August 6, 2016 0:00

// Boxing and martial arts

Kimono is a special equipment designed for various types of martial arts. From Japanese, this word translates as “workout clothes”. If you decide to buy a kimono for yourself or for a gift, then before buying, it is worth considering its purpose, as well as choosing the right size.

Kimono for judo:

• If it is not possible to measure a kimono, then it is worth adding 5-10 cm to your height indicator. It is better to take a kimono with a margin, since washing shrinks by 3-5%.

• Kimono can be blue or white. Novice athletes can safely do with one set, but professionals and competitors of various levels will need both options. The division into colors is created so that the opponents are not in the form of the same color.

• The preferred material in a kimono is 100% cotton, since during judo classes cotton will be pleasant to the body, and you will not feel discomfort, but keep in mind that such a kimono will easily crumple and after a while may acquire a yellowish tint. Therefore, you can consider a kimono made with the addition of polyester fibers, and the anti-shrink treatment used in many models will help reduce shrinkage during washing.

• The kimono should not restrict movement during the fight and should “sit” on you quite freely.

• The kimono should be wrapped with the left hollow on the right side and the smell should be at least 20 cm at the level of the lower part of the chest.

• The length of the jacket should reach the level of the middle of your thighs and hands, according to the competition rules of the International Judo Federation.

• Too short and long sleeves are the main mistake in choosing, so keep in mind that the sleeves should cover the wrist joint completely.

• Trousers (jubon) should be made of denser, reinforced fabric in the knee area, in order for the sock to be longer. The higher the density level of the kimono material, the higher the level of its purpose.

• The belt of the trousers can be tied or be on an elastic band. The second option is intended for children’s kimonos. The drawstring belt is more reliable and is used for professional purposes.

• To understand whether a belt is suitable for you, it is worth wrapping it around the waist 2 times and tying it into a knot. Pay attention to the length of each end of the belt from the node distances, the ideal indicator is 20-30 cm.

Karate Kimono:

• When choosing a karate kimono, add 5-10 cm to your height – this will be your ideal size.

• The color of the kimono for karate is an important nuance when choosing. White kimono is considered a classic option for classes. Red color – suitable for home use. The black uniform is used exclusively by titled professionals.

• The composition of the fabric is an important aspect: cotton is suitable for intensive training. But, just like in a judo kimono, shrinkage when washing 100% cotton is inevitable. Therefore, cotton with the addition of polyester will eliminate this disadvantage. 

• The texture of the karate kimono fabric is presented in the form of smooth and braided. There are practically no colossal differences between them, but the smooth fabric must be ironed after washing. But the woven fabric, with proper drying, does not need ironing at all.

• When choosing a karate kimono, pay attention to its density, measured in ounces. It is quite simple to calculate the density: the density is equivalent to the mass of the material used, which was used for sewing (1 ounce = 28.35 grams). For example, a square meter of fabric with a density of 12 ounces had a weight of approximately 340 grams. It is recommended to use 8-10 ounces of kimono for classes in the warm season. For sparring, it is also called “noisy” because during the blows the fabric emits a spectacular cotton, a kimono with a density of over 12 ounces is recommended for karate.

• Basically, the traditional requirement of karate schools is the length of trousers to the ankle and jackets to the middle of the thigh.

Kimono for sambo:

• To choose the right size, you need to add 5-10 cm to your height indicator, since the kimono shrinks by 3-5% after washing. Paying attention to the size of clothes and choosing a kimono according to this principle is a big mistake, especially if there is no opportunity to try on equipment.

• The color of the kimono for sambo is mainly presented in blue and red versions. Other colors (white, cream) are acceptable for amateur use.

• 100% corrugated cotton is an ideal kimono for sambo, as this material absorbs moisture and lets air through. Polyamide or synthetic knitwear is used for shorts, since sambo shorts should not be as tight as a jacket. In the professional purpose of a kimono for sambo, a special material is used that does not decrease after washing.

• The density of the fabric should be high. The unit of measurement of kimono fabric density for sambo is g/ sq.m. (1 sq.m. = from 400 to 900 mg)

• Rigid elements (decor, embroidery, clasps, pockets) are not allowed in the kimono for sambo, since during the grapples you can injure your opponent.

• Before buying, pay attention to the tailoring of the kimono, since the shoulder element of the jacket should have heavy-duty seams “wings” in the form of protruding inserts. Thanks to them, sambo wrestlers are able to cope with particularly powerful grips.

• Reinforced through holes on the sides of the belt are an important element in a kimono for sambo. During the fight, the main thing is that the form “sits” perfectly and does not move during the fight. Therefore, the presence of holes is a guarantee of comfortable training and competitions.

Kimono for taekwondo:

• In order to choose the right size of a kimono for taekwondo, you need to add 5-10 cm to your height, if the material is 100% cotton; +5 cm – mixed fabrics.

• The color of the kimono can be white, red, blue and even multicolored. But if you are a member of the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation), then choose a white, black or red-black kimono.

• The density of the fabric in a kimono for taekwondo does not matter, since grapples and throws are not used in this type of martial arts.

• The sleeves of the kimono should touch the hands, but not cover them completely, and the legs slightly cover the ankle area.

• In jackets for taekwondo, unlike kimonos of other types of martial arts, where the smell is used, then for taekwondo classes there must be a one-piece cut or fixation due to Velcro (according to the standards of taekwondo WTF – World Taekwondo Federation, ITF – International Federation or GTF – Global Federation).