What is the Karate uniform called?

If you’re not aware of the terms that are often used in Karate, then they may sound a little alien at times. This is often because Karate originated in Japan and so its language is often different from English terms. One example of this is the Karate uniform that often comes with confusion as to what it’s actually called. However, fear not, it’s actually quite straightforward when you think about it. Here we shall dive into the name of the Karate uniform and its historical origins.

What is the Karate uniform called?

In most cases, the Karate uniform is referred to as the gi. This is a commonly used term for martial arts robes and is also used by the likes of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo that also use the same terminology as well as others. Gi is a slang word that originates from Japan and is short for the word keikogi (this is the term for the uniform used in Aikido). Gi is the end of the word and means clothes. Even though these words may sound interesting in English, the reality is that they often have very basic meanings in their mother tongue.

The Karate uniform is sometimes called the Kimono

You may be aware of the term kimono too which is also sometimes used to describe the uniform. Truth be told, either term is fine and universally used so you won’t get in trouble for calling it the kimono. A cool fact about this is that the ‘ki’ at the start of kimono also has the same meaning as gi. As you may realize, ki and gi sound quite similar so that is where the name and translation comes from.

What about the trousers?

Often, people will refer to the upper gi as the ‘gi top’ or ‘gi jacket’, and refer to the trousers as ‘gi pants’ which makes sense. Traditionally, a karate gi has fairly short arm length, short leg length and a fairly baggy tail on the gi top. This dates back to the early origins of when Karate first started back in Japan. Usually, the gi is in all white and has little markings in terms of logos or company branding.

Having said this, some modern gis are black instead of white. This is purely an image thing but goes against tradition. Some dojos take this traditional seriously and as a result, dislike wearing black gis and frown upon it. The outcome is that most of the time, you will see white gis as the norm.

What is the best Karate gi?

This is really a question of personal taste and preference. For instance, you may fight an awesome gi that is so good it also costs a lot which can be off-putting for some people. In terms of one of the best gis that fits value for money, it’s probably the Ronin gi that costs around $40. This is made from 100% cotton and is lightweight which in theory makes you move faster and is less tiresome to train in. The Ronin brand has been around since 1980 too so you’re in good hands.

Why do people still train in a Karate uniform?

These days wearing the Karate gi is more of a formality rather than anything. In fact, in promotions such as Karate Combat, Karateka will only wear the gi pants and go shirtless. However, in older times the gi was worn to promote unity. A dojo may not look as organized with people turning up in different outfits whereas everyone wearing the same uniform supposedly creates inclusion. As Karate is a traditional martial art, it’s no surprise to see customs and values held in such regard.

Want to check out more Karate terminology? Check out our guide on Kumite and what it means.