Keikogi


Keikogi, or dōgi, is a uniform for training in Japanese martial arts and their derivatives. The prototype for the modern keikogi emerged in the late 19th century. The keikogi was developed by judo founder Kanō Jigorō. Japanese martial arts historian Dave Lowry speculates Kanō derived the uniform's design from the uniforms of Japanese firefighters' heavy hemp jackets, hanten. By 1920, the keikogi as it exists today was worn by Kanō's students for judo practice. The Kodokan has a photo taken in 1920 that shows Kanō wearing a modern keikogi.
Until the 1920s, Okinawan karate practice was usually performed in everyday clothes. Given the social climate between the Japanese and Okinawans during this time, karate was seen as brutish compared to Japanese martial arts which had their roots in samurai culture, such as jujutsu. To help market karate to the Japanese, Gichin Funakoshi—the founder of Shotokan karate and the instructor responsible for importing karate to mainland Japan—adopted a uniform style similar to Kanō's design. Over time, Karate practitioners modified the keikogi for karate by lightening the weave of the fabric and adding strings to the inside of the jacket that are tied to keep the jacket neatly closed. The jacket is also held closed by the belt or obi.
The top part of the keikogi is called the uwagi. The pants of the keikogi are called shitabaki, which literally means underpants.
In modern times, white, black, blue and indigo are the most common colors of keikogi. In competitive judo, one contestant wears a white uniform and his or her opponent wears a blue one. However, traditionally, the keikogi was white.
In English, the keikogi is almost always referred to simply as gi, which would be an incorrect use of the word in Japanese, but is well understood in context. Often keiko is replaced with the name of the Japanese martial art being practiced.
In Russian, Polish, and French, this kind of uniform is often called a kimono.
The alternate term keikoi is also used in Japanese.
Commonly used keikogi include:
Keiko can also be replaced by dō which refers to the way, meaning both the martial art and the lifestyle of the martial artist. In this it is similar to the term for Korean martial arts uniforms, dobok.

Keikogi materials