Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Judo Uniform For You


A Judo uniform is also known as a Judo Gee or a Judo Gi. The common colour for a Judo uniform is white, although blue is also becoming a popular choice. If you are yet to start Judo classes, it may be advisable to check with your instructor and find out if he or she would prefer you to have a certain colour of Judo uniform when you are training with him or her.

As well as choosing what colour of Gee/Gi you wish to purchase, you will also need to consider what weight and material you wish to purchase. This may highly depend on what grade/level of student (Judoka) you are.

The Judo grading system may change slightly depending on who you train with, but generally all grades are very similar. When you begin Judo lessons you will start as a white belt. As a white belt it is widely suggested that you purchase a Judo uniform which is 355g. These beginners uniforms are generally made from traditional grain cloth and will include a white belt.

After you have started your classes, if you show commitment and a willing to learn then your instructor may put you forward for a grading. A grading is designed to test you and, if you pass, you will move up one rank which is represented by a change in the colour of your belt. After passing your first grading you will become a yellow belt. The common belt order of rank starts with white belt, then yellow, orange, green, blue and then brown.

In many countries you will be unable to grade for your black belt until your at least 16 years old. Once you achieve black belt status you can continue to grade if you meet the required criteria. The highest ranked Judoka on record reached 10th dan, therefore this is considered as the highest rank you can achieve in Judo.

It is important to gain an understanding of how the ranking works before you pick your Judo uniform. As I said earlier, as a beginner you should purchase a 355g uniform. As you progress through the belts, it is considered that you should also improve your Judo uniform. Once you achieve a grade of green belt, it is suggested that you should upgrade your uniform to an 'intermediate uniform'. These are usually 450g.

Once you achieve a black belt ( also known as a dan) there are a wide variety of Judo uniforms that you can choose from. Although you can purchase any uniform at anytime, it is advisable to stick to the guidelines as they are there to help you. You may wish to have one Judo uniform for training and one specifically designed for competitions.


     By Graeme I Craig

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3891056

0 comments:

Post a Comment