buying an expensive GI as a white belt

Shojiko · Orange Belt

I've noticed that several of my teammates (blue belt and above) wear Shoyoroll (which tend to be on the pricey end)

One day, a much higher belted teammate made a joke about a white belt who rolls and wears a Shoyoroll for class.

Of course, anyone can dress however they like, but I believe there is a stigma associated with a newbie wearing expensive gis to train, especially among the more experienced belts.

Zaine · Black Belt

Weird. One of the first thing I tell people who seem to be intent on sticking around is to buy a good quality gi (I don't recommend a brand per say) because it will last them longer and feel better (not to mention give good snap). Maybe there's a belief here that higher quality gis are for upper ranks? Or perhaps they think the white belt a fool for dropping over $100 on a gi that they might not use do to turnover. Who know. I tend to not care very much what anyone wears, as long as they're in uniform.
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Zaine · Black Belt

I just took a peek at the prices of Shoyoroll on their website. It's very likely that the disparaging tone is coming from spending $250 on a gi for a hobby that you've only just started.
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Martial arts training is 30% classroom training, 70% solo training.

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DarthPenguin · Green Belt

Tbh different academies can be different. My current one no-one cares what people wear as long as they train hard : some guys come in camo gi's etc.

Personally i have always had a rule that i won't wear a black gi until i get my purple belt, but that is more as an internal motivator as i think they look great!

I think if people are training enough then no-one will make any comments. They might comment on the guy who comes along occasionally once a week in the new Shoyoroll but the guy who is there 4 times a week in the same they won't bother about.

If you are considering a Shoyoroll i still use my Americana that i got years ago and it is still probably the most comfortable gi i use. I usually vary between that and an Atam Mundial i got a decade ago. Not sure what the shoyoroll quality is like now though - i always heard that the quality varied batch to batch.

Nidan Melbourne · KF Sempai

I have only seen a handful of White Belts go out and buy an expensive Gi over the years.

Although i've trained for 20 years, and i've only bought 1 expensive Gi (Seishin) over the years. But can't bear to go buy another any time soon. That might just be my hip pocket talking and not wanting to dish out over $200 on a uniform that i'd have to get customised anyway.

sensei8 · KF Sensei

I try to discourage beginning students from purchasing an expensive gi until they're sure that training in the MA is what they want to do long term. I highly encourage beginning students in putting their hard-earned money in a Student Uniform, several nationwide MA supply companies offer them for purchase at a great low price.

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Nidan Melbourne · KF Sempai

Zaine · Black Belt

That's a very good policy. A lot of dojos (mine included) will give you your first gi after you've made your first tuition payment. No need to push $100+ dollars on a fancier gi right out of the gate.
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