Description
The new “Dojo” brand from Meijin is a competitively priced uniform in 100% cotton that is by no means “cheap” when it comes to quality. Famous for their fit and comfort, each Meijin uniform design is identical except for the fabric used. In other words, if you wear a size 5 Tropical, a size 5 Pro will fit you just as well.
•Optional FREE white belt included with every Dojo uniform if requested when ordering.
•Classic Meijin quality, cut, and fit that is so much appreciated by experienced karateka.
•Same underarm gussets with embroidered ventilation holes as all other Meijin Uniforms.
•100% cotton comfort, easy wash and wear twill.
•Sizes 0, 1 & 2 with high quality elasticated waistband, larger sizes have traditional draw strings with three full loops.
•FREE JAPANESE EMBROIDERY. We will custom embroider your name or style* FREE. (Subject to availability)
Custom embroidered belts, uniforms and garments from which we have removed the manufacturer’s label at the customer’s request, are not returnable.
Custom Belt Embroidery
Please place your order for the type, size and color of belt that you would like in your shopping cart. Then got to our embroidery designs section and chose your embroidery.A little while after that please call us on 818-889-3856 and discuss your order with one of our embroiderers who, by that time, may have questions for you. Every custom embroidered belt is uniquely yours so we want to make sure that we can create exactly what you envisaged!
Colored Belt History
According to the Kodokan Judo Academy in Tokyo, the history of coloured belts for different grades or ability levels was started by Jigoro Kano (1860 -1938) Sensei, the founder of modern Judo.
Kano Sensei, in his youth, studied Kito-Ryu jujutsu. Later, by absorbing techniques from other schools such as Yoshin Ryu, he created Judo (柔道) as a physical activity for all people, from Yawara, the ancient samurai unarmed method of violently subduing an enemy.
When he was a student, instructors wore strong jackets decorated with diagonal lines of stitching similar to a modern kendo jacket. The colour and sometimes the degree of elaboration of the stitching would distinguish the instructors rank and experience.
Kano’ss idea was to create an art that everyone could practise regardless of income, social status, or gender. Buying expensive new training jackets at every promotion was beyond many people, so he substituted a coloured belt to denote the wearers ability.
Originally just white, brown and black were used; other colours were added as student numbers increased exponentially with the introduction of Judo into the Japanese educational system.
In the early 1920s, when Gichin Funakoshi started introducing Okinawan karate into Japan, Kano Sensei supported him by giving Funakoshi access to the upper levels of Japanese society. Funakoshi adopted both the training clothes of Judo and their coloured belt rank system, thinking, perhaps, that this would allow him to benefit from the prestige of Judo and its founder, who by this time was heavily involved in the Japanese Olympic movement. Time has proved him correct!
