Dogi too big?

With the help of the people at e-bogu.com I bought one of their Single Layer Aikidogis. My real fear was the pants. (I'm 5' 11" (180 cm) and fat, and I wasn't sure if they'd fit me around my waist. Then if they did, I was afraid they would be too long. I ended up getting the largest size they had, a 7) Ironically, the pants fit like a dream; the jacket, I'm not so sure.

The shoulders match mine, but tied the 'skirt' is at my knees. (untied, it's past them) With my arms held straight out in front of me the sleeves are a little past my wrist, about at my thumb joint. With my arms down to my side, the sleeves are about at my first knuckles on my fingers. My arms held out to the side (like an airplane) the sleeves are about an inch over my fingertips (with my fingertips fully extended).

The problem is that everything else fits well (even if it is made for someone about 11 inches taller than me) and it's excellent quality, so I'm reluctant to return it, wondering about how much it could shrink if I washed it? I have obviously kept from washing it in case I need to return it, as that voids their return policy (as with many places. some don't have return policies at all, so I'm lucky). I don't think they mix and match sizes (i.e I dont think I could keep the pants and belt and send the jacket back for a smaller size)

You think from my description it's too big? Anyone had dogis about this fit, and tried to shrink them by washing and drying hot? How'd it turn out?

Thanks for the help

Wow, what a coincidence!

I'm apretty much your size, and I ordered a butoku judogi from e-bogu about 3 months ago.

I got a size 6, the pants fits well, the jacket is pretty loose and it does run a little long for me.

It is actually worse now because I lost some weight since I bought it.

What I've been washing it in hot water and using the highest heat on the dryer so it could shrink more.

Thomas Liauw wrote: Wow, what a coincidence! I'm apretty much your size, and I ordered a butoku judogi from e-bogu about 3 months ago. I got a size 6, the pants fits well, the jacket is pretty loose and it does run a little long for me. It is actually worse now because I lost some weight since I bought it. What I've been washing it in hot water and using the highest heat on the dryer so it could shrink more.

And our first names are the same too

Does it shrink very much at all? I think if the top shrinks maybe.. 2" it'd fit pretty well, or at least decently :P

I guess I don't really understand the problem

If the body fits ok the arms are easy to alter if it doesn't shrink enough. I wouldn't worry about the top hanging too low. If it's too short it will pull out of your belt if you get into lapel grabs and whatnot.

I'm a big guy too so I usually buy a gi one size too big and wash it in hot a couple of times before altering it. I ALWAYS have to hem the pants and jacket sleeves, but if I don't get a bigger size it doesn't fit in the body. I've found that when a judo style gi sleeves reach my knuckles with arms out straight in front of me, they'll usually end up at my wrists after 3 hot washes/dries. I like them a little shorter than that so I usually alter them a little (the pants don't shrink nearly that much).

I really like dealing with E-bogu, have you emailed them and asked if they'll mix and match? Who knows, they might do it for you.

Bronson

Bronson Diffin wrote: I guess I don't really understand the problem If the body fits ok the arms are easy to alter if it doesn't shrink enough. I wouldn't worry about the top hanging too low. If it's too short it will pull out of your belt if you get into lapel grabs and whatnot. I'm a big guy too so I usually buy a gi one size too big and wash it in hot a couple of times before altering it. I ALWAYS have to hem the pants and jacket sleeves, but if I don't get a bigger size it doesn't fit in the body. I've found that when a judo style gi sleeves reach my knuckles with arms out straight in front of me, they'll usually end up at my wrists after 3 hot washes/dries. I like them a little shorter than that so I usually alter them a little (the pants don't shrink nearly that much). I really like dealing with E-bogu, have you emailed them and asked if they'll mix and match? Who knows, they might do it for you. Bronson

I think from your description after washing it a few times it should be fine. It fits around the waist pretty well. It's actually 3 sizes bigger than what I'd wear for my height.

I called them but they didn't seem to understand the problem...so I think I'll go do some laundry :P

Yeah, Bronson pretty much nailed it.

Before washing, with my arms extended to the front, mine is about 1" from the wrist. After a month of wear, it's about 1" short from the wrist.

Thomas Liauw wrote: Yeah, Bronson pretty much nailed it. Before washing, with my arms extended to the front, mine is about 1" from the wrist. After a month of wear, it's about 1" short from the wrist.

I washed it in hot water 3 times and dried it in the hot drier 3 times. I originally meant to do it only 2 times, but the second time out it had some orange stains on it (what I get for not washing my hands after eating and then doing laundry) so I put some OxyClean in with it, let it soak a bit and then washed it and dried it again. Sleeves shrunk about 1-2 inches and are now exactly at my wrists with my hands down, and the skirt is about an inch or two above my knees. It's nice, big and roomy...I suppose it can only get smaller as I use it and wash it more. For the time being I bear an uncanny resemblence to this guy:

(Jigaro Kano)

I thought I could let the jacket hang dry, but I'm glad I washed and shrunk it before using it, because that thing, as a friend of mine said, is a like a towel. I don't see how anyone hang dries them. It's very well made.

I really appreciate all your input

Don't be surprised if I make a thread in the future about hakama, probably bought from e-bogu (namely looking at this one: http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bl...-black-all.htm )

Thomas Dixon wrote: Sleeves shrunk about 1-2 inches and are now exactly at my wrists with my hands down, and the skirt is about an inch or two above my knees. It's nice, big and roomy...I suppose it can only get smaller as I use it and wash it more.

It's always possible to take a gi to a seamstress and have the hem and sleeves shortened a bit. I did this with a Kamikaze karate gi that fit me well around [size 6] but was generally too long for me [I guess I'm a size 5 tall ] I've lost a few pounds since I bought that gi, so I'm hoping the lower size will be okay the next time I go shopping.

Since I prefer a 3/4 length sleeve for practice, I will probably end up going to the seamstress/tailor anyway...

Thomas Dixon wrote: (Jigaro Kano)

That's about how I like my gi to fit.

Thomas Dixon wrote: Don't be surprised if I make a thread in the future about hakama, probably bought from e-bogu (namely looking at this one: http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Bl...-black-all.htm )

Hey Thomas,

I got your private message... sorry I haven't responded yet, so I guess I'll do it here

I do have one of the hakama you posted and I quite like it. It fits me better than either of the "custom fit" Bujin hakama I've owned (and it's a heck of a lot less expensive). The main differences between the Top Quality and regular hakama is that the T. Q. has the inner pleats sewn in and the hem is made to be slightly higher in the center to help prevent "toe catch". These two things make the few extra dollars for the T. Q. worth it in my opinion.

Hope that helps,

Bronson

p.s. It comes with the little plastic "spoon" sewn into the back... don't use it. They tend to rip off during ukemi and I've seen a pretty spectacular hakama failure due to it ripping off. I never use mine and the hakama stays in place just fine.

Thanks Bronson! Will keep in mind about the plastic piece.

Dave, how does that work out for you? My sleeve's wrists are reinforced on the inside with another piece of fabric...do they remove that, shorten it and then add it back or? Just wondering in case I ever need it done. Generally when I 'hem' stuff I just fold it up inside and sew it there :P Makes it easy if i ever need it long again

Thomas Dixon wrote: Dave, how does that work out for you? My sleeve's wrists are reinforced on the inside with another piece of fabric...do they remove that, shorten it and then add it back or? Just wondering in case I ever need it done. Generally when I 'hem' stuff I just fold it up inside and sew it there :P Makes it easy if i ever need it long again

Thomas -- it all depends on how much trouble your tailor/seamstress is willing to take...and how much you are willing to pay them to do the job. I had the sleeves and hem redone with several rows of stitching so they looked the same as originally manufactured. It looked good and cost a bit...but my gi has lasted me for 5 years or more, so the quality job was worth it.