Help! Can't Find a Gi That Fits- Overweight

[mazzybear]

The best option I think would be to get a custom made Gi, but it's an awful lot of money to spend when somewhere down the road it will need taken in again if you lose a fair amount of weight. But talk to your instructor, he will understand and may not force the issue of you wearing a Gi. Another option is to buy only the trousers at a waist size that is comfortable and have the excess length taken up, wear a white T-shirt (some clubs have their own t-shirts made up for students) with your belt around the T-shirt. We sometimes do this in the summer months when the hall is unbearably hot.

Hope you find a solution soon and don't let it get you down.

Mo.

[JohnASE]

Custom gis are pretty expensive. If you can find a gi that's big enough and have it altered, it's probably a better deal.

Sizing doesn't run the same from brand to brand or even from model to model within a brand. Some of our uniforms run more narrow than others. Often, student uniforms run smaller than heavyweight uniforms.

If you want to contact me directly, I'd be happy to try to fit you. I had a friend who was about 5'6, 240 lbs, and he took our ASE Busho Gi in size 8. The jacket was long, but his group likes them long. He had to have the sleeves and pants shortened, but it was otherwise a decent fit. Today, I'm sending an ASE Deluxe size 8 to a guy who told me he was 5' 10" and 275 lbs with a 50" waist. Until he gets it, I won't be sure it'll work, but I think it'll be fine, again with shortened sleeves and pants. That gi also comes in size 9, but we're out of them for another couple months.

Feel free to message me here at Karate Forums, or check our website for our email address and phone number (see link below).

[JoanneDisFan]

Update here. So I basically was in tears the other day. I ordered a cheap medium weight gi online in a size 7. It was too long, and just a tad too snug in the waist. So I returned it and ordered a size 8 (the highest size many companies offer) knowing I'd need it tailored, and the waist was still too snug! It was like the only difference between the 7 and the 8 was an extra 5 inches in length.

Have you tried the Century brand. I'm also overweight about a size 20/22 depending on the week. I ended up with a middle weight traditional drawsting size 7 gi and it worked great. I actually bought a size 6 heavy weight as my goal and can just squeeze into it, but a bit tight to throw good kicks.

The traditional drawstring waist gives a bit more space in the waist and hips than the elastic waist gi's.

Hope this helps.

[tangsoomomma]

Have you tried the ProForce Gladiator uniform? It's cut more generously. Also they have Gladiator Combat pants. They are cut wider in the legs than any other uniform I have tried. They are sold by AWMA