit that is worn by Karateka is pretty similar in appearance to the Judogi that is worn for Judo, there are some major differences, starting with weight. The traditional Judogi is nearly twice the weight of the standard gi. Karateka are far less likely to grapple and throw than Judo practitioners and also more likely to kick and twist in ways that require an extensive level of bodily mobility. To keep the gi durable, it is generally created using double stitched seams, so that it can withstand the wide range of physical activity that Karateka participate in daily. Even with quality stitching, outfits such as these can still become damaged during practice if they are made from overly thin fabric. In order to prevent this from happening, most of these uniforms have at least a weight of 8 oz, with the average weight being around 12 oz. High ranking Karateka often select heavier suits because they are able to perform more aggressively, and they feel that they get more ventilation since the fabric is less likely to stick to their bodies while they are performing. Weight of the suit is also, sometimes chosen based on weight of the practitioner.
Generally there are three styles of gi, they are the European, the Japanese, and the Kata. Out of all three styles, the Kata is the most difficult to find, it also has the very shortest of sleeve lengths.
For the most part, these suits are white, with a few variations existing for modern martial artists. Some clubs will choose different colors of uniform in order to distinguish practitioners from trainers.
The Karate uniform as it is today has long been a staple of the practice. Every martial art has its own type of suit, most of which are quite similar to the traditional gi. The martial arts are often practiced and studied for years, starting when a student is very small and lasting well into adulthood. Because of this, many practitioners will have several suits prior to adulthood. Outfits for this art are formed with heavy fabric and good stitching to help them survive years of hard work and practice. "
About the Author
If you are seeking for more information about this article then just check on Karate Uniform or you can also visit Karate Gear
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here