White vs. Black....

[Deep Sea]

That's not a problem, Karateka. Spill your guts, I can take it. There are things I don't like about it and have had bad experiences too.

But I've had many good experiences as well.

Having been a TKD student and instructor in a number of dojang in years gone by, I've seen and worked with the real good and the real bad, but most was somewhere inbetween, just like Uechi.

[Karateka]

My first martial art was TKD and my brother has almost 20 years in. I like the ITF TKD, it seems fairly solid.

[Deep Sea]

ITF is my favorite by a country mile for a number of reasons. I am also a member of WTF and once was a member of ATA. I've been with several TSD organizations but never made it past brown belt there.

[Karateka]

ITF is my favorite by a country mile for a number of reasons. I am also a member of WTF and once was a member of ATA. I've been with several TSD organizations but never made it past brown belt there.

Deep Sea, I'm waiting to look at your web site, any idea when it's going to be up and running?

[Deep Sea]

As soon as I get my revised book, Uechi-ryu 2000, finished and off to the printer. I got several viruses from Uechi email that Norton LET THROUGH and completely destroyed my system and didn't know about it until I went to reload backup CDs when the new McAffee said "Wait! You can't do that. It's got a virus in it." 50% of my CDs had viruses, all from the same two senders. And then two of the new PCs I put together [one to replace the other one that I thought had hardware problems] came with it's own viruses, right on the driver disk.

I pulled my site down for just a weekend or two in the fall to resesign a new face and they gave me a 5# bag to hold 10# of sand at work, and it's been pretty much a 7-day workweek since. I almost went to work today, but after the dirty looks that the war department [other times known as wife] gave this morning me I decided to fold and take today off.

A couple more months and I expect to have some extra time on my hands to do something with it. Problem is it's got two hundred or so pages connected by a complex menu system that prevents me from just making a fix here and there. Until then priorities are work, family, karate, book then website, and whenever the time runs out, that's all she wrote.

Sorry for the bad news.

[Gene DeMambro]

I also had trouble once trying to find the type and color, Gi I wanted,,
So I found an expert, to make it for me.... The best part,, she is local
to me,,, Located in Whitman, Massachusetts...

Do tell! What's her name and is she taking new clients?!?! And where do you get material for karate gis around here? Do you use something other than the type of cloth used in the manufactured gis?

Gene

[david]

Gene,

Any competent stitcher can make you a good fitting gi with the material you want. Just take your favorite gi along and the stitcher can take a pattern off it with whatever modifications required and get it done in less that half a day if s/he is so inclined.

When I was 12 and first started karate in a no name club, my mother made a couple of white gi's for me less than a day since I (we) couldn't afford to buy them. She later made some black ones and even a denim one (which I never wore). I remember fondly those gi's though I wonder if she doesn't look back and think of it as a mistake (letting me get into MA's). LOL

Heck, if I had a hard enough to fit body with standard gi's, I know enough about stiiching that I could make a gi now, though never as fast as my mother could make it. Likely, you can find the material you want in any one of the cloth shops in Chinatown area.

david

[RachelL]

Having come from a family involved in the garment industry while growing up I spent a lot of time in factories where garments were made. I spent a lot of time behind a sewing machine from a very early age. I learned a lot about the trade and also what David speaks of about the fabric stores
(cloth shops) located in and around Chinatown in Boston. Many of the suburbs have fabric stores that carry a wide assortment of heavy duty material that are well suited to make gi's. All one has to do is as David suggested is find a stitcher or dressmaker and get a pattern made and then have them tell you how much material you will need to complete the job, every size will take a different amount of material. You must be specific though as to if you want long sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, and if the cuffs on the sleeves and pants will be doubled over or have an extra band and how many stitches around the cuffs, , 5 , 6 , 8 , etc.
Then go to the fabric store and shop around. I once made a gi out of brushed blue denim, there are many colors and weights available. By going to the store and picking out the material you can get an idea of the durability and weight of the fabric to be used.
Just keep in mind that even the commercial gis sold in dojos are all hand made but mass produced just like that shirt you are wearing now, that is why you will pay a lot more for your gi to be custom made. You will be thrilled with the color, fit and fact that it was made just for you.
Just like a professional, lets say doctor, lawyer, engineer or anyone who needs a good suit to wear to work. A serious martial artist, especially teachers need a good looking, good fitting, sturdy gi to teach and train in. Think of having 2 made while you are at it. You will not be sorry.

[JaySal]

Hi Gene:

I also agree with Dave, & Rachel... They are both correct...
Any competent stitcher as Dave says can make a Gi
I am sure they all do great work.... However,, let me explain
why I like the one I use so much...

The big benefit to me is:

1 - I do not have to drive into Boston. She is local to me
on the south shore.... Its a no hassle 15-20 min drive for me.

2 - Now that she has all required measurements,,, All I do is
pick up the phone, and say what color Gi I want... She handles
everything else... I selected the cloth I like at the first meeting,
and then from that point on,, she gets it....

Nothing personal ,,, but,,, If I do not have to drive one hr,,, or
40 miles into Boston. I rather not.... Maybe I am getting old,,
but I tired of sitting in Boston traffic... Just do not want to deal
with it any longer...

To me location is everything ,,, and the opportunity cost can not
be beat... Its local.... Its a phone call away...

I am sure who ever you use will be good...

Take Care...

[Bill Glasheen]

Jay

Even down here, if I don't have to drive into Richmond city to get something done, I don't.

And with The Big Dig going on, you're a fool to go into Boston town if you don't have to.

In Okinawa, you can get your Shureido gi custom made to your size. I tried to have Nestor get me one when he was visiting there, but they started with the wrong size pattern. I had to give the result away. Too bad...

I haven't had a gi fit me right since the days I was buying Tokaido. I have a bit of a crane build with curves in some places but a small waist. Nothing fits right from clothing stores, and I have to get everything tailored. You guys have me convinced...

- Bill

[chef]

Hey Allen,

I am in agreement with you, love the camo and green gi. I promised myself when I got my shodan I would buy myself a green gi to go along with Bill's and Rich's. That was almost two years ago and, as Bill stated, the infamous 'green gi' is no longer available. He who waits....I was very bummed about that.

In reference to the following:
"In retrospect I should have asked first. I believe that was the year that you sponsored the camo gi and the green gi, and quite a few of your students at the summer camp wore them.

Fact, I was impressed with them. They separated youse guys from the rest of the crowd, looked sharp, and were definitely a cut above the standard white cloth. I was surprised that they didn't become popular, and would have liked that to happen -- probably too hot in the noonday sweltering summer sun."

I had bought a camo gi from George five or 6 years ago and was probably the woman at camp wearing it a few years back. I absolutely loved the gi but it was 60% polyester and miserably hot to wear to camp....no sweat absorption. It came with two tops, one being the pullover v-neck with three quarter length sleeves and the other a long sleeved traditional tie top. I ended up giving the pants and traditional top to Reno as a gift and kept the other top. I would love to have another but it would have to be 100% cotton. Very cool, literally (compared to the other).

Vicki

[suede]

white is brighter than black--easy to see them when they walk at nite after class.

only problem is -it gets dirty easily.

just put clorox and put in washing machine and forget about it i guess.
------

[Deep Sea]

white is brighter than black--easy to see them when they walk at nite after class.

I guess it would be easier to pick a fight on the street against someone wearing a white gi than a black one becase they show up better in a dark alley

In my youngest days I used to burn holes in canvas gis because of clorox and never knew why. Definitely a case where less is more. However clorox is not the answer if you want a white gi so white that it blinds your opponent in a tournament match.

[chef]

If you want you gi to be white, assuming it is 100% cotton, wash it in hot water with these new bleach substitutes or very little bleach. Always fill the water first (say half way). then add the bleach and have the machine mix the two before you put in the gi. Never put the straight bleach on top of the gi even if it has been put in the water first. It is too strong and will burn your fabric. It must be diluted and mixed in the water. Only disadvantage here is that hot water will shrink 100% cotton. If having your gi tailor-made, ask the seamstress to prewash the fabric in hot water first before cutting it out. Many new fabrics are already pre-shrunk when you buy them, too.

Another, natural way is to let Mother Nature work for you. Periodically put it in the sun either on a clothes line or lay it flat outside somewhere.

Everyone needs a pristine white gi for testing or formal occasions, it is worth checking into.

I love the older style gis the Okinowans wore, shorter length in the legs with a stove pipe, wide leg. Are those available anywhere? Also do they make any gis anywhere that are lower in the waist so they don't ride up so high but stay lower to the hip?

Vicki

[AlanL]

I love the older style gis the Okinowans wore, shorter length in the legs with a stove pipe, wide leg. Are those available anywhere? Also do they make any gis anywhere that are lower in the waist so they don't ride up so high but stay lower to the hip?

Vicki

Hi Vicki,

Check these out. Unique cut under the arm that keeps gi from riding up even when you raise your arms. They also make the gi cut you refer to above. http://www2.lr.net/anshin/home.html

Best,

Alan