Kimono Karate

Karate, a thousand-year-old traditional martial art inherited from Asia
Karate is one of the traditional martial arts that has been practiced for several centuries. It is therefore impossible for its practitioners to do it while wearing simple sports shorts. It would be unacceptable for a karate or judo club to teach the practice of their combat sport without a kimono. Its origin is so ancient that it has become mythical. It is said that the practice of karate comes to us from the Shaolin monks who were installed in a monastery in northern China during the 5th or 6th century! Starving, they were unable to remain still to practice the mediation that their Buddhist religion commanded them. One of Buddha's descendants then taught them movements inspired by gymnastics and warrior combat while developing what would later be called Zen practice. Karate is then considered a complementary practice to Zen meditation, a sport that aims to purify the entire body through the muscles and tendons. After the invasion of the Shaolin temple, karate was so successful that it spread to many countries such as India and the island of Okinawa in Japan where it experienced its greatest glory. During the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, it is finally considered an Olympic sport.

What is a karate kimono, or karategi?
Karategi is a Japanese word for the clothing ("gi") used for the practice of karate ("karate"). As with practicing martial arts such as judo, all combat sports of Chinese and Japanese origin ("budo") are done wearing a traditional kimono. We offer several models and ranges of karate kimonos to dress the karateka. Karate kimonos are always composed of 3 elements: pants, jackets and belts. It is during the first karate lessons that the master of the karate club will teach the beginner karateka how to wear his kimono properly and how to tie his belt according to the rules of the art. This is absolutely not a detail because the quality of the kimono is very important in the practice of martial arts. As in judo, certain karate movements require the practitioner to grab the opponent to use his strength against him. This is where a good kimono comes in and it is for this reason that the ends of the jacket and sleeves are lined. Like all combat sports, the kimono must be breathable, particularly when it comes to pants. This is why our kimonos are made of 100% cotton for the majority of our training models for experienced practitioners. For our models dedicated to beginner karatekas, they are rather embroidered in polycotton, that is to say in a mixture of cotton and polyester.

How to choose your karate kimono model?
We provide you with a large selection of items to practice combat sports in the best conditions. We offer our services to professionals such as club presidents or dojo masters, which is an assurance of the quality of the equipment that we also offer to individuals. The whole family can find what they are looking for: whether it is a karate kimono for children or your teenagers, men and women. Karate, which is one of the most practiced martial arts, requires having good quality equipment to allow you to be extremely efficient and free in your movements. The quality of a karate kimono is measured by two criteria: it must be very resistant while being extremely light. Karate is a percussive martial art, so if the kimono is heavy or not solid, it risks bothering the practitioner, or even tearing. This is why the fabrics in which the kimonos are embroidered are extremely light: around 120 grams for a complete kimono (jacket, pants and belt). All our kimono models have reinforcements at the level of the fabrics located in certain areas particularly subject to friction. This is the case for the elbows, knees and the collar. This guarantees your kimono a great durability. Some of our models are approved by the WKF ("World Karate Foundation"), the world equivalent of the French Karate Federation. These kimonos are particularly suitable for competition although they can also be used during training.

What size of karate kimono should you choose?
Having a kimono in the right size means ensuring that you practice your combat sport in the best possible comfort, even after several hours spent training. The size of a kimono is measured in centimeters, from 100 cm to 210 cm for our largest models. To choose the right size, you need to base it on your height. If you are 170 cm tall, you should choose a kimono of this size or slightly smaller.