In the martial arts world, an athlete dons a BJJ kimono much like a warrior of old donned a suit of armor. And a point of fact is that both sets of gear have much in common. Ancient warriors were supported by entire industries devoted to the research, development and manufacture of armor. No less can be said for modern athletes participating in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Early Japanese people, of both genders, wore two piece clothing consisting of short pants and a jacket like top. Eventually, through time and a few innovations, the modern judogi was derived from this early simple clothing. Today\'s sophisticated, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi is a modern adaptation of earlier martial arts uniforms.
The word Keiko is interpreted as practice while gi simply means clothing. Today, the Japanese word gi is used extensively outside Japan to simply refer to a martial arts uniform of any kind. However, in Japan it's used most appropriately as a suffix, that is to say, a partner with a preceding word. So, a judo-gi is a uniform for judo and in karate, a karate-gi. Bjj-gi is a characteristic uniform which serves the specific needs of a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It consists of a jacket, a pair of draw-string pants and a belt. In BJJ the jacket and pants have a closer fit than in other forms of martial arts to limit the opponent's ability to manipulate the fabric.
The modern martial arts uniform has evolved and undergone many changes. Reinforced underarms and rubberized collars are modern introductions. In addition, seams are reinforced, some pants have reinforcements below the knees, and the seamless back while more comfortable also adds to durability.
Superior quality uniforms are made from a rip-stop, reinforced woven cotton. Emphasis is placed on pre-shrunk fabric. This is a desirable feature because cotton fabric has a tendency to shrink to nearly half its size when washed. The industry recognizes four weights of fabric - single weave, gold weave, double weave and platinum weave. These are not yet standardized terms and are often relative descriptions within individual retail firms. However, the term "gold weave" relates more to the quality of the fabric, which is derived from the long-fiber cotton that is used in the weave.
Single weave fabric is often recommended for beginning students. It's an economic choice, light weight and is easily cared for. Once it becomes clear the student is ready to make a solid commitment to the sport and takes on additional practice sessions, an investment in the heavier weight double weave may well be in order. Double weave fabric makes for a heavier, sturdier garment.
Gold weave is not so much a distinctive weave as a reference to the type of long stapled cotton fiber used in its construction. Platinum weave is known as its lighter weight version. The higher quality cotton gives the fabric a lustre and comfort usually missing in the other weaves. Yet its durability is comparable to that of double weave. Instructors and competitors often invest in this grade of fabric for their gis.
International competition rules allow competitors to wear a bjj kimono which is black, blue or white. It must be a matching set and be tied with a rank appropriate colored belt. However, additional colors can be found, especially red. These usually represent club colors and may be used for demonstrations and in-house competitions.
Early Japanese people, of both genders, wore two piece clothing consisting of short pants and a jacket like top. Eventually, through time and a few innovations, the modern judogi was derived from this early simple clothing. Today\'s sophisticated, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi is a modern adaptation of earlier martial arts uniforms.
The word Keiko is interpreted as practice while gi simply means clothing. Today, the Japanese word gi is used extensively outside Japan to simply refer to a martial arts uniform of any kind. However, in Japan it's used most appropriately as a suffix, that is to say, a partner with a preceding word. So, a judo-gi is a uniform for judo and in karate, a karate-gi. Bjj-gi is a characteristic uniform which serves the specific needs of a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It consists of a jacket, a pair of draw-string pants and a belt. In BJJ the jacket and pants have a closer fit than in other forms of martial arts to limit the opponent's ability to manipulate the fabric.
The modern martial arts uniform has evolved and undergone many changes. Reinforced underarms and rubberized collars are modern introductions. In addition, seams are reinforced, some pants have reinforcements below the knees, and the seamless back while more comfortable also adds to durability.
Superior quality uniforms are made from a rip-stop, reinforced woven cotton. Emphasis is placed on pre-shrunk fabric. This is a desirable feature because cotton fabric has a tendency to shrink to nearly half its size when washed. The industry recognizes four weights of fabric - single weave, gold weave, double weave and platinum weave. These are not yet standardized terms and are often relative descriptions within individual retail firms. However, the term "gold weave" relates more to the quality of the fabric, which is derived from the long-fiber cotton that is used in the weave.
Single weave fabric is often recommended for beginning students. It's an economic choice, light weight and is easily cared for. Once it becomes clear the student is ready to make a solid commitment to the sport and takes on additional practice sessions, an investment in the heavier weight double weave may well be in order. Double weave fabric makes for a heavier, sturdier garment.
Gold weave is not so much a distinctive weave as a reference to the type of long stapled cotton fiber used in its construction. Platinum weave is known as its lighter weight version. The higher quality cotton gives the fabric a lustre and comfort usually missing in the other weaves. Yet its durability is comparable to that of double weave. Instructors and competitors often invest in this grade of fabric for their gis.
International competition rules allow competitors to wear a bjj kimono which is black, blue or white. It must be a matching set and be tied with a rank appropriate colored belt. However, additional colors can be found, especially red. These usually represent club colors and may be used for demonstrations and in-house competitions.
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