Black gi in Aikido class?
I really like the look of the black gi, and I was just wondering if it's alright to wear them in Aikido class? I go to a small school, and I was just wondering if a black gi really meant something, or it was just something different rather than the traditional white. Think it's alright to get one?
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Aikido is very traditional. White is the only tradition color for a gi in aikido. There are other color gi acceptable for different arts and different dojo. But if you really want to know if it is okay you must ask your instructor. I'm sure they will tell you to where a white gi.
If you had trained in a different dojo and only had a black gi the instructor will likely tell you to wear it until you can purchase a white one.
The black gi represents the warrior arts. It's a more militant, anything goes type of fighting.
In contast, the white, is represented with the idea of "budo (the warrior way)." It's consider a way, an art, like Aiki-DO and Ju-DO. The "do" at the end being the key in the Japanese arts.
I took AikiJIUJITSU and they wore black gis. It was not considered budo.
That's the basic difference. So, wearing a black gi would be totally out of place for an Aikido dojo. You would be considered very ignorant and/or disrespectful for doing so.
Generally speaking its rude to wear non white Gi to traditional Japanese martial arts classes. Some Jujutsu schools wear different colours but Aikido schools tend to be very traditional and wear white (though at higher grades I think they wear black hamaka trousers). They probably won't give you any hassle about it on your first session. I'd be tempted to wear gym clothes and ask the Sensei if they mind.
Seconded: ask your sensei.
However, I've never heard of any aikido dojo or organization that allows black keiko-gis. Also, it would be inadvisable to wear a non-white gi during seminars, gashuku, and other large scale events.
ask your sensei. if you just went out and bought one without his permission, that would be looked at as very rude. none of us here can know if he will let you or not.
and almost all aikido classes now a days wear a white gi top, and black hakama pants.
I think student ranks are supposed to wear plain white judo uniforms. Black belts or instructors
are allowed to wear the "hakama." That is how it was years ago, I do not know about now.