Caring for your Judo and BJJ uniform

Caring for your Judo and BJJ uniform.

Caring for your Judo and BJJ uniform

The manufacturers suggested care is to always wash your uniform in cold water and hang dry. Never use bleach to clean your uniform. Adhering to this method will provide you with the longest wear for your investment. Using liquid fabric softener may also reduce the life of your uniform. My favorite liquid detergent for white uniform is Tide Bleach Alternative.

Soaking in Oxiclean solution will help remove stains. One cup of baking soda in your wash will help keep your uniform white and remove odors. One cup of white vinegar in the wash will help kill mold.

Some of us have stains on the collar around the neck and shoulder cavity area. This maybe our body’s oil due to our diet of high fat contented food. I use Spray and Wash or Shout directly on the stained area before each wash. Always wash your uniform as soon as you can after practice and your uniform will always stay clean and fresh.

Washing your uniform in warm or hot water may shrink your uniform significantly unless you have a preshrunk uniform.

Drying your uniform in a dryer will also shrink your uniform unless you have a preshrunk uniform. The tumbling action in the dryer will shorten the life of your uniform significantly.

While the uniform is still wet coming out of the washer. You can stretch the sleeves by pulling or snapping on it before hang drying. This will help to keep the length of the sleeves close to the original lenght. This method applies to all manufacturer.

Emergency Situation:
Standing on one end of the sleeves and pulling straight up on the other end will help stretch the sleeves approximately an inch to two if you need to pass the measurement test. Do that immediately before stepping into the competition area.

Adidas J930, J930s, & J930 IJF

The Adidas J930 known as the Champion in the U.S. is a stiff gi worn by competitors around the world in local and international tournament. The J930s is a slim version for those with a lean body and wants a tight fitting uniform. Like the regular J930 the J930s is made of 100% cotton, and depending on how you wash it it can shrink up to one size.

In 2010 the J930 IJF was introduced to comply with the International Judo Federation new uniform rule. The J930 IJF is identical to the J930 in cut and fit except for a 5 cm longer skirt and now the fabric is 80 percent cotton and 20 percent polyester for shrinkage control and durability. The J930 IJF is not available in the Slim version, at least not in the U.S.. The shrinkage on the J930 IJF is less than half a size due to the cotton blend in its material content.

The Importance of Athletic Trainers & Sports Injury Management

The Importance of Athletic Trainers & Sports Injury Management.

The Importance of Athletic Trainers & Sports Injury Management

Athletic Trainers are recognized by the American Medical Association as health professionals who help physicians to evaluate and treat athletes and help athletes maintain peak physical fitness as well as prevent and treat injuries. They are often one of the first health care providers on the scene when the injury occurs and therefore must be able to recognize, evaluate and assess injuries and provide immediate care when necessary. They know how to prevent an injury from occurring initially, prevent further injury from occurring and prevent the recurrence of an injury.

Athletic Trainers specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. They are also involved in the rehabilitation and reconditioning of injured athletes. They educate athletes about how to avoid placing themselves at risk for injury. They help make sport and recreation safer. Athletic Trainers advise athletes as to the proper use of athletic equipment and using protective products such as tape, bandages, ice and braces and help manage an injury.

The work of an Athletic Trainer requires frequent interaction with others, including consulting with physicians, athletes and patients to discuss and administer treatments, rehabilitation programs, injury-preventive practices and other health related issues.
Jose Bonilla, Certified Athletic Trainer at City College of San Francisco, is a familiar face at CCSF Judo tournaments and at CCSF athletic activities. He writes, “In recent years, increasing numbers of people of all ages have been heeding their health professionals; advice to get active for all the health benefits that exercise has to offer. But for some, particularly those who over do or who don’t properly train or warm up—these benefits can come at a price: sports injuries. Fortunately, most injuries can be treated effectively, and most people who suffer injuries can return to a satisfying level of physical activity after an injury. Even better, many sports injuries can be prevented if people take the proper precautions”.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services publishes a Sports Injuries brochure that states that “The term sports injury, in the broadest sense, refers to the kinds of injuries that most commonly occur during sports or exercise. Some sports injuries result from accident; others are due to poor training practices, improper equipment, lack of conditioning, or insufficient warmup or stretching.

Although virtually any part of your body can be injured during sports or exercise, the term is usually reserved for injuries that involve the musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, bones, and associated tissues like cartilage.”

Excerpt from City College of San Francisco Judo Club 2008 USJF Junior National Championships Program.

10 Ways to Use Salt to Clean Your Laundry or Gi

This is another excerpt that I have on my web site. But most people cannot find it. It is originally taken from www.http://diynaturally.com. Thanks to Do It Yourself… Naturally for their information.
(Disclaimer: I have not personally tried any of these method. So please take this information with a grain of salt. Punt intended.)

Salt is a wonderful stain remover. With salt you can remove grease stains, ink stains, blood stains and more. Using salt in your laundry will also help preserve bright colors and reduce the yellowing of white clothing.

1. Remove grease stains on fabric by sprinkling the stain with salt. Allow the salt to soak up the grease and wipe off. Repeat if necessary.

2. Remove a fresh blood stain by covering it with salt. Then dab with a clod water cloth. Continue to add water until the stain is gone.

3. Remove ink stains by rubbing the stain with salt. Then soak the stain in milk over night. Then wash.

4. For mildew stains, use a paste made of lemon juice and salt. Spread the paste on the mildew and lay clothing out in the sun. The sun, salt and lemon juice will bleach the mildew.

5. To remove mildew stains on other fabrics use a solution of salt, vinegar, and water.

6. Remove wine stains from cotton fabric by sprinkling enough salt on the stain to absorb the wine. Soak the clothing for 2 hours in cold water. Then wash.

7. Treat yellowing of white cotton clothes by soaking in a solution of water, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Let stand for 1 hour. Then wash.

8. Remove sweat stains on white clothing by dabbing the areas with a sponge soaked in a salt water solution of 4 tablespoons of salt per 1 quart of water.

9. Prevent bleeding colors by adding 1/2 cup of salt to your wash cycle.

10. Bring colored rugs back to their vibrant colors by rubbing a salt water solution into the rug with a damp cloth. Use a gentle scrubbing motion.~ Do it Yourself Naturally

Taken from d.i.y. naturally

The Art of the Judo Gi

When Judo was first practiced, judoka wore kimono not the Judo Gi (Uniform) we see today. It wasn’t until 1907, that Professor Jigoro Kano started the tradition of practicing in Judo Gi with an obi. Kano choose white to show that, on the mat, all were equal. It wasn’t until 1986, that the blue Judo Gi was introduced to the sport. This was proposed to make the distinction between the competitors on the mat easier.

Judo competitors need to have a Judo Gi that, first and foremost, meets International Judo Federation (IJF) regulations, but also is close fitting, easy to move in and not too easy to grab; thus the need for the many different styles of Judo Gi.

Traditionally Judo uniforms are made of 100% cotton. But lately the trend is to have polyester blended in with the cotton to make a lighter yet stronger and more durable fabric. Anti bacteria and shrinkage control are some of the recent developments in Judo uniform construction. The Adidas J930 IJF is a Cotton Blend uniform which help reduce shrinkage.

Today there are many different styles of Judo Gi. They can range from the basic traditional practice gi for around $40 to over $300-dollar for the Mizuno Yawara

There are many brand name companies that make the popular Judo Gi including Adidas and Mizuno. For example, Adidas has four styles of Judo Gi available in the United States. Starting with their entry model The Adidas J500 TRAINING Uniform, the mid level competition uniform Adidas J650 CONTEST, the “Sensei gi” Adidas J800 & J800 IJF ELITE and the top of the line Adidas J930 & J930 IJF CHAMPION. Adidas Judo uniform are available in both white or blue for local competition, and the J800 IJF and J930 IJF for international competition.

The same is true for Mizuno who offers seven models for the U. S. market. Mizuno has been making Judo uniform for a long time and supplies the Japanese Olympic Judo Team. The base model for Mizuno is their white Mizuno Single Weave, with Jimmy Pedro the next step up. The Mizuno SHIAI is their base model double weave competition uniform, The next one up is the Mizuno SENPAI which is a double weave uniform, the Mizuno YAWARA with its technologically advanced 3D cut which curves around an athlete’s body for more flexibility and dynamic movements. The fabric is light weight but yet durable and is the hallmark of the Mizuno YAWARA. The Single Weave Mizuno and the SENPAI is available in white only where other Mizuno models are offered in white and Blue. The most recent Mizuno offers are the YUSHO IJF JAPAN and YUSHO ll IJF models. These two models are created for high level international competition and conforms with all IJF uniform requirement.

A basic distinction between Judo Gi is that between single and double weave. This refers to the strength and amount of the cotton used and how it is sewn. Double weave Judo Gi are generally much heaver and stiffer than the single weaves. In the case of the Mizuno YAWARA, and the YUSHO, the material is light weight similar to a single weave. The Yawara uses some of the best cotton available. There are significantly more reinforcements stitched into the fabric thus making the Mizuno YAWARA & YUSHO a light weight yet strong uniform that can with stand an incredible amount of wear and tear in training and competition.

As competitors know, the right Judo Gi can win the match. To be in the game you need a Judo Gi that works for you, while maintaining a high level of resistance for your opponent. Beyond that, choosing a Judo Gi is a matter of personal preference; some players like the stiffer feel of the Adidas J930 IJF CHAMPION, while others prefer the flexible feel of the Mizuno YUSHO IJF.

This article was originally written by Vinh Chung for The 2008 USJF Junior National Championships Program Guide which was held at the City College of San Francisco.