| Clothing and Uniforms | ||||||
| For judo a heavyweight gi top is recommended because many of the grabs and throws tear ordinary clothing. | ||||||
| This is a tactical consideration in real life use of judo. For karate a lightweight gi top is recommended. Besides white, | ||||||
| red, blue and black gis have been worn at exhibitions and other events where photographic results are taken into | ||||||
| consideration. Getting steel weapons, for example, to show well against a white gi can be challenging. For both | ||||||
| karate and judo ask for help learning to fold a gi and tie a belt. Almost everyone wears matching gi pants. The | ||||||
| student may wear white socks, white tabi or no socks. The rank belt is worn - and never washed. Frequently, | ||||||
| the belt has a name or nickname embroidered when third degree is achieved. The thicker (3" wide) belt is used to | ||||||
| hold weapons such as sais or swords. The wearing of a school patch over the heart is optional. When there is a | ||||||
| more formal event the instructor and any third degree or higher degree black belts traditionally wear a black | ||||||
| hakama. When the weather is especially warm shorts and a t-shirt are sufficient, with the consent of the | ||||||
| instructor. Be warned shorts don't offer much protection from mat burn. Wearing any shoes, especially street | ||||||
| shoes, on the mats is considered very poor manners. If whoever sweeps the mats is present he or she will likely | ||||||
| make displeasure obvious. Wearing shoes on to the mats and not bowing in a Japanese dojo is usually interpreted | ||||||
| as a challenge to mortal combat. | ||||||
| For all students who wear eyeglasses elastic glass guards are advised. | ||||||
| Wearing a necklace, especially when doing judo, is not a good idea. Long locks, hair clips, large earrings and | ||||||
| necklaces tend to provide accessible high-value targets for your opponent. Of concern is that other chain jewelry | ||||||
| such as bracelets or anklets can fly off and break or strike someone. The need to look glamorous when | ||||||
| practicing fighting for one's life is appreciated, but some thought should be given to the consequences of striking | ||||||
| near someone else's face while you are wearing a bracelet as well as what happens if an opponent grabs your | ||||||
| bejewelled wrist. To an extent, rings are equally double-edged. Your treasured heirloom can have a gemstone | ||||||
| cracked or tear across an opponent's formerly handsome visage. Judo and,to a greater extent, karate, are pretty | ||||||
| tough on fingernails. | ||||||
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