How to wear karate gi?

Question

I'm having a lot of trouble wearing my karate gi. Im not sure why there are 4 pieces of "string" hanging from it. Im not sure if its big either , im about 140 cm tall an its a size 3. Im learning the Wado Ryu karate. Can anyone tell me how to wear it?

Answer 1

ask your instructor

Answer 2

I have to agree...ask your teacher. That is the easiest way.

A lot of good answers here though.

But seriously, just ask. That is why they are a "teacher"...

Answer 3

Put on your gi. Fold the right side under the left. Two of the ties match up. Tie them together. Do the same to the other side.

Answer 4

it fastens first in the left side, then the right. tie the two ties together! one side of the material should cross over the other. if all else fails, google up a picture of a person wearing one and compare. The size is more important in the tightness of the body, not the length.  

Answer 5

1.)  Put on the pants.  If their are loops, feed the ties through them.  The loops go in the front rather than the back.

2.) Put on the top.  Right side under the left side - left side under the right side indicates death or dead.

The kids I teach often come to the mat with left under right on their tops and I ask them if they are dead.  They say something along the line of 'huh?' and then I explain they are presenting themself as a ghost.

They laugh, but never do it again.

This is actually a serious formal protocal in a dojo.  Its never taught, but it should become common sense and an instinct when putting on your dogi.

3.)  You can get a tailored dogo, but if you buy of the shelf, go for the height measure.  There is only one ratio for most dogi and I've never seen somone where it was too tight but not long enough.

Either way, if its short in the legs or the sleeves, so what?  Dogi were once nothing more than underwear in old Japan so perfect length didn't matter.

If you are a size 3, (like me coincidently) ignore the weight and look at the hight when you select.

Honestly, I'd get a size 2 dogi - for the height, it would be a better fit....  better too short than too long and at 5'1" a 3 it too long...  I'm 5'6" and have some size 2s in rotation for instance - they fit better to be honest.

Answer 6

Pay attention to the fact that it's right side under left, then tie... It's not just "that's how it's done" but there's connotations to the clothes the dead were buried in if you do it the opposite way (which was, at one time, quite the faux pas. Not sure if it still is, though).

The pants may also need to be pulled tight at the sides before being threaded through the loops and tied in front. Then tie the obi around your waist (I know of at least two ways, and both are demonstrated on youtube if you search for it).

Have fun storming the castle!