Fabric and colors of Karate uniforms
Karate uniforms (Gi) are usually made of cotton or a mix of cotton and polyester (sometimes referred to as “polycotton”). There are also heavy weight uniforms made from canvas and heavy drill cotton. The typical Karate Gi is white.
Nowadays Karate uniforms also come in a wide variety of colors. Other than the white Gi that traditional karate styles prefer, you can choose from yellow, blue, red, black and probably any other color you can think of. For example, Kenpo Karate is known for its use of black Karate uniforms.
Karate uniforms for masters
Some manufacturers now also have special uniforms for grand masters and your “everyday master”, that come with extra trimmings such as gold embossing on the jacket and pants. Some uniforms have black piping on the V of the jacket or stripes down the side of the pants. Black belt karatekas can show their sense of fashion and grandeur with extra wide black belts with gold embroidery and gold stripes along the belt. These are available with as many gold stripes as the length of the belt and the size of the ego requires.
Alex said:
My Gi is solid black, with the dojo’s logo on the back side of the jacket.
KempoDude said:
Well I’m doing Kenpo (notice the “n”!) and we are wearing black pants and white tops… with a small logo on the back. I have seen red uniforms in […] more
ranjith said:
i think the best uniform for a karate-ka is the white as it symbolises the purity in interest, dedication and perseverance that one should have to tra […] more
Patrick said:
I don’t know about that, but colored gis are just tacky.
Jeice said:
I’m with Patrick, colored gi’s are a fashion disaster.
Jim said:
Well simply put, white is the traditional colour of the dogi!!
Ramiel said:
True, the martial arts are steeped in tradition, the use of color gis slowly take that away. (Save certain styles like Kenpo.)
kempoka said:
the kempo black gi is different from the traditional white gi that other karate styles impose because it symbolises the knowledge that a kempo-ka has […] more
syed abusad ahmed said:
i am karate master godan, i wear white gi,of canvas material full white.
Brian said:
The gi’s color should remain the same as how it was in the beginning, of whatever style you are doing. In traditional karate, it is WHITE, and should […] more
ravi said:
i want logos
Eli Bronstein said:
I was in a karate tournament.It was really fun to spare!
linuxlouis said:
I’m preparing to test for my black belt in Kenpo after years of training - I had some time when I was in college, otherwise I would’ve been done a few […] more
Ben said:
I have a green gi and that is because I have become one of the best in the country. I have competed in many competitions. My competition gi is solid o […] more
Curtis said:
I study Wado Ryu Karate and I wear a black gi. So do the rest of the students, we like it because we do a lot of training outdoors and it does not sho […] more
Alex said:
i agree having a coloured gi is just tacky, the only time i have ever worn a gi that wasnt white was when i acheived my 2nd dan.
David Watson said:
I really think that is too colorful. I think it is time to let go of some of the tradition and wear something that you would wear in a fight. Not jean […] more
Bill said:
I’m a kenpo karate instructor. Students at my dojo are not allowed to wear a black gi until they are at least a green belt. We don’t have any lo […] more
James Strauch said:
I have been training since the late 1980’s in Shotokan karate-do. I have only ever worn a white gi, however i must admit i do like the look of a whit […] more
robert said:
In my Kenpo school. we go from all black to red gi tops. than you can start to choose what color you want.
Marc Sensei, Belgium said:
In my dojo only a sensei can pyt on a colored gi. Butttttt,…it is hard to find a beautifull gi. I’m looking for a gi with both legs in diferent co […] more
Kieron, 1st dan said:
iv been doing shotokan for a while and have only ever worn a white Gi although i do not teach i help and have seen alot of ppl from mixed martials and […] more
Meikyo said:
Hello friends! Look please this information. TES CORPORATION FIFTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SHOTOKAN KARATE-DO (W.S.K.F.) CUP REGULATIONS Si […] more
Jimmy-san said:
My gi is crotchless!
lampard08 said:
i do wado ryu (which is the best) we train in standard white. [Eire!]
Gareth said:
I have just got my black belt and my karate shihan has told me that I must now get a green gi. Can someone tell me where I can get one from as I have […] more
Mal Hinson said:
Flashy gi’s and decorations are fine for those who have little skill and ego for a master. They try to call attention to one’s self. Karate-do maxim; […] more
Mal Hinson said:
Gareth, A green gi is unusal color. Does your Sensei wear one? Ask him where he found it. You may have to die a white one green. Note after dieing […] more
bob said:
A true fighter is not determined by the color of his or her gi:)
Jason said:
i study ryu bu kan aiki jujitsu and i wear a blue gi. I see no problem with it…I also have a background in shotokan karate.
Mal said:
Bob understands. I tell my students the knowledge of a book lies with in. The cover of the book is decoration. Bob is totally correct. Skill is inside […] more
NIck K. said:
In my opinion, I dont think it matters what color gi you wear as long as you train hard and keep it clean. I have to admit that some gis look kind of […] more
joe said:
If anyone wants to know the real reason that kenpo or kempo uses black then just do a google search on the history of it. But it is more of a disticti […] more
SenseiJonnaef said:
Ok real quick, My name is Jonathan and i teach martial arts and so everyone is clear there is no such thing as a traditional color for a karate unifor […] more
sean said:
If you wear a full black uniform that means you are a master or at least a black belt. not all schools have this but most of them do but for the most […] more
Mr. Staley Sensi said:
In the 45 or so years that I have commited myself to trying to learn a martial art, I have seen and heard a lot. One thing that keeps popping up from […] more
dalan said:
i think that the only two gi’s (unless your like 10 years old) should be white or black. it just looks more traditional and you have a very structural […] more
zach said:
karate is not about a flashy gee, quit trying to be a tenage mutant ninja turtle and just practice traditional martial arts.
Jane said:
Does anyone know where to get a karate lisencecoz im white belt (:P)and i got ma gi n stuff but i wanna get ma lisence >.
Nate said:
I think that it doesnt really matter what color your gi is. It is the fighter on the inside. I have an all black gi but i think the white gis are the […] more
Sensei Dan said:
I allow my students to wear either a black or white gi. However I tell the students who choose to wear a black gi that they must also have a white gi […] more
Josh said:
*sigh* many of you know nothing. A traditional Karate gi is WHITE; with the exception of a black gi for sensei, masters, Kenpo students, and sometimes […] more
nathan said:
i think that it doesn’t matter what color gi you wear its the person inside of it
Ed said:
Haha,I’ve been in martial arts for 20 years. White gi’s are the best. I have to buy a black gi every 2 years because black gi’s turn gray. Colored gi’ […] more
Phil said:
i think color shouldn’t even matter its the reason why you are doing it. the color and be different but the martial art is still going to remain the s […] more