White gi with Navy hakama?

[Commander]

I know this seems like a pointless thread, but i was thinking of getting a white gi to wear with my navy hakama. Do you think it just looks odd and stick to the traditional blue or mix n match?

Thank you for you time.

Sarah :)

[grasshopper_r2]

It's okay, however, a white gi with a blue hakama usually indicates a rank lower than Shodan. But some schools use both white hakama and gi for under Shodan, others for Renshi, and some kendo-ka just prefer to wear all white. There may be a set rule, as far as for, Shiai or tests??? Mabee someone can shed more light on the subject.

[D'Artagnan]

I used to wear a white gi with indigo hakama, before i passed shodan. After passing shodan, I decided to wear a blue gi. However, this is not a 'rule' in my Dojo, i just prefered to do it that way.

No i wear all indigo, but i occasionally like wearing all white, just cause i like looking pretty.

[Commander]

so do i :p

[Commander]

In my dojo there is about 2 guys who wear the white gi with blue hakama and all the rest wear blue. At the other dojo i practice at only one girl wears all white and the rest blue.


Hmm maybe i should save the white for special occasions?? :D

[Kendoka]

I used to wear a white gi with indigo hakama, before i passed shodan. After passing shodan, I decided to wear a blue gi. However, this is not a 'rule' in my Dojo, i just prefered to do it that way.

No i wear all indigo, but i occasionally like wearing all white, just cause i like looking pretty.

It doesn't really matter.
I choose to wear only indigo blue, despite my avatar.

[Matlock]

You know, I have heard the story of the origins of wearing white dougi and hakama. They used to be worn by kendo players in temples. I can still go to the local temple here and see kendo players wearing the white dougis and hakamas. Everyone else in the dojos would wear the traditional blue dye. Somewhere in time, the white was worn by children and female players. And now, somewhat of a mismatch. These days I think that it is strange to attempt to use the different color uniforms as a sign of rank. What's up with that??? Traditional kendo is not supposed to have signs of ranks on the uniforms. Dojos back in the days, all had the board with wooden name tags placed in the order and rank of the dojo's members. If you were curious or wanted to know where to sit in rank, you looked at the board. These days, a white hakama with pink trimmings would be ....what? 2-kyu???

I guess my beef is why the fuss over the color? Wear a traditional blue, leave the white to the monk guys (priests) and leave the black to iaido. Hey, that was not so hard now was it :-)

Why do people feel that they should show what rank they are??? Join a John's Karate class for that crap! Like those who turned the arts into a business. You play kendo for your own good, not for those to ooo and ahhhh your pink trimmings....

Now get out there and worry about your ki-ken-tai rather than the color of your dougi and hakama.

Peace

[Slade]

There's a gentleman at the dojo I attend that wears a white gi with a navy hakama. That's just his choice. Some wear all black and some wear all blue. Sensei even said last night that it depends on the mood he's in on which one he'll wear. I think it's all in the rules of the dojo.

[nicuma]

back in the dojo i train at, it doesnt matter what color gi and hakama one would wear, so i wear blue gi and dark brown hakama...but in some dojos apparently do like the one i am currently visiting and training at....i was told by one of the senpais that only does with shodan are allowed so i felt kinda stupid...but i guess i cant really be blamed bcoz at my dojo is different n it was my first time goin to that dojo i was visiting so i din know...

now i have to put on a white stripe at my gi as respect to the way of the dojo when i go for another practise session

i hope i didnt offend those at that dojo hopefully!

[nodachi]

"Why do people feel that they should show what rank they are???"

The white for beginners and blue for non beginners could be used for helping in teaching sempai/kohai system without blatantly spelling it out. Because we don't wear signs of rank, but then this feels like it, but once everyone is in blue, you are back to a non display of rank, yet now you understand the sense of order that exists in the dojo.

Just a random thought, but could make sense...

[Matlock]

The white for beginners and blue for non beginners could be used for helping in teaching sempai/kohai system without blatantly spelling it out. Because we don't wear signs of rank, but then this feels like it, but once everyone is in blue, you are back to a non display of rank, yet now you understand the sense of order that exists in the dojo.

Just a random thought, but could make sense...Nodachi, I understand your thought and agree that it could be used as a learning tool.

I would be the first one to admit that my opinions about kendo are pretty bias. I am not sure if I would call myself a traditionalist but I have been fortunate enough to have spent most of my 10 years of training in kendo and iaido in Japan. The dojos that I currently train at have children and older members, but no one needs colors to tell them where they belong. It is more like "know your place". This, in itself, is one of the great parts of the kendo world to me. Teaches you to be aware of things around you, to anticipate what others are thinking and for you to show respect to those senior to you. I can never understand the idea of "now i have to put on a white stripe at my gi as respect to the way of the dojo when i go for another practise session". When I visit other dojos, no one asks my rank as long as I show respect and practice my best. No feelings of competition or dominance. When I visit dojos back in the US or other countries, I usually always have that "butting heads" feeling.

The colors used to show rank are nothing more than a classification and maybe enticement for $ much like the color belt systems in a John's Karate club. The best thing I like when I go to a dojo in Japan is that we all are just getting together with no classification (not to stand out or seperate yourself from the group). In a new dojo, you learn who is more senior on the floor. Respect from skill, not the white stripe on your brown hakama.

As silly as it may seem, I am not in favor of the color ranking system. But everyone has a different opinion and are entitled to follow their view. No insult to anyone, just wanted to state my slanted view.

Cheers

[ISSAC RU]

I think All white gi looks better on girls..

[Matlock]

I think All white gi looks better on girls..I agree. What do you think about the white and red bogu. I think it looks pretty nice too. Heard that it is hard to keep clean.

[ISSAC RU]

all white gi and hakama + reddish do +normal colour bogu

all white gi and hakama + reddish do + all white bogu

[Matlock]

all white gi and hakama + reddish do +normal colour bogu

all white gi and hakama + reddish do + all white boguWhat I have heard is that the normal bogu with blue strings will turn the white dougi blue in the lines tracing the strings. Better to go with all white, reddish dou and white bogu. Looks pretty sharp too.

[Mizukaze]

all white gi and hakama + reddish do +normal colour bogu

all white gi and hakama + reddish do + all white bogu

I like #2. A lot more elegant if you ask me. :D

[EzzzE]

i don't think that the colours make a difference. imho they are just a personal choice. i prefer to waer navy gi + navi hakama, or white gi + white hakama. strangely i never thought about mixing them....i think that you sometimes can overdo it with "what does a white gi + hakama mean, is there a deeper pholosophical meaning to it?"

as long as you are waering black, white or blue there's nothing to be done wrong... these were the traditional colours.

as long as you havent got a silk combo for at home because you want to feel like kendo everythings okay :tongue:

[Commander]

I see what you mean.

I guess its the individuals preference.

:)

[Saaga]

I wear sometimes all white

sometimes all indigo blue

sometimes white gi and indigo blue hakama

I'm shodan and female.

I have never seen any problem in blue or white or mixing them (except washing my white gi after have used it with indigo hakama ;D). The only limit I have heard about is that if not same coloured, hakama should always be darker than gi. So NO indigo gi and white hakama. =)

[Hyaku]

Around twenty years ago I remember a Kendo teacher friend coming the dojo to practice and apologising that he had to were two halves of different uniforms as his indigo keikogi was in the wash. Its just a uniform. In Japan jeans are a casual uniform, pajamas a bed uniform.

People near the hospital often go outside in pajamas without embarrasment, but they wont wear two halves of a kendo uniform.

[Hai_hai]

I used to wear a white gi with indigo hakama, before i passed shodan. After passing shodan, I decided to wear a blue gi. However, this is not a 'rule' in my Dojo, i just prefered to do it that way.

No i wear all indigo, but i occasionally like wearing all white, just cause i like looking pretty.
Pfff... typical rich-boy show-off.

[Saaga]

Interesting. That was a good example of different way of thinking in two cultures. I have never understood hakama and gi as an uniform of two pieces - for me they have been only hakama and gi - two different pieces which have been put together. Similar to you can choice any kind of blouse with your jeans.

But now when knowing your Japanese point of view (thank you Hyaku for your information) to that question - I´ll choice all white / all indigo blue uniform every time when there are Japanese teachers visiting us. =)

However, at my home dojo with my Finnish friends (when no Japanese see me) I even now mix colours just because of I like it. People here do not find it strange or unpolite.

[crabbi]

In the Korean movie 'Volcano High' one of the girls wears a burgundy coloured Gi and Hakama which looks rather fetching ... (!)

http://www.dirtynerdluv.org/vol.jpg
http://www.constantvzw.com/blog/images/volcano.jpg
http://www.dvdrama.com/menus/volcanohigh015.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/lee_ngaifun/easter_images/ep_volcano1.JPG
http://www.urban.ne.jp/home/ubik/cinema/kazan.jpg
http://www.hkpc.150m.com/moviecaptures2/volcano3.jpg

...and in some Kendo organisations Kyu grades wear white Gi tops and Indigo Hakama....

cheers

crabbi

[Commander]

Tis rather nice Crabbi, thank you for your pics :)

I think i'll stick to my navy blue set for now and use a white gi for "special occasions" :D lol

P.S Do you know where i can get a hold of a rather nice white gi?

[Saaga]

Burgundy wouldn't be accepted in Finland. ;D White gi with indigo hakama may be revolutionary enough. Some people here find even black (hakama) wrong colour to wear in kendo. But some use them too.

But not pink, burgundy, green.... :D or anything seen in "ugliest hakama" thread.

[Commander]

hahahaha ohhh no i wouldn't be seen dead wearing one of those hideous things! :D

I think i'll just stick to all navy and the occasional white :)

Commander

[T.Lee]

my humble advice is that you shouldnt choose the color of your gi for the sake of personal fashion. you do what the dojo does. and yes, every dojo is different, so the standards will change.

in northern california, almost all adult men wear some shade of blue top and bottom. either white top/blue bottom or all white was ok for women. kids often wear the "musashi" patterned top, but only the real young ones. and only the highest ranking sensei(s) would wear the all white. so unless you are Miyata sensei (8 dan hanshi), you dont wear white. this was pretty much followed by almost all of the dojos and kenshi in northern cal as far as i noticed.

now, im down here in southern california and it seems like every dojo has its own standard, touting its own authenticity to tradition. some dojos everyone is blue, no white. others make their kyu level students wear white tops. it seems more of a practical sense, mainly so that visiting kenshi dont go around throwing tsuki at beginners. although from my experience of not differentiating rank by outward appearance, rank and skill of every degree is fairly well made either at kamae or the first strike, and any visitng person should have the etiquette to determine the other persons skill to match the practice. when someone finally makes shodan and is therefore allowed to wear a blue top, it does seem like a badge of honor, perhaps a slight reward taken lightly.

for those beginners who dont have a white gi, like me who happened to have bought a new blue top just before committing to the dojo, i was asked to wear a white stripe around my sleeve to indicate my kyu level. no problem with me. doesnt affect my kendo or spirit during practice.

somebody mentioned testing. i said some ppl like girls and kids can get away with wearing white in norcal, but during testing, you better wear all blue and not do anything to stick out. it follows along with the "anonymous" applicant system along the lines of taking off your zekken to not identify you or your dojo. im not sure if that matters in socal, i didnt go to their test this year.

so again, dont try to stick out, do your best to stay with the crowd. just do whatever your dojo is doing. back up in norcal we've had beginners who didnt know better show up in our dojo with their white gi already bought because tehy didnt know any better. it was never any big deal. but personally, i think he looked more of a serious kenshi when he finally got his new blue gi.

[EzzzE]

i wonder who makes theese rules and with what authority. since 7 of the 8 million people practicing kendo are japanese i think they would be the authority on making such an dicision. and maybe there just isn't a rule to it (exept black blue white) there may be certain habbits one got up to such as only women wearing all white, but where's the point? in our dojo we have all black, all blue, blue gi+ black hakama, i sometimes wera all white, white gi+ blue hakama is rare, the koreans mostly waer white....

[crabbi]

Tis rather nice Crabbi, thank you for your pics :)

I think i'll stick to my navy blue set for now and use a white gi for "special occasions" :D lol

P.S Do you know where i can get a hold of a rather nice white gi?
Hi Commander

You can buy a white Gi top at most of the online stores.... (e-Bogu, ninecircles etc...)... Typically there is less of a selection in terms of different qulaity etc...

(A white top and dark hakama would be stunning with a purple do!!!)....

crabbi

[Commander]

:D why thank you Crabbi

[Commander]

Actually its a good idea, i think the purple and white will contrast but i dont think the purple will show as much with me wearing a blue keikogi

[crabbi]

Actually its a good idea, i think the purple and white will contrast but i dont think the purple will show as much with me wearing a blue keikogi

As I said before Commander-San... we're waiting for the photo...!

Some of the Kendoka in my Dojo use white tops and the indigo dye from their Himo leaves marks... You might want to consider changing the strings for colourfast ones...

cheers

crabbi

[Commander]

Bummer i've order blue himo and my armour has been shipped today, so i should receive it on the 22nd :D

Dont worry i will post as soon as a get it! :D

[crabbi]

Bummer i've order blue himo and my armour has been shipped today, so i should receive it on the 22nd :D

Dont worry i will post as soon as a get it! :D
Saw your bogu on the other thread... very nice!!!

crabbi

[Commander]

The rep of e-kendo was very nice all the way through the order process, because of Xmas is near he shipped it as EMS so i should receive it on wed or fri at the latest, this is a wonderful Xmas pressie! :D