Taekwondo Uniforms

[skribs]

One thing on my mind right now is uniforms. How do I want to handle uniforms when I open my unaffiliated school? Here are some questions I am asking myself, and then my thoughts regarding each question. I'm looking for comments based on your experiences and preferences, how would you approach each?

1. Do I want to have uniforms?
2. Do I want to have different uniforms for different honors, clubs, and achievements; or do I want everyone to have the same uniform?
3. Do I want to have the standard student uniform white or black?
4. Do I want to have the standard student uniform V-neck or crossover?
5. Do I want to have cheaper uniforms for newer students?

Do I even want them? I could just use athletic shorts and a t-shirt for my classes. But no. I'm going to have forms, and so I want uniforms. I do like when uniforms make the "pop" sound. That's the music of Taekwondo for me.

Everyone the same, or differences on the way up? Official KKW uniforms are all-white for colored belts, and then poom trim or black trim for the appropriate poom and dan holders. However, many schools have different uniforms depending on if you're a part of a club (demonstration uniform, competition uniform, leadership uniform), for certain ranks (such as all black for 2nd degree, or changing to a crossover uniform at the Master level), or for certain achievements (such as providing students who completed an academic achievement program with a blue or red uniform).

On the one hand, new uniforms can be a great way to display achievements. As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm not very big on patches. On the other hand, I really like the idea of everyone sharing the same uniform. One reason is that it makes it easier to find folks when you're at events (such as a demonstration or competition) if everyone from your school looks the same. Another reason is that uniforms can add to the cost of the already-expensive black belt testings. If you're including a $150 uniform as part of the testing rewards, then the cost of testing will go up by at least $150. That can add up a lot if you have a family testing together.

I'm leaning towards having everyone in the same uniform, and maybe using t-shirts or even nogi shorts for specific clubs (because forms aren't a focus there). For example, a class focusing on sparring or grappling. I can handle honorifics in other ways.

Standard Uniform Color: I know it's very common in TKD for uniforms to be white, especially through the color belts. I'm leaning the other direction. Black uniforms have a number of benefits:

• More slimming.
• Doesn't show stains as well, especially sweat stains.
• Doesn't show sweat marks during training.
• I like black better.
• Sets my school apart (in line with making it easy to spot folks from our school)

However, I've brought this up in the past, and there have been counter-points. Tradition is white, black may look like a mcdojo. White may be required in tournaments. White allows you to easier see blood to know if there's an issue. I don't personally know that these would be actual issues, but they are ones that have been brought up.

The one argument that I think holds the most weight is that it's easier to see the technique on a white uniform than a black one. I'll have to play around with it and see just how true that is. This does bring me back to different color uniforms, because I also believe it's easier to tell what's going on in grappling/self-defense if the uke has a different color uniform.

Neck Design: I'm pretty torn on this. I've used crossover-style uniform when I trained as a kid. The TKD schools I've attended as an adult had V-neck uniforms until Master level. I just got a crossover uniform as part of my recent testing. I don't have much recent experience with it, but it seems to hold in place better, and I had fewer issues with nunchaku getting caught under the vent ribs. I imagine it might be better for training grappling skills for that reason. The dobok I used in Hapkido and the gi's I use in BJJ are crossover uniforms.

It was a bit hotter to train in, and I live in Texas, so that's a consideration as well. But we all have AC. The crossover uniforms I think look a little bit better, but also are harder for kids to learn how to put on. However, it may be better than the V-neck with the elastic strap that kids tend to play with and get tight around their hand. I don't ever remember having to fix my uniform during class as a kid (with the crossover), but things are constantly getting untucked with the V-neck.

Cheaper uniforms for newer students? This is a two-part question. Do I want to use cheap uniforms throughout the curriculum to cut costs, or do I want to use more expensive uniforms even for beginners, so they have the benefit of the same equipment as the more seasoned students?

I'm not talking about getting a $200 Adidas poomsae uniform for beginners. I am talking about getting something in the $50-$75 range for beginners instead of getting something in the $15-$25 range. It's not that much difference in cost up front, but they will get a much better uniform out of it. I remember one thing that frustrated me when I got my black belt and got a premium uniform, is that I could suddenly get the "pop" sound that I had been struggling with for over a year. When I was a green, blue, and red belt and did my blocks, I couldn't get the same sound as the other black belts. When I got my black belt and got the new uniform, I could. The problem wasn't my technique, it was the uniform itself.

This is part of why I am leaning towards everyone having the same uniform: so that everyone has the same experience, and no technique issues can be blamed on equipment.

"Closing" thoughts: I haven't made any decisions, except for question #1. I'm leaning 60/40 on a lot of things, such as: everyone in the same black crossover uniform with midrange pricing. But I could very easily be persuaded to change my mind on any or all of them. (Maybe even question #1).

 

[drop bear]

Obviously sleeveless in black and yellow.

 

[HighKick]

Especially for kids who may not stick around for 6-months or out grow a uniform in same amount of time, put them in the $15 uniform. The parents will thank you.
When they get to higher belts and have some clue of uniforms, you can show them how/where to get a better uniform, or better yet become your own retailer.

 

[Dirty Dog]

It's easy to overthink these things.
We have cheap ones we sell to students for $20. Geup ranks are all white. Chodanbo wears the black collar. Dan ranks wear whatever they want.
That's the theory. The reality is that I couldn't care less what they wear. What matters is that they're training.

 

[skribs]

Right now I have the luxury of overthinking, so I figure I might as well.

 

[MadMartigan]

We wear all white crossover uniforms for everyone. I start every student with a basic uniform (not cheap, but not high end). Students then have the option to purchase a higher grade black uniform which they are welcome to wear to any regular classes... but the white uniform is required for belt gradings, tournaments, or certain special events.

This has allowed me to keep things traditional, while adding an extra sales revenue stream. The black uniforms have been a big hit... especially they have increased the comfort for the teen girls in the school so they have the option not to wear white sometimes.

By making the black uniform completely optional, we avoid the problem of parents having to pay extra for some special uniform when their child joins the leadership team, or whatever else.

 

[Haruhiko]

1. Do I want to have uniforms?
2. Do I want to have different uniforms for different honors, clubs, and achievements; or do I want everyone to have the same uniform?
3. Do I want to have the standard student uniform white or black?
4. Do I want to have the standard student uniform V-neck or crossover?
5. Do I want to have cheaper uniforms for newer students?

I'll preface everything below with this:
"When it comes to TKD..."

1. Yes. It provides a sense of shared belonging, and strips ego away from aesthetics (there's a lot written up about why uniforms exist, including in school contexts)
2. Max three. One for the headmaster, another for instructors, and another for students. One would be preferable but in large and popular dojangs, it's more common to have a variation. Badges and all that crap belong on trophies or certificates, unless you're a sponsored fighter or representing at a state or national level.
3. That's a you-question. I wouldn't even entertain the thought of black uniforms in TKD, nor have I seen them.
4. Both? New students, especially kids, would have much easier time with the V-necks.
5. Definitely.

However, many schools have different uniforms depending on if you're a part of a club (demonstration uniform, competition uniform, leadership uniform), for certain ranks (such as all black for 2nd degree, or changing to a crossover uniform at the Master level), or for certain achievements (such as providing students who completed an academic achievement program with a blue or red uniform).

I'm not sure how common this is in the USA, but uniforms were pretty... well... uniform when I trained or participated in tournaments.

As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm not very big on patches. On the other hand, I really like the idea of everyone sharing the same uniform. One reason is that it makes it easier to find folks when you're at events (such as a demonstration or competition) if everyone from your school looks the same.

Funny you should mention this but this was the most frustrating thing for me at cross-club or national events. But as long as your dojang has a "base camp" and instructors stand out somehow (we wore our club's vest over our uniform) you should be fine.

• More slimming.
• Doesn't show stains as well, especially sweat stains.
• Doesn't show sweat marks during training.
• I like black better.
• Sets my school apart (in line with making it easy to spot folks from our school)

As I said, when it comes to TKD...

You want to see stains, sweat marks, blood on white uniform. It's informative for the instructors. There are other reasons, but stick to white. You don't want your school to stand out.

I don't want to sound harsh, but if your position as instructor is so weak that someone else’s black gi undermines it, you shouldn't be opening a school yet. Authority should come from skill, teaching, and presence, not colour.

Obviously sleeveless in black and yellow.

Sleeveless in brown and gold actually.

 

[skribs]

I don't want to sound harsh, but if your position as instructor is so weak that someone else’s black gi undermines it, you shouldn't be opening a school yet. Authority should come from skill, teaching, and presence, not colour.

When did I say anything that would remotely suggest this was a concern of mine?

You're criticizing me for things you hallucinated me saying.

 

[Haruhiko]

When did I say anything that would remotely suggest this was a concern of mine?

You're criticizing me for things you hallucinated me saying.

That's my mistake, apologies!

I completely misread your justification about black uniforms, assuming from a skim-read that you did want to stand out in the school, and would take someone else wearing black as an affront.

In my defense I was watching a movie. But yes, I essentially hallucinated that impression.

 

[skribs]

That's my mistake, apologies!

I completely misread your justification about black uniforms, assuming from a skim-read that you did want to stand out in the school, and would take someone else wearing black as an affront.

In my defense I was watching a movie. But yes, I essentially hallucinated that impression.

Thanks for clarifying. I was gonna say you made a lot of good points, and then that's what stood out to me.

 

[Earl Weiss]

3. That's a you-question. I wouldn't even entertain the thought of black uniforms in TKD, nor have I seen them.

When I read this I thought "You need to get out more" but your later post gave some insight in to your frame of reference.

I'm not sure how common this is in the USA, but uniforms were pretty... well... uniform when I trained or participated in tournaments.

Suffice it to say at a USA "Open" T K D tournament - If you want to Stand out - Where a white uniform.

As I said, when it comes to TKD...
. There are other reasons, but stick to white. You don't want your school to stand out.

I have seem some competitions where the opposite is true.