Judogi

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These two judo practitioners are wearing judogi

Judogi (柔道着 or 柔道衣) is the formal Japanese name for the traditional uniform used for Judo practice and competition. As with most Japanese martial arts uniforms it is actually derived from traditional articles of clothing suitable for work. Most likely Jigoro Kano derived the original judogi from the kimono and other Japanese undergarments around the turn of the 20th century. A judogi is comprised of two parts usually cut from different styles of fabric, a very heavy uwagi or jacket and a lighter canvas style zubon or pants. Though similar to the shorter styles of kimono, a uwagi will invariably be made from cotton or a cotton blend and be of a very heavy weight fabric. All but the cheapest and most lightweight uwagi are cut from a heavy canvas style cloth, similar to, but much more tightly woven than terrycloth, and more expensive competition and hand-made judogi will often weigh several kilograms when finished. The zubon or pants are generally cut in a similar manner to Karate but nothing like Aikido zubon. Due to the nature of Judo practice they commonly have heavier stitching and double layer kneepatches to provide durability.

Close up view of a judogi

Unlike some more traditional martial arts judogi are strictly defined by the IJF rules of Judo (see below) in order to prevent a competitor from using an improperly sized judogi for advantage in competition. These rules define how long the sleeves and legs must be as well as how loose fitting the judogi can be. In addition various organizations and events define such matters as allowing for commercial and team/national patches and competitor's names to be attached to the judogi.

In official international competition only traditional white or unbleached cotton as well as blue are allowed, though many less common variations including red and black can be found in less formal or specialized situations.

The left side of the gi must cross over the right one. After a person is dead the reverse is true, so Japanese people frown when it is done incorrectly.

Today, companies like Adidas and Mizuno also produce Judogis.

[edit] Judogi weights

Judogis are sold in many thicknesses, which can be generally grouped together in the two classes single-weave and double-weave. Single-weave judogis are thinner and weigh less (upper jacket textile fabric weight usually 300-550 g/m²). The thinner judogis are less durable, although some judoka (judo practitioners) may prefer them for long practices as they are less likely to foster overheating. Double-weave judogis are thicker and weigh more (fabric weight usually 650-1050 g/m²). They are harder to grab than single-weave gis, which is considered an advantage in competition. Double-weave gis shrink less and those of high quality are often sold entirely pre-shrunk, this is important to know when comparing the fit of the gi. Double-weave gis generally cost considerably more than single-weave gis of comparable quality.

Pants by themselves should not be classified as single-weave or double-weave as the name only refers to the weaving style used for the upper section of the jacket. However, pants sold together with double-weave jackets will also tend to be heavier than normal due to stronger fabric or large reinforced sections.

Double-weave jackets designed for competition usually display a prominent seam that runs down the back of the jacket, joining two halves of fabric. Starting in the late nineties, some manufacturers made this overlapping part very wide, in effect doubling the fabric thickness for a large section of the back. This blocked the opponent from gripping there, which in 2005 caused the International Judo Federation to ban fighting in international competitions using a judogi with back seam area wider than 3 cm (a little more than one inch). Wider designs could still be permitted in local competitions depending on national rules. Single-weave jackets usually have no back seam, or a narrow one which only joins two fabric sections without interfering with grips.