Fighters’ Clothing – Getting Dressed For Success

Fighters of contact sports need special kind of non-restrictive clothes to ensure that they can move freely and execute their combat maneuvers with full efficiency. Be it judo, taekwondo, karate or even muay thai boxing, wearing proper clothing is of prime importance. The kind of uniforms, however, vary between different sports, from the karategi and judogi (of karate and judo respectively) to the half-sleeved t-shirts and shorts of muay thai. Wearing proper clothing is of paramount importance in contact sports. Many trainers will refuse to train you if you do not wear proper clothing to the “dojo”.

Judo, karate and their derivatives, like taekwondo, wufundo, kufundo, etc. rely on special robes, trousers and belts for unrestricted movement during combat. The uniforms not only protect the student from abrasions, but also keep them cool during long hours of rigorous practice.

The robes are usually made of thick cotton canvas for high durability and better soaking of perspiration. The robes vary slightly in quality though. In judo, the robes are gripped by hand to throw the opponent off balance. So, the robes have to be coarse and rough in texture. In karate and taekwondo, gripping robes is not a necessity. Hence the robes are often smoothened by brushing, to ensure comfort during long hours of training.

The trousers are made of cotton (of medium thickness). There are two varieties available, with either drawstring or elastic band on the waist. The drawstring is preferable for long hours of practice. This is because the wearer has complete control over how much pressure there will be on his abdomen. In case of elastic band, he/she has no control over the pressure it exerts on the waist. Besides, elastic bands can snap anytime.

The belt, usually called the “obi”, is made of thick cotton and worn around the waist to hold the jacket in place. The belt is usually wide and made of thick cotton. The belt holds a special position in martial arts as its color denotes the skill rank of the wearer. It is usually made of thick cotton and is double stitched to make it durable.

In muay thai boxing, the boxers wear half sleeved t-shirts and shorts to ensure free movement of the hands and legs. This is because unrestricted movement is very important in muay thai, which requires full use of one’s hands and legs.

Clothes usually do not affect a person’s skill level. But proper clothing is important for fighters who need free movement of their hands and feet. Proper choice of clothes is thus very important to fighters for obtaining success in contact sports.