Kelvin Ho asked: If you are new to martial arts and have just enrolled in a martial arts school, you would need to get the right gear for training and workouts. Since each of us is unique in shape and height, you must carefully choose the uniform which would give you the right kind of flexibility of movement as you undergo training.
What To Buy
The first task while buying martial arts gear including uniform and supplies is to find out what your martial arts school, also called ‘dojo’ requires you to wear. Karate uniforms, as an example, have traditional colors. The uniform is white and comes with belts that vary from white to black. There are many schools that have their special emblem or color to distinguish the students from other schools.
You must be familiar with several terms used to describe a particular style. For instance, gear worn for karate is called “karategi” or “karate gi” and judo uniforms are called ‘judogi’. Uniforms for taekwondo or jujutsu also have special names. The uniform worn by anyone practicing martial arts is called ‘dobok’. So you need to know what to buy before you make the actual purchase.
Where To Buy
There are various types of brands available, some of which are more popular than the other. You could also buy martial arts gear through online merchants, if you know the particular name of your uniform. While the size of the uniform would vary as per your height, there may be some differences from one brand to another.
Purchase Considerations- Size
While it is good to know your height, it can also help you if you know the precise measurements of your hips, arms, waist, and legs, before you actually buy the gear. Many online shops offer buying guides and provide you with size charts to make the job easier for a buyer.
Purchase Considerations- Material
If you decide to buy pure cotton material, ensure that they are pre-shrunk, or you could even buy one size larger to take care of the post-wash shrink, if any. Regarding the quality and weight of your uniform, there are plenty of choices.
Gears are made with a variety of materials and styles. Cotton is the most popular fabric because of its capacity to absorb sweat, which polyester and cotton blends can not do. These however are less expensive.
The gear could be made in several types of fabrics including lightweight, medium and heavyweight. You can learn about the weight of the gear as mentioned on tags or labels. It is to be noted that heavyweight fabrics cost more, though prices may differ depending on the manufacturer and the brand.
On the other hand, lightweight materials which are the cheapest of the lot are good for beginners. Medium weight uniforms, weighing about 10 ounces offer great flexibility and offer good sweat absorption.
Purchase Considerations- Waistband
The other component of martial arts gear is the waistband. Drawstring waistbands are the preferred choice over elastic as they are more secure during kicks and other postures of martial arts.
Purchase Considerations- Cuts
There are tournament cut and traditional cut available. While the traditional cut has long pants with long sleeves, the tournament cut is just the opposite where both these parts are shorter. If you are a beginner it makes sense to buy each item one at a time and not altogether, since you may not be too sure whether you would continue to practice martial arts for too long or not.
Purchase Considerations- Accessories and Equipment
For instance, it makes sense to ask your instructor whether you need to buy extra equipment for practicing martial arts at home like, focus targets, exercise equipment, punch bags, strike pads, or weights. There are several reputed brands for martial arts gears like, Arawaza, Tokaido, BudoNord, and so on. The price range varies according to the brand reputation, etc. Visit online stores and you could get a fair idea of the price, material, size, etc. and buy supplies which suit your need best.
Edgar
