Brushed cotton gi

[opr1945101]

I just discovered that Karate Gis come in brushed cotton, even heavyweights. I have heavyweight gis. The 16oz one my wife says it feels like cardboard. Even the 12 oz gi feels like stiff canvas.

When I think of brushed cotton I think of warm fuzzy soft thin flexible fabric. Apparently, brushed cotton come in heavyweight gis.

So, how would a heavyweight brushed cotton Gi compare to a traditional canvas heavyweight Gi?

Absorbed sweat better, warmer, less durable, longer to dry from wash? retains sweat longer and gets soggy after a hard session? less abrasive on the skin? others?

Thanks.

 

[philwhite33]

I have a century 10 oz all cotton gi. They are quite soft after they break in. If it is not preshrunk then beware. They shrink a ton. Be prepared to lose 4 or more inches.

I also have a century Ironman which I prefer (it fits better) but it is nowhere as soft.

 

[Gyakuto103]

I just discovered that Karate Gis come in brushed cotton, even heavyweights. I have heavyweight gis. The 16oz one my wife says it feels like cardboard. Even the 12 oz gi feels like stiff canvas.

Ironing the dōgi has makes them feel even stiffer.

When I think of brushed cotton I think of warm fuzzy soft thin flexible fabric. Apparently, brushed cotton come in heavyweight gis.

It won’t have a thick pile like wool, but the fibres are raised a little mimicking a year’s wear and laundering. It’s made by passing the canvas through rotating metal brushes.

So, how would a heavyweight brushed cotton Gi compare to a traditional canvas heavyweight Gi?

The tend to be a bit softer to the touch since the fibres are slightly raised. Ironing them will flatten the pile and make them like regular canvas dōgi.

Absorbed sweat better,

Yes.

warmer,

Imperceptibly.

less durable,

Not really. All that’s been done to it is a very rough brushing.

longer to dry from wash?

Not very likely, but ironing them will reduce the brushed effect making it more like regular canvas.

retains sweat longer and gets soggy after a hard session?

Not perceptibly. But they will absorb perspiration a little better than ordinary canvas, which, after ironing, is like thick cardboard!

less abrasive on the skin?

Yes. The feel nicer on the skin, but real Karateka are not pansies

others?

They tend not to have that slight sheen you get on ironed canvas; they’re more matte.

Thanks.

You’re welcome!

 

[HighKick1]

Ironing the dōgi has makes them feel even stiffer.

It won’t have a thick pile like wool, but the fibres are raised a little mimicking a year’s wear and laundering. It’s made by passing the canvas through rotating metal brushes.

The tend to be a bit softer to the touch since the fibres are slightly raised. Ironing them will flatten the pile and make them like regular canvas dōgi.

Yes.

Imperceptibly.


Not really. All that’s been done to it is a very rough brushing.

Not very likely, but ironing them will reduce the brushed effect making it more like regular canvas.

Not perceptibly. But they will absorb perspiration a little better than ordinary canvas, which, after ironing, is like thick cardboard!

Yes. The feel nicer on the skin, but real Karateka are not pansies

They tend not to have that slight sheen you get on ironed canvas; they’re more matte.

You’re welcome!

A lot of what you just commented could be completely wrong based on that the canvas is made of. Canvas is more commonly made of linen and not cotton. Brushed linen (or worn linen) is going be fuzzed, not 'brushed up'. This is a sign of wear. Linen canvas is where you get the distinctive 'snap' a lot of people/styles are looking for. About the only thing you can do to soften it up is to wear it, a Lot. Ironing/starching will crispen up even a well worn linen Gi for a bit.

 

[gspell68]

I never really gave it much thought since I haven’t bought a gi since the 1980’s until last month.
But yeah, pretty much every single thing you mentioned is in effect with the brushed cotton according to ChatGPT.
Plus less break-in time and maybe even a bit less snap, crackle, and pop on your kicks and punches if you’re into that kind of thing for tournaments or whatever.

KI had some pretty decent deals on their basic KI and Mugen colored label lines, most of which are brushed 12 to 14 oz cotton.
I settled on the plain ol’ 10 oz cotton orange label which is fairly stiff in its own right.
I used to see KI uniforms a lot back in the 1980s and 1990s when there were fewer choices than today.

White Uniforms :: 1. Karate Gi :: KI International Corporation

Since 1974, we have been supplying our high quality martial arts, karate, and judo uniforms to the U.S. market. Our company motto is 'supplying high-quality uniforms at a very reasonable price.' Once you try our uniforms and belts, you will understand that we are not a company that compromise...

www.kiintl.com

 

[Gyakuto103]

If I could’ve found a dōgi made of 476oz, white titanium back in the day, I’d’ve bought one. I don’t understand all this ‘lighter weight’ thing going on. Is it due to global warming or are Karateka just too soft these days?

 

[gspell68]

If I could’ve found a dōgi made of 476oz, white titanium back in the day, I’d’ve bought one. I don’t understand all this ‘lighter weight’ thing going on. Is it due to global warming or are Karateka just too soft these days?

Yep.
Back then?
Me too!

But we probably spent 50% of our dojo time fighting and tugging and tuckin’ our scratchy ol’ sweaty gis rather than fighting opponents, but, by golly, they sure sounded cool!

 

[Gyakuto103]

Yep.
Back then?
Me too!

Yeah, they’re freely available now, albeit from NASA.

But we probably spent 50% of our dojo time fighting and tugging and tuckin’ our scratchy ol’ sweaty gis rather than fighting opponents, but, by golly, they sure sounded cool!

Back then, I was always dry, handsome and debonair. Now, I’m just dry; thank goodness for small mercies!

 

[HighKick1]

If I could’ve found a dōgi made of 476oz, white titanium back in the day, I’d’ve bought one. I don’t understand all this ‘lighter weight’ thing going on. Is it due to global warming or are Karateka just too soft these days?

When you are going balls out for three 2-minute rounds wearing full gear including a hogu where head kicks and spinning kicks give more points, you want the uniform as light as possible.
Ask me how I know.

 

[gspell68]

When you are going balls out for three 2-minute rounds wearing full gear including a hogu where head kicks and spinning kicks give more points, you want the uniform as light as possible.
Ask me how I know.

Or in an old 1920’s, pre-air conditioning, community center in central Florida where I first started my karate journey.
Or here in the Philippines, where my karate journey may kick off again.

 

[opr1945101]

Yesterday when I was at the dojo I came across a guy with two Ronin Gis. A red label 14oz brushed cotton gi. And what he said was a black label gi 16oz . I didn't think the brushed cotton felt any different from the regular cotton gi. (when I went to the Ronin web site I did not find a 16 oz cotton gi model for sale. But Amazon listed Ronin one for sale?).

 

[Gyakuto103]

Yesterday when I was at the dojo I came across a guy with two Ronin Gis. A red label 14oz brushed cotton gi. And what he said was a black label gi 16oz . I didn't think the brushed cotton felt any different from the regular cotton gi.

I suspect the brushing just makes the material softer in initially, ‘off the peg’. After a few wearing, launderings and ironings, it’ll feel like any other dōgi. Brushed cotton dōgi are for soft people who need to toughen up.

(when I went to the Ronin web site I did not find a 16 oz cotton gi model for sale. But Amazon listed Ronin one for sale?).

Manufacturers supply their products to retailers who likely have several of them in their warehouse ready for sale while the manufacturer will soon be depleted.

Hope this helps.

 

[opr1945101]

interesting, thanks.

 

[Gyakuto103]

My gym is freezing cold in the winter 3 to 4 Celsius at times. So I started investing in sweatshirts and tracky bottoms with a fleecy lining. They are so effective at keeping one’s muscles warm, perfused with good blood flow and surprisingly, their light weight and their cut is really flattering!

I wonder if you can buy dōgi with fleecy linings…for the Scandinavian countries

 

[Same Trick49]

My gym is freezing cold in the winter 3 to 4 Celsius at times.

I wonder if you can buy dōgi with fleecy linings…for the Scandinavian countries

In the old days we wore polar bear fur dōgi…..and horned helmets, nowadays I think it fallen out of fashion, or because of central heating ??

Your British dojo sounds as cozy as my XYQ teachers wuguan….actually most wuguan(s) are outdoors here, it was fun training up there in Manchuria with winters of -20 degrees Celsius(southern part and warmest part of that region)

 

[Gyakuto103]

In the old days we wore polar bear fur dōgi…..and horned helmets, nowadays I think it fallen out of fashion, or because of central heating ??

Poor polar bears…

Your British dojo sounds as cozy as my XYQ teachers wuguan….actually most wuguan(s) are outdoors here, it was fun training up there in Manchuria with winters of -20 degrees Celsius(southern part and warmest part of that region)

Oh I mean my weight training gym. Because I take a 2 minute rest between sets, I rarely get hot and actually get too cool, especially in the winter months.

 

[Same Trick49]

Poor polar bears…

yep, some say it’s from where we got the word “berserk” - bear clothing

 

[Stuarto64]

Poor polar bears…

Oh I mean my weight training gym. Because I take a 2 minute rest between sets, I rarely get hot and actually get too cool, especially in the winter months.

I have the opposite problem, I sweat a lot! It doesn't take too long for me to start sweating buckets though it makes me feel good and I actually feel like I am training well.

 

[Gyakuto103]

I have the opposite problem, I sweat a lot! It doesn't take too long for me to start sweating buckets though it makes me feel good and I actually feel like I am training well.

I used to be similarish , with perspiration running down my face even when engaged in moderate exercise in moderate temperatures. I hated it but fortunately it wasn’t associated with any malodorous smell. Then I discovered Odaban antiperspirant which stops perspiration dead! It’s amazing although it has to applied the night before it’s required and when you’re not in the process of actively perspiring (use a fan to prevent that).

Now I’m older and have lost subcutaneous fat, I hardly perspire at all Even when working out hard, in the gym I barely ‘get a dab on’… like Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor…and there is where the similarities end I bet Mountbatten-Windsor’s sweating now

 

[opr1945101]

Kind of amazing how these discussion threads posts wander from one topic to another. But, I have nothing better to do than read them. Thanks all.