WHY NO TRADITIONAL UNIFORMS?
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Occasionally people will ask questions on the uniforms we wear at Imperial Combat Arts.
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TRADITIONAL UNIFORMS?
When people think of Chinese martial arts uniforms what most often comes to mind is silk Wushu uniforms, Kung Fu jackets with shoe's like Bruce Lee wore, and colored sashes. These are all fairly new concepts for Chinese martial arts. Historically the vast majority of schools simply wore their normal pants, shoes, and a shirt, often with a colored headband, armband, or the like to distinguish their schools. Sometimes bands or shirts had hand-painted calligraphy characters. This is the most traditional way.
SILK UNIFORMS: For most of China's history it was illegal for anyone but royalty or the noble class to wear silk.
COLORED SASHES/BELTS: Colored belts began being used in Japanese schools in the 1930's-1940's c.e., they were later adapted to Kung Fu schools sashes and are far from "Traditional".
GI'S: Our schools are of Chinese/Manchurian origin and have never used Japanese style uniforms.
SILK UNIFORMS: For most of China's history it was illegal for anyone but royalty or the noble class to wear silk.
COLORED SASHES/BELTS: Colored belts began being used in Japanese schools in the 1930's-1940's c.e., they were later adapted to Kung Fu schools sashes and are far from "Traditional".
GI'S: Our schools are of Chinese/Manchurian origin and have never used Japanese style uniforms.
TRAINING IN SHOES?
Chinese martial arts most often train in shoes or boots and always have. This is because we wear footwear daily and definitely wear it in combat situations. No military group for tens of thousands of years would have chosen to go into battle barefoot.
Contrary to popular belief the reason shoes/boots have been removed from much of contact sport is not because all the fighters have highly toughened feet, but in fact because being kicked with shoe's hurts a lot more, and much more force can be delivered. It was often the fighters who pushed for shoes to be banned from arena like the UFC, for their own safety.
Contrary to popular belief the reason shoes/boots have been removed from much of contact sport is not because all the fighters have highly toughened feet, but in fact because being kicked with shoe's hurts a lot more, and much more force can be delivered. It was often the fighters who pushed for shoes to be banned from arena like the UFC, for their own safety.
OUR UNIFORM HISTORY
Imperial Combat Arts teaches several martial arts and has Instructors from many martial backgrounds. We don't have just one but several lineages depending on the style and it's traditions. Collectively we have trained in many types of uniforms in the past. Today we train in uniforms that work best for our needs and are practical for real combat.
WHAT ARE OUR UNIFORMS?
- Students wear black cargo pants, and sports grey tops of any kind so long as they fit in a martial, tactical, combat, or fitness setting. This allows for members to vary their tops for their environment such as a sports grey hoodie for winter, or sleeveless shirts in the hot summer months.
- Students wear woodland colors for mountain excursions and wilderness skills.
- Instructors wear black cargo pants and black tops of their choice.
- Members wear black shoes that allow for good fighting stance, usually skateboarding shoes, walking shoes, work crew shoes, or weightlifting shoes.
We train in modern civilian apparel for the same reason the U.S. Military teaches martial arts and grappling with boots and military fatigues, one should train in what they're likely to fight in.