white uniform

[megumisita]

I wanted to know if anyone knew where I could purchase a white 10000 hakama in the states. So far the highest I have seen it is 7000. I heard that white is the color primarily for women. I was under the impression that the kendo uniform was unisex. In any case a white uniform seems to be more convenient for me because you dont have to worry about any dye related things during washing. It seems good for everyday practice. Thanks in advance for the info.

[Ryukyu]

Something to keep in mind is that unless you also use white bogu, the indigo dye will rub off on your nice white hakama.
The few that I have seen are 7000 though.

[Old Warrior]

In Kumdo, all students below shodan wear white. And, yes, all the white uniforms have blue around the shoulders from the men and it rubs off the tare also. Maybe someday, I'll get to wear a blue uniform.

[megumisita]

Good point. I hadn't thought of that rubbing off. However I don't think I would mind much. I already have an indigo uniform but I wanted a white one for everyday practice and the blue one for other occasions. Plus white uniforms are cheaper in price. A fellow student had his very expensive hakama ripped when his opponents shinai broke. The bogu I wear is the club bogu and is very old. I doubt that much dye can rub off:)

[JSchmidt]

I've just ordered a white gi and hakama from Koei, but also 'only' #7000.
I will, though, have to change back to the blue once my new kote arrives until enoug dye has come out :).

Jakob

[KATSUJIN]

megumisita, i am not sure of any place in US that sells 10000 white gi/hakama....but if u can afford it....why not try kendoshop.com? they sell 10000 white gi....

[AlexM]

Don't worry about the bogu's blue rubbing off on your hakama... worry more about the himo's (string) color coming off.

You might want to buy some white himo to go with your white hakama (it'll cost ya though), unless you don't mind having a big blue X on your back.

[xvikingx]

Pardon my ignorance but what is the significance of the numbers? How is a 7000 different from a 10000?...etc....

[JSchmidt]

Numbers refers to the weight of the cotton. The higher number, the heavier and denser it is. (And more expensive too)

Jakob

[Chusan]

@megumisita:
If the colour (dying) of blue kendo uniform is your problem, this can easily be solved by just washing it properly.
When washing it, use cold water. Fold your hakama and gi, put it an a bath-tube (correct word?), fill it with some cold water and step on your uniform for some minutes. The uniform will be clean again and you won`t have any probs with the colour.
Be careful with white uniforms. They have the tendency of having a kind of special meaning, I won`t advice the use of white uniforms for beginners unless you are female.

[hammock]

Originally posted by Old Warrior
In Kumdo, all students below shodan wear white.

Not in all Kumdo... Most places I have seen in Korea, where I do Kumdo now, they make you wear the traditional blue coloured hakama and gi...

but they are starting to make people wear them with velcro/belts, and i heard a rumour of some rule that the national Kumdo association will start making everyone wear the belt/velcro in any national competition or national grading...
(don't know what that will do to the expensive hakama/gi's imported from Japan... since they won't have the belt on them, they will not be valid for these events??? im not too sure)

Don't know if this is 100%, but that's what I heard from a reliable source.

[megumisita]

To Chusan: I'm at a university so my problem is that I don't have a tub. It is very difficult to wash my blue uniform. I have tried asking other to use thier tubs to wash mine but they all live either really far away or refuse me:( I thought that white uniform might have some kind of meaning but I would only use it for practice in my dojo. If there would be guests, tournaments, or I visit other dojos I would wear blue. However, I will ask sensei to make sure it won't insult anyone and if it does then I won't get one. Thank you all for the info. By the way, I checked kendoshop and they only have cheap polyester white hakama. If 7000 is as high as will go then that will be fine.

[Hai_hai]

I wash my hakama in a stainless steel kitchen sink.

[Confound]

If you are concerned about dye from himo, try soaking the himo in vinegar for a short while. My sensei does this whenever he gets new himo, and it works well for him.

c

[megumisita]

Well after speaking with Kotaka Sensei, he said that any combo is fine but all white is usually for women. That works just as well since I find it more difficult to wash keikogi than hakama. I will just wear white keikogi with blue hakama. Thank you all on your imput. But if you have a chance, please respond to my other thread. I would love to learn more about your schools and dojos.:)

[Kenshi]

>> heard a rumour of some rule that the national Kumdo association will start making everyone wear the belt/velcro in any national competition or national grading...<<

Sounds like someone high up in the kumdo association owns the company that makes them or something !!!!

[Confound]

Amen to that George. Who needs an ugly velcro belt anyway? Tie your hakama properly! If you want a belt, wear an obi nuder the hakama.
c

[kendokamax]

the sensei at budo university are all in white. after every jigeiko they have the BIG X mark in their back......but the next practice it is totaly gone...
I was like wooow do they have a lot of gi ? or just lot of free time on their hands?

[iwatekenshi]

Yeah Marubashi Sensei wears white all the time. A really nice guy, but what a beast during keiko!

[Confound]

I'd be very interested in knowing how to get rid of those x marks, if the senseis are willing to part with the secret, max.

c

[Ares2907]

It's called having about seven different sets of uniforms each and having dedicated kohai who wash, fold, press and when necessary dry-clean their uniforms.
So it's really simple, buy a whole lotta gear and get some kohai.
hth

btw, I don't think marubashi sensei can hold a candle to iwakiri for beastliness inside a dojo.

[Confound]

I guess it's going to be a very, very long while before wearing white is an option, unless fanboys are allowed to clean keikogi. If they are, I could start wearing white tomorrow.

c

[kawa]

A bit off the subject, here in Taiwan I had heard in order to wear All Write Gi and Hakama, you have to be at least 8dan Sensei. Even 7dan sensei thinks twice before they show up practice with a white uniform. Is this same in U.S.? And other countries? I know in Korean this is not the case.:confused:

[Iviro]

Thats wierd,

Look at these:

http://www.geocities.com/westsidekendo/gallery/62420001/238_f.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/westsidekendo/gallery/62420001/239_f.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/westsidekendo/gallery/62420001/240_f.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/westsidekendo/gallery/62420001/241_f.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/westsidekendo/gallery/62420001/242_f.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/westsidekendo/gallery/62420001/243_f.jpg

They are from Southern California Championships, all white bogu! (except do)

[alexpollijr]

These pictures are from Mizobe sensei, head teacher of the Westside Kendo Dojo in Los Angeles. He's Rokudan.

The whole issue of the full white uniform remains a mistery to me.
If you check the 11 WKC Tape, you'll see one guy from Sweden who fights in full white. However, no girls (except Korean) fight in full white on that tape, and neither does high-ranking sensei such as Masahiro Myiazaki.

I personally have been taught by my ex-japanese sensei that it just doesn't matter. But that usually full white is an option of old sensei and girls. But that's not a rule or something.

[Iviro]

OH!

Please excuse me I didn't mean to criticise Mizobe Sensei! I never saw a white bogu before, so I wasn't sure how to react! Wow I would really like to visit more Kendo in United States in the future.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Iviro
I never saw a white bogu before, so I wasn't sure how to react!
Lots of ladies wear white bogu, usually with red doh and all white hakama/keikogi. It's hard to find higher quality white bogu so most of the senior players wear blue.

[alexpollijr]

Originally posted by Iviro
OH!

Please excuse me I didn't mean to criticise Mizobe Sensei! I never saw a white bogu before, so I wasn't sure how to react! Wow I would really like to visit more Kendo in United States in the future.


Nevermind that buddy, neither did I imply that you were.;)

[Digger]

yes I have heard from my sensei as well that vinegar keeps the dye from running. As far as all white I have only seen women but there are a few men that wear white tops.