5 Kung Fu or Tai Chi Classes with a T-Shirt at Dennis Brown Shaolin Wu-Shu Training Center (Up to 78% Off)
Appointment required. Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as gift(s). May be repurchased every 90 days. Valid only for option purchased.
Kung-fu lessons develop core strength and flexibility; Tai Chi offers a meditative, relaxing way to exercise
The Deal
- $19.50 for five Kung Fu or Tai Chi classes and a t-shirt ($90 value)
Gi: The Duds of Discipline
People often joke that the robes worn by martial-arts practitioners resemble pajamas, but that may not be such a far cry. Read on to learn more about this ancient garb.
Though its proper name might not spring to mind, the customary outfit of a dojo sensei, commonly known as a gi, is eminently recognizable: a jacket called an uwagi tied by a belt (or obi) over a pair of short pants (shitakabi), the whole ensemble draped loosely to allow for swift and acrobatic movements. The particular materials used to make the gi follow the needs of specific martial-arts styles. A karate master who relies on quick strikes and powerful blows, for example, will likely don a lighter gi, whereas a judo fighter might enlist heavier, more durable fabric to endure the endless grapples and throws. In Japan, the catchall term for the customary robe isn’t gi but rather keikogi—keiko translates to “practice.” The name might also take on a prefix according to its intended discipline: judogi, karategi, aikidogi, and so forth.
Despite being a symbol of martial-arts culture for centuries, the gi’s origin remains unclear. Some speculate that the airy uniform was simply designed to accommodate the lifestyle of the Okinawan farmers and fishermen who invented it. Others contend that, in light of a 13th-century imperial ban on the possession of weapons, warriors trained at night to avoid detection. In a pinch, the robes could pass for sleepwear, concealing their transgression.
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