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[harukaze]

As a starving student and a heavy sweater , I've often found myself thinking about investing in a few more economy karate gi to alternate during consecutive days of practice. However, my one light weight (~8 oz.) karategi is pretty gross feeling in the way it binds to my body when I'm in the thick of training. Plus, I need something heavy duty enough to stand up to throwing and Sabaki techniques. Therefore, my thoughts have turned to quality heavyweight dogi that cost less than $100 out-the-door (that's with shipping and alteration of the sleeves if necessary).


I was wondering if anyone has had experience with the following brands and models:

1.) Yamato Sakura Heavy Weight: appealing due to price and available for local pickup (can save on shipping)
http://californiasandp.com/yamato-sa...ht-canvas.html

2.) Piranha Heavy Weight 4/5 Sleeve: appealing due to 4/5 sleeves (no need for alteration) and available for local pickup (can save on shipping)
http://www.piranhagear.com/index.php...eve-white.html

3.) Meijin Pro: Price is not bad (especially with current discount), seems to have pretty innovative features, free embroidery (at least for now)
http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Produc...Meijin_Pro.htm

4.) Meijin Champ: Price is nice (with a discount to boot), seems to have much of the same features as the Pro, free embroidery (at least for now)
http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Produc...ijin_champ.htm

5.) Body Maker KWD: Price is nice, no need for alteration, can possibly bug friend who lives in Japan to pick it up for me and bring it back with her when she comes to visit in the winter
http://www.bodymaker.jp/shopping/scd1002/KWD/

6.) Body Maker KW: Price is nice, no need for alteration, again can possibly bug friend who lives in Japan to pick it up for me and bring it back with her when she comes to visit in the winter
http://www.bodymaker.jp/shopping/scd1002/KW/

7.) Fighting Road Junpaku Full Contact: same reasoning as for Body Maker KW
http://www.fightingroad.co.jp/top/de...sp?scode=F-i02

8.) Lotus Club Junpaku: same reasoning as for Body Maker KW
http://www.lotus-club.com/wear/0001000_2800/index.html

9.) Martial World Full Contact: same reasoning as for Body Maker KW
http://www.mwjapan.jp/MW/ProductDeta...D=329&gCD=KU15

10.) Martial World High Grade Full Contact: a little steep but otherwise same reasoning as for Body Maker KW
http://www.mwjapan.jp/MW/ProductDeta...D=329&gCD=KU-9

Thank you all for the taking the time to help! Osu!

P.S. Although I know of and am definitely interested in Kelvin's Kyokusen Dogi, unfortunately it is a little out of my price range at the moment when shipping is factored into the out-the-door price.
P.P.S. I currently own the Enshin Kaikan standard issue KI International Heavyweight and the aforementioned flimsy lightweight Ronin Brand dogi (received it as a gift some time ago, don't think it'll last much longer haha).

[powerof0ne]

Meijin is alright for the price but not a big fan of the cut of them but for the price not bad.

I know Dent has a lot more experience with Meijin then I do but he's on vacation and not sure how often he'll be checking in on here.

I didn't even know Piranha gear made karate dogi, I remember them as a BJJ kimono maker, interesting.

The rest of them I have no experience with but I have heard some on here talk about lotus club dogi.
Osu!

[Mixmasta01]

Sorry man, I have no experience with those brands. I'm a heavy sweater also and have to wear lightweights in the summer and heavys in the winter depending on the climate I am in (currently doing that thanks to almost complete uniform saturation after 30 minutes in this area). But I would like to know if I can have this sent me here: http://www.lotus-club.com/training/s...o_w/index.html

I've been told that I would have to have a membership with Lotus or order it through the dojo to receive it but would like to have it for my own of course. Can you or anyone else validate the claim?

[harukaze]

powerof0ne: Thanks for the info! What exactly did you dislike about the cut of the Meijin? And yeah, the Piranha came as a bit of a surprise haha -- a BJJ friend of mine that owns a BJJ kimono mentioned the karategi to me and told me to take a gander. ...Wonder when Dent'll be back?

Mixmasta01: Good ol' Ryukyu summers, eh? Just out of curiosity, what brand and model lightweight dogi do you wear in the summer? I seem to have a binding problem with my cheapo Ronin when the sweat starts pouring haha. And doesn't the Super Safe absolutely kill you in hot weather? As for the sabukuro, it looks like anyone can order it when I go through the motions for an order -- perhaps what people meant by a "membership" with Lotus Club was to have an account with them, which seems like it will be automatically set up by them via the order form. Not 100% sure on that, but it's what it looks like online.

[Mixmasta01]

I have a Ronin 16oz duck and black for when I did Kuk Sool Won and that was strictly WINTER wear! It went from a binding problem to straight jacket! For the summers here I wear Kevin's Kyokusen (non-kyokushin) and in the winter it is either the one from Daido Juku or the Ronin Shiai. So far I've had the Ronins for 3-4 years and they held up quite nicely. I've given Arawaza, GTMA, Kamikaze, and Proforce a try and still haven't really found one I absolutely have to have. Been meaning to give Tokaido/Shureido a shot once I get the funds.

Gotta see about ordering the Sabukuro and having it delivered to someone off-base. The weather itself is absolutely draining after an hour of dedicated training. The climate here has changed (for the worst heat and humidity wise) since I was here six years ago and after being here for two years I have to re-aclimate and it is a very slow progression.

[harukaze]

WOW, 16 oz.!
And best of luck with the sabukuro!

[harukaze]

So, any other thoughts from my fellow K4L'ers?

[ksan]

Check out how much an isami would set you back and compare the price that one is above the 100 euro mark you set, and then compare the quality difference. I go with isami everytime. Are they expensive... yes... are they worth it,... yes... my first isami is almost 10 years old and its still going strong... can anyone say that of any other brand of dogi?

[Dent]

Osu!

Just peeking in while on vacation. (Colorado Springs isn't the same without you here, PowerofOne. I think the local beer economy is suffering. )

I wouldn't recommend Meijin. They feel great out the bag, but they shrink like crazy, stain like it's a benefit, and wear out faster than they should.

Depending on how much you want your Dogi to cross over, the best cheap alternative for me is the lightweight Judo Dogi. Sure, you lose pounds in the training, but they take good Karate abuse. (IE: Light throws and lots of pulls and twists.)

Osu!

[harukaze]

ksan: What you say makes sense, but the most economical Isami karate gi, the K350, still costs about $125 out-the-door for me when shipping is taken into account, and that's more than $40 over the Piranha (I do not need to pay shipping as I can pick it up locally) and about $70 more than the Yamato Sakura (again, no shipping fee). I mentioned the sub-$100 OTD in case anyone had any other suggestions for dogi that they liked in that price range; otherwise, all the models that I am looking into are somewhat less than $100. As much as I'd love to own an Isami, I just can't afford it right now. Same situation with Kelvin's karategi. But thank you for your advice nonetheless!

Dent: Thank you very much for chiming in on the Meijin (and sorry to bother you while you're on vacation hehe). I thought the praises on their website looked a little too good to be true. I've tried training in my judogi but I found it to be a bit too cumbersome when going full tilt while striking. Maybe a single weave may be more conducive, I'll look into it. Thanks!

[yoshukai]

From what I have heard, Lotus Club is a very good dogi. I think they are around $50-$70 U.S. Having someone bring it to you from Japan would be awesome. I only have experience with Isami, KI, Kyokusen, and tigerclaw(united states brand) The Isami gi is the best in my opinion, but like you, I have a hard time justifying the shipping cost. The KI gi was not very expensive, but tended to shrink very badly. If I were you, I would try the lotus club, bodymaker, fighting road, or martial world full contact karate gi and have your friend bring it over from Japan. My two favorite brands happen to be Isami and Kyokusen.

[harukaze]

yoshukai: Thanks for the heads-up regarding the Lotus Club dogi! I have a KI International heavyweight model as well, and I'm a little underwhelmed by it despite the fact that it's the organizational standard issue at the moment (and as such I had to painfully pay double the MSRP for it -- perhaps a topic for another thread ). And thanks for pointing out the Martial World Full Contact Karategi, the standard model seems pretty reasonably priced and the high grade one could be worth it if it's a quality item. So I guess I'll have to think about which brand I want my friend to bring from Japan -- if I ask for more than one, I think she's going to have a fit about luggage space!

[yoshukai]

My standard issue Yoshukai gi from Japan is from Martial World. It is full contact cut, but I still had a small issue with shrinkage, only from the pants, though. If I were you, I would give the Lotus Club gi a try. I have contacted them about shipping to the U.S., but to no avail. The next time my wife or myself go back to japan, I will definitely order one and bring it back with me to the U.S.

[harukaze]

Ah, how lucky that your Yoshukai standard issue is a Martial World Full Contact. I'm envious to say the least.
Is it the "High Grade" model made of No. 11 Cotton Canvas?

[yoshukai]

Harukaze, let me say that the martial world full contact gi is the standard issue in Japan. My wife just so happens to be a Japanese Yoshukai karateka. She is the one who got me the Martial World Yoshukai gi. Our standard issue gi in the United States is Tiger Claw brand. It is by far the worst gi I have ever worn. I have to go out on my own to find a good full contact gi and have it shipped here from overseas.

[harukaze]

AH, so you would be in the same boat that I am in were it not for your wife! And isn't that what a good spouse is for?
Thanks for the clarification and the added note that the Tiger Claw is terrible. I'll keep that in mind.

Dent and Yoshukai, please have some good rep as a token of appreciation for the dogi info! Osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

Thanks, Harukaze!

Osu!

[yoshukai]

Thanks for the rep harukaze. Just trying to look out for my fellow k4lifer.

Osu!

[powerof0ne]

Originally Posted by harukaze

powerof0ne: Thanks for the info! What exactly did you dislike about the cut of the Meijin?

I've never liked the cut of pants on Meijin, KI, Juka, Tokaido, Toyo, and Shureido. However, I have loved the feel of the material on the latter three mentioned.

I'm not one for 'traditional' cut. Even before I ever wore a 'full contact cut' pants I always felt hampered by traditional cut dogi pants when it came to kicking.


I have no complaints about the tops of Meijin but not too impressed by the embroidery but it's very reasonably priced.
Osu!

[harukaze]

Thanks powerof0ne! Osu!