$12 for Unlimited Martial-Arts Classes with Uniform at National Karate ($150 Value)
Appointment required, same day appointments accepted. Must sign waiver. Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as gift(s). Valid only for option purchased. All goods or services must be used by the same person. Merchant's standard cancellation policy applies (any fees not to exceed voucher price).
The instructor is a fifth-degree black belt
The Deal
- $12 for one month of unlimited martial-arts classes with a uniform ($150 value)
- Click here to see the schedule.
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 these ancient garbs.
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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