Why white in the dojo? A brief look at martial arts history

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

If you enjoy our history videos, let us know and we'll do more in the future!

[@joereidy5732]

Good video but I had a difficult time understanding the narrator

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Fair enough, the South African accent is unfamiliar to most :) Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@Kiwigeo8339]

@@joereidy5732 no problems understanding Sensei Zoe's accent...and I'm a Kiwi

[@briansmith814]

Let's all take a moment to appreciate the research and editing Sensei Zoe does behind the scenes of these videos but also keeping them interesting and fun. 🙏🏻

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, so kind, Brian! I want to work on a video similar to this soon, once we finish the next 2 🙇🏻‍♀️

[@coltonowens2742]

I really appreciate your sense of humor.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, that's one of the nicest comments we've received! Thank you 🌻

[@zoehinis7848]

Hey, this video is now 100 days old! We've learned so much in terms of production and editing since this one!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

We really have! Still need to invest in a decent mic - one day is one day.

[@themadrazorback2019]

Very nice, thanks for sharing! As a Shotokan purist (for karate), I completely agree. If we consider Chinese roots, black uniforms for TMA in China were very common, so kenpo/kempo here always had that. As a BJJ purple belt, I do get very tired of the circus clown outfits...you hit the nail on the head with your Nascar comment! Liked and sub'd - best wishes for future success from the States! As an aside, at one time (pre-1960s), I think it was actually illegal to put the national flag on a garment unless it was an officially sanctioned uniform such as Boy Scouts, first responder, etc...

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, thank you so much for this truly lovely comment! That's an interesting point about the flag, and it makes sense. I feel like putting it on a gi and then rolling on it is a bit disrespectful 😅 In South Africa we have a whole bunch of guidelines on how we can use the flag, and that includes use on clothes. I love my shiny white Shureido, but there are days where I love all-black too🖤

[@themadrazorback2019]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Thanks for your kind reply. You made my evening. The shiny gis made by Shureido and other quality firms seem to have slight blue glow or something. Truly special uniforms.

[@themadrazorback2019]

Lots of great comments. It matters, it doesn't matter.... In TMA, there is always a cultural heritage aspect. Okinawans train differently, and dress differently than Japanese, ditto the Chinese. But it is a "uniform", not just gym gear. The goal with traditional Japanese arts - self perfection, fitness, unity, teaching traditional values takes it further than many arts. Bow to front, stepping into Seiza, left down first, etc., head on floor, starting exactly on time. If you care about the history of your art, the gi matters. Hence the variable non-clock start times in BJJ and the availability of clown costumes. Goju is a great art. Not seen often in my life in the states unfortunately. All the Best!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

This is the kind of wisdom that has made all our editing and hard work worth it - attracting practitioners like you with your insight is a boon to a baby instructor such as me. This exactly explains why it matters, and one of the many reasons why karate encourages discipline. It starts as soon as the gi is on 🥋 Americans make up a significant portion of our following here - it's a pity Goju isn't more widespread, although some of the best practitioners in the world are in the US :)

[@themadrazorback2019]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Again, thanks so much for your kind comment. Uechi and Goju seem to have kept their practical, "Combatives" or self defense roots so much better than other styles. Keeping the true combatives/personal protection roots is so critical. Otherwise we are kickboxing with kata. Body training, etc. Very admirable. I am trying to get more home dojo equipment once again. Makiwara, etc. Trying to explain to most folks on the internet the difference between SD/Combatives vs. Combat Sports is like trying to teach algebra to an infant. Train hard, train smart, and train for life! All the Best!

[@dennismccann8265]

The Judogi was originally only white. The blue judogi was introduced simply as a way to help referees tell the difference between competitors in a fast-paced match. Anton Geesink first suggested the use of the blue judogi during the Maastricht IJF DC meeting in 1986.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

I had a blue gi when I was a kid - loved that practical colour! It was definitely a good idea to introduce it in tournament. Thank you for sharing this, and for watching and commenting! Always appreciated :)

[@darkknight67584]

Brilliant video👌👍 Thank you for sharing!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed this very old video of mine 🤗 have learned a great deal about editing since then 😅

[@darkknight67584]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Look forward to watching your other, inspiring videos. Great motivation for all budokas! Keep up the good work👍

[@barbarba7]

I loved listening to this. Thanks yoou. Very informative

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for always watching

[@amaashelton]

My instructor was a black belt in Kajukenbo and black was used . I understand that a “race car “ style dogi may be hard for your school to taken seriously, please keep in mind that it’s a tradition of those who practice BJJ to wear it with honor and their skills on a mat should not be laughed at. Thank you for a historical analysis not influenced by mythology.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Absolutely - a very serious BJJ practitioner has also pointed this out to me! The beautiful thing is that so many styles can exist to meet the needs of people all over the world. The white really isn't super practical, and there are days I wish I trained in something more forgiving, but I do like the neatness of it as well. Thank you for the kind words, and for commenting and watching!

[@amaashelton]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Do you know what they would have used to clean the blood out of their uniforms?

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

@@amaashelton That is actually a great question! I would have to do some research to find out. I would imagine salt, cold water and a lot of patting! It is one of the go-to methods I use to get out blood stains. (Scrubbing just sets the stain in, better to pat it.) Do you know? Would love to find out more.

[@amaashelton]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre i do not. I never thought about it till i watched the video . I know they didn’t use clorox 😂. I assumed maybe salt,cold water and sunlight but maybe there is better combo.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

@@amaashelton It is definitely worth investigating! I will find out and report back.

[@vincepeterson2834]

Nice work. Thank you!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the watch and comment 🙏

[@davinaerwee2349]

Love this. Shared with my dojo too

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Yay! Hope it was useful to many :)

[@quach8quach907]

I looked through your merchandise. I have an idea for you. Why not the meaning of the word "dojo"? Dojo 道場 The Place 場 of The Way 道.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, that's so beautiful - it would make a great shirt 👚

[@ruiseartalcorn]

Great stuff! :)

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you so much! We really do appreciate every view and comment 🙇🏻‍♀️

[@oldtimeoutlaw]

I don’t know exactly how true this is, but I heard one time that the Gi was patterned after the underwear that the Samurai wore. Have you ever heard this story? Just putting it out there. Thank you. Peace

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Hello! This is new to me, but there might be some truth to it. There are some pictures of Sensei Miyagi training while wearing what looks like wrap-around underwear - en.dento-karate.com/founders-leaders/chojun-miyagi/ But who knows? So much has been lost to time. This is a fascinating suggestion, I will look into it :) Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment!

[@dr.ruedigerthiesemann202]

This in fine.....and important. Thank you

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, thank you for the kind words! Much appreciated 🤗

[@Quach7]

White has a purity, an honesty, like it has nothing to hide. But Wesley Snipes said: Always bet on black!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Of all the comments on this video, this one made me laugh the hardest! I want to put this on a dojo tshirt 🤣 Thank you for watching and commenting - much appreciated 🙇🏻‍♀️

[@quach8quach907]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Wesley Snipes said: Always bet on black. And he starred in New Jack City. I thought, why not combine them and make a blacksploitation movie called Blackjack, like the cards game also known as Twenty and One. But there is already such a movie in 1978! Put that on a T-shirt. The Jack of Spades and the Ace of Spades. Jack also as in hijack, carjack. I'm going to "jack" you up. Also to increase as in a jack to lift a car. To be strong like such a jack. Getting "jacked". The Jack of Spades and the Ace of Spades = Black Jack. Man, that is baad outfit !!

[@quach8quach907]

Black Jack. You get jacked, so you don't get jacked. You dig Jack? Feel free to use that one. My invention.

[@quach8quach907]

I"m feeling Ebonically today, sheeyt.

[@garyharper4188]

My understanding was that white represented the do form and black the jutsu form.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

I haven't heard that before, but it makes sense! Thank you for taking the time to comment :)

[@angelinadamatta2670]

Thank you sensei!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thank you for watching!

[@kevinfreestone9822]

Indeed, funakoshi only took up the white gi from kano jigaro after insistence by the dai nippon butokukai, for a consistent uniform.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Absolutely true! For good or bad, that's how we got to the famous white gi 🥋

[@kevinfreestone9822]

Have you seen all the edicts from the dai nippon butokukai? Change China to something else (empty) Change jutsu to do Gat a uniform. Have a grading system (yudansha / mudansh) Have a curriculum. Have a way of competition (shobu ippon from kendo) One or two others that.i can't remeber at the moment. Reference is Patrick Mccarthy whe I studied with.him 2003/2004

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

All the hoops the Okinawans had to jump through to 'legitimize' their art, even though it was already whole and beautiful on its own. And half the problems with global karate come from these edicts 🙄 You trained with Hanshi McCarthy?! Much jealousy - it is my dream to train with him someday.

[@kevinfreestone9822]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Yeah I first contacted PM around 1988 when he looked at my karate thesis and was kind enough to reply to my from japan. I then visited him in 2002 and then trained 2003/2004 and 2007. His lectures were great. So much knowledge.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, that's actually really kind of him - I imagine he's had people sending him stuff for many decades. Would love to attend one of his lectures - maybe one day 🤞

[@sirpibble]

If the color of your belt doesnt matter, then the color of your gi matters even less 😉 Its athletic apparel at the end of the day, it exists to be ruined I like a crisp fresh white one almost as much as a broken in rag on the verge of ripping beyond repair

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

True! I myself have a broken-ass gi, with both knees patched and the collar repaired as well. I also have the shiny crisp gi that is for gradings and gashuku. It is important to have both: one for history, one for that sleek, professional look. Sometimes I'm a bit embarrassed when potential new students come in and I'm wearing my 'hobo' gi, and it isn't the place to chat about humility, history etc. I would love to have an array of gi for each day of the week, but I haven't got that kind of cash! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment - always appreciated :)

[@gladius2489]

The original gi was the Japanese underwear, which was white. It’s as simple as that.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Because the karate and training came long before the gi! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@imboard8752]

This vidio is great

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Thanks, Kingston! Love to hear from you, champ!

[@quach8quach907]

I've got another one for you. Put this on a T-shirt. Conceive . . . believe . . . achieve . . . - We stole that one from Luke Rockhold.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Great idea, thank you!

[@WembysTRexArms]

It can't turn a McDojo into a real one! -- 🤣😂🤣🤣😂🤣 Amazing. Good video. I enjoyed it. Thanks.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, thank you so much! It's always nice to see this old video still bringing in some new faces in our comment section. Please forgive this abysmally late response - I am finally in a place where I can wade into the comments and deal with them again :D

[@skeletonfilms3650]

My gi is black lol I’m just a different breed

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

My back-up gi is black, when all the white ones are getting washed! And it is definitely more practical, but frowned upon by my seniors.

[@phillipmarlowe0525]

I remember back in the day one didn’t dare wear anything but white in karate and judo. However you could always spot a Kenpo stylist because they had black gi

[@dragostoma9033]

I still don't like the simple white gi I actually like the nascar design of some gis

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

The great thing about karate (and other martial arts) is that karate doesn't care what you wear, as long as you can move in it! And we should all have the option to buy the gi we like, although every dojo/style/federation does also have rules about what is acceptable. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment - always appreciated :)

[@dragostoma9033]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentrelikewise. I'm the type of person that doesn't like uniforms being forced on you. That's why sometimes i do karate at home in gi pants, the belt and shirtless, it makes me feel more comfortable and focused for some strange reason

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

@@dragostoma9033 That's how they trained in Okinawa for many, many years! Karate always came before the uniform :) We live in a hot climate as well, and we would love to train shirtless/vests and shorts on some days. When doing my own training, I generally wear shorts so that I can make sure my genetic knock-knees are not betraying me. Keep up the training! May your training be strong and safe in 2021

[@aaronwildecomposer]

When people ask me what belt I achieved, and I say "I'm not really interested in belts", they always seem to assume I must be really good, and I'm really not. They want me to teach them, and there I can offer something, because I've studied martial arts deeply through reading and contemplation to a far greater degree than my practical skills. The reason I always refused to do belts (much to the annoyance of my Sehing in Wing Chun and Sensei in Karate before that, is to be a constant reminder to myself that I know nothing. I know nothing about my opponent. Nothing about what he will do. Nothing about what weapons he is carrying. Nothing about how many friends he has waiting. And nothing about how far he is prepared to take this. I know nothing. Secondly, I must become nothing. I must "learn the art of dying". You cannot fight effectively unless you already accept injury and possible death. If you have any hesitation to die, your style will be weak, because you will be worried about your actions and their effects on your opponents state of mind. I must know nothing also in the sense that I must not plan a response. I must go with what is. This might mean picking up an object. It may mean running or using the environment to gain an advantage. It may mean trickery and deception. I cannot limit the possibilities, or I will be trapped in my own system. I must know nothing in that my training must be so good that techniques come naturally and without the need for too much thought. A pak sau is immediately followed by a huen sau or a throat chop not because I planned it, but because my body just feels its way. I must become nothing in the sense that Li Siu Loong talked about becoming water. I must mold to my opponents style. "When he expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand." I also use this idea in chess. I must let my opponent be my environment. If you play chess and think only about your opponent's game, always doing what he least wants you to do, you will play a very good game of chess.

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

All of this is so valuable and true - the best form is no form at all. How do you fight air? Thank you for taking the time to watch and engage so thoughtfully 🙏

[@joereidy5732]

Stop writing am convinced that you are noting and know nothing.

[@vogel4407]

I am Wearing a black Gi but i dont do karate

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

What style do you do? I know some kobudo styles wear black. Thank you for watching and commenting! Much appreciated 🙇🏻‍♀️

[@vogel4407]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre its Not very famous its calles ko gaku shin do pur seinsei Developed himself its a Mix in between many Styles. And i Like to watch good Videos Like yours

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Ah, that's interesting! As long as the style is effective and interesting :) Thank you for the kind words! Much appreciated 🙇🏻‍♀️

[@vogel4407]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre yes i Love to Go to the Training i Just cant get enough! No Problem! Those wird's are the least i can do for such a quality

[@justinfilipovic8939]

are you insulting venerable master ken? how dare you

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

I wish Master Ken would notice me!!! 😭😭😭

[@Loveisnot8789]

But I wear black

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

You know, I have a black gi too! It was given to me as a gift, and I do wear it when my white suits are all getting the stains removed. It definitely looks cooler, and it is much more practical when teaching in non-dojo environments (school halls, outdoors etc) and you want to protect the white gi. But I know I always feel a bit like an imposter when I wear it - its entirely personal. Thank you so much for watching and commenting - much appreciated!

[@Loveisnot8789]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre oo

[@sapanawadhwani]

Omg×100000000⁰000000000000

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

I think this is one of my favourite comments ever on this video :D

[@Serifamet-mj2hd]

Шотокане

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Goju Ryu! Love to hear from our comrades in other styles

[@ricardoyamada6409]

Lady, you want to speak about YOUR GI, it's ok. But let our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi, out of your video. We don't spent time speaking about yours, so don't speak about ours. OK?

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Hey, fair enough! Still appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment (and watching far enough to see all the gi discussions). Keep rolling! May your training be strong and safe this year

[@ricardoyamada6409]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre tank you for your kind words. May your future be filled with happyness and joy. Greetings from Brasil!🤗🥋🇧🇷🇬🇧

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

Love to hear from Brazilians! Visited your beautiful country in 2004 - amazing food, wonderful people, had so much fun! Honored to have a real BJJ artist comment here 🙇🏻‍♀️

[@ricardoyamada6409]

@@GojuRyuKarateCentre glad to hear about. The doors of my country, are always open, to you. Perhaps one day, I'll visit your country, the birthplace of another martial art I love: modern boxing!

[@GojuRyuKarateCentre]

@@ricardoyamada6409 We would love for you to visit our beautiful country! And we would be honoured to take you on a tour of the memorials to our famous boxers as well. At the end of the day, the martial arts can bring us all together when little else does :)