Jiu Jitsu Gis And Kimonos | Are Gi And Kimono Manufacturers Missing The Boat On Sizes For Thin People?

I have been doing some online shopping for a new gi or kimono. As stated in a previous blog post, it is not always a fun process. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that most gi and kimono manufacturers don’t cater or market to thin people. In fact, if you are thin, lanky – or even worse, both, you are going to have an extremely hard time finding a gi or kimono that fits. Period.

I consider myself skilled in Internet research. I’m persistent and usually successful when motivated to find something – a product, a video, a web page – so I am surprised I am unable to find more gi and kimono brands that have sizes more appropriate for trim people.

To illustrate my point, here are some examples of gi sizes from some random brands and sellers I found online. Consider that I’m 5’11 and just over 160 lbs; which size of this “Keiko Raca Gi Kimono Limited” would I buy? Here are the sizes in the said link:

Here’s another example – the 2010 Gameness Pearl White Single Weave Gi. The size chart:

What about the Atama Mundial Model #9?:

Most people I’ve communicated with – even people from gi and kimono sellers – generally recommend I buy size A3 and shrink it down. Sometimes this can work, but it means taking a gamble that I can fix the gi without over shrinking it. If I can’t get the size down or it shrinks too much, I’m out $150. No sellers I am aware of will return a washed gi.

Gi Sizes, Body Sizes, And Body Mass Index

It’s clear that gi and kimono manufacturers target people larger than me. But how much larger? To answer this question I’ll reference a concept known as “BMI” – body mass index – that assigns a numeric value to a person’s weight in relation to his or her height. It is considered overly simplistic and is not an indicator of health, but at least it’s something for thinking about how much people weigh. For example, in sports like Jiu Jitsu, people with high BMIs normally have higher BMIs because of muscle mass.

Apparently, gi and kimono sizes are usually made for people with higher body mass indexes (BMI). See for yourself; here is the BMI chart from Wikipedia:

If you refer to the chart above with attention to almost any gi manufacturers’ size chart, you will notice almost all assume a majority of their market has a large BMI. For some reason – warranted are not – gi and kimono manufacturers are assuming that the majority of Jiu Jitsu practitioners are buff, overweight, or both.

This confuses me because it runs counter to my experience and common sense. While people of all shapes and sizes do Jiu Jitsu, the sport absolutely has its share of thin competitors. Still, for whatever reason, companies have overwhelmingly sized their gi and kimonos to fit people with larger BMIs, and largely glossed over the thinner Jiu Jitsu competitor.

But to the gi and kimono manufacturer it has to make sense – because if the sizes did not accurately portray their market, sales would decline, and they would have changed their sizes years ago. That, or maybe no company has yet to adequately sell gis or kimonos that would fit people with a broader range of BMIs.

The question still remains: if trim people like me are going to try and buy a gi, where are should we look?

Options And Ideas For The Thin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xharekx33/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

I am aware of two brands that occasionally sound like a decent choice for thin people: Keiko Raca and Mkimonos. I’ve never purchased or trained in either, although I have tried on Kieko Raca kimonos owned by other students.

I emailed Jiu Jitsu Progear with suggestions for gis for thin people. They suggested that people with tall/slim build may do well with Keiko Raca; that they usually feature a longer cut to accommodate the thin and trim build. This may be valuable advice but it this seems to be counter to the sizing chart for Kieko Raca shown above.

When I tried on another student’s Keiko Raca A2, the chest and waist portion of the gi felt great, but the arms did feel short.

The option I have heard is good for thin and skinny people is Mkimonos – especially their Lutador Americano label. They even warn about this on one of their product pages.

Unfortunately, while Mkimonos has a pretty good reputation for customer service, I’ve experienced some road bumps in communication with them. I have been very close to purchasing their “White Lutador Americano Hybrid Weave Gi” a few times, but it never seems to be available, even after assurances that it would be.

Putting Out the Call

There is obviously a shortage – or chronic miscommunication – between gi sizes, manufacturers, and thin people who do Jiu Jitsu.

I am actively looking to purchase a new gi, but I want to be sure that what I purchase will fit well.

If you are aware of – or represent a gi or kimono label or brand which you think would fit a skinny person well – please let me know. I am anxious to let people know what I find.