Shureido Questions

[kurome]

I have two questions. The first one is concerning the Tournament K-10 gi (TK-10). Does the label on this specify Tournament or is it the standard Shureido label (http://karate-shop.ru/images/picture/shu_tou_big.jpg)? The next question concerns belts. Shureido carries it's light, medium, and super blackbelt if I am correct. I own a Shureido colored belt right now and I am under the impression that the light type black belt is the same. I am not sure about the medium and heavy. Is either wider? I know they're thicker, but what's the difference, primarily the width.

Thanks,

Matt

[Jussi Häkkinen]

I have two questions. The first one is concerning the Tournament K-10 gi (TK-10). Does the label on this specify Tournament or is it the standard Shureido label (http://karate-shop.ru/images/picture/shu_tou_big.jpg)?

Yes, there's a "Tournament" -text over the standard label, embroidered on silver thread.

The next question concerns belts. Shureido carries it's light, medium, and super blackbelt if I am correct. I own a Shureido colored belt right now and I am under the impression that the light type black belt is the same. I am not sure about the medium and heavy. Is either wider? I know they're thicker, but what's the difference, primarily the width.

The "light" type black belt is basically the same as the colour belt. "Medium" is similar in width, but has higher quality top layer material (you can choose from high quality cotton - more durable - and satin - shiny, byt wears out very fast) and a bit thicker construction. "Heavy" is wider (45mm, while the normal width is 40mm) and considerably thicker (about 6-7mm) and has a same high quality top layer material as medium.

My personal choice was "heavy", which looks nice and holds the knot surprisingly well for a wider, thicker belt (it's softer than one would probably think). Embroidery is very well done and overall the product has a high quality feeling. Cotton surface looks nice and not overly pompous and doesn't fray prematurely.

[kurome]

Would you recomend the tournament cut over the regular? Also, personal prefrence aside, would you recomend the medium or the heavy belt?

[Jussi Häkkinen]

Would you recomend the tournament cut over the regular?

Personally, tournament cut. Shorter sleeves and pantlegs generally look better than "full length" -cut.

Also, personal prefrence aside, would you recomend the medium or the heavy belt?

This is mainly a matter of aesthetics. I'm a tall person (188cm/6'2"), so I did feel that a wider belt would suit me better than a narrow one. If a person is very small, wider belt might look overexaggerated, however I'd think that it'd require a person under 150cm/5' of height. So, I'd say that the heavy one is better for pretty much everyone.

Remember to buy a belt that is one size larger than your current one, if you end up with a heavy belt. The added width and thickness shows in the length required for the knot, thus leading to shorter hanging ends of the belt. This can be avoided by buying a longer belt.