Women's gi tops?

[Themooch13]

Hi all,

Here's yet another gi-related question. Are there any ladies out there who have found a gi that fits well? If so, what brand? I don't want to order anything blindly if I don't have to since most of the websites I've visited charge for return shipping and/or a restocking fee. I'm 5' 4" and pretty slim, so I feel like I'm always falling out of my cheap-o student gi. It is so frustrating and distracting! Any feedback would be very helpful.

Thanks!

-- C

[Harkon72]

My wife is 5'2" and quite chunky. She has a size 4 pant and a size 5 jacket. She finds that the extra freedom in the top helps her move and the smaller bottoms are ideal as they don't slip. Mixing and matching gis can be difficult, but if you take a look it is possible to buy them like this.

[JGarner890]

I've seen lots of women in the classes I used to attend wear the Tiger Claw brand. Never heard any complaints about them. After they get broken in and aren't as stiff, seems to fit well.

[Wastelander]

We have some women in our dojo that wear KI brand, and I haven't heard them complain. That said, just try and find a middleweight or heavyweight gi that fits your shoulders and hips, and you can have it tailored to fit better if you need to. There's just not much sense in getting a lightweight gi tailored, since it's going to get destroyed pretty quickly.

[cheesefrysamurai]

I heard these are great

http://www.fenomkimonos.com/

[sensei8]

If I remember right, but not 100% positive...Century MA designed gi tops with the female anatomy in mind. I also saw somewhere where it came also in pink.

Again, I might be wrong.

[Themooch13]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm surprised no women have responded though. I was hoping to hear from their actual experiences. I guess I'm on my own for this one. Thanks anyway.

[sensei8]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm surprised no women have responded though. I was hoping to hear from their actual experiences. I guess I'm on my own for this one. Thanks anyway.

Give them some time, and they will.

[Rateh]

I'm a gal. I have never worn women specific tops before. I have just always worn whatever the men and children were wearing for the school I was training at. Currently its just a black pullover dobok top with matching pants.

I honestly don't understand what makes the women tops any better than what I'm wearing. The belt ties around my middle and pulls my top together anyway. The only problem I've ever had is that it comes completely untucked when I do a lot of jumping jacks. But I think that has more to do with the fact that I tie my belt a bit loose, plus I have seen plenty of children with the same problem.

If I was going to make a perfect uniform, the only thing I would change is the length of the sleeves and pants. Or maybe a mix-n-match of one size of pants and a different size of top.

[danbong]

Shizentai has reviews of different gis. Links to her reviews are in a different thread of the Equipment topic.

http://www.karateforums.com/karate-heavyweight-gi-s-vt44905.html

I can understand not wanting to purchase a gi online or mail order because of return shipping cost. Besides local martial arts supply stores try martial arts schools. Some of them have a decent inventory of different sizes and would let you try them on for fit. Since you live in California you can also try to go to the gi companies themselves and try them on for purchase. KI International is located in Southern California in Inglewood. Meijin is in Thousand Oaks. If you are in Northern California, Tiger Claw is in Fremont. Hsu is in San Jose.