hakama and gi help?

[limonysal]

Hey,
I'm pretty new to kendo and brand new to this forum. I just started this year in college, and our club ordered us uniforms. I tried on the gi and its...pretty big. I'm not sure exactly how its supposed to fit. The other girls in the club are beginners like me. Any tips? Should it be particularly snug or loose?

I'd really appreciate any help :)

[Mihoshi]

Well, the idea behind the way hakama are tied is that waist size can be variable. :) You should be able to keep looping the (longer) himo around your waist until you have just enough to tie into a bow behind your back. That being said, if you are far skinnier than most of our women, I have heard of some of the Japanese girls cutting the himo down (but you would need to have the hems restitched if you did this) because they literally had to start looping the himo five or six times around their waists, and it wouldn't stay up.

I personally have to loop my new hakama himo three times before tying it off in the back, but this doesn't produce a loose sensation at all.

Could you possibly be tying it incorrectly?

[Neil Gendzwill]

I think you should just show it to your sensei and ask if it fits properly. Here's what I wrote in the Bogu Buying FAQ (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11737):


Your keikogi should not bind you in the shoulders and the sleeves should be no shorter than 3/4 length. If they are longer, they can be hemmed so long as the rest of the keikogi fits OK. Check that you can do up the tie(s). If it is long enough but too loose, you can live with it or go one size down in the "long" version if available. If too tight, you can go up a size or consider moving the ties if you have enough coverage.

Try on the hakama with the koshiita (hard trapezoidal panel) in the small of your back. The hemline of the hakama should be about ankle height when worn at the proper height - you can adjust the hakama up or down a little at the waist. The front himo should be long enough to tie properly ie bring to the back, wrap to the front, then back again and tie. Similarly the back himo should be long enough to bring forward and tie. The keikogi should be long enough that no leg is exposed through the sides of the hakama. If too short, exchange for another size. If too long, exchange or consider hemming especially for a growing child. Cotton hakama typically shrink about 2 cm after washing so keep that in mind - they should fit a little long out of the package.

[Mihoshi]

I'm also a dumbass, as you asked about the gi being to snug or loose, not the hakama. :cross_eye

The Bogu FAQ entry pretty much says it all.

[limonysal]

Thanks for the advice! I didn't try on the gi with the hakama because i was kinda spooked at how big it was around the shoulders for me.

[H.Sandsleth]

Gi are made for men, so the shoulder area can sometimes drape half way to the elbows on women. I have a couple from Tozando though that seem to have a slimmer fit than most. Maybe something to check out for your next purchase.

[Raindrop]

My gi is also too big in some areas, especially around the waist, so I sort of fold them at the sides when I put on the hakama so that the overlapping part in front remains nice and flat. The sides are usually a bit bunched-up anyways so it still looks neat. :)

If it really is too big ask your sensei or sempais, they will definately be able to see if you need a smaller size.

[MartialArtsGirl]

They don't make gi's and hakama's for women? ?

Strange!

[Neil Gendzwill]

I'm not sure what the point of special women's sizes for those items would be. Do you really need it tailored to have that narrower-waisted silhouette? If you are slimmer than most, look for keikogi that are offered in long sizes, a 2L might be a better fit than a 3.

What some women need is a better fitting doh, and frankly I'm surprised nobody has designed such a thing.

[Raindrop]

I'm not sure what the point of special women's sizes for those items would be. Do you really need it tailored to have that narrower-waisted silhouette? If you are slimmer than most, look for keikogi that are offered in long sizes, a 2L might be a better fit than a 3.

What some women need is a better fitting doh, and frankly I'm surprised nobody has designed such a thing.

Oh yes!!! I'm not gonna go into details but the do is generally all wrong for women... it's too buldgy in some parts and doesn't protect properly in other... areas.. ;)

[JByrd]

Oh yes!!! I'm not gonna go into details but the do is generally all wrong for women... it's too buldgy in some parts and doesn't protect properly in other... areas.. ;)

Chiba makes dou for women, my wife loves hers. It is a custom, one-of-a-kind build, though, so start saving your money.
www.chibabogu.com

[foundinsea]

If you're a small person, you could try large children's gi next time. A good tailor should be able to adjust the size of your current gi for you if it's too big. Also, if you don't want to wear a t-shirt under your gi, I'd suggest to sew velcro into the v-line of your gi.

[limonysal]

i'm just a bit worried because i only get to practice when im at college, but I don't really have the space to set the dye and then wash the hakama and gi. i have to do that at home before break ends.

I'm tall, but my shoulders are pretty narrow so the shoulder seam does droop, but it also sticks out a bit.

[limonysal]

My gi is also too big in some areas, especially around the waist, so I sort of fold them at the sides when I put on the hakama so that the overlapping part in front remains nice and flat. The sides are usually a bit bunched-up anyways so it still looks neat. :)

If it really is too big ask your sensei or sempais, they will definately be able to see if you need a smaller size.


i'll try folding the gi. when i tried on the hakama, the gi was kinda rumply. do you ever pin or stitch it?

[babayaga]

i'll try folding the gi. when i tried on the hakama, the gi was kinda rumply. do you ever pin or stitch it?

If you properly fold the clothes, they should not be rumply, only have crease marks in the right places.

Have you not been able to wash the clothes at all yet? I can suggest varying your drying methods to gradually shrink down the clothes that are too big. Air drying will have the least impact, so try that first. Then, to shrink slightly, you can try tumble-drying -- just to damp at first, on low. Then finish with air-drying. Just remember that the length of both garments is what will change the most, as fabric shrinks more along the lengthwise grain.

Once you've determined your laundering methods, then you can think about permanent alterations. You can tailor in the sides of your gi, if there's too much bulk from folding at the side seams. But if there's too much at the hips, I'd wonder if you had too much at the shoulders as well.

At any rate, I'd recommend sewing (or at least basting) over pinning. Pins would be dangerous to yourself and others if they come loose.

[Bucho]

Have you not been able to wash the clothes at all yet? I can suggest varying your drying methods to gradually shrink down the clothes that are too big. Air drying will have the least impact, so try that first. Then, to shrink slightly, you can try tumble-drying -- just to damp at first, on low. Then finish with air-drying. Just remember that the length of both garments is what will change the most, as fabric shrinks more along the lengthwise grain.

I'm glad somebody has pointed out that cotton shrinks. The keikogi does shrink over time with washing. I have used a dryer to really get my keikogi to shrink however it lost A LOT of dye in the process and stained the inside of the dryer. I'd only advise using a dryer to the truly desperate and don't use your own dryer :evil: Be sure to take Gendzwill Sensei's advice. Your Sensei can tell you if your keikogi is fitting correctly, is the right size and just needs some time(sweat and washing) to fit or if it's 12 sizes too big and you need to do something else.

[limonysal]

I hadn't washed the clothes yet because I wasn't sure if I would need to exchange something. Length really isn't the problem its all general bulk.

anyway, my club leader just told me that i can't return it, so i feel a bit silly about worrying so much.

Still, has anyone purchased from e-bogu? the club got me the cheaper hakama and gi which I've been told don't need to be set in vinegar. I'd probably air dry it, but if anyone has any experience with these, let me know :)