strange story.

opr1945

Purple Belt
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As you may know I am new to Karate, 5 months now, and have been obsessed with Karate GI's, see threads I have started. Well, I purchased a used Kyokushinkai GI Jacket only in my size #4 off ebay. When I got it I tried it on I noticed that it had no ties on it. I thought that unusual but got my wife's sewing machine some white bias tape and sewed 4 ties on it. Then I descovered I was to fat around the middle to tie it. The Sun Gi I was given by the Dojo was a size 4 and it fit nicely. Note: the #4 belt that came with it was to small so they gave me a #5 belt. I assumed that that meant that I was at the top range of the size #4 coverage. I didn't know if the Kyokushinkai GI didn't fit because it was a different company and their sizing was different from SUN's or if it had shrunk. But all that mattered was it didn't fir.

So I took it to the Dojo found a couple people who were smaller then I am and offered it to them. It was big on both of them and much heaverier than my Sun. and they both declined it. I am 5'6" and another student who was about 6' but skinny asked to try it on. So I said sure. It fit him and he actually liked it. So I said he could have it for free. It was no good to me. He said he would't take it for free. He picked up the Gi top he had been wearing and offered to trade Gi tops. His top was a Ronin heavy weight 16oz competition Gi, Size 6. It was way to big for me but I took it and he was happy.

When I tried it on to show my wife she was appalled. She said why would I want a very large very stiff GI top when I had the Sun lightweight free gi that fit so well and looked nice in her opinion. I said it was the only was the student would take the size 4 Kyokushinkai gi. I asked her to wash it. And low and behold it shrunk enough to where it actually fits me pretty good!

So I traded an unbranded shrunk size 4 that was to small for a Ronin size 6 which my wife promply shrunk to a actual size 4. Weird Huh!

The Ronin web site list the whole Gi for $134.00 and the pants for $44.00 meaning the Top is worth $90. My ebay purchas was about 1/6 of that price. But we both ended up happy! My wife, however, was not happy. She just walked out of the room mmumbling something about men under her breath. I idn't complai about her shrinking it though. Oh well, life goe on.
 
Gi sizes are often not the same between makers, in my opinion. I'm 5' 10" and 225 lbs and I've worn an 8, 7, and lately a 6, but from different makers. Also, cotton shrinks; sometimes a lot. No matter what gi I buy, I have to have the legs and sleeves chopped off by a tailor. Makers all seem to think I'm 6' 7" tall.
 
Clearly sizes differ between manufacturers.

I'm 5'11 and have always worn a size 5 gi.
 
I wear either a size 5 or 6 depending on manufacturer (6’ 200 lbs).
 
As you may know I am new to Karate, 5 months now, and have been obsessed with Karate GI's, see threads I have started. Well, I purchased a used Kyokushinkai GI Jacket only in my size #4 off ebay. When I got it I tried it on I noticed that it had no ties on it. I thought that unusual but got my wife's sewing machine some white bias tape and sewed 4 ties on it. Then I descovered I was to fat around the middle to tie it. The Sun Gi I was given by the Dojo was a size 4 and it fit nicely. Note: the #4 belt that came with it was to small so they gave me a #5 belt. I assumed that that meant that I was at the top range of the size #4 coverage. I didn't know if the Kyokushinkai GI didn't fit because it was a different company and their sizing was different from SUN's or if it had shrunk. But all that mattered was it didn't fir.

So I took it to the Dojo found a couple people who were smaller then I am and offered it to them. It was big on both of them and much heaverier than my Sun. and they both declined it. I am 5'6" and another student who was about 6' but skinny asked to try it on. So I said sure. It fit him and he actually liked it. So I said he could have it for free. It was no good to me. He said he would't take it for free. He picked up the Gi top he had been wearing and offered to trade Gi tops. His top was a Ronin heavy weight 16oz competition Gi, Size 6. It was way to big for me but I took it and he was happy.

When I tried it on to show my wife she was appalled. She said why would I want a very large very stiff GI top when I had the Sun lightweight free gi that fit so well and looked nice in her opinion. I said it was the only was the student would take the size 4 Kyokushinkai gi. I asked her to wash it. And low and behold it shrunk enough to where it actually fits me pretty good!

So I traded an unbranded shrunk size 4 that was to small for a Ronin size 6 which my wife promply shrunk to a actual size 4. Weird Huh!

The Ronin web site list the whole Gi for $134.00 and the pants for $44.00 meaning the Top is worth $90. My ebay purchas was about 1/6 of that price. But we both ended up happy! My wife, however, was not happy. She just walked out of the room mmumbling something about men under her breath. I idn't complai about her shrinking it though. Oh well, life goe on.
“My wife, however, was not happy.”

You just quoted my family crest.
 
Update (for those interested-if any), I have not worn the 16oz competition GI top yet. I am wearing the lightweight Sun GI that came with signing up. I have not worn any of the other GI's, I have purchased from various other sources, at the Dojo. However, after trying them on I have concluded that some are not comfortable for me (i.e. do not fit) and given them away. Other students seem grateful to get them. And for the time being at least I intent to wear the Sun Gi.
 
I'm 5' 10" and 225 lbs and I've worn an 8, 7, and lately a 6,
Things were easier in the past. There were few manufacturers and sizing was fairly consistent. There was no size 8 or 7 (at least I never saw them, nor had students who would need it. Size 6 would fit the big guys, 5 the average adult male, 4 many females and smaller built adult males. I made do with a 4 till my 30's and now I wear a 5. Gi pants for most Okinawan stylists usually came to mid shin or a little lower, so length was not a big concern. I'm still not comfortable with a gi that's sized full length like a regular suit.
 
Things were easier in the past. There were few manufacturers and sizing was fairly consistent. There was no size 8 or 7 (at least I never saw them, nor had students who would need it. Size 6 would fit the big guys, 5 the average adult male, 4 many females and smaller built adult males. I made do with a 4 till my 30's and now I wear a 5. Gi pants for most Okinawan stylists usually came to mid shin or a little lower, so length was not a big concern. I'm still not comfortable with a gi that's sized full length like a regular suit.
I haven’t been a 4 since elementary school…😂
 
In 7th grade I was 5'7" and 130#s. I was that size until I got married. slowley put on weight. I am now 5'5" and 170#s. Approaching my 80's. The GI iwas given, Sun size 4, was good around waist, Jacket sleeve were good. I had to shorten pants about 2". European cut. Some size 4s were too small for me. I gues it varies among brands. I see Ronin has a size 4.5 might be perfect for me?
 
In 7th grade I was 5'7" and 130#s. I was that size until I got married. slowley put on weight. I am now 5'5" and 170#s. Approaching my 80's. The GI iwas given, Sun size 4, was good around waist, Jacket sleeve were good. I had to shorten pants about 2". European cut. Some size 4s were too small for me. I gues it varies among brands. I see Ronin has a size 4.5 might be perfect for me?
Congrats on still practicing at your age. I hope that I will be able to do the same.
 
the Ronin 16oz competition GI is very stiff. My wife's description of cardboard is actually quite accurate in my opinion. I thought it might soften up with use. But, then I remembered that the guy I got it from had been wearing it for some time and it was still quite stiff. She washed it several time with fabric softner and it had no affect. It was still stiff.

Several years ago I purchased a Carhartt canvas work shop apron. It was stiff like the GI. I rolled up the apron wrapped a towel around it to keep it clean and tied it and then put it on the driveway and drove over it several times. Open ir up rerolled in a different direction and drove over it some more. I did this several times and when I was done it was significantly softer. So it occured to me that perhaps the same treatment would soften up the GI. I probably ran over it 100-150 times. Interestingly, to me, it did not get any softer. It is still as stiff as when I got it and I find it uncomfortable to wear when moving. So it still hangs in the closet.

If anyone has any suggestions for softening it up I would be interested. Thanks.
 
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