Dogi - Dresscode

Hello all

I have been looking for information on how to put on the dogi in a correct manner. I remember reading somewhere on the web that in the old days the dogi was put on in a certain way, so that they always would be ready for battle. But I can't seem to find the website anymore. I hope some you can help me! And if there is a more complete "list" of clothing/getting ready etiquette, I would be most interested

only thing i have heard about putting on a dogi is that the jacket is fastened left over right.
I have heard they bury you with your jacket fastened right over left.

and if it is right over left then it can hinder the drawing of a katana on your left hip as it could get caught in the opening of your jacket

Kev

Thanx Kev...but I was more thinking of if the pants go on first or visa-versa? And of a generell clothing etiquette...if possible

Henning Ulseth wrote: Hello all in the old days the dogi was put on in a certain way, so that they always would be ready for battle.

Henning Ulseth wrote: but I was more thinking of if the pants go on first or visa-versa

Would you want to run into battle with no pants or trousers on? Perhaps it's trousers first?

This is from memory, which isn't as good as it used to be, so don't take it for gospel.

In Autumn Lightning by Dave Lowry I believe he mentions that the jacket is put on (but not tied closed), then the pants, then the belt. He also talks about how his sensei told him that when you sit to go to the bathroom to pull one leg completely out of your pants so you can move if you're attacked in there.

Bronson

Thanx Bronson I think this is what I slightly remember. And it does seem logical!
And the toilet-etiquette...hehe...I hope I won't have to go boomboom in the dojo anytime soon But seriously...that to makes sense...I guess, hehehe. Thanx again!

Well if you read "Angry white pyjamas" it says that a true japanese does not wear underclothes under dogi trousers. I know that there are people on this website that were on that particular course so please feel free to correct me.

One of the ways I have seen a great many old-timers suit up seems like it's sequenced to insure that you almost always have enough clothes on to run outside in case of fire or imminent attack, while allowing for reasonable modesty.

If doing koryu or kendo, or if you just have an extra-long kendo style top, omit step four.

1. Take off shirt

2. Put on upper half of keiko gi.

3. Take off trousers (and underwear if going commando) The keiko gi top protects modesty if it is long enough.

4. Put on lower half of keiko gi and tie pants.

5. Put on obi.

6. Put on hakama, front panel first so that nature calls require minimum of undressing.

Hope this helps,

Fred Little

Tim Gerrard wrote: Well if you read "Angry white pyjamas" it says that a true japanese does not wear underclothes under dogi trousers. I know that there are people on this website that were on that particular course so please feel free to correct me.

I don't know if the correct term would be "true Japanese", but I do know that we laughed at guys who wore underclothes under their dogi pants. They soon stopped <grin>

It *is* much more comfortable. Try it...you'll like it

--Michael

Michael Stuempel wrote: I don't know if the correct term would be "true Japanese", but I do know that we laughed at guys who wore underclothes under their dogi pants. They soon stopped <grin> It *is* much more comfortable. Try it...you'll like it

Well, I, for one, am quite happy to wear underwear. I think it's important, especially for those of his who are not the most dexterous people. For example:

About a week ago, I was practicing suwari waza. My partner and I were facing other in seiza, serious... ready. Shinken shobu, I think is the Japanese expression. We bowed. Then as I started to do shikko... I heard a sound not unlike ripping fabric. And, lo and behold, it was ripping fabric. I had just torn a nice big hole in the crotch of my pants

Suffice it say, my underwear prevented my female partner laughing and pointing at my... uh... lack of endowment.

Hori-san;

Not that I'm checking but I think there is only one in the dojo (S. sensei), at least that changes in the boys room, that goes commando.

And no it is not more comfortable. Even boxer shorts have serious problems. I was doing the last of your next set of 8 techniques (tanto dori) and was stepped on (the pin is from behind). I will not describe the bruising pattern except to extol the virtues of jockey shorts.

You guys are wimps. I mean that in the nicest way

I have had that ripping sound happen to me, Hori-san. Not the best feeling, but just train through it.

We had one woman who also went underwearless. During a hajime session her dogi pants string somehow got undone. She was senshusei so its not as if she could stop training. The instructor didn't notice until the dogi pants slipped halfway down her thigh. He stopped the hajime long enough for her to tie herself back up.

And I really feel that it is much more comfortable during long hajime sessions when the sweat is pouring out of every pore and its 37 degrees and you are dieing. The rest of the time its still comfortable, just not as noticable. I've only regretted it once and that was on some whirlwind ikkajo thing where I was uke and I don't think anything would have saved me the way my belly-flop (okay..lower than belly-flop) smash landing took me.

Of course...maybe its my Scottish heritage coming through.

[quote][quote=Michael Stuempel
.

We had one woman who also went underwearless. During a hajime session her dogi pants string somehow got undone. She was senshusei so its not as if she could stop training. The instructor didn't notice until the dogi pants slipped halfway down her thigh. He stopped the hajime long enough for her to tie herself back up.[/QUOTE]

And all the fret boyz stopped and oogle?

Boon...Are you kidding. This was senshusei, man. Stopping for anything meant pain and destruction beyond imagination.

You guys are just too discipline... my hats off.

I can`t remember where I read it (if I read it), or who said it, but the process described by Fred above pretty much the same that I heard. The reason given was that one should never be caught in a state of total undress.

It was a few years ago now, but I have adhered to that process ever since, reversing it when changing at the end of class as we don`t have a shower at the dojo. It certainly protects modesty as we don`t have changing rooms either.

Rgds

Bryan

know this is not what your looking for, but in the old days the samurai did not wear dogi pants. So back in the old old days the dress procedure was:
1. underwear
2. long robe that went down to the knees, not sure what it is called. tied with obi.
3. then hakama pants, longer or shorter depending on status and the weather.
4. then Armour.

No underwear while wearing white pants? I do hope all of you who practice this wear hakama!

No way, Michael!

The only thing between me and everyone else on the mat is my thin, white pants!

Now thats what I call motivation for keeping proper distance!

No underwear while wearing white pants? I do hope all of you who practice this wear hakama!

hehe, no, its a yoshinkan thing (one part *I* don't practice), and we tend not to wear hakama under third dan. In the senshusei course, you all start as white belts anyway...

Ron

Hi,you are right no underwear,and I have trained with Sensei R mustard.Whom the book angry white pyjamas was writen about,Senseis school is in Burnaby B,C.

hi angry white pyjamas,was written about Sensei Mustard Robert,it was written by a student who trained in Japan,under the guidance of Sensei

The only thing between me and everyone else on the mat is my thin, white pants!

I could never do this. Not out of personal insecurity. All the ladies in the dojo would be too turned on / distracted to keep practicing.

Nick Pittson wrote: No way, Michael! The only thing between me and everyone else on the mat is my thin, white pants!

No wonder they were ANGRY White Pajamas...

Nathan Gidney wrote: I could never do this. Not out of personal insecurity. All the ladies in the dojo would be too turned on / distracted to keep practicing.

You see, there really is no ego in Aikido, Just Nathan the legend in his own trousers


Actually, Michael has a point above, the summer heat in Japan is pretty damn humid at the best of times, a lot of people in the dojo`s I trained at went commando due to the excessive sweating during keiko. I have tried it myself on occasion, it isn`t that bad, although can be uncomfortable at times . The Japanese dogi`s that I have all have quite thick trousers, and long jackets, so modesty is not compromised, it`s really down to personal preference.

Regards

Bryan