Selecting and Caring for your Karate Uniform

1

Karate Uniforms come in many flavors, of which, the two most popular are the "Traditional Japanese Cut" or "Standard Cut" and the "Tournament Cut". The "Tournament Cut" differs from the "Standard Cut" in that the sleeves and pants are shorter (making it easier to punch and kick, some believe).

2

Make sure that you're paying for extra cotton, and not starch, when you make your selection. Uniforms like the TOYO proudly display the canvas makers label proclaiming a true No. 10 100% Cotton Canvas. Hold your prospective uniforms (folded and still in the package is okay) by the edges. Is it heavy and rigid like a board? The uniform should have weight, but remain flexible and not remind you of those old movies where they starched the underwear stiff as a board (OH?!?!? - Thinking of buying over the Internet from DOSHIN? Feel free to ask us! We train, just like you, and can appreciate that you want to get value for your dollar, and we'd like to be your equipment provider for more than one sale...).

3

Get the most bang for your buck! Some of those distinctive uniform brands are actually made by the same manufacturer! Who, incidentally, have uniform lines of their own to tempt your wallet.

4

Extend the life of your uniform! Pay attention to all of the labels that say drip dry. If you must use a dryer, pull the uniform out "damp" and let it finish drying on a line or hanger. Watch out for direct sun-light. Some uniforms take on a light cream color if they are over-exposed to sun-light.

5

We prefer to work with uniform companies that are proud of their craftsmanship and quality control. We try to support those uniforms that serve their function for a reasonable amount of time, and, for a reasonable value.

 Among the DOSHIN "family" there are seven of us in karate gi at least two times a week. We know that you want and deserve value for your money -- because we want it as well! We don't want to show up on the Dojo floor with a pink gi because we wanted to save a few bucks, and nobody mentioned this annoying characteristic of the canvas used -- why should we expect you to?

A word about Japanese No. 10 cotton canvas -- the manufacturing process leaves a very slight blue tinge in the canvas. This is especially visible when the canvas is wet -- until the uniform is washed a few times. The old timers (like us) don't get "freaked out" by this. They know that it is a sign of the highest quality canvas available. We want you "newbies" out there to feel free to ask about things like that!

Popular Uniform Size Charts

[ KI International ] [ Toyo ] [ Shureido ] [ Words of Wisdom from Shureido ] [ Tokaido ] [ Dragon International ]
[ JUKA ] [ Kamikaze ]
Generic Human Size Information Cross Reference - Children
Age
Height
Weight
Girls
Boys
Alpha-size
3 - 4 yrs
39 - 45"
32 - 41 lbs
4/5
4/5
XS
5 - 6 yrs
45 - 48"
41 - 50 lbs
6/6X
6
S
6 - 8 yrs
47 - 53"
50 - 68 lbs
7/8
7/8
M
9 - 10 yrs
53 - 59"
68 - 87 lbs
10/12
10/12
L
11 - 12 yrs
59 - 64"
87 - 115 lbs
14/16
14/16
XL
Generic Human Size Information Cross Reference - Misses/Women's
Alpha-Size
Size
Bust *
Waist *
Hip
S
6/8
34 - 35"
26 - 27"
36½ - 37½"
M
10/12
36 - 37½"
28 - 29½"
38½ - 40"
L
14/16
39 - 40½"
31 - 32½"
41½ - 43"
XL
18/20
42½ - 44½"
34½ - 36½"
45 - 47"
XXL
22/24
46½ - 48½"
38½ - 40½"
49 - 51"
3X
26/28
50½ - 52½"
42½ - 44½"
53 - 55"
4X
30/32
54½ - 56½"
46½ - 48½"
57 - 59"
* MEASUREMENTS ARE FULL CIRCUMFERENCE

Generic Human Size Information Cross Reference - Men/Women Equivalent
MEN ALPHA-SIZE
SIZE
CHEST *
WAIST *
NECK
SLEEVE
WOMEN ALPHA-SIZE
S
34 - 36
34 - 36"
28 - 30"
14 - 14½"
32 - 32½"
M
M
38 - 40
38 - 40"
32 - 34'
15 - 15½"
33 - 33½"
L
L
42 - 44
42 - 44"
36 - 38"
16 - 16½"
34 - 34½"
XL
XL
16 - 48
46 - 48"
40 - 42"
17 - 17½"
35 - 35½"
XXL
XXL
50 - 52
50 - 52"
44 - 46"
18 - 18½"
36 - 36½"
3X
XXXL
54 - 56
54 - 56"
48 - 50"
19 - 19½"
37 - 37½"
4X
* MEASUREMENTS ARE IN FULL CIRCUMFERENCE
 
 
KI Karate Gi KI Logo
Size
Height
000
3'2" - 3'6"
00
3'7" - 4'0"
0
4'1" - 4'4"
1
4'5" - 4'7"
2
4'8" - 5'2"
3
5'3" - 5'5"
4
5'6" - 5'8"
5
5'9" - 6'0"
6
6'1" - 6'4"
7
6'5" - 6'7"

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SHUREIDO LOGOKarate Gi
Size
Shoulder
Width
Arm
Span
Jacket
Length
Pants
Waist
(Linear)
Pants
Length
Average
Height
0
17"
37"
21"
14"
28"
3'7"
1
17-1/2"
40-1/2"
23"
14-1/2"
30"
3'11"
1-1/2
19"
44-1/2"
25"
15"
32"
4'3"
2
20-1/2"
50"
27"
16"
35"
4'7"
2-1/2
22"
54-1/2"
29"
17-1/2"
36-1/2"
4'11"
3
23"
56"
30-1/2"
18-1/2"
38"
5'2"
3-1/2
24"
58"
31"
19"
39"
5'3"
4
24-1/2"
60-1/2"
33"
20"
41-1/2"
5'6"
4-1/2
25-1/2"
63-1/2"
33-1/2"
21"
42-1/2"
5'8"
5
26"
66"
34-1/2"
21-1/2"
45"
5'9"
5-1/2
26-1/2"
68"
36-1/2"
22"
47-1/2"
6'
6
28"
70"
37-1/2"
23"
49"
6'1"
6-1/2
28-1/2"
72"
39"
24-1/2"
50"
6'3"
7
29"
73"
40"
26"
51"
6'5"

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Words of wisdom from SHUREIDO
Cross reference the measurement chart provided above.
Allow 6-8" extra on pants length and 2-6" extra on arm span measurement for shrinkage (depending on brand of Gi)
Find Gi size according to Height and Weight
Compare measurements of Gi size indicated with personal chart (including adjustments).
Too big is better than too small.
If Gi is too long, wash in warm water for gradual shortening.
If BRAVE, wash in hot water and machine dry.
Proper care will help you get the most out of your uniform.
  • Machine wash cold.
  • Do not use bleach.
  • Drip dry in mild sun, or shade.

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Tokaido Karate Gi

Size

Height

Weight
2
Up to 4'11
100 lbs.
2-1/2
Up to 5'
110 lbs.
3
Up to 5'2
120 lbs.
3-1/2
Up to 5'4
140 lbs.
4
Up to 5'6
150 lbs.
4-1/2
Up to 5'8
160 lbs.
5
Up to 5'10
170 lbs.
5-1/2
Up to 5'11
180 lbs.
6
Up to 6'
190 lbs.
6-1/2
Up to 6'2
200 lbs.
7
Up to 6'4
210 lbs.

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DRAGON INTERNATIONAL

SIZE CHART - DRAGON INTERNATIONAL

All measurements are in inches.

DRAGON® Brand Judo Gi
 
A
B
C
E
G
J
K
L
M
N
000
46.1
19.1
26.0
7.3
19.1
15.0
25.0
8.3
N/A
7.1
00
49.0
19.7
27.8
7.9
19.7
15.9
28.0
9.3
N/A
8.1
0
52.0
21.1
29.3
8.0
21.1
17.7
29.9
9.8
N/A
9.1
1
55.9
22.0
30.9
8.3
22.0
19.7
34.1
10.2
82
9.1
2
60.0
23.2
33.3
8.9
23.2
21.9
37.0
11.0
88
9.8
3
64.0
25.6
35.4
9.1
25.6
23.2
40.0
11.4
96
9.8
4
68.5
27.0
38.6
9.4
27.0
24.0
42.9
11.8
102
9.8
5
72.4
28.9
40.9
10.2
28.9
25.2
46.1
12.8
110
10.2
6
76.0
31.5
44.3
10.2
31.5
26.0
49.0
13.6
118
11.0
7
79.9
33.1
46.7
10.8
33.1
26.8
52.0
14.2
124
11.0
 
A
B
C
E
G
J
K
L
M
N

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DRAGON® Brand Karate Gi
and JUKA® Gold/Silver Gis

A B C E G J K L M N
000 40.9 17.7 21.7 4.7 18.5 13.4 28.7 9.1 N/A 6.9
00 44.1 18.9 23.6 5.1 19.7 14.6 30.7 9.4 N/A 7.5
0 47.2 20.1 25.6 5.5 20.9 15.7 32.7 9.8 N/A 8.1
1 50.4 21.3 27.6 5.9 22.0 16.9 34.6 10.2 82 8.7
2 53.5 22.4 29.5 6.3 23.2 18.1 36.6 10.6 88 9.3
3 56.7 23.6 31.5 6.7 24.4 19.3 38.6 11.0 96 9.8
3.5 58.3 24.2 32.5 7.1 25.0 19.9 39.6 11.4 N/A 10.2
4 59.8 24.8 33.5 7.3 25.6 20.5 40.6 11.8 102 10.4
4.5 61.4 25.4 34.4 7.7 26.2 21.1 41.5 12.2 N/A 10.8
5 63.0 26.0 35.4 7.9 26.8 21.7 42.5 12.6 110 11.0
5.5 64.6 26.6 36.4 8.3 27.4 22.2 43.5 13.0 N/A 11.4
6 66.1 27.2 37.4 8.5 28.0 22.8 44.5 13.4 118 11.6
6.5 67.7 27.8 38.4 8.9 28.5 23.4 45.5 13.8 N/A 12.0
7 69.3 28.3 39.4 9.1 29.1 24.0 46.5 14.2 124 12.2
A B C E G J K L M N

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JUKA® Bronze Gi

size

A

B

C

E

G

J

K

L

N
3 56.7 24.0 33.5 7.9 24.8 19.3 37.4 11.8 11.0
3.5 57.5 24.4 34.4 8.1 25.2 20.3 38.4 12.2 11.4
4 58.3 24.8 35.4 8.3 25.6 21.3 39.4 12.6 11.6
4.5 59.1 25.2 36.4 8.5 26.0 22.2 40.4 13.0 12.0
5 59.8 25.6 37.4 8.7 26.4 23.2 41.3 13.4 12.2
5.5 60.6 26.0 38.4 8.9 26.8 24.2 42.3 13.8 12.6
6 61.4 26.4 39.4 9.1 27.2 25.2 43.3 14.2 12.8
6.5 62.2 26.8 40.4 9.3 27.5 26.2 44.3 14.6 13.2
7 63.0 27.2 41.3 9.4 28.0 27.2 45.3 15.0 13.4

size

A

B

C

E

G

J

K

L

N

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KAMIKAZE Karate Gi
'Instructor' and 'Master'
Our size used for Europe Recommended for persons of:
3.5 / 165 cm 5'2 - 5'4
4 / 170 cm 5'5 - 5'6
4.5/ 175 cm 5'7 - 5'8
5 / 180 cm 5'9 - 5'10
5.5 / 185 cm 5'11 - 6'1
6 / 190 cm 6'2 - 6'4
6.5 / 195 cm 6'5 - 6'7
7 / 200 cm 6'8 - up

KAMIKAZE Karate Gi: 'Europa' and 'America'

U.S. Sizes / International Sizes

Recommended for persons of:

3.5 / 165 cm

5'1 - 5'3

4 / 170 cm

5'3 - 5'5

4.5/ 175 cm

5'5 - 5'7

5 / 180 cm

5'7 - 5'9

5.5 / 185 cm

5'9 - 5'11

6 / 190 cm

5'11 - 6'2

6.5 / 195 cm

6'2 - 6'5

7 / 200 cm

6'5 - up

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