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Judo Gi Buying Guide for UAE Clubs and Academies
Judo puts more stress on a gi than most martial arts. The jacket is gripped, pulled and twisted in every session, so weave, reinforcement and fit decide how long it lasts and how it feels to train in.
This buying guide helps UAE clubs, academies and school programmes choose a judo gi for a whole membership rather than one player. Browse our custom judo gi options or the wider sports uniforms hub.
What this guide covers
- Single weave versus double weave
- Jacket, trousers, belt and reinforcement points
- White and blue gis, training and competition
- Sizing and shrinkage
- Club branding
- Bulk ordering for academies
- Recommendation and buyer checklist
- Start your kit with us
- Frequently asked questions
Single weave versus double weave
The upper part of a judo jacket is made from a thick, textured cotton weave designed to be gripped. The two terms buyers meet most often are single weave and double weave. They describe how dense that cloth is; exact weights and names vary by maker.
| Weave | Feel | Typically suits | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single weave | Lighter, thinner and more flexible | Beginners, juniors, school programmes, warm halls and members who train once or twice a week | Wears sooner under heavy gripping; easier for a partner to hold |
| Double weave | Denser, heavier and stiffer | Experienced adults, frequent training and members who compete | Warmer to wear, takes longer to dry and needs washing in before it softens; allow for shrinkage in all-cotton cloth |
| Mid-weight options | Between the two; names differ by maker | Clubs that want one gi for a mixed adult class | Compare by handling samples rather than by label |
If your club also runs karate classes, note that a karate gi is a different garment; our guide to karate gi weights explains that range.
Jacket, trousers, belt and reinforcement points
Jacket
The jacket has a textured upper body, a flatter patterned skirt below the belt line and a thick stitched collar and lapel. It should close with a generous overlap and allow the arms to lift without the whole jacket riding up.
Trousers
Trousers are usually a plain cotton drill with a drawstring or elasticated waist. Juniors often find an elastic waist easier to manage.
Belt
Belts are ordered by colour and length. List belt colours by grade alongside gi sizes so the two arrive as a set.
Where to look for reinforcement
- Collar and lapel: several rows of stitching through a thick core.
- Shoulders and upper chest: an extra layer where most gripping happens.
- Armpits and side vents: bar-tacks or patches where seams are pulled apart.
- Knees: a double layer on the trousers for groundwork.
Ask to see these points on a sample rather than relying on a description. Final specification will be confirmed during quotation.
White and blue gis, training and competition
White is the traditional colour and the usual club standard. Blue gis are widely used in competition so that the two players in a contest are easy to tell apart, and some clubs also allow blue for training.
For day-to-day training the club sets its own standard. For competition, the organiser does: rules can cover colour, jacket and sleeve length, trouser length, fabric, markings and badge positions, and some events require gis from a specific list. We do not make claims about competition approval. Check the competition’s own current gi rules, or ask your federation, before you buy gis for players who compete.
A practical approach for academies is a white training gi for all members, with competitors adding a second gi that meets the rules of the events they enter.
Sizing and shrinkage
Judo gis are generally sized by height, with wider cuts available from some makers. Height alone does not account for build, so try the jacket closed and belted and check three things: the sleeve reaches towards the wrist with the arms extended, the jacket covers the hips, and the trousers reach towards the ankle.
Cotton judo cloth shrinks, mostly in the first washes and more in hot water or a tumble dryer. Ask whether the gi is pre-shrunk and size accordingly. For juniors, allow sensible growth room without leaving sleeves long enough to catch fingers.
Members can try gi sizes at our Jebel Ali showroom before the club commits to a bulk order. The size and fit guide and our article on how to measure for a sizing chart explain how to record heights and measurements consistently.
Club branding
Club embroidery, names and belts give an academy a single identity on the mat. Common positions are a club badge on the left chest, a name on the lapel end, the trouser leg or the belt, and a larger club mark on the back.
Dense judo cloth takes embroidery well, but stitching through the thickest part of the collar is difficult, so keep artwork clear of it. Sewn-on woven badges are a useful alternative when members move between grades or clubs. If the gi will be worn in competition, check the rules on badge size and back markings first.
Bulk ordering for academies
A club order is easier to manage when it is planned by group rather than by individual.
- Group the membership: juniors, adult beginners and experienced adults often need different weaves.
- Collect heights and sizes on one sheet: name, height, gi size, belt colour and belt length. Our uniform ordering checklist shows how to structure the list.
- Agree the artwork once: one approved badge file and position for every size.
- Plan for intake dates: new members join at the start of each term, so decide who holds spare sizes and how repeat orders are raised.
We keep sizes and artwork on file for repeat orders as new members join.
Recommendation and buyer checklist
Mustang recommendation: standardise on a white single-weave gi for juniors and beginners, offer a denser weave to adults who train often, and treat competition gis as a separate purchase made against the rules of the event. Wash one sample before approving sizes for the whole club.
- Weave chosen for each group of members.
- Reinforcement checked on a sample: collar, shoulders, armpits, vents and knees.
- Colour standard agreed for training.
- Competition gi rules checked with the organiser or federation.
- Heights, sizes and belt colours on one list, with shrinkage allowed for.
- Badge artwork and positions approved on a mock-up.
Start your kit with us
Every order begins with a free design mock-up and a free sample against your confirmed order (LPO), and your sizes and artwork are stored for repeat orders. Teams and students can try sizes in person at our Jebel Ali showroom before committing. Delivery timelines are confirmed during quotation.
Request a quote or request a sample to get started, or view the judo gi category.
Frequently asked questions
Which judo gi should a UAE club choose for beginners?
A single-weave gi is the usual choice for beginners and juniors. It is lighter and more flexible, and usually more comfortable in a hall with limited cooling.
What is the difference between single and double weave?
Double weave is a denser, heavier cloth that stands up to more gripping and is harder to hold. Single weave is lighter and softer. Exact weights vary by maker, so compare samples.
Do members need both a white and a blue gi?
Not for training unless the club requires it. Players who compete should check their competition’s current rules, which decide the colours and specifications needed.
Are your judo gis approved for competition?
We do not make approval claims. Competition organisers set their own gi rules and some specify permitted gis, so confirm the requirements with the organiser or your federation before ordering.
Can we add our club badge and names?
Yes. Club embroidery, names and belts can be added, and a free design mock-up shows the positions before production. Sizes and artwork are stored for repeat orders.