44 minutes ago, DarthPenguin said:

I will also add a vote for Hirota here too - depending what you mean by big of course. I have a size 7 and i really like it (6'4" about 230lb in US measurements). Didn't need altered at all - just some careful warm washing / drying for fit. Price was reasonable too from Japan to UK

Shuriedo and Tokyodo are baggier than Hirota, but I would definitely say that Hirota has a more relaxed fit than Tokaido.  And, by extension, I'll also say Shobu - not by personal experience (I've never even seen a Shobu in person), but from what I've been reading online, Shobu has an even slimmer fit than Tokaido.

On 1/27/2026 at 8:51 AM, Zaine said:

You might be surprised. Anyway, it shouldn't be so weird that they don't know what to do. That said, if you're good to do it yourself, you will save money.

 

On 1/27/2026 at 2:40 PM, Furinkazan said:

I live near a military base, and can confirm that not all alteration shops know how to duplicate the manufacturer's hem on a karate gi.  Best thing to do is ask around the dojo for a shop that can.  And the closest one to the military housing for the base I live near charges for $40 just for the pants OR sleeves.  So if you have to get both hemmed, you're looking at $80 (I hope that's not considered cheap because if it is, people who live further away from miltary bases are in big trouble).

That's why I recommend Shureido or Tokyodo (Tokyodo is the cheaper of the two) since they hem for free, and have baggier fit that's better for the big boys.

Higher end non-Japanese gis like Mugen and Kamikaze are good deals IF you don't need anything hemmed.

I'll admit I'm considering getting that Arawaza Black Diamond and having it hemmed anyway.  Because by the time you spend $325 on it, what's another $80?

 

On 1/27/2026 at 5:18 PM, Zaine said:

Perhaps this is a gap in my knowledge, but does the hem have significant meaning outside of its use? I know enough about tailoring clothes to understand that a gi would need multiple rows using a sturdy thread due to the stress of use, but it seems to me that an experienced tailor would know how to duplicate the hem.

I just hemmed up the pants myself after a small learning curve on a new fangled sewing machine after not using one in 40 years.  
It looks great but I lost the extra inner reinforcement strip that adds snap and pop to kicks.  
No big deal for me.

I just decided to leave the jacket sleeves alone.  
I’ve always rolled them two or three times, anyhow.

Kinda looking forward to practicing a little bit again.  
It’ll probably be a little embarrassing since I probably look like a short, blonde, clean shaven, less douch-y version of Steven Segal in a gi!  
Dunno I still have the wind and stamina to make it through a class outdoors in the Philippines heat.
I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was!😜😜😜