“That being said, there are times where a traditional uniform is not required, even impractical.”
Being a traditional martial artist first, I am all about uniform. There’s something very special about being unified in clothing, spirit, and movement, that is so satisfying to be a part of. That being said, there are times where a traditional uniform is not required, even impractical. What are the best types of clothes to casually train in? What are some things to look for in buying articles of clothing for everyday wear that could also be used for training?
We’ve all been there, trying to show off a kick in some jeans or shorts and you feel a thread or two (or ten) pop. Now you’re looking like Spongebob when he ripped his pants instead of when he was playing at the Bubble Bowl, not cool. The key element to a pair of legwear that’s a martial artist’s best friend is: the reinforced crotch. *Pause for laugh*. This is essential for your training needs, as it allows you to have full range of kicking motion identical to what you have in your dobahk pants. It basically means that instead of the seam of the pants meeting in between your legs, it meets with an extra piece of material that allows you to kick to the moon. There are jeans, shorts, even suits that incorporate this stitch into their products so you can kick without worrying about a rip.
A personal favorite over here at UM is the ProForce DoBahk Shorts. These shorts are comfortable, have pockets, incorporate the reinforced crotch, all while looking like regular athletic shorts! (Proforce Demo Shorts)
I am in no way telling you to show up to the dojo in these shorts instead of your hakima, so your sensei can scold you and then somehow find me too. But there is a time and place for casual martial arts wear, which begs the question: is this just another type of uniform?
