Judo-gi

Judogi refers to the traditional yet formal Japanese uniform. The practitioners wear judogi during Judo training and official tournaments. It was derived by Jigoro Kano from the kimono dress ideology. The judogi is also regarded as the first modern martial arts training uniform. White is the traditional colour for judogi although the practitioners can also wear a blue-gi. The sizes and fit are regulated by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for the official matches and tournaments. They have their set dimensions for the sleeves and pant length, and how wide it should be. All the judokas (judo practitioners) are required to wear the judogi with specified fittings or else the referee can disqualify them from the matches.

The white and blue judogis are only allowed in the official matches such as the national and international tournaments. The jacket has its different knotting style by bringing the left side over the right side of the chest.

Judogi Parts

The Judogi is comprised of three different fabrics including heavy jacket known as the uwagi, a lighter set of pants known as hitabki and a cotton belt known as obi. The belts used in the matches come in various colours and indicates the participant’s rank in a judo match.

Different types of judogi used in the judo matches

• Single-weave Gi - The upper jacket with single-weave fabric weighs 300 to 550 grams per square metre. The judogis are lighter in weight and are thinner but less durable. The judokas generally prefer the single-weave gi as they are less prone to overheating. The single-weave judogi is also more cost-effective than the double-weave gi.
• Double-weave Gi - It weighs approximately 650 grams to 1050 grams per square metre and is thicker. The gi weighs more than the single-weave judogi and thus it is hard to grab by the opponents. The double-weave gi tends to shrink less and is more durable.

Evolution of the judogi throughout the years

The first judogi suit was invented by Jigoro Kano, which was thicker and heavier than other sports' uniforms (gi). The basic design hasn’t changed much until nowadays. After various alterations, the long-sleeved judogi designs were adopted and “traditional cut” around the chest was used. In 1986, the first blue judogi was used by Anton Geesink (first non-Japanese athlete to win the World Championship). The International Judo Federation has also contributed to the standardization and regulation of the official judogi. Nowadays, various other fabrics and materials such as cotton, polyester, tarps and microfibers are used for judogi manufacturing.