Can I borrow a gi?

[Quantum Jim]

Does anyone have a gi that they don't use anymore? I'm thinking about attending Steel City Martial Arts to learn jiujitsu, but they require proper uniforms.

The costs are starting to worry me. It already costs $60 USD per month [!]. That works out to 5-10 dollars per class; although, attending just one costs 15 USD. According to the course description for JJ at Pitt it costs about a hundred dollars for a gi.

All together, the costs are too expensive for me to attend the martial arts school. So if anyone could lend me their uniform, I'd really appreciate it.

P.S. Randy, did you get my message?

[Randall Jones]

I read the course description for the jiu-jitsu course at Pitt. $95 for a gi is absolutely ridiculous. Maybe that is an acceptable price for a competition gi, but way too much for a beginner to buy for training.

First I would see if Steel City can get you a discount on one. They might sell cheap ones to their students. If they don't, I would buy a judo gi off Ebay. You should be able to find a basic white one for about $30 or so. The quality is not that great, but it should last you for at least six months or so.

The difference between a judo gi and a jiu-jitsu gi is that the judo gi is baggier and easier to grab. If you want to spend about twice as much, you can buy an Atama jiu-jitsu gi. It is an unbleached single weave that should last you a year or more. www.atama-kimonos.com/products/kimonos/single/unbleached/unbleached.htm.

$60 a month for training is actually a very reasonable price. It costs a lot to run a martial arts school professionally. I know this because I used to teach at one. At our school, we charge about $90 or so a month. Unfortunately, it is very expensive for college students to train in the martial arts. That's one reason I am committed to keeping the grappling club 100% free.

I would lend you a gi, but I don't have one that is suitable for grappling. In the fall, I am considering perhaps making one day a week gi day, so if you buy a gi now you may be able to use it at our club in the near future.