Origins of the Judogi

**BFGalbraith** · Posted On: 5/29/2006 8:15pm

Originally Posted by LORD ASIA

Koryu JJ was practiced in traditional kimono so its not stretch to want to design a uniform very similar to what was already used.

Yeah, what's a whole lot more likely is there is a trend in grappling systems to sometimes train to grapple when clothed. Obviously there are numerous grappling systems that train more clothes than others (grappling with more and less clothes can both be effective.) What's interesting to me about the Cornish question is that we can ask the question with a straight face because of Kano's "Olympic" influence - it makes me wonder if any of Judo's techniques are from "outside of Japan." (I suspect that the techniques of Judo are like the "technique of training with clothes on," they work so they are going to show up some times in other martial arts as well.)

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 5/30/2006 1:35am

Originally Posted by BFGalbraith

it makes me wonder if any of Judo's techniques are from "outside of Japan."

IIRC many of the 'pickup' style techniques were unashamedly nicked from Western wrestling.

**NeilG** · Posted On: 5/30/2006 10:49am

Originally Posted by Fitz

Yeah, the Judogi top is basically a Kendo style Keiogi undyed and without the ties.

I'd always heard Kano took the uwagi design from firefighter's clothing, as it was the only thing he could find tough enough to withstand the training.

Kendo keikogi compared to judogi are typically longer, cut narrower, have a single back vent rather than double side vents, have a lighter and closer fitting collar, have ties to keep closed and are lighter in general.