Polycotton vs Cotton Gi

[Gyakuto]

Are Tokaido karategi no longer very well rated? They were the only brand to wear in my day!

 

[Hot Lunch]

Are Tokaido karategi no longer very well rated? They were the only brand to wear in my day!

I'm not messing with Tokaido anymore.

For one thing, they have non-Japanese made gis that are way too overpriced. Their "Kata Master" gis (which is what I use now). They'd be perfectly fine if they were priced around $75 or $80 dollars, since the quality is no better than other other gis in that price range. And, IMO, that drags down the whole brand.

Also... they got rid of their Japanese made middleweight cotton. They only have middleweight in polycotton. Which means they turned all their customers who liked their middleweight cotton over to Hirota and Shureido.

 

[Gyakuto]

What about Seishan International’s karategi (Jesse Enkamp)?

 

[Dirty Dog]

I have gotten all mine from Moo Sool Sa for years. $80-$100 generally. Delivery can take a bit since they ship by sea from Korea, but you can pay a bit extra for quick delivery. They do all sorts of uniforms and also do embroidery.

 

[Hot Lunch]

What about Seishan International’s karategi (Jesse Enkamp)?

I've never worn one. But here's what I do know: contrary to what Jesse Enkamp tries to imply (but doesn't explicitly state), they're not made in Okinawa. Or Japan.

 

[Buka]

The only Gi I have left is a Tokaido. It’s over thirty five years old. There were a lot of other Gis during those years but they all died.

That old Takaido puppy keeps on rocking.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

By "not caring," does that mean you find them both equally comfortable?

Yeah, they're fine. I wear a size 6 but buy a 7 and cut the sleeves and pant length down. Roomy.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

That’s the inexpensive material’s fault, is it Bill?

I saw what you did there.

The only pop I'm capable of these days is my hip, knees, and shoulders.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

A lot of people who want that audible pop use heavy starch on their cuffs. Or buy the sleeves extra long and hem them so there's extra bulk in the cuff.

Wait, people really do this?

 

[Dirty Dog]

Wait, people really do this?

I've seen it in forms competition, yes. I don't know how common it is, because we've never been particularly interested in tournaments.

 

[Hot Lunch]

Wait, people really do this?

Some companies that make custom made gis will thicken the cuffs and lapels for you.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

That’s just oddly entertaining to me. I couldn’t resist a chuckle.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Can I get one with a built in tambourine or accordion?

 

[Gyakuto]

Wait, people really do this?

It’s called ‘marginal gains’ the idea being that even tiny positive changes can combine to make significant improvements. Endurance cyclists, for example, shave their legs to minutely improve aerodynamics (and to reduce infection risk after cuts and scrapes), they don helmets with sweeping, air-funnelling profiles and of course, take copious amounts of performance enhancing substances

Since kata competition has a large, subjective element to it’s judging, an extra crisp and loud snap as the contestants punches and kicks might subconsciously sway a judge in the contestant’s favour.

In the video above, Riku Usama creates a lot of her ‘snap’ by slapping her hands/fists against her torso: notice how the punches and kicks themselves are fairly silent!

 

[Gyakuto]

I've never worn one. But here's what I do know: contrary to what Jesse Enkamp tries to imply (but doesn't explicitly state), they're not made in Okinawa. Or Japan.

Does the country of origin make that much difference?

 

[Hot Lunch]

Does the country of origin make that much difference?

The Seishin is priced higher than $200. Think about it.

Just like watches - at a certain price point, it had better be Swiss made (unless it's a Grand Seiko).

Jesse Enkamp knows this. Why do you think he's trying to give the impression that it's made in Okinawa when it's not? If he flat out told you that it's made in Pakistan, he wouldn't be able to sell them for $200+.

BTW, there are certain types of cotton that are only grown in Japan, and that's what Japanese gis are made of. They breathe much better than the gis made in China and Pakistan (like Seishin).

 

[Gyakuto]

The Seishin is priced higher than $200. Think about it.

Is that expensive?

Just like watches - at a certain price point, it had better be Swiss made (unless it's a Grand Seiko).

Ah you have to be careful with thinking like this. I’m a wrist watch aficionado and Omega fan but there are plenty of countries that also make good watches. It just the ‘label effect’ ….Gucci, Moog, Fender, Gibson, Marshall…they live on their reputations.

BTW, there are certain types of cotton that are only grown in Japan, and that's what Japanese gis are made of. They breathe much better than the gis made in China and Pakistan (like Seishin).

Is that true? Do you have a reference for it that I could read or is it ‘common knowledge’?

 

[Hot Lunch]

Is that expensive?

Yes. If you've heard of the brand, I'd think you'd have checked out their website.

Ah you have to be careful with thinking like this. I’m a wrist watch aficionado and Omega fan but there are plenty of countries that also make good watches. It just the ‘label effect’ ….Gucci, Moog, Fender, Gibson, Marshall…they live on their reputations.

Some of these brands may not be Swiss themselves, but their watches are still made in Switzerland.

Is that true? Do you have a reference for it that I could read or is it ‘common knowledge’?

Both, here's a quick one I could find that touches on it briefly.

5 ways to tell if your Tokaido Karate Gi is really from Japan

There are a number of Tokaido uniforms not made in Japan. Most traditional karate practicioners are seeking the authentic Tokaido gi that their instructor wore in Japan, or are looking to replace a Tokaido gi they themselves purchased in Japan - decades ago. Unfortunately, the marketplace is...

www.mykaratestore.com

If you notice when you're shopping around for gis and you're looking at the weight, non-Japanese brands measure the weight in ounces. This cannot be done with Japanese cotton. Typically, middle weight gis are made with cotton designated as "Number 11," heavyweight as "Number 10," etc. Again, this cotton is only available in Japan. You will never see Japanese made gis designated as "13 oz," etc.

 

[Gyakuto]

Yes. If you've heard of the brand, I'd think you'd have checked out their website.

Oh I have. $200 for a keikogi that’ll last what, 5 years sound reasonable to me.

Some of these brands may not be Swiss themselves, but their watches are still made in Switzerland.

Ha ha…ok.

Both, here's a quick one I could find that touches on it briefly.

5 ways to tell if your Tokaido Karate Gi is really from Japan

There are a number of Tokaido uniforms not made in Japan. Most traditional karate practicioners are seeking the authentic Tokaido gi that their instructor wore in Japan, or are looking to replace a Tokaido gi they themselves purchased in Japan - decades ago. Unfortunately, the marketplace is...

www.mykaratestore.com

Hardly an independent source and it’s a blog….someone’s opinion of whom we know very little.

If you notice when you're shopping around for gis and you're looking at the weight, non-Japanese brands measure the weight in ounces. This cannot be done with Japanese cotton. Typically, middle weight gis are made with cotton designated as "Number 11," heavyweight as "Number 10," etc. Again, this cotton is only available in Japan. You will never see Japanese made gis designated as "13 oz," etc.

To be honest, I’m not that Princess who can feel a pea through ‘twenty mattresses and twenty eider-down beds on top of the mattresses’. I think I’d personally find it nearly impossible to tell the difference in perspiration absorbency between these cottons. Do you think you could in a blind test? Are you that Princess? Besides, I’m old school and can suck my sweat back into my ducts

 

[Hot Lunch]

Hardly an independent source and it’s a blog….someone’s opinion of whom we know very little.

Do with it what you will. No skin off my back, either way.

To be honest, I’m not that Princess who can feel a pea through ‘twenty mattresses and twenty eider-down beds on top of the mattresses’. I think I’d personally find it nearly impossible to tell the difference in perspiration absorbency between these cottons. Do you think you could in a blind test? Are you that Princess? Besides, I’m old school and can suck my sweat back into my ducts

To each their own.