A karate uniform is more than just an article of clothing. The uniform
stands for pride in yourself and your school and years of martial arts
tradition. Once you put on your karate uniform, or a gi as it is
commonly referred to, you are representing yourself and your discipline.
In many traditions, it is a high honor to wear a karate uniform.
Wearing the uniform is not as simple as many people think. There is a
correct way that the gi must fit on your body, how the tunic is worn,
and how the belt is tied around your waist. All have a meaning, and deep
tradition, involved. However, wearing the uniform right is only half of
the discipline. Folding your karate uniform before putting it away or
packing for an out of town tournament is also very important.
Your Karate Uniform Should Contain no Wrinkles
The most
important thing to remember when putting away your karate uniform is
that there should never be any wrinkles on it. Wrinkles upon the uniform
is very much frowned upon in any discipline and any school. Even in
instances where the school allows t-shirts, they also must be ironed and
clean.
Fold Your Karate Uniform The Same Way Every Time
Everyone will
tell you that there are no "habits" in karate or the martial arts. That
everything you learn is a discipline that you force yourself to do each
time. With that in mind, it is important to realize that the way you
fold your karate uniform should be automatic so that there is no
deviation from it. The folds, and creases, are important to the overall
look and the snap of your uniform.
Folding Your Karate Uniform Step by Step
Folding the uniform is
much like an ancient tradition of the Orient. It brings to mind the
elaborate tea ceremonies that you routinely read about in martial arts
novels. It is a great reminder that the martial arts is not just a
hobby, but a commitment to discipline and excellence. Folding your gi
takes a few steps, but does not take a long time to do it right. Here
are the steps to take when folding your karate uniform.
- Lay top tunic flat on hard surface with the top side up. Spread out
the arms in the normal position and make sure there are no wrinkles.
Once you have that positioned, place the pants on top with the waistband
at the same level as the top hem of the tunic. Stretch the legs through
the middle of the top.
- Fold the legs of the pants upwards until
the bottom hem is at the same level as the top waistband and collar of
the top. Fold the right arm over the legs with the crease of the fold at
the edge of the pant leg. Take the same arm and fold it back on itself
so that the other crease is now at the left edge of the pants.
-Repeat the above process with the left arm.
-
Fold the bottom part of the karate uniform top up until it reaches the
bottom fold of the legs. This should be about three-fourths of the way
up. Fold the crease and press down to make sure all the air is released.
Fold the gi in half from the left and press down again to make sure the
air is decompressed.
Now your karate uniform has been
successfully folded. It will not contain any wrinkles, but will have the
right creases and will provide you with that great snap for each strike
or kick.
Margaret Dicks 5th Dan began Taekwondo training in the early
'70's. With husband, Master Trevor Dicks 7th Dan, she runs the Pacific
International Taekwondo school, specializing in teaching children and
adults traditional Taekwondo. She also runs an online store selling to
individuals and small clubs, focusing on supplying good quality
martial arts uniforms and equipment at reasonable prices.
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