Heavy weight suit (gi) any fast track idea on how to soften it?

Question

The deal is I have been doing more classes so couple months back bought myself an expensive heavy weight gi for karate it is still rubbing my kneck and ankles (no comments about being a softy girly girl please). Anyone got any ideas on how to soften it, been washing it as often as I can but it only softens (a little) after it has warmed up

Answer 1

The magic of fabric softener.  wash it often on a gentle cycle if necessary and use fabric softener.  But a bigger size would have probably been a better investment.  It may just shrink.  So check the washing instrucions and wash it as much as possible.  Snuggle will work wonders.

Answer 2

Hi there

Good luck with this one. If you find a solution please let me know. I swear when i iron mine it has the capability to stand on its own? Ive tired a job lot of fabric softeners you name it! Don't be fooled by those lenor adverts with the softy characters! Your GI will still be capable of standing on its own two feet! lol

From experience the only solution is to buy the real expensive ones that are lined inside that come from Japan. Downside is they cost about 80 quid! The Blitz and Hayashi ones that are made in china although considered branded makes are not really made for comfort. And they do rub like a bugger no matter how many times a day you train in them!

I'll be training in Japan next month and will be checking out Gi's and picking up some new tabi plus anything else that catches my eye!

;-)

Best wishes

idai

Answer 3

rubs against your neck and ankles??

maybe you should've gotten a bigger size

i know when i got a heavyweight Gi it was a size bigger and fit fine.

Answer 4

Hmm, I try to make mine as starchy and cardboard-like but I do judo. Having a rigid and rough gi I find makes it harder for your opponent to grab and keep hold of.

However after a few classes the gi tends to soften again, so my advice would be go to more classes, work harder and don't wash it so often to begin with. You may find it harder to find a partner to practice with in classes for a while though! :)

Answer 5

This is what we tell customers regarding softening a gi. It works for BJJ kimono and so will work at least as well with a karate gi.

First soak the gi overnight in some bicarbonate soda. This will bring out any starch or detergent still inside in the garment. Then wash the uniform without detergent. I would advise putting it through an extra rinse after it has finished its wash.

Then wash it again this time using a very mild detergent and using a good amount of conditioner. From then on always use about twice as much softener than suggested.  Once the gi is as soft as you would want it, start using the normal amount.

However, two other suggestions:

1) Get yourself a rash guard to wear under your gi top. This is what rash guards were used for in martial arts. It will stop the seams rubbing on you and be far superior to the t-shirt most females wear under a gi. They deal with sweat and heat far better than cotton t-shirts.

2) With regard to the bottom of the legs; you can get something heavy and metal. The rub the seams with it. A heavy bottle will do. What you are trying to do is tenderise the structure of the material and thread. You need to do this while it is damp.

Edit:

Try finding a softener that doesn't have smells associated with it. Usually hyoallergenic ones have little smell. You'd need to find a large supermarket though to get a range. It might be worth doing a search for them on the internet. Lot of trouble though.... you get a smell anyway from a newly washed gi. Besides, it might work in your favor. I detest vinegar like there was no tomorrow. So, to stop me using him to demonstrate BJJ/grappling on, one of my senior students used to dowse his BJJ gi in vinegar after he had washed it. It worked I never used to grapple with him without my eyes streaming.

Hope that helps

Answer 6

Do it the same way that most serious martial artists do - train in it for two hours a day every day. Problem solved.

Answer 7

you are a softy girly girl