Macho in the Dojo

I’m known for ‘old man rants’, but this is not one of them. This is an ‘observation’ how things change over time.

At my sensei’s dojo and mine for many years, there was the macho idea that males didn’t wear anything under their gi jacket. Females, for obvious physical differences, would wear a shirt or body-stocking under their jacket. This would occasionally verge on bullying, when seniors would harass a T-shirt wearing young man: “Whaddar ya? Sum kinda gurl?” In recent years I’ve picked my battles, mentioning that females wore shirts but males routinely didn’t. I wouldn’t push the issue and I wouldn’t let seniors make a big deal over it. I’d rather the student felt comfortable training than feeling pressured by someone into quitting over a shirt.

An interesting development the past few years is that many old-time traditionalists who would mock others for wearing a $3-$4 undershirt under the jacket now ‘equip’ themselves with $30-$40 Under Armor under their jacket. Years ago males were ridiculed for wanting to feel comfortable while working out; today’s tough guy doesn’t want to chafe.

Please hold your negative comments. I’m not calling Under Armor wearers wusses. I’m just ‘observing’ how the idea of macho in the dojo has changed over time.