Do the clothes make the man?

[Shane Smith]

It is seemingly universal for martial artists of whatever discipline to wear a "uniform" of sorts when engaged in study and training. I had never really given alot of thought as to why this should be so.We could all train as well in jeans and a Tshirt as we do in our ARMA T's and sweats or our period garb I reasoned...Yet, we to the man, do not. Heck, I even tend to wear my uniform when training alone! There must perhaps be a reason beyond the obvious effort to achieve "uniformity" among ourselves as a group(especially when we Swordsmen tend to be rugged individualists in my experience and opinion).

On personal reflection,it struck me that not only does a uniform provide a sort of identity to a group of individuals,it also tends to affect a change of mind and attitude for those wearing one.It seems that whenever I put on the black and red(or the former black,white and red),there is a mental gear change that takes place that steels my mind for the training to follow.In effect,changing clothes brings about a change of mind.

Have you guys experienced this sort of thing in your own training or am I all wet here? <img src="http://www.thearma.org/forum/images/icons/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[David Kite]

Well, I think that not only does a uniform provide "uniformity" and group identity, but that change of mindset for me is also a form of showing respect for what we do. It's like a way of telling yourself and others "I'm here to train. This is what I need to be focusing on now." If you're wearing street clothes while training it's a lot easier to become distracted or quit a session before you've really accomplished anything, or it may seem more a way of "killing time" rather than training.

Personally, I'm a little more conscious of what I do in public while wearing my ARMA shirt, because my behavior reflects on the group and swordsmen at large. An upstanding individual is more likely to garner respect and respectable others to our craft. The vice versa here is also true, I think.

David Kite
ARMA in IN

[GaryGrzybek]

Shane,

It's to a point where I actually don't feel right training out of uniform. Heck, I even wear my ARMA sweatshirt out on the town <img src="http://www.thearma.org/forum/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" />

Wearing the uniform not only looks professional but also shows togetherness among the group. We look more serious in what were doing than those wearing concert T's and blue jeans. Besides, I have no idea how anyone can train in jeans. They bind in the most uncomfortable areas <img src="http://www.thearma.org/forum/images/icons/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Well, just look at all the Asian schools and you'll see what appearance can do.

[Guest]

Our local group experienced this sort of phenomena this year. Gradually, everybody who I fight with on Tuesdays, shifted from wearing whatever, to a sort of "uniform" of black sweat pants, white shirt and black doublet.

It may be because the guy who hosts the group was wearing that earlier this year. I bought into the outfit because I was having trouble moving around in black jeans. Normally, I hate sweat pants and refuse to wear them.

[John_Clements]

Yeah, Shane. I worte on this topic in the Member's Guide. The structure and discipline, the message, and the camaraderie that a uniform displays and evokes in martial arts study is self-evident I think.

JC