Comparing Taekwondo, Karate, Judo and JiuJitsu Uniforms

Chances are if you have ever looked into buying a martial arts uniform you have said to yourself, "How do I tell martial arts uniforms apart?" Especially, to the new martial arts student it can seem like they are all the same. However, there are huge variations in the different styles such as; Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, and of course Kung Fu.

The differences between a Taekwondo and a Kung Fu uniform are glaring and most people know what sets a Kung Fu uniform apart from the other styles. However, what sets a Taekwondo uniform apart from a Karate uniform? Or, what is the difference between a Judo Gi and a JiuJitsu Gi? This is what we are here to find out.

Taekwondo Uniforms 
The more non-traditional or sport style Taekwondo uniforms are easy to tell apart. They have a V-neck which makes it fit more like a shirt then a traditional wrap around style jacket. The v-neck jacket is very popular in the sport of Taekwondo. It fits very nice and comfortable with the benefit being that it won't begin to open up when you move around doing different techniques. With the traditional wrap around style jackets students are always re-adjusting them and pulling them back down underneath their belts which you don't have this problem with the v-neck style.

Another distinction which makes TKD uniforms easy are that although they are almost always primarily white some of them have a black collar which designates a higher ranking student, Master, GrandMaster. If you see someone with a black collared jacket you can pretty much assume that he or she is a black belt. There are also pants that have black stripes down the side of them that designate this higher ranking as well.

However, not all black belts will have this style so this isn't a given. The uniform for Taekwondo is also pretty light ranging from 6 oz. to 12 oz. when compared to other uniforms. Because Taekwondo doesn't focus on grappling, pushing, and pulling their opponents there is no need for a heavy duty fabric. This allows the Taekwondo students to get a way with a much lighter uniform.

Karate Uniforms 
First of all Karate does not utilize the v-neck jacket style like it's Taekwondo counterpart. They also use a larger array of colors for their uniforms. Karate uniforms can range from white, black, blue, pink, and red. The more traditional style Karate uniforms also have short sleeves so that the person wearing can have more upper body movement without the sleeve grabbing onto the arm. The Karate uniform also come in a variety of fabric weights. Some of the most basic uniforms start out with 4 oz. to 6 oz. with the heavier uniforms ranging up to 14 oz.

Judo & Jiujitsu Gi's 
Judo and Jiujitsu Gi's are very similar but are very different then the styles of Karate and Taekwondo. Since Judo as well as JiuJitsu are comprised of a highly physical style where your opponent pulls and twists on your gi it is necessary to have a heavier weight fabric to stand up to this rigor. JiuJitsu and Judo uniforms start out at 14 oz. and can go all the way up to 18 oz. and heavier. The stitching on the Judo gi is a critical element as well. With Judo gi's there are two different styles of stitching that you can choose from and they are; single weave gi and double weave. The double weave gi is usually much stronger, however, with the stitching today this is not simply the case with all manufacturers. So, if you are a beginning Judo or JiuJitsu student then you can simply purchase the single weave gi until you advance and move up in rank then invest in a higher quality gi.

There you have it the difference between the modern Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, and JiuJitsu uniforms. It is recommended to beginners to first buy a cheap uniform and then once you progress in belts you can decide to purchase a more expensive higher quality uniform. This will also give you chance to talk with other students and learn what they like and dislike about their uniforms and gi's and learn from them.

Todd Schankleighter is an independent content writer who specializes in the martial arts. Todd's passion is in the mixed martial arts as he is working for The MMA Zone as the online martial arts supplies store. Shop The MMA Zone for great prices on all your gear: http://www.themmazone.net/uniforms/taekwondo-uniforms.html!

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