Clothes...........

[Kajukenbopr]

if your martial arts depend on heavy kicking, get more comfortable clothes so it doesnt become a handicap for you.

it sounds impossible to forget about retricting clothing when out in the real world, however, small changes could mean a safer life; baggier pants, just enough so u can move,comfortable shoes that wont slip, shirts that are not easy to grasp or get entagled in, etc.

[AikiGuy]

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Ok, if you work in a tux, what is your job and where are you when you think a fight may break out? There is probably an alternative answer to fighting but it depends on your environment.

For now, I would just point out that even a tux can be sized for a looser, more comfortable fit. I see labels like this on jeans all the time. You can buy jeans in the normal fit, relaxed fit, boot cut, etc. So why not a tux?

[xena]

whats the better type gi to get if you had to get one?

[badclams]

Remember to cut some drain holes in the legs of your BDU's if you wear'em.

[TraditionalDan]

I'm sure I have seen plenty of loose enough tuxedos around, Thomas Kurz is one example.

But also there is Jet Li and Jackie Chan, I am sure they have done films in various suits.

[armanox]

´´Y are you fighting in a tux??´´

I preffer to not...but I have to wear a tux to work sometimes....And If I am attacked when wearing a tux...then I got to fight in a tux

I used to work in a tux (was a waiter in a catering establishment) and I found that my uniform did not hinder my kicks, punches, etc. For that matter, I am equally comfortable in my tight jeans as I am in my loose gi. Just doesn't seem to be an issue to me.

[Tiger1962]

I agree what someone said about the role playing thing. That's a good idea. Let's say you work in a nightclub as a bouncer or waiter and you have to dress up every day, you should role play when you're home with friends to see how you'd react in certain situations. I believe if you think about it - you can come up with creative ways to use what you are wearing so that it wouldn't hinder your movement.

Let's say you are wearing a tie or a cumberbund. If you're fast at removing it, who's to say you could not use that to supress an attacker by wrapping it around their neck or eyes?

If you're female and you're wearing high heels, one of those shoes could easily become a stabbing weapon.

Role playing with different outfits would make you think how to react in certain situations. But having your outfits fit a little looser WOULD help.

[tallgeese]

I've seen all sorts of tricky kind of stuff with using article of clothing and such as weapons. The problem is, you have to take time to access it. Time is something you usually don't have in abundance during confrontation.

The big thing would be to occassionally use a heavy gi top to simulate using a jacket during a grapple. Things like that.

As for fitting of clothes, I like them loose enough to hide whatever weapon I'm carrying. This can be easier to access and more reliable than anything that you ccould fabricate on the spot.

[bushido_man96]

As far as using clothing as a tool, I might use a jacket to fend off a knife or cover a gun or someone's head, but that's probably about it.

[NightOwl]

Judo is great for using clothes in the literal sense. You don't need a gi- gi's are made thick so that they don't break after continual use, but if you are only throwing someone once a t-shirt works just fine. The big part of using clothing is to put someone slightly off balance for setting up a throw (plus I've heard that gi chokes set in faster with thin clothing like a regular shirt).