What Is a Karate Uniform?
A karate uniform, formally called a "gi," is worn by karate students during training and competition. It is designed to be practical for training purposes and to connect the karateka (karate student) with the history of the martial arts.
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Jacket
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The top part of the karate uniform is a kimono-style jacket. The sleeves are wide to allow for expansive movement of the arms, and the lapels crisscross the body to allow for free movement of the torso.
Pants
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The pants are designed to be loose-fitting, yet durable. The seams are double-stitched. The drawstring travels through the waist ribbing twice, encircling the body to keep the pants securely around the waist when kicking.
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Belt
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The belt not only holds the gi jacket closed, it represents a karateka's level of proficiency. A beginner's belt is white and the most advanced student's belt is black. Schools have varying color systems, but, generally, the darker the color, the higher the rank.
Purpose of the Karate Uniform
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As noted by All-Karate, the wearing of a gi has a positive psychological effect on the karateka. It imparts a connection to martial arts history and a sense of authenticity to the karateka's training. It also helps to build a community within the dojo (karate school) when all karateka display the same uniform.
Belt Ritual
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The Gentle Warrior Way cites that the karate belt's history can be traced to the Shaolin Su Temple. A monk's hard work often left stains on his sash, thus martial artists have a custom of never washing the belt, as doing so is equated with washing away one's work.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of palindrome6996
