Ok, call me old fashioned, I like wearing a uniform in class I really do… however for practical purposes it’s useless. Certainly life and death survival does not depend on you wearing a Karate uniform.

The Karate uniform, or “gi”, emerged over time to establish a sense of uniformity among students in dojo. And as it resembles traditional garb of the time in Japan (when it first came into use); it could easily be viewed as practical or normal wear for that early period. Although it is accepted as the standard in clothing for practice, it does have a very real disadvantage.

The “gi” is very different from what you wear outside the dojo. While many simply take up Karate as a sport, most people do it as a means of learning how to defend themselves. A gi is designed to allow for freedom of movement and to handle the rigors of physical training. There are even designs available now for specific body types.

However if a real situation should arise, how likely will it be that you are walking around in non-restrictive garb? Depending on your gender, you may be in a dress and heels, or you may be in a slightly restrictive business suit. Even jeans and a belt limits trunk movement!

How would the clothes you are wearing now limit your movements? Would you still be able to defend yourself when your usual full range of body movement is restricted?

What’s the point?

Simply if you do not prepare yourself for defensive movement in ‘real’ clothing, you may find yourself severely limited at a time when you need to be in total control.

This is the major issue I have with training in gi; and in a dojo for that matter – how well are you prepared for the ‘real’ outside environment? Can you function; can you defend yourself and loved ones in your everyday clothes?

While the traditional Karate gi is a convenient, durable set of training clothes…. It does not allow you to experience being held back by your clothing; something you really need to try out!

Think about this for a second, we train night after night performing the wa-uke block; we finish the block with the grab and pull….. What are students typically pulling on? That’s right the sleeve of the Karate gi (instead of the arm). … SO if I am wearing a t-shirt then this method of control is nullified right?

How often do you train variations of this technique to allow for everyday clothing?

I prefer to train in my backyard, in the clothes I have on at that time. I also enjoy formal dojo practice however. It is controlled and much easier to work on correct form & technique. That being said I work the same material in regular clothes (a lot) to be sure I can move the same should the need arise.

When was the last time you practiced in jeans and sneakers?