Dress code

Alone! And what of it? You came alone, and you shall pass alone into the mist.

(Kahlil Gibran)

Dress code

It is customary for martial arts classes to have a dress code and ours is no exception:

  1. Formal
  2. New starter
  3. Inappropriate attire
  4. Graded class members
  5. Health-only student
  6. On your way to and from class
  7. Kung fu trousers
  8. Kung fu suit

Formal

Wearing formal attire for tai chi sets the training apart from your everyday activities.

You are attending a tai chi class.
You are adhering to a code of conduct.
You are there to get on with the practice.

The uniform puts you in the mood.
You feel like getting on with the training. Down to business. Ready for action.

A pair of jeans and a T-shirt would not produce the same effect.

Also, martial arts outfits have generous groin space.
If you wore jeans to train form, kicks and throwing, you may rupture yourself or be restricted in terms of movement.

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New starter

Appropriate attire:

  1. flat shoes/training shoes

  2. plain T-shirt

  3. loose, comfortable trousers

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Inappropriate attire

Inappropriate attire for a new starter to wear:

  1. karate/kung fu/judo/ju jitsu/taekwondo suit

  2. muscle t-shirt

  3. short trousers

  4. low-cut top/exposed cleavage

  5. bare midriff

  6. patterns/stripes/zig zags/dots

Jewellery/rings and watches should be removed before the class commences.
Flat rings are acceptable. Problem rings are the ones that can catch clothing and skin.

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Graded class members

(i) Black T-shirt

White belt students are required to wear a plain black T-shirt, crew-neck, with no brand name showing or writing/pictures of any kind.

They must also wear black cotton kung fu trousers and a sash displaying their grade.

The badge must be sewn onto the T-shirt.


(ii) Kung fu suit

Students are entitled to wear a black cotton kung fu suit when they pass their second belt, but it is not mandatory until the intermediate syllabus.

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Health-only students

Health-only students should wear:

  1. flat shoes/training shoes

  2. plain T-shirt

  3. loose, comfortable trousers

If they wish to wear a class T-shirt, this is permitted.

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On your way to and from class

Do not wear your tai chi clothing in the street.

Drawing attention to yourself is not a good idea. It may not be the right sort of attention.

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Clean clothes
Your training attire needs to be clean.

Sweat will make your tai chi clothing smell.
In classes it is considered the height of bad manners to smell bad when partaking in partner work.
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Kung fu trousers

All students must wear unadorned plain kung fu trousers - labels, embroidery or piping will not be permitted.

Colour? Black.

Fabric? Cotton. Not satin.

Open or closed leg? Whichever suits your taste.

Size 6 will fit most adults.
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Kung fu suit

Students can wear either:

  1. Wrap-over
  2. Changshan

A wrap-over jacket is more hanfu, and will prove to be robust.
A changshan (long shirt) has frog-buttons and Mandarin collar.
 
The kung fu suit acknowledges where the art came from and pays homage to that culture.
It also signifies that the student is learning a martial art.
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Page created 25 August 1998