The Martial Arts Uniform

Step 2: The Jacket and Trousers

As soon as you know you're serious about learning a martial art, you'll want to get hold of the appropriate uniform. This is the Gi.

The Gi is the traditional uniform of Karate, judo, jujitsu and other martial arts and its main purpose is its functionality.

Typically a Karate Gi comes with quite short sleeves and pants, so that you don't get caught with your finger or trip over yourself. A Gi allows you great freedom of movement, which is imperative when building up your fighting combinations. It's very robust and comfortable at the same time and this means it will survive pulling, tearing and contact with the ground to a degree that other clothes won't.

For a beginner, putting on the Gi encourages one to focus on discipline and training.

Step 3: The Belt

As students pass through the ranks taking grading exams they're awarded with different coloured belts. This is the most visible indication of the students' progress. The ultimate, of course, is the black belt.

Remember! You should NEVER wash your belt. Shove it through a hot wash, and it will lose all its hard-earned knowledge.

To tie your belt, first take hold of it in your right hand, so that the end is slightly longer than the end of your jacket. Pass the rest round your back… then round the front, overlapping the piece in the front.

Go on round again and bring both ends round to the front. Pass the belt over the piece hanging down and tuck it upward under everything.

Now pull it through. Pull both ends in opposite directions to tighten and then you can let go. Keep the bottom bit straight, pass the top over it to the left and down then back up through the loop

Now take the bottom hanging piece in your right hand, with the other in your left and pull.

You're now kitted up like a true martial arts student and ready to learn. So make sure you go and check out Videojug's guides to the basic martial arts moves.