GI Colors Meaning?

Question

I am looking into taking judo to better my takedown and defense game. I know they are many different colors of GIs, more common are white, red, blue, and black.

Just making sure, so I don't come in one day with a GI that will make people question. Is there any meaning behind colors of a GI?

Answer 1

You must ask the head of the school. Every organization has its rules and if you are a member, you must follow them.

Some org's will only allow white for underbelts. Seniors could wear black top/white bottoms or all black.

Sensei would wear all black with red or gold embroidery/crest/patch.

In Chinese arts, the uniforms might be different colors according to rank or status.

Answer 2

Not to my knowledge, at least not in karate. be aware I am not sure about Judo, but in many karate schools only above a certian rank are you allowed to wear anything other then white. Some schools are white until brown belt, then the option of black or white, then the ability to wear different colors and mix colors after black.

Hopefully a judo ka can answer your wuestion better. Probably all depends on the school.

Answer 3

In today's competitions one competitor wears a white judo gi while the other wears blue. Traditionally both competitors would wear white, but recently (1997) the International Judo Federation officially decided to use blue uniforms. Black uniforms have become popular in schools and demonstrations, though the colour is not endorsed officially.

I think the red gi is just for extra choice, I would advise you to check the class out first and wear whatever colours they are wearing.

hope this helps mate!

Answer 4

Judo only uses White and Blue Gi's. And mainly the Blue Gi's are for competetion only (helps to easier ascertain which fighter is which). So getting a white Gi is just fine especially as a beginner.

Getting any other color as you are starting is ill advised.

Red or Black Gis are not good for Judo, first most places won't let you wear one, the ones that do, will still probably laugh at you about it.

Go with White my friend, it won't let you down, and you have no need for a Blue Gi for a while.

There is no meaning for Gi colors in Judo, aside from White and Blue being used for competetion, to tell who is who. (Previously they just tied a different colored belt around a guy, but sometimes that lead to a bigger pain then what it is worth, with guys losing the belt, or constantly having to readjust the belt, or it being tangled up in the Gi and hard to see.

So now, Blue Gi for one side, White Gi for the other, no confusion.

All other color Gis have no use or worth or meaning... unless it is Pink. Only Gene LeBell can wear Pink Gis... that just means you are a bad@ss.

Answer 5

It depends on your school as far as Judo goes.  The White gi is traditional, and will be accepted everywhere.  Blue gis are also acceptable in most places, as they are competition gis, but some purists don't like them.

Most tournaments (including all the ones that I've been to) still use the different colored belt system (one competitor wears a white belt, the other wears a blue belt or red sash on top of their belt) that judomofo described as a second option to having a blue gi, but the Blue Gi is used solely for elite level tournaments as a way to tell who is who.

Most schools will sell you a white or off white Gi cheap when you start.

Red and Black gis are rare in my experience, I've seen two people using black gis, and I've never seen a red gi. If you go to a smaller school, they probably won't care, but it's not a good idea to get one.

If you want to compete, get a white gi, as all tournaments require one to compete.

Answer 6

Japanese martial arts like Judo, Karate, Jujitsu, and all the other martial arts in Japan created during war time mainly wears white. This is because those color robes were something you let dead people wear for funeral and wearing that meant you were prepared to fight and die. But nowadays, they're still using white because that's the color they've been using and it's a tradition. I don't know about other martial arts style, but in Judo, other color besides white doesn't have any deep meaning. It's just so people can wear different color gi.