Does a heavy weight gi have better pop?

[JohnASE]

I was wondering if this is a universal truth, or do some people disagree? The general consensus seems to be that a heavier gi pops better than a light weight gi. By "pop", I mean the snapping sound made when performing certain techniques.

Has this been your experience? Is this at all useful during kumite or just kata? 12 oz is probably the most popular weight among heavy weights. Is that the sweet spot for the average karateka with 10 oz being too light and 14 oz a bit too heavy?

Some people say that brushed cotton doesn't pop as well as canvas. Is that true? What if the material is brushed on the inside only?

Obviously, the quality of the technique is the important thing, but when being judged in a tournament or during testing, appearance and sound can have an effect on people watching. How much does a heavy weight gi help with that?

[Zaine]

It has been my experience that the heavier gis have a better pop. It's also a lot more satisfying to hear as well.

Is this at all useful during kumite or just kata

I don't think it is that useful during kumite. In kata, it helps to show the power you are using. In kumite you do that with your partner.

Is that the sweet spot for the average karateka with 10 oz being too light and 14 oz a bit too heavy?

This really depends on the person. It's hard to nail down an average gi weight preference without crunching those numbers. Gut feeling tells me that 12 oz is about average, it's what most of the people in my old dojo wore.

Some people say that brushed cotton doesn't pop as well as canvas. Is that true? What if the material is brushed on the inside only?

I can't speak to this but I would imagine that there are a couple variables that come in to play here (i.e. manufacturer, how well the gi is kept, etc.)

Obviously, the quality of the technique is the important thing, but when being judged in a tournament or during testing, appearance and sound can have an effect on people watching. How much does a heavy weight gi help with that?

While doing a kata in a heavy weight gi can produce impressive sound and demonstrate the power you have put into a technique I don't think that it matters. A testing board isn't only looking at power and power alone will not cause you to pass a test. Does it help? Sure, it can. How much will it help? That really depends on the people on your board but in the long run I don't think that it is that important.

[Wastelander]

Heavyweight gi definitely have more pop to them than lighter weight ones. I only use 14oz and 16oz, myself, but more for the feel and the durability than the sound. Brushed cotton does tend to pop less than canvas, because the fabric is softer. The snap comes from the stiffness of the fabric, as far as I can tell.

[nyramat911]

I was wondering if this is a universal truth, or do some people disagree? The general consensus seems to be that a heavier gi pops better than a light weight gi. By "pop", I mean the snapping sound made when performing certain techniques.

--Generally the 'universal truth'. White belts wonder how they get that 'snap' noise, and as soon as they get a heavier gi, it's suddenly much easier.

Has this been your experience? Is this at all useful during kumite or just kata? 12 oz is probably the most popular weight among heavy weights. Is that the sweet spot for the average karateka with 10 oz being too light and 14 oz a bit too heavy?

-I don't think it's at all useful during kumite, the weight of the gi makes you feel slower and hotter. As for the weight, I think most people think the heavier the better- I've got a 14oz Tokaido and a 13oz Arawaza (both WKF) and I know people who have heavier in both.

Some people say that brushed cotton doesn't pop as well as canvas. Is that true? What if the material is brushed on the inside only?

--This I don't have an answer to. I don't even know what brushed cotton is!

Obviously, the quality of the technique is the important thing, but when being judged in a tournament or during testing, appearance and sound can have an effect on people watching. How much does a heavy weight gi help with that?

--Quality of technique is important- great technique can even make a light weight gi 'snap'; I've had instructors who can make a tshirt make noise. That being said, my brother got a brand new Shureido new wave and all he has to do is walk onto the mat and people look at him because it makes so much noise. From that point of view, a heavy weight gi definitely helps with the effect on the people watching.

[Hawkmoon]

Yes!

No doubt at all!

The sound (pop) really comes into its own in kata demonstrations or tournaments.

When a punch or kick is executed with near perfect focus, timing and/or power the sound calls for the viewer/judge to pay attention!

A lightweight Gi simply does not make that sound ... at best it ripples along your arm or leg and flaps a bit at the end!

Heavy weight all the way!