Kilts and Martial Arts...

[Monkey@Arms]

Resurrecting this (slightly) aged thread to say "howdy" to my fellow kali/eskrima practioners. Been playing with Filipino martial arts for a couple of years, including at various times Sayoc, Serrada and Lameco styles, but never yet in a kilt. When I first mentioned the idea in my training hall, the reaction was less than enthusiastic so I decided to let it drop for the time being. Some day . . .

Best regards,

Jake

[cloves]

I've been attending a karate class for the past few months and I wouldn't want to attend in a kilt. Too much kicking and stretching up high.
At home I can see how a Sportkilt might be cooler and less binding than the pants of my gi but that's about it.

[SumoKilt]

I suppose a high kicking style wouldn't work too well, but what about a Silat or Akido style?

[Caradoc]

I suppose a high kicking style wouldn't work too well, but what about a Silat or Akido style?

The kilt adapts nicely to Aikido. I can't speak to Silat.

Chin-Na grappling groundwork is doable, but a little cumbersome - as is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

[AllenJ]

I am a regular practitioner of Medieval and Renaissance martial arts. I only have one kilt at the moment and don’t care to get thrown around in it on a regular basis. But I have done several demos and impromptu bouts while kilted. Especially at Highland Games where I have occasionally set up weapon demos at my clans tent. I am certainly planning on getting a more casual one that can take regular bouting in. Though there will have to be shorts worn under as grappling and throws are an integral part of serious swordplay.

[flairball]

I've practiced Judo on and off since the fourth grade, Have several friends who train in Aikido, one a Hombu dojo trained 6th dan, and have had the priviledge of visiting a Kendo dojo in Japan and to train at The Kodokan in Tokyo. Though a kilt might be comfortable I would never show up at any traditional dojo expecting to train in a kilt. All practical reasoning for doing it aside, this would be insulting to the art. The wearing of a Gi is as important as anything else one practices in the dojo. I don't know how a kilt at a dojo where martial arts originating from other countries are practiced would be recieved. There are of course some less traditional dojos practicing Japanese arts too, but in a traditional dojo, practicing a Japanese art, I'd say don't do it.

[cloves]

I have to agree with Flairball, about it being insulting. We never wear anything other than a tradtional white gi. Not even allowed to wear one with black trousers. So i'd never expect to be allowed to wear a kilt.

Funny though, we assume that karate and the wearing of gis is some ancient thing when modern karate isn't really that old (in the grand scheme of martial arts) and as well gi's like we know them today are an even newer invention.

[GTRMAN]

I suppose a high kicking style wouldn't work too well, but what about a Silat or Akido style?

My primary art is Taekwon-do.. That being the case, I do enjoy kicking people in the head and the kilt seriously facilitates such endeavors..

[AllenJ]

Speaking of kilts and martial arts, I just got wind that Christopher Thompson, author of "Lannaireachd: Gaelic Swordsmanship", has released a new book via Palidain Press called, "Highland Knife Fighting- With the Dirk and Sgian". I've already placed an order and will certainly post a review when I get it.
http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=1491

[flairball]

Sumokilt,

My training has been primarily at competative Judo dojos. In traditional sport Judo the need to "try out" street clothes isn't important, but I do see the logic behind it. I just thought I'd play devils advocate and point out an argument that was being missed, but is important to traditionalists. My personal opinion; if one traines diligently, and strives to become as proficient as possible in their chosen art, then what you wear when you need to act will be of little concern.