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yargk
White Belt
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Location: sf bay area
Styles: Shotokan
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 Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject: how much do cold washed belts shrink |
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How much do belts shrink in cold washing and warm workout sweats?
I have a Ki international brown belt which I can't remember how it fit new. Recently, I measured it to be 265 cm. However, it's a size 5 and should be 286 cm. It's been cold washed perhaps twice and subjected to warm sweat a couple times a week for a little over a month.
So is it a super shrunk size 5 (shrunk by 21 cm) or a mislabeled size 4 (size 4 should be 266 cm)?
(I just ask because someday I'd like to earn and buy a darker belt and need to know if I should get a longer one to account for shrinkage)
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Keith |
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Ti
Blue Belt
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 257
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| Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Haven;t had a belt shrink on me yet.
I wash in cold and hang dry indoors out of the sun by a window. |
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Sokusen
Yellow Belt
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 61
Styles: Uechi-ryu
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I was told that, by traditional standards, you should never wash your belt. |
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ninjanurse
KF Sensei
Joined: 13 Feb 2003
Posts: 4714
Location: Upstate NY
Styles: TKD;Shotokan;JuJitsu;Tai Ji
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:50 am Post subject: |
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I always tell my students to wash their new belt ONCE-before they wear it. Gets the extra dye out so it does not stain the white uniform when they sweat.
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"A Black Belt is only the beginning."
Heidi-A student of the arts
Tae Kwon Do,Shotokan,JuJitsu,TaiJi |
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yargk
White Belt
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Location: sf bay area
Styles: Shotokan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| Sokusen wrote: |
| I was told that, by traditional standards, you should never wash your belt. |
Tokaido Japan claims this is a western invention. I think I've read the same thing elsewhere too.
" I heard that one should never wash a belt. Is this true?
No. If your belt is dirty then you should put it into a "sweater bag" and wash it in cold water. As with the uniform, hang it out to line dry immediately after washing.
I heard that one should never let a belt touch the ground. Is this true?
This rumor seems to have been created outside of Japan, probably in the USA, where many people claim that their nation's flag should never touch the ground or then must be discarded. Although one should try to keep the belt clean and all articles neat, if a belt touches the ground, it is not considered such a bad thing, per se. Throwing a belt around disrespectfully, however, is definitely looked down upon by traditionalists."
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Keith |
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rogue2257
Orange Belt
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 121
Location: Akron, OH
Styles: Kwanmukan, Shotokan Karate, Kobudo
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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I've definitely never washed a belt myself. We actually tell students not to.
| yargk wrote: |
| Although one should try to keep the belt clean and all articles neat, if a belt touches the ground, it is not considered such a bad thing, per se. Throwing a belt around disrespectfully, however, is definitely looked down upon by traditionalists." |
In my school, there has never been an explicit rule stating that the belt should never touch the ground, but its always been looked down upon a bit. Myself, I've always seen the belt as representative of everything that I've accomplished in karate, and I treat it as such. I can't say everyone feels the same way, of course, I'm sure that to some people its just a colored piece of fabric, but I for one feel it ought to be treated with respect. |
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yargk
White Belt
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Location: sf bay area
Styles: Shotokan
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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I agree, to each his/her own. Personally, a belt means much more to me than a colored piece of fabric and so I wouldn't treat it disrespectfully. I just prefer to wash every so often.
I think one should treat their belts with as much respect as their diplomas, whatever that means to the individual.
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Keith |
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bushido_man96
KF Sensei
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 18754
Location: Hays, KS
Styles: Taekwondo, Combat Hapkido, Aikido, and I research Medieval Combat
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:28 am Post subject: |
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Basically, instead of being beholden to some philosophical ideals as to what the belt might mean or represent, I just try to think of it as another one of my possessions, and try to treat it as such. I don't try to ruin many of my own things on purpose, but I don't revere a lot of my possessions, either. The belt is the same to me.
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Success is where preparation meets opportunity.
www.chiefswarpath.com |
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rogue2257
Orange Belt
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Posts: 121
Location: Akron, OH
Styles: Kwanmukan, Shotokan Karate, Kobudo
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| yargk wrote: |
| I think one should treat their belts with as much respect as their diplomas, whatever that means to the individual. |
That's sort of the point I was trying to get at, it'll mean different things to different people, but for me its very important. |
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sensei8
Black Belt
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 1995
Styles: Shindokan Karate-Do [Shuri-te/Okinawa-te based]
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I've never thought about the belt being able to shrink. But, why not, after all, it's made out of some type of fabric(s).
That'll be my new excuse...I'm not getting big in the tummy area; my belt shrunk. Go figure!
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'I' do not hit, but, 'it' hits all by itself!!!
Proof is on the floor!!!
The only easy day was yesterday!!! |
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on the post.
