Karate Gi: Get the Perfect Look and Sound
In Karate, higher grade students (mostly black belts) often prefer to wear heavier uniforms which are made of heavy drill cotton or canvas. These uniforms last longer as they do not tear as easily, they often look better and also you get more of a “snap” sound when punching and kicking.
Some tournament competitors, especially in Kata tournaments, are also aware of the show-effect of executing kicks and punches with an audible “snap”. Thus, a common practice is to starch the Gi, in particular the ends of the sleeves from the elbow down and the pants from the knee down. You’ll be one noisy Karateka in no time, and all your techniques will sound extra impressive!
Tournament competitors also favor longer jackets and belts to further their chances of impressing the judges. The idea is that when they are performing a low stance, where extra points are given for being extra low (eg. shiko dachi), the longer belt and jacket give the appearance of being lower to the ground.
Some styles of Karate, particularly the ones of Okinawan origin, often prefer to have their pants and sleeves shorter. In regular training these styles include a fair amount of close quarter partner work and long sleeves and pants would simply get in the way.
Chelsea said:
Wow i have neaver heard off having your belt so long! i don’t think it would be practical though!
Aki said:
Ha that is funny to see a belt so long it is interesting. although it would hit you in the face when you kick
Matt said:
How stupid,they have to wear long uniforms to impress people..
Taylor said:
Why is the belt so long? Couldn’t he either wrap it or get a different size?
james strauch said:
starching the ends of the gi is a good idea, but if you practice hard enough you can make the snapping sound anyway. using long belts and gi’s for […] more
IanD said:
This is extremely true. I’ve been doing competitions for the best part of a decade. Most competitors will have 2 gis. One for kata (big heavy and usua […] more
phil said:
to use starch is cheating………. karateka’s should not be allowed to use starch.
lampard08 said:
(you need a slap!) If you need to have a longer gi and belt to look like your lower to the ground then you need a slap….. You should train hard to g […] more
RB said:
chill its only a belt.
soto chudan said:
that is 1 pathatic horse stance!
sensei86 said:
thats daft. karateka shouldnt be allowd to starch their gis. they should train hard and build up the strength to make the sound. as for that belt, its […] more
Charles said:
What ever happened to honesty in karate. Using tricks to win seems bad to me.
andre said:
how do you starch your gi what is it
SM said:
I agree with James, if you train, you shouldn’t need the longer gi or belt. I think if you have a regular size belt… the one right for you… and yo […] more
scott said:
if there was less sport in karate there would be less cheating.
kym said:
um……having a longer belt makes u look stupid, plus it shows then if your trying to impress judges with a really low shiko dachi, then it shows you […] more
robbo said:
that is the dumbest thing i have ever seen
Hamato said:
I think a true Karate-ka should’nt care about snapping noises or long uniforms and belts. If he is a true Karate-ka, his perfection of the techniques […] more
Sensei Dojo-kwan said:
even as an 8th degree black belt, i carry a fireworks in my gi. and secretly blast them to accentuate my high-kicks during competitions. it works wel […] more
Sam Munro said:
The picture is there only to exagerate the joke. Not to be taken seriously. It has obviously been staged or “Photoshop’d”. funny though.
nundun said:
how to starch a gi ?
JTO said:
What the flip? Fireworks in the gi? Your kidding right?