GI weights?

[opr1945]

I have been looking at different brands of GIs for sale. I have noticed that one brand will list it's 10 oz GI as middle weight while another will list it's 10 oz GI as hea vy weight. How can the same weight be light, medium or heavy weight?

 

[gyoja]

I have been looking at different brands of GIs for sale. I have noticed that one brand will list its 10 oz GI as middle weight while another will list it's 10 oz GI as hea vy weight. How can the same weight be light, medium or heavy weight?

It is up to the manufacturer.

 

[Gyakuto]

I have been looking at different brands of GIs for sale. I have noticed that one brand will list it's 10 oz GI as middle weight while another will list it's 10 oz GI as hea vy weight. How can the same weight be light, medium or heavy weight?

Keikogi weight is yet to be codified and then standardised by the ‘International Bureau of Weights and Measures’ (Bureau international des poids et mesures) but I’m sure it’s on their to do list.

 

[opr1945]

found this.

Lightweight Kyokushin Embroidered Gi​

10 oz triple stitched bleached gi with Kyokushin kanji. 100% cotton canvas with 0% shrinkage. Triple stitched all around. Extra padding in shoulder area to absorb sweat. Extra thick lapel for self defense moves. Easy flow drawstring system. White belt and patches included with purchase.


And immediately next to it this, same brand/seller:

 

[opr1945]

My previous above was posted by accident and is unfinished. I apoligize for my error.

 

[opr1945]

Please me change slightly my question from when I first posted this thread.

I see that many manufactures/sellers advertise light weight GI's as student GI's, 6, 8 or 9 oz. But experienced practitioners seem to think heavier 12 or 14 oz Gi's are more desirable. It would see me, being a new-be and all, That the heavier fabric would require more effort and take more energy than lighter fabric. And also be warmer and less breathable and result in more swearing.

What am I missing?

 

[Hot Lunch]

Go by the weight in ounces. Ignore "medium weight," "heavy weight," etc whenever you're dealing with non-Japanese made gis.

Japanese-made gis are more consistent in this regard. I.e.,

Heavy weight = #10 cotton (which is 12 oz)
Middle weight = #11 cotton (which is 10 oz)

Light weight is the only one among Japanese brands that is not consistent.

Shureido claims that Japanese cotton cannot be measured in ounces, but Tokaido debunks this.

BTW, if you're training in an Okinawan style (i.e., Uechi-ryu), you should probably be wearing a Shureido anyway. It has a unique cut to it that's optimized for Okinawan styles (as opposed to slimmer cut brands, such as Tokaido and Shobu which are optimized for Japanese styles). If you want to save a few bucks, Tokyodo International has a similar cut to Shureido (notable exception being that the jacket is not as long). That's the brand that I wear.

Some may disagree, but I don't recommend training in anything heavier than 12 oz. Anything heavier should be a "special occasion" gi. Just my opinion, though.

Lightweight gis (that are not designed for kumite) should only be worn as a low investment for beginners, unless you don't mind seat-soaked fabric sticking to your skin.

 

[opr1945]

I am studying Uechi ryu as you figured out. When I signed up they gave me a Sun brand Gi. I have noticed that most of the black belts wear Shureido as you suggested.

Thank You for the recommendation of Tokyodo International. I will look into it. (As if I don't already have enough GI's, although most are either used or cheap, as has been pointed out to me.)

 

[isshinryuronin]

BTW, if you're training in an Okinawan style (i.e., Uechi-ryu), you should probably be wearing a Shureido anyway. It has a unique cut to it that's optimized for Okinawan styles (as opposed to slimmer cut brands, such as Tokaido and Shobu which are optimized for Japanese styles).

How does style influence this choice of gi?

 

[Hot Lunch]

How does style influence this choice of gi?

I'm saying what it's optimized for. Japanese YouTuber Dojo Waku discussed this one of his videos. This isn't to say that he "has to" choose a particular brand because he's of a certain style.

You'll also find that this is reflected in which brands are more popular in different styles - i.e., Shureido is more popular in Okinawan styles, Tokaido and Hirota are more popular in Shotokan, etc.

BTW, even though I practice Shotokan myself, I wear Tokyodo International (same baggy cut as Shureido) because it's a personal preference. I'm merely throwing things in there to consider.

 

[isshinryuronin]

I'm saying what it's optimized for.

Again, HOW? Is it just brand loyalty or HOW does the cut of the gi optimize Okin. or Jap. style?

 

[Hot Lunch]

Again, HOW? Is it just brand loyalty or HOW does the cut of the gi optimize Okin. or Jap. style?

There was an explanation when I was listening to this, but I can't remember.

So if you're trying to win an argument, you can have it.

 

[isshinryuronin]

There was an explanation when I was listening to this, but I can't remember.

So if you're trying to win an argument, you can have it.

No argument. Just an odd thing I never heard before and was curious. If you had replied with the top line in this quote, I wouldn't have needed to follow up .

 

[Same Trick]

I'm saying what it's optimized for. Japanese YouTuber Dojo Waku discussed this one of his videos. This isn't to say that he "has to" choose a particular brand because he's of a certain style.

You'll also find that this is reflected in which brands are more popular in different styles - i.e., Shureido is more popular in Okinawan styles, Tokaido and Hirota are more popular in Shotokan, etc.

BTW, even though I practice Shotokan myself, I wear Tokyodo International (same baggy cut as Shureido) because it's a personal preference. I'm merely throwing things in there to consider.

Shureido is a local Okinawan brand, I’m sure that’s the only reason Okinawa style karatekas wear them - perhaps just to get a more authentic Okinawan feel to their karate practice ?

However it might be that the original shureido is a little baggier since it’s quite hot and humid in Okinawa and anything tight fitting would not feel good.
Old pic’s of karate training in Okinawa show the karatekas wearing just shorts

 

[opr1945]

"Tokyodo International has a similar cut to Shureido"

"Lightweight gis (that are not designed for kumite) should only be worn as a low investment for beginners"

If we eliminate GI's designed for kumite the selection is as follows:
(Uniforms)
USD were calculated using a web site by me.


KATA : AT-2

• Regular price¥18,000 $116.65

KATA : AT-3 (WKF approved)

• Regular price¥22,200 $143.87

KATA : K-10

• Regular price¥16,300 $105.32

KATA : KENKON

• Regular price¥20,000 $ 129.61

SHIHAN/PRO：SP1000​

• Regular price¥19,500 $123.13

Beginner : KA-9​

• Regular price¥9,200 $59.62

Shipping from Japan to Michigan USA $66.00 Which doubles the price of the KA-9, Which is the model I assume you were talking about for beginners.

Perhaps there is a distributor Located in the USA which might dramatically change the price structure. My Google-Fu is not very good. Perhaps someone else could locate a seller/distributor in the USA. But it late here and I am going to bed. Will see what happens over night. night all.

Note: my Sensi said Shureido is the "Best" brand available for Karate, perhaps the reason for the dominance of the brand at the Dojo.

 

[Same Trick]

Tokaido seem being the first and original manufacturer of karate gi’s, previous that judo gi’s was worn, and they were kind of a new thing too at the time.


“Finally, after much hard work the first karate uniform was born. The uniform proved popular and many karateka began asking for one. Mr. Sugiura then established TOKAIDO, the first karate uniform company. This is how the karate uniform and TOKAIDO came about.”



Do-gi Origin & History of Tokaido

So Tokaido is the original, and all other are copies

 

[Hot Lunch]

"Tokyodo International has a similar cut to Shureido"

"Lightweight gis (that are not designed for kumite) should only be worn as a low investment for beginners"

If we eliminate GI's designed for kumite the selection is as follows:
(Uniforms)
USD were calculated using a web site by me.


KATA : AT-2

• Regular price¥18,000 $116.65

KATA : AT-3 (WKF approved)

• Regular price¥22,200 $143.87

KATA : K-10

• Regular price¥16,300 $105.32

KATA : KENKON

• Regular price¥20,000 $ 129.61

SHIHAN/PRO：SP1000​

• Regular price¥19,500 $123.13

Beginner : KA-9​

• Regular price¥9,200 $59.62

Shipping from Japan to Michigan USA $66.00 Which doubles the price of the KA-9, Which is the model I assume you were talking about for beginners.

Perhaps there is a distributor Located in the USA which might dramatically change the price structure. My Google-Fu is not very good. Perhaps someone else could locate a seller/distributor in the USA. But it late here and I am going to bed. Will see what happens over night. night all.

Note: my Sensi said Shureido is the "Best" brand available for Karate, perhaps the reason for the dominance of the brand at the Dojo.

Beware that the AT series is polycotton - so it'll have that loud snap to it, but it won't be very comfortable and can feel like you're training in a raincoat at times. Many people use polycotton strictly for competition. I may be ordering one soon myself, but not for competition. Why? There are times where I wanted to show up to training, but neither of my gis will be dry in time. Polycotton dries very fast, so for that I'd use it in a pinch.

The KA-9: for gi-buying purposes, you're not a beginner. The low-investment gi is what your Sun brand was for. You're actually making real investments now. Medium should be your minimum.

Shureido used to have a US distributor, but they ended up becoming a casualty of the pandemic. Tokaido is the only remaining Japanese brand with a US distributor and, even then, you can't get everything there that you can by ordering direct from Japan.

I ordered my Tokyodo International gis from www.kuroobiya.com. The man who runs that site is British guy living in Japan, and is able to get things for you that are not available on the direct site (for example, high-waisted gi trousers).

 

[Hot Lunch]

I also want to add this, and I'm not sure if I've said this before. But if not, I'll say it again:

If you're not able to wear your gi straight out of the package, you will need to get your pants and/or sleeves hemmed. Odds are, when you get them hemmed, they're not going to do it with the same multi-row stitching that the gi originally came in. They're gonna hem it the same way they hem a pair of slacks.

That is, unless you specifically request the same original multi-row stitching. And that's gonna run you between $35 to $40 for each the pants and the sleeves. In other words, you're paying up to $80 if you need both hemmed with the original stitching.

Now if you don't mind the cheap one-row stitch hem, or you don't need anything to be hemmed in the first place; this doesn't apply to you.

But if you do need them hemmed, AND you want the original multi-stitch hem; Tokyodo International beats all of the well-known non-Japaneese gis in total cost. The hemming is free. So by the time you get the multi-stitch hem on an Arawaza, a Kamikaze, or even a Mugen... you're paying more than you would by simply getting a Tokoyodo International with the free hemming.

(Tokyodo International needs to pay me for the free advertising I'm doing for them!)

 

[opr1945]

I met a guy at the Dojo who said he had a K1 (KI?) gi that was made by Kamikaze that he would give me a good deal on. Any thoughts?

 

[isshinryuronin]

Ki is a reasonably priced and good quality gi. I have the hvy. wt. which is pretty stiff at first. I'm happy with it being my main gi.