Gi

Gi is a term with several distinct meanings in English and Japanese. In martial arts, a gi is the uniform worn by practitioners of judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate, aikido and related disciplines. It generally consists of a heavy cotton jacket (uwagi), reinforced pants, and a belt that signifies the wearer’s rank. The jacket is designed to withstand grip and pulling, and the gi comes in single- or double-weave fabrics of varying weight. Proper care, including washing after training and keeping the belt tied in a customary knot, is typically required.

In a military context, GI refers to government issue or general issue of equipment and supplies issued to U.S. Army personnel and, by extension, to soldiers themselves. The term originated in World War II and became a widely used nickname for American servicemen (GIs). It also appears in product and media names such as GI Joe.

In medicine, GI is an abbreviation for the gastrointestinal tract, the organ system that digests and absorbs food, extending from the mouth to the anus. The term appears in clinical shorthand, such as GI symptoms, GI bleeding, or GI motility discussions.

In Japanese, gi means clothing and is the root term for the martial arts uniform; in compounds it appears in names like keikogi (practice wear) or dogi (training clothing).

The term Gi thus has multiple, context-dependent meanings: it can denote the training uniform for certain martial arts, a military shorthand for issued gear and personnel, or a medical abbreviation for the digestive system.