By Jocelyn G. Millar

Anyone who decideds to join a martial arts class, to become a trained and disciplined fighter, is going to need their own special karate uniform that they can wear throughout training and during sparring sessions. This unique looking outfit, known as the karategi, is practically as old as Karate itself and has been worn by students for hundreds of years now. Many people honor the karategi and have a lot of respect for it, because it functions as kind of reminder of the very beginning of martial arts.

There is no set color or material for the karategi, but more often than not, you will be seeing them in all white and made out of breathable cotton, which is light enough to allow for advanced movement. It is important that the material that the uniform is made out of is light enough to not overheat the fighter during serious bouts and training sessions but strong enough to absorb perspiration and protect against scrapes and scratches.

Anyone who has already seen a karategi is acquainted with the most general style that almost all of them come in, which includes three unique pieces. You have to be able to get around well and perform some extreme kicks, so the pants are generally very loose fitting. The jacket nearly resembles a really short bathrobe, because it folds over itself in the front the same way a robe does.

The most interesting part of this outfit is probably the belt, or Obi, which is tasked with holding the jacket closed, because that belt is as symbolic as it is functional, and then some. The belt comes in a variety of colors and can be marked with different colored stripes, to mark a fighter’s rank, which can be very telling of their amount of skill and the kinds of techniques they are learning and already know. A student with a green belt is usually one that is just beginning their training and is in need of much learning, while a student with a black belt has been training for several years and is well on their way to becoming a master.

It almost feels like a shame that so many martial arts students don their karategi all the time without ever knowing what it stands for. It is wonderful to be able to understand the importance of the karate uniform, because it puts things in perspective and really helps you feel connected to the history of the sport.

If you want to see some expert opinions about martial arts gear then you can check on Karate Uniform or you can also check Karate Belts.