The Complete Handbook of Martial Arts Uniforms
A practical reference for buyers, sellers, and wearers of gi, dobok, and training uniforms
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
A spec-by-spec reference for choosing, maintaining, and selling martial arts uniforms — from gi weave to supplier economics.
About this book
Whether you run a school, stock a pro shop, compete regularly, or train five days a week, the uniform you wear is a working tool with measurable trade-offs. This handbook strips away brand hype and walks through the actual specifications: cotton vs. poly-cotton blends, single vs. double weave, weight in ounces per square yard, reinforcement stitching, and how each choice affects durability, comfort, and competition legality.
The middle sections give you a clear decision process for your specific situation — from a child's first class to a full-time instructor who needs multiple uniforms per week. The final sections cover practical maintenance, troubleshooting common failures (ripped seams, mildew, shrinking), and the business side: how to evaluate suppliers, set up private labeling, run a rental program, or offer alteration services. This is a reference you will return to whenever you buy, sell, or repair a uniform.
Reader Reviews
Emily Smith
★★★★★Really useful, but I wish there were photos. The chapter on fabric weights and weave types is the clearest explanation I've found anywhere, and the business chapter actually convinced me to start offering uniforms at my dojo. That said, without images it was hard to visualize some of the reinforcement stitching examples. Still, a genuinely practical reference that sits on my desk now, not on my shelf.
Barbara Miller
★★★★★Finally a book that treats a gi like the piece of equipment it is. I've been training for 14 years and this answered questions I didn't even know I had — like why my summer gi breaks down faster and how the weave density affects grip for judo. The maintenance chapter alone saved me from ruining two brand-new gis. It's thorough, honest, and clearly written by someone who actually knows the garment trade. I've already recommended it to the other black belts in my club.
Patricia Jones
★★★★★It's solid and well-organized, but I was hoping for more detail on specific brand comparisons. The book talks about how to evaluate suppliers and what to look for, which is fine, but I wanted actual side-by-side recommendations for budget vs premium brands at different weight classes. The sizing guide is good and I used that successfully, but I still felt I had to go back to forums for brand-specific advice. Decent foundation, just not as definitive as I hoped.
Gary Harris
★★★★★Purchased this for my school's resale operation. The first half is great for the basics — my assistant manager now uses the spec tables when ordering stock. But as a business owner I found the chapter on suppliers underwhelming; it's more about theory than actionable lists or import/export specifics. For the price, I expected more depth on the B2B side. It's a well-written reference, just not the business playbook I wanted.
Anna Anderson
★★★★★I bought this before outfitting my kids for taekwondo and it was worth it for the fitting and shrinking advice alone. I had no idea pre-shrunk cotton behaves differently than the sanjiao twill we ended up getting. The maintenance instructions are practical and the troubleshooting section is honest — my son's first uniform did rip at the collar seam and the book explains exactly why that happens and how to repair it. A slightly dry read in places, but it delivers exactly what it promises.