Kilts in martial arts

[Yaish]

I know we have some martial artists on the board, and I am interested in your experiences.

I just started my first class, Krav Maga, and I was thinking of doing it kilted.

My rational is this: I am kilted almost everywhere I go, everything I do. I am not kilted at work, as I wear a uniform, but everywhere else I am kilted. Now, since things like kicks especially are going to be a lot different in a kilt than in pants I'd like to train the way I fight and do so kilted.

I already talked to my instructor, and he didnt have a problem with it so long as everything was covered up. I bought several pairs of compression shorts for just such an event however, so that wont be a problem. Krav Maga is a very practical school though, so sometimes people will practice in their winter coats, dress clothes, etc...
For those not familiar with it is not a very formal martial art. In fact, its almost not a martial 'art' at all, its basically a codified method of street fighting. There isnt even any sort of competetive tournaments since the techniques used tend towards permanent injury rather than scoring points (ie: breaking elbows rather than getting them to tap out)

Anyway, has anyone practiced their various disciplines kilted? What were the major hurdles you found while doing so? Things to watch out for?

BTW, I will be doing this in a utilikilt, so keep that in mind.

[Riverkilt]

Guessing a white Workman's....??

[macgreggor]

Yaish,

My addiction is TKD. Lots of high kicks, o.k. as high as a beat up 49 year old can manage, spinning stuff. My instructor told me she would like to see me do spinning kicks in my kilt. I haven't tried it but I thought on it. Distraction and deception is a big part of any fight. All that material would be a help there. I would never need to pull up a pant leg before a move.

Stopping fights would be easier I think.....'What would your mates think if you got your a$$ kicked by a guy in a skirt?'

macG

[flyv65]

If your instructors/Senseis are fine with it I see no problem. I've studied Aikido and wouldn't practice in the kilt-but from what I understand there are differences in the origins/traditions of our two martial arts. :smile:

Bryan...I'd have to wear underwear so I could do breakfalls...

[Iolaus]

I just started my first class, Krav Maga, and I was thinking of doing it kilted.

Hey Yaish, are you taking that class in C.M. near the 405/73? I looked into it a couple of years back, but didn't have the time then.

Krav Maga, that's definitely a discipline worth investigating!

[bikercelt1]

I have done Katas in my kilt and it worked out just fine. I don't think I'd want to bout or compete in a kilt but then again I'm just doing the Karate as physical conditioning for sword fighting so that's not an issue. The sword fighting is done in kilt of course.

Jamie

[Yaish]

Yeah Jeff, thats the one. It may be a new location since you checked it out, as they moved a year ago, but its still in basically the same place. Its part of the Samueli Jewish Center, and they also share a second location at an Aikido dojo in Lake Forest.

I'm going to another workout tomorrow morning and Ill go in pants, but when I take Tuesdays class I think I will bring the kilt with me at least.

I'm thinking for I'll wear one of the camo kilts for this since they are the lightest weight. The workmans might be just a bit too heavy to bother with for the whole class, though with the ease of constriction on the knees it might actually be a lot easier to kick than in track pants.

[Andrew Breecher]

A kilt isn't too different from hakama for Aikido. I could see doing seiza/suwari waza techniques in a kilt, but I don't know if I'd want to be the one flying through the air.

I definitely think a kilt is fine to actually do martial arts in. And I'm all for wearing kilts as much as possible, so if a situation arose while you're wearing a kilt, why should you let it stop you? But martial arts often have their own traditions and garments that go with those traditions. When practicing, I wouldn't want to wear a kilt if there is another traditional garment associated instead. Just as I wouldn't dream of wearing a crumpled Utilikilt and t-shirt to a friend's wedding, I wouldn't dream of wearing a kilt - however formal or whatever colour - onto the mat in a dojo.

Andrew.

[Jewddha]

I figure if it's fine by your instructor (and maybe the other class members?), and you did have soemthing like compressions shorts (I'm assuming they're something along the lines of rowers spandex) I don't see why it should present an issue.

[Sciuropterus]

I think I've mentioned it here before, the Indonesian martial art of Silat is traditionaly practiced using a tube sarong, get the (incredibly expensive) video at http://www.coldsteel.com/vdfs.html
Silat would be very compatible with a kilt.

I did Tae Kwon Do all thru high school (early 1980's), up to brown belt, I thought it was the greatest until I checked out a Kali/JKD school, it was a rude awakening to say the least, I thank god I never got in a fight knowing just TKD, especially against someone with a boxing or wrestling background. It was fun learning the spinning kicks, I still practice them but would not try them on the street. I also dabbled in Kenpo and Aikido in the late 80's.

I currently have a black belt in Kosen Ju-Jitsu (been doing it for about 7 years) and I will probably do more Wing Chun and Kali as I get older (I'm pushing 40), and start doing Tai Chi or something once I retire.

I'm not sure I would want to be wearing a kilt if I got attacked, especially if we ended up rolling on the ground, where nearly every fight eventually ends up. Unlike Lazarus Long, I don't have a blaster strapped to my thigh under my kilt.