Dressing for training

[Darth_Arkanus]

Greetings Saberforum!

I just wanted to pose a question that has occurred to me a number of times over the past months and that is this;

"What are your thoughts on the relative merits, or not, of actually getting dressed appropriately, or even in costume, for your Saber and Martial practice?"

When I think of this I see obvious analogues to Martial Arts practice; where you go to a Dojang/Dojo/Kwoon? and you don the appropriate Dobok, Gi, Keogi  & Hakama or whatever your style calls it and that helps to put you in the right head-space for what you are about to attempt to do. Now obviously, going back into history the "traditional dress" that we see now as a Martial Arts uniform was nothing of the kind. It was what people wore largely in their day to day lives! (I believe that is certainly the case with the Chinese and Manchurian peoples, as well as with the Okinawan islanders, and the Samurai had a style of dress which was what they wore are "civilian" clothes, as it were. Even in western traditions like fencing, there are elements of the modern uniform which come from the everyday dress of the people from whose era the arts derive. If I am wrong on this, please feel free to correct me.

So, we CAN just practice in our normal clothes (and I do this a LOT!!!) but what I'm talking about is getting into a very different mindset, an attitude, at meditative place, and I'm wondering how many people agree with me that wearing an outfit, designed for or more suited to what practice we are doing, could be a very useful thing.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this, and do you in fact see your Jedi or Sith robes AS a training uniform of sorts? If not, with your primary costume, do you HAVE a training costume?

Over to you guys!

[kagemusha shin]

Greetings Saberforum!

I just wanted to pose a question that has occurred to me a number of times over the past months and that is this;

"What are your thoughts on the relative merits, or not, of actually getting dressed appropriately, or even in costume, for your Saber and Martial practice?"

When I think of this I see obvious analogues to Martial Arts practice; where you go to a Dojang/Dojo/Kwoon? and you don the appropriate Dobok, Gi, Keogi  & Hakama or whatever your style calls it and that helps to put you in the right head-space for what you are about to attempt to do. Now obviously, going back into history the "traditional dress" that we see now as a Martial Arts uniform was nothing of the kind. It was what people wore largely in their day to day lives! (I believe that is certainly the case with the Chinese and Manchurian peoples, as well as with the Okinawan islanders, and the Samurai had a style of dress which was what they wore are "civilian" clothes, as it were. Even in western traditions like fencing, there are elements of the modern uniform which come from the everyday dress of the people from whose era the arts derive. If I am wrong on this, please feel free to correct me.

So, we CAN just practice in our normal clothes (and I do this a LOT!!!) but what I'm talking about is getting into a very different mindset, an attitude, at meditative place, and I'm wondering how many people agree with me that wearing an outfit, designed for or more suited to what practice we are doing, could be a very useful thing.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this, and do you in fact see your Jedi or Sith robes AS a training uniform of sorts? If not, with your primary costume, do you HAVE a training costume?

Over to you guys!

Practiving in a variety of clothes is best because if you practice with a costume you're use to it and can better preform same goes for comfort clothes like sweats it is easy to move so it depends in what uses you have for training if its practical or for chronograph battles.

[Darth_Arkanus]

Practicing in a variety of clothes is best because if you practice with a costume you're use to it and can better preform same goes for comfort clothes like sweats it is easy to move so it depends in what uses you have for training if its practical or for chronograph battles.

I take it your point is that being able to perform in ANYTHING is most useful, because you are essentially always ready? How do you feel about a more meditative aspect to practice though, and having to "get changed" as a mental preparant?

[kagemusha shin]

I take it your point is that being able to perform in ANYTHING is most useful, because you are essentially always ready? How do you feel about a more meditative aspect to practice though, and having to "get changed" as a mental preparant?

Tea just ready for whatever whenever. And for the meditative part I listen to music and think of my characters story an get into personality if a battle by music and get myself mad and concentrate on the madness.

[Darth Kitsune]

While it does help to practice in a variety of clothing to help understand how to perform martial arts in a variety of outfits, it isn't really necessary to understand the concept of a martial art. While some clothing articles are a "traditional" garb worn to emphasize the art style and culture of a martial art, frankly all you need to know is how to perform the art itself. Clothing is not a boundary if you know what you are doing. However, I can say that some clothing articles, such as close-fitting jeans for instance, can hinder flexibility and motion of certain martial arts. If you notice, most martial arts are generally performed in looser, fluid clothing that allows for flexibility and a wide range of movement and motion.

P.S: This was also stated without the consideration of protective gear. It's recommended for the safety of the self and others to always wear protective gear if you are sparring for instance.

[Darth_Arkanus]

While it does help to practice in a variety of clothing to help understand how to perform martial arts in a variety of outfits, it isn't really necessary to understand the concept of a martial art. While some clothing articles are a "traditional" garb worn to emphasize the art style and culture of a martial art, frankly all you need to know is how to perform the art itself. Clothing is not a boundary if you know what you are doing. However, I can say that some clothing articles, such as close-fitting jeans for instance, can hinder flexibility and motion of certain martial arts. If you notice, most martial arts are generally performed in looser, fluid clothing that allows for flexibility and a wide range of movement and motion.

P.S: This was also stated without the consideration of protective gear. It's recommended for the safety of the self and others to always wear protective gear if you are sparring for instance.

Dealing with safety gear first, of course, that is a consideration for sparring, regardless of art. I guess I was meaning more something to "connect" you to the moment, and to what you're doing in a more physical way. I'm not explaining this very well. I know precisely what I mean in my head, but cannot express it!

I suppose I mean the similar to the following statement; "Doing Karate just doesn't feel the same in trackies and a t-shirt!"

There's no logical reason it should feel different, but to me at least, it does. Am I alone in this?

[Darth Kitsune]

It can if you strand yourself in the definition of concrete tradition or "I do this because it was defined this way". It breaks if you allow yourself to move out of a "comfort zone" of sorts. I understand exactly what you meant, and you expressed it well. It's just a matter of breaking past comfort zones. As I stated, if you do something well, it doesn't matter what you wear. It's the skill and level of the art you perform.

[Darth Nonymous]

Greetings Saberforum!

I just wanted to pose a question that has occurred to me a number of times over the past months and that is this;

"What are your thoughts on the relative merits, or not, of actually getting dressed appropriately, or even in costume, for your Saber and Martial practice?"

When I think of this I see obvious analogues to Martial Arts practice; where you go to a Dojang/Dojo/Kwoon? and you don the appropriate Dobok, Gi, Keogi  & Hakama or whatever your style calls it and that helps to put you in the right head-space for what you are about to attempt to do. Now obviously, going back into history the "traditional dress" that we see now as a Martial Arts uniform was nothing of the kind. It was what people wore largely in their day to day lives! (I believe that is certainly the case with the Chinese and Manchurian peoples, as well as with the Okinawan islanders, and the Samurai had a style of dress which was what they wore are "civilian" clothes, as it were. Even in western traditions like fencing, there are elements of the modern uniform which come from the everyday dress of the people from whose era the arts derive. If I am wrong on this, please feel free to correct me.

So, we CAN just practice in our normal clothes (and I do this a LOT!!!) but what I'm talking about is getting into a very different mindset, an attitude, at meditative place, and I'm wondering how many people agree with me that wearing an outfit, designed for or more suited to what practice we are doing, could be a very useful thing.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this, and do you in fact see your Jedi or Sith robes AS a training uniform of sorts? If not, with your primary costume, do you HAVE a training costume?

Over to you guys!

Are you kidding? The entire reason I do martial art is to live fantasy. Apparel, be it a uniform, traditional garb, or sweats is a huge part of my training. I like the sound some clothing makes. I like the feel and look it gives, be it casual or formal. It's half of the fun!

Especially lightsaber. The feeling of looking like a Jedi or Sith Lord and wielding a lightsaber is priceless.

Anyone who says different doesn't know the joy.

[Darth_Arkanus]

Are you kidding? The entire reason I do martial art is to live fantasy. Apparel, be it a uniform, traditional garb, or sweats is a huge part of my training. I like the sound some clothing makes. I like the feel and look it gives, be it casual or formal. It's half of the fun!

Especially lightsaber. The feeling of looking like a Jedi or Sith Lord and wielding a lightsaber is priceless.

Anyone who says different doesn't know the joy.

Great! Yes!!! That's a big part of it for me too! I love the sound that a crisp Dobok makes when you punch and kick. That was one of the coolest things for me; stepping into a Dojang in my uniform and performing! I also loved to teach in that environment; back when I did that.

I'm going to invest more time in this side of it from now on, and it was actually a little video that I was asked to put together that reminded me how cool a feeling working out in "costume", as it were, is!

[kagemusha shin]

Dealing with safety gear first, of course, that is a consideration for sparring, regardless of art. I guess I was meaning more something to "connect" you to the moment, and to what you're doing in a more physical way. I'm not explaining this very well. I know precisely what I mean in my head, but cannot express it!

I suppose I mean the similar to the following statement; "Doing Karate just doesn't feel the same in trackies and a t-shirt!"

There's no logical reason it should feel different, but to me at least, it does. Am I alone in this?

I see what you're saying I mean got me to be in the moment I wear something from my tribes heritage and new age like a hooded trench coat this lets me feel all the anger from the desecration of my tribe and the bounties left on our heads to this day its a real law to still scalp us!!!! The trench coat lets me hide in the shadows so I can sneak on my enemies.

[Darth_Arkanus]

I see what you're saying I mean got me to be in the moment I wear something from my tribes heritage and new age like a hooded trench coat this lets me feel all the anger from the desecration of my tribe and the bounties left on our heads to this day its a real law to still scalp us!!!! The trench coat lets me hide in the shadows so I can sneak on my enemies.

Well yeah, that would be your uniform of sorts then. It would serve a similar purpose I guess.

[Master Lucien Kane]

I'm piecing together some Jedi training gear

[Kresnik]

I see it as the same as wearing a gi, a one piece for wrestling , etc ... They wear those things for a reason why would a jedi / Sith be any different ?

Plus wearing a full robe/ tabard etc will effect your movements ... I say practice in the uniform / equipment of a Sith ....

[Darth_Arkanus]

I'm piecing together some Jedi training gear

I hope we get to see it, when complete.

I see it as the same as wearing a gi, a one piece for wrestling , etc ... They wear those things for a reason why would a jedi / Sith be any different ?

Plus wearing a full robe/ tabard etc will effect your movements ... I say practice in the uniform / equipment of a Sith ....

I very much agree with you!

[Darth_Pork]

I agree with the whole training in your robes Idea. atm my lovely girlfriend is making me a costume for Armageddon, and I fully plan to use that once my Bane arrives
Ta,
Pork.