stoneheart

I just started at a SKA dojo after a lag in training (work, family, you know). The zenkutsu dachi is indeed much narrower than I am used to and deeper The hamni position is also a change for me. My legs feel like jelly after just a few minutes of moving in the stance with gedan barai and oi-tsuki.

I don't really think it is a style focused on developing self-defense skills, but it is fun and a good workout. The instructor admitted up front that SKA does not teach a lot of material and prefers to work their basics to a high level of execution.

Fine with me. I have my work cut out for me to get up to snuff.

Hi All

Failing that is there another brand/gi that people would recommend as a similar alternative quality wise (without getting into the realms of £300!)

Thanks!

Tokaido has long been a standard in Shotokan. Go with the ones made in Japan - there is indeed a difference I can see and feel in the fabric and cut despite what some people will say on the internet.

Thanks! I opted for a Ki one as the price seemed quite reasonable (relatively speaking). I've not heard anything other than good things about Tokaido, and can see myself getting one, but i will likely wait a little longer until i have been back at karate for more time.

I don't want to be 'that guy' who is pretty junior and turns up wearing a mega expensive gi!

Nothing wrong with it. Mindset is important. If a quality uniform inspires one to train more frequently and with greater intensity, no one should find any issue with it. Besides if you use a uniform 2x a week, the cost quickly goes down per use if you take care of them. I have Tokaido I have worn 200 times and more.

Hi All

Failing that is there another brand/gi that people would recommend as a similar alternative quality wise (without getting into the realms of £300!)

Thanks!

Tokaido has long been a standard in Shotokan. Go with the ones made in Japan - there is indeed a difference I can see and feel in the fabric and cut despite what some people will say on the internet.

Very good point Sensei8, plus martial arts isn't for everyone, so why waste money a gi that is a bit more expensive.

Honestly, I've been over the heavy gi for some time now. I know a lot of the younger people like them, for that snap and pop when doing forms. I'm way past caring about that now!

I perspire heavily. So a lightweight uniform just won't cut it. It is nasty to have a gi so wet that it drips moisture from the arm cuffs. The heavy fabric will hold the wetness so that is why I use it. That and they last longer. I've had gi last over 10 years with care.

Old thread but I will vouch for KI Mugen. I have owned all versions, orange, yellow, black, and the new one that is co-branded/whatever with Hirota. I prefer the yellow. It is the heaviest of all 4 and is made of brushed cotton for comfort.

I find them very inexpensive for the value and it is nice that KI does in-house embroidery as well. I had my name put on the lower lapel of my last purchase and it looks nice.

Where do you buy higher quality kobudo weapons like tonfa and bo? I am aware of Shureido and Shushin. For the record, I am in the USA.

I have a kumite specific gi that I use for sparring classes. It's loose and feels almost like I am wearing nothing which is fantastic for moving around with abandon.

For normal classes that have a blend of everything, I prefer a heavy uniform which absorbs sweat and can handle a bit of light grappling.

Try a few different brands. Some are cut bigger than others. I've personally fitted larger build students in uniforms sold by Kwon and Ronin and Pro Force with success.

We get a discount on Century through our school, so our master instructor gets all our equipment through there. They do a nice job taking care of schools, imo... but the quality of the cuts of their uniforms is lacking. I found the jackets to shrink up so much to where they look more like a shirt.

The cheapo Century uniforms are indeed somewhat questionable for the long term serious students. That said, the Ironman is very good for the asking price as is the Elite Kata model. I have both along with a host of other uniform brands so I speak with direct experience. I don't hesitate to recommend either when someone is looking for value in their uniform purchase and do not want to pay for the premium Japanese labels.

I am just speculating, but it's possible "Tani" comes from Chojiro Tani, the deceased Shito-ryu teacher. He passed away in 1998 according to a search on the internet.

If this was his house brand, it's probably long out of business.

For a substitute, you might look at some Moo Duk Kwan uniforms to see if you find them acceptable. They have black piping around the lapels, but also around the skirt and the sleeve ends too.

Alternately, you could buy a quality uniform of the brand you prefer and then have a seamstress add the black trim post-purchase.

I finally acquired a black label to compare with my yellow. The black label is made of canvas material, so it has a rougher texture than the brushed cotton yellow label. Perhaps this fabric is costlier and maybe longer lasting?

I like both. Good value in my opinion.

Wastelander,

Did you record the full seminar? I'd be interested in purchasing a DVD of it, if that is something you ever plan to offer.

The orange label is good for a sparring uniform. I prefer a bit more weight on my gi for workouts as I perspire heavily and it just holds the sweat better.

There's no doubt that the Mugen gi by KI offer good value for their cost.

I know the yellow label is slightly heavier at 13.75 oz weight. But why is the black label more expensive though it uses less fabric threads by square?

For the record, I have a yellow label Mugen and I like it, and I am in the market for another Mugen but am trying to decide between the two.

Yes, I have a ProForce Diamond myself. It has lasted for years with regular use. I think this is the longest lasting "cheap" gi I have run into - it doesn't absorb as much sweat as a 100% cotton uniform, but for the money you can't complain.

I know this is an old post, but I thought I would answer anyway. I have a GTMA "heavyweight". It only cost around $40 and I feel I got my money's worth. It's not really a heavyweight... more what I would call a middleweight. They advertise it as a 12 oz fabric. If you can spend another $20, I'd rather get the Wacoku brushed cotton 14 oz uniform. I have one of those that is still going strong after 2 years of fairly heavy use (wearing and washing it 2x a week on average).

Juka has a women's model that I have heard good things about from some female classmates.

I've never seen it happen before. Of course if I were the sensei, I would just kick the disruptive student out of class permanently. I'm not too big on the self-improvement aspects of karate. It is foremost a means of self-defense for me, and it is also a good workout when you practice hard. I don't want to hold the hand of someone who is not taking the class seriously, and if they are holding myself and others back from improving, I'd just as soon as they go play elsewhere.

When I started training as a teen, I just picked the dojo closest to the house which was a TKD school. I enjoyed my time there, but the style of teaching would not hold my interest today.

These days I think the teacher's ability to transmit information is more important than style. You also want to make sure he's a true advanced student of the arts himself if you are ready to take advantage of his knowledge. There are a lot of lower level (I don't mean rank) teachers who really can train you up to their level of competence. To get the real scoop on how to improve, you often times must seek other instruction.

http://www.karatediscounts.com sells Wacoku. Give them a call.

Most aikido people I know own a copy. The illustrations are well-done and are easier to follow than most photographs of aikido technique. I've worn out my paperback in less than a year and I have ordered the hardcover version to replace it. I find the book to be an excellent primer for basics and I frequently consult it to get the general idea of a movement before coming to practice. That way, I can pay more attention to nuance with the sensei, instead of just worrying about where my feet should be etc. Caveat, I have only about a year's experience with aikido, so my opinion is that of a beginner's.

Bunkai is important, but I do agree many seem to be backwards engineering something into the kata that the inventors probably did not intend to begin with. You could still end up with something very useful, but I'd be hesitant to claim it was 'in the kata' all along.

I AM a big fan of cross-training. If you're a karate man, be sure to take some jiu-jitsu as well.

I have a Juka Silver and I think it's OK, although a bit overpriced for what you are getting. I know you don't want to go over 12 oz, but the heavier uniforms are indeed better values since they last longer, and the marginal cost over a 12 oz uniform is small.

None to my knowledge. The founders of the art were an eclectic mix of men in Hawaii.

If you are interested in muslim martial arts, there are a number of Chinese systems such as cha quan or baji quan that were invented by and are popular with the muslim peoples within China.

Not all black belts are sensei. It's usually reserved as a title of respect for someone who teaches. Would you really want to call that 16 year old who just earned his shodan "sensei"? In my opinion, no.