What’s going on with that white uniform worn by practitioners of Judo and other traditional martial arts? This uniform is called the Judo Gi, and is an integral part of the history and spirit of the art.
While many clubs spice up their uniforms with an abundance of colorful logos and patches, the traditional Judo gi is a plain unadorned white cotton uniform with drawstring pants and a “bathrobe” styled top that ties shut. Some may wonder why the official uniform of the art is so “plain”, and the answer lies in history. The word “gi” in Japanese means simply “clothes”, and in particular, it refers to “underclothes”. An individual learning Judo in the old days may well train in his or her plain white undergarments, as a way of keeping their formal dress clean and tidy. Japanese warriors have trained this way for centuries, and as a result, many traditional martial arts from Karate to Judo and Aikido utilize the white gi.
The uniform you’ll wear when you do Judo is largely determined by the club you attend. Some will demand a pristine white gi, while others may have multi-colored gi or gi adorned with patches and emblems. Still other clubs may want you to train in your street clothes, or in sweats. In any situation, always respect the wishes or your teacher and respect the club in which you are training.
No matter what uniform you wear, take a moment to think of the long history of the art when you put it on, and recognize the noble tradition you’re about to take part in. Should you end up wearing the traditional white Judo gi, you’ll now know the reason why!