In Yiliquan we have two uniforms - daily training and special occasion.
Special occasions are testings, demos, tournaments and other events. For these, we wear the "traditional" Chinese style uniform with button up top, bloused hems on the pants, socks, shoes (I am fond of my Chinese tennis shoes, but you wear what you can get hold of, just not Florsheims or something like that), and a sash.
Daily training is just that - rough, rigorous, demanding, down and dirty training that demands something that will stand up to the punishment it is given. We wear Japanese style uniforms and belts for these occasions, with or without shoes (depending on location, weather, etc.). I wear a black judogi, as it holds up
way better than anything I have ever had before.
There have been some other threads regarding uniform wear recently, though I had trouble linking to some of them...
Uniforms are good and appropriate for school use and class time wear. For "at home" training, or even special training at the school, I think whatever allows you to do what you need to do is fine. Personally, I think schools
should train with street clothes periodically, so people who aren't complete fanatics about MA (like me) who
don't go around trying out their clothes for suitability for martial arts practice can get a feel for what changes street clothes and shoes will require.
Remember - while to most of us they are "uniforms," in a certain context they are also
costumes (given that they are recreations of ancient clothing from other cultures), and we should always remember to be aware of what we will ultimately be wearing if and when we ever have to employ what we learn in the training hall...
Gambarimasu.
:asian: