Does anyone's club insist on a specific gi design?

[Nidan Melbourne]

At my dojo my sensei specifies a white gi that is it. It can be any cut that you wish as long as it was a karate gi that is white.

Majority of our students just buy our club gi (by which is no way mandatory) that is cotton of which is made by Jols. Usually it is our 1st Kyus and up buy a specialised gi for either kumite or kata. Or just better quality gi's made by different manufacturers.

Many buy from Adidas or Tokaido. I personally have a Seishin Gi (which i love) and a heavier Tokaido Gi. Along with having my club gi which is slightly more restrictive than my other gis.

[Hawkmoon]

... yeah not pink!

(Yes the washing accident has annoyed me that much!)

[Oshishinobu]

OSU!!!

ISKF requires a white gi with the ISKF patch on the chest. no brand specific but our club prefers KI brand for affordability and general great quality. I own a KI mugen 10 oz and love it. The only OSU!!

[Sentoka]

The organisation I started with had everyone who started in a plain white Gi, with a style patch on the chest and an optional rectangular club badge on the shoulder.

As you progressed, it got a bit outrageous. By Shodan you had black pants, white gi, with a yellow and black lapel, style badge on the chest and large one on the back, Club embroidery underneath the back style badge. A rectangular "Instructors" badge on the other side of the chest. A black belt club badge on the opposite shoulder and weapons badges along the bottom of the gi.

And a black belt with your name embroidered in English.

Some people like that, but hey. The way I see it is the more you focus on what you're wearing and pretending it gives you a higher standing than the guy standing to the left of you in line ups, means you're focusing less on your actual training than you ought to.

The first thing I did when I went out on my own was get a plain white gi.

[Melau]

Plain white gi, as few patches as possible (try hard NOT becoming a walking advertisement). Care for your gi, make sure it is clean (ironed if you really care).

Then train hard.

[JR 137]

The organisation I started with had everyone who started in a plain white Gi, with a style patch on the chest and an optional rectangular club badge on the shoulder.

As you progressed, it got a bit outrageous. By Shodan you had black pants, white gi, with a yellow and black lapel, style badge on the chest and large one on the back, Club embroidery underneath the back style badge. A rectangular "Instructors" badge on the other side of the chest. A black belt club badge on the opposite shoulder and weapons badges along the bottom of the gi.

And a black belt with your name embroidered in English.

Some people like that, but hey. The way I see it is the more you focus on what you're wearing and pretending it gives you a higher standing than the guy standing to the left of you in line ups, means you're focusing less on your actual training than you ought to.

The first thing I did when I went out on my own was get a plain white gi.

Not to offend anyone here, but I'm with you on this. The gis with all different colors and patches drive me crazy. What's the point in patches that say "Sensei" "Black Belt Club" or anything else? I thought wearing a black belt meant you're a black belt. I thought running your dojo meant you were a Sensei, etc.

Kids are a different matter. Sure, give them patches for accomplishments. I've seen dojos that have patches like "great kicks" "great punches" "honor roll" etc. If it keeps kids motivated and excited, then I'm all for it. If wearing different color gis for different levels keeps them going, no complaints from me.

Whenever I see adults getting carried away with uniforms, it screams McDojo to me.

I know people here have different policies in their dojo as to what they wear, and I have nothing against it. What you're wearing isn't what's important. I'm old school and prefer a traditional gi with the school's kanji on the front, and a school logo (if applicable) on the sleeve. My old organization required everyone to wear the same sparring gear, with the organization's logo on it. It wasn't a money grab (it was a little cheaper than catalog price), it was for uniformity. The head of that organization is a Vietnam veteran, hence his insistence on uniformity across the board.

[sensei8]

Then I suppose that my blue gi is a bad thing?!?

[Shizentai]

Technically I am supposed to wear patches when I train... pretty much everywhere I've trained, but I am an unimportant person in the dojo, and as I like to hover back and forth across organizations undetected, I tend to avoid patches and embroidery.

[JR 137]

Then I suppose that my blue gi is a bad thing?!?

An absolutely horrible thing. An abomination of biblical proportions.

[Spartacus Maximus]

Maybe it is because of habit of tradition, but for some reason a gi that is neither white or black just does not seem appropriate. Especially if it is of a very bright colour like blue or red.

Worse still are those with flamboyant colours, loud design patterns or excessive patches all over like a bus station poster board. A gi ought to be comfortable and functional training attire, not something to draw attention or impress an audience.