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Post by malk103 on Mar 23, 2012 21:21:25 GMT
Do you wear your Karate suit in public?
I'm normally in such a rush that I just throw a jacket over the top, tonight I had to go shopping afterwards so happily wandered around Tesco with Gi and Jacket on, you get a few odd looks but its not a bad area so don't feel too "overt".
I was thinking that in some parts it might be an open invitation for some "ruffians" to see if they can have a go and get away with it. Obviously down town on a Saturday night would be asking for trouble!
It can also be risky with our Child Protection as some places we generally all arrive together and there is just the loo's to get changed so it would mean instructors/adults/kids all getting changed at the same time. A lot easier to arrive ready.
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Post by genkaimade on Mar 23, 2012 23:38:11 GMT
I admittedly never where my gi outside of the dojo, and for 3 reasons (in no particular order):
1) It could get dirty on the way to the dojo.
2) It's asking for trouble.
3) I believe quite strongly in the philosophical implications of wearing a gi. I don't know if you know its origins, but either way I'll do a mini summary. Effectively, the gi was the death robe/undergarment worn by the Samurai under everything else when they went into battle, so that if they were killed, they would not be dishonoured by being undressed. As a result, every time we put a gi on, we are effectively saying 'I am prepared to die for what I am about to do'. I might not take it quite to that extreme, but I think adopting the mentality at least to an extent can be very useful for getting into the right mind-set. Admittedly I'm not always successful...
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 24, 2012 21:56:41 GMT
young Alix - I think you'll find that the 'Gi' as we know it was merely funakoshi finding a 'uniform' and sensible outfit to train in and slightly revising the suits already worn by Judoka and Ju Jitsuka - it was never any homage to Samurai death robes; don't believe all the Samurai heredity mumbo jumbo lad  |
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Post by th0mas on Mar 25, 2012 20:17:58 GMT
What? I have been wearing Samurai pants to training for over 1/4 of century... Doh!
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Post by fleur on Apr 3, 2012 2:44:18 GMT
Mal, I think if you take your belt off and wear a jacket over the top - no problem.
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Post by malk103 on Apr 3, 2012 19:26:49 GMT
Mal, I think if you take your belt off and wear a jacket over the top - no problem. Then people would look at the flared trousers half way up the shin and wonder about my fashion sense..... ;D ;D In our town there isn't much trouble so most places I can get away with it, just wondered if anyone did the same. |
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Post by marie on Apr 11, 2012 22:11:07 GMT
I've worn my gi to Tesco also. I've got a lot of strange looks and comments. I remember walking down a certain isle at night after lesson and a gentleman said to me: "please don't hurt me!" And I just laughed. Some people walk past me and start performing karate chops (or as we know it Shuto's). It's pretty funny. Especially with little children, they turn to their parents and say things like: "Mummy, look at her she's a ninja!"
I don't personally like wearing it in public as I like to keep everything I know and do to myself, but hey-ho!
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Post by Paul Bedard on Apr 12, 2012 3:21:13 GMT
I wear my gi from my home to my automobile to the dojo & back. I wont wear it in general public. Also at seminars I`ll wear it from my motel room ( with a jacket covering ), to the dojo. I have seen some who wear their gi to the restaurant for breakfast be reminded that it`s frowned upon. Once again the general public thing.
As far as the short pants, well there are some pretty strange styles of fashion out there, so I don`t let that bother me. At least my pants are done up & my arse isn`t sticking out!!!
Osu
Paul B
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 12, 2012 16:22:04 GMT
The visual imagery was a bit too much to take there Paul LOL! |
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Post by makoto on Apr 13, 2012 6:37:34 GMT
Do these rules apply if you are living in Japan? I wear my gi from house to car to dojo and in reverse order. However, if I need to I would have no problems in stopping in a store on the way home. I get strange looks not because of the gi itself, but because I am a foreinger in a gi, with a black belt on. I would do the same in Canada as well, and still get weird looks, because the gi is an unsual outfit. Many people here in Japan take off the top and belt, and put on a t-shirt and walk home in their trousers. Some of the kids wear their gi and ride home on bicycle. So, it is more about the place you live in and not the gi itself.
By the way, the gi originated from plain old underwear. No different than the moder day white tank top and boxer shorts. AFAIK.
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Post by Rob S on Apr 13, 2012 16:01:07 GMT
Hi,
I think even in Japan most karate-ka will conceal their art to a degree. I almost never see a gi on open display in Kanto area. They are usually in a bag etc. So of course are the weapons, the bo, jo (total no -no to hve one in its unrptotected state in Japan - against the law), iaito, etc etc.
I have seen kids in their gi in Yachimata (Shiina sensei's dojo area) on their way to and fro the dojo, but they are kids and people never look twice.
Like John (Makoto) I have worn a gi outside the dojo. I am not sure it is the gaikoku-jin strange person in a gi look, or just the fact the gi is worn openly. I have been in a public demo in the streets of Ojiya (Niigata) in a gi (2010) and because it was an all day demo no-one looked twice, but had it been an normal day I am sure there would have been some tittering!
I agree with John also re the i. It is actually just shita-gi. Underwear. My wife is an aikido-ka. They wear a Hakama at Shodan so that they are not in underwear. The girls often go into a Hakama at 2 kyu, for the same reason - not to be undressed!
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 15, 2012 17:09:17 GMT
I do not question the design origin but am quite confident that the Karate-Gi as we know it was simply a slight redesign of the clothing worn by Judoka. If I remember correctly Nakayama Sensei has explained this in interview, Possibly in 'Conversations with the Master' but may have been in another interview! Just confident tis out there somewhere LOL! |
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Post by makoto on Apr 15, 2012 22:18:04 GMT
Yachimata is really close to Yokaichiba, where I live. lol
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Post by fujicolt on Apr 18, 2012 17:56:57 GMT
Yachimata is really close to Yokaichiba, where I live. lol YachiMata is that twinned with Whatsdemata the famous Irish Hedgehog Farming Village John?  Seriously though sounds like you and Rob should be car sharing ontway to the Dojo to save fuel then  |
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Post by Rob S on Apr 18, 2012 18:44:15 GMT
Hi, I am not living in Japan. My wife is a Chiba girl, so when we go home, we obviously go there. My friend is an assistant in Shiina sensei's dojo, hence my knowledge of the dojo. (I is a great dojo I have to say, to see kids of that quality, across the board is rare).
My home dojos are in Ikebukuro (Tokyo) and Hokkaido.
Sorry if I gave the impression that I was living there.
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