karategi

Karategi is the traditional uniform worn for karate training and competition. It comprises a heavy cotton jacket (uwagi), loose trousers (zubon), and a belt (obi). The jacket is typically a wraparound design with reinforced seams, and the pants are long and roomy to allow a full range of motion. The belt not only keeps the uniform closed but also denotes rank. Most karategi are white, though some schools or organizations permit other colors, particularly for competition or brand identity. Uniforms may feature patches or embroidery representing a dojo, team, or sponsor.

Origins trace to Okinawa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where karate schools began using practical workwear for training. The modern karategi was popularized and standardized in Japan as karate spread nationwide in the 1920s and 1930s, with masters such as Gichin Funakoshi contributing to its design and nomenclature. The garment is sometimes called dogi or keikogi in broader Japanese martial-arts usage, but karategi is specific to karate.

It is worn during drills, sparring, and competition. The belt system (obi) expresses the practitioner’s rank and experience; color sequences vary by organization. The gi is designed to withstand grabbing and throwing, and many are made with double-stitched seams and extra reinforcement at the knees and shoulders. Care instructions typically include washing in cold or warm water and air drying to prevent shrinkage.