Thread: I'm Overweight and I need a Gi.

Also, a bit of a noob question, but do I remove the strings attached to my Hakama after I take it outta the package? like... http://www.yamatoku.jp/img/92940253d.jpg There are strings like that near my knees and then another set of strings where the pleats are the bottom. I just got to the point where I need to wear my Hakama because my Kendogi + Aikido/judo type pants no longer suffice for "proper" practice. I have no idea...

Those strings are to keep the pleats straight during shipping, just remove them.

Quote: Originally Posted by Neil Gendzwill The problem is sewing your own is sourcing the material. Hence the "if". That 'rice weave' stuff for Kendo is hard to get over here, but for Iai, a dark black cotton or cotton/syntetic mix might do the trick and even allow more customization/control over the end product then ordering custom items online. Quote: start up Iaido/Kendo with me Hm, if it's both, the usual...

Best thing to try first is to ask someone in your club who has similar build, and your sensei. Then I would email the regular shops, tozando, e-mudo, e-bogu, etc., and give them your sizes. Almost all of the shops I've bought from have a chart that lists what the correlating sizes are. Sometimes they’re slow to respond but they’ve always responded.

Have you thought about emailing one of the many online suppliers/manufacturers, like e-bogu and the like? They might be able to offer a lot more help than we could.

Try sankei in Aus they have made to measure gi. It will be more expensive but probably your only option if you want a gi to fit right. Otherwise order the largest size gi but you will have to cut the arms down. Good luck:-)

Hmm it does say on onlinekendo, for example, that you can send your measurements and they will custom make a gi for you. However it's 50 dollars extra (which is kind of crazy if you ask me, especially if you pay ahead of time). I think the cheaper option would be to actually get a cheaper kendogi 1 or 2 sizes bigger and ask someone with sewing skillz to adjust it at the required places. maybe even a tailor who will do it for less than 50...

Quote: Originally Posted by Visgarde Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance and sorry for the odd question. PS. My shoulder line ( tip of one shoulder to tip of the other shoulder ) is roughly 27 inches across. ( this is just a line measurement, not the wrap around Myotape, which gives measurements ranging from 45 - 60 on average I believe? ) Thanks for your time and sorry for all the parenthesis. I would go with what Gendzwill...

Try Sankei International ( www.zen-sankei.com.au ), I am sure they can get a taylor made GI for you. They do custom made stuff and they ask people for detail measurements and double check all sizes. So I am sure they will be able to help you.

I have also used Kenbudo (Tokyo) - in years past, had a very large keiko gi made for an American male friend. The price wasn't extravagant.