How to Clean a Karate GI

A karate gi (uniform) is composed of a kimona-style jacket, a loose-fitting pair of pants and a belt. Karate training can be grueling, and after an intense session of kicking and punching, your gi may be drenched with sweat. Out of respect for your dojo (karate school) and your fellow students, it is important to begin each training session with a clean gi.

Instructions

    • 1

      Set the belt aside. Traditional karate practitioners do not believe in washing the belt unless it has come in contact with a vile substance. According to legend, ancient martial artists believed that one's karate knowledge was encrusted in one's belt, and that to wash the belt was to wash away the knowledge. In a more practical sense, unless your belt has gotten splattered with mud or blood (both of which are rare), you need not wash it.

    • 2

      Presoak the jacket and pants. Fill your washing machine with water and add mild detergent. When the detergent has dissolved, drop your gi into the water and let it soak for 20 minutes.

    • 3

      Add a few other white items to wash along with your gi. Towels and T-shirts will reduce the amount of friction on your gi when it goes through the wash cycle and keep its stitching strong.

    • 4

      Turn on your washing machine and allow it to complete its cycle.

    • 5

      Remove your gi from the washing machine as soon as the cycle ends. Do not let the wet gi sit in the machine for a significant amount of time afterward.

    • 6

      Hang your jacket and pants on a line and allow them to air dry. Mechanical dryers are not recommended when the gi is still heavy with water, but they can be used after the material has dried out for a while.