How to choose a karate gi: size chart, shrinkage and club rules

A gi is the one piece of equipment you wear at every single session, get graded in, and are judged on the moment you step into line. It is also the one most people size incorrectly, for a reason nobody mentions in the shop: cotton shrinks.

Karate gi size chart

Karate gis are sized by the wearer's height, not by clothing size. The Nova Karate Gi comes in twelve sizes, and each one is named by its number and the height in centimetres it is cut for. Measure barefoot against a wall, then find that height below.

Between two sizes, or solidly built for your height? Take the larger size. Other makes use the same numbers but not always the same heights, so if you are replacing a gi from another brand, go by your height rather than the old label. Our size guides page has every sport on one page.

Buy it long, because it will not stay long

A new gi that fits perfectly is a gi that will be too short within a month. Cotton shrinks with washing — most of it in the first few washes, and more if you wash hot.

How much? A pure cotton gi can lose around 4 to 8% of its length, most of it in the first few washes; cotton-polyester blends move less. On a 100 cm trouser leg, 5% is 5 cm: the difference between a trouser that clears the ankle and one that finishes halfway up the shin.

Buy with room. A jacket sleeve that sits a little past where you want it, and trousers a little long, will settle into the right place. Buy one that fits on day one and you will be replacing it by the next grading.

Where it should sit once settled

Most dojos want the jacket sleeve to finish partway down the forearm — not at the wrist, not at the elbow. The trouser should clear the ankle: long enough to look correct standing in line, short enough that you are not standing on your own hem when you move.

If your club has a written rule on cut or fabric weight, that rule beats any general advice. Tell us what it says and we will match it rather than guess.

Kids grow faster than cotton shrinks

For a child, allow more room than feels sensible. A gi bought to fit exactly will be outgrown and shrunk out of at the same time. Roll the sleeves for a few months rather than buying twice in a year.

A Quality or B Quality

The Nova Karate Gi comes in two qualities, with the same cut and the same twelve sizes:

• A Quality: our standard club gi. Heavier cloth, fuller through the jacket, and it holds its shape through repeated washing. The one to buy for regular training and gradings.
• B Quality: a lighter, cheaper gi. Good for a beginner, or for a child who will outgrow it within the year.

Kata or kumite gi

Competitors often own two. A kata gi is cut from heavier cotton that holds its shape and makes the sleeves snap on each technique. A kumite gi is lighter and more breathable, so it does not slow you down or overheat you in a bout. For club training and gradings, one plain white gi does both jobs.

At WKF-sanctioned events, only gi brands and models on the WKF approved list may be worn. For club and national events in Mauritius, ask your federation which rule applies before you buy for a competition.

The belt is separate, and that is deliberate

Belts are sold on their own, not with the uniform. That means a grading costs you a belt, not a whole new gi — which is the sensible way round, given how often a student grades compared to how often a uniform actually wears out.

Looking after it

Wash cool and hang to dry. Heat is what drives shrinkage, and a gi that has been through a hot machine and a dryer will have moved more in one wash than in six months of normal use. Cool washing also keeps a white gi white for longer.

Sparring gear is a separate question

Most Mauritian clubs ask for mitts, shin and foot guards and a mouth guard before they will let you spar, but the exact requirement differs by federation. Ask your sensei what your club needs before buying anything — it is a short conversation that saves buying the wrong thing twice.

See the karate gi range, or the full karate range for belts, mitts and guards. We are at 34 Remy Ollier Street, Port Louis — message us on WhatsApp with a height and we will advise.