Koral gi are some of my favourite. A couple of folks, men and women, have asked my opinion on how Koral wear and hold-up. I have found my Koral to be hard-wearing and comfortable, and I would pass on a few tips regarding how the different lines (Classic versus MKM) fit and how to reinvigorate a worn gi.
Koral Features
Classic A1, MKM A1, MKM A0 I have four Koral gi: two blue Classic (A1); a red MKM (A1); and a white MKM (A0). The Classic gi are tough and good for everyday training, however, as they have a slightly heavier weave than the MKM they can be difficult to dry (if, as many of us here in Britain, you air dry your clothes). I prefer the slightly lighter weave of the MKM series, and while the gi top’s fabric is slightly lighter than for the Classic, the collar is equivalently robust. The MKM’s weave is a bit softer and more pleasant to wear and it dries much more quickly.
Koral Fit
MKM A1 versus MKM A0The MKM are cut more generously than the Classic and you may find that you need one size down from your Classic size. I’m 163cm and 60kgs and, according to Koral’s site, I should fit the A1 in both the Classic and MKM ranges. It is worth noting that I am rather lean (this is a nice way of saying I’m a bit deficient in the TnA area), so you more blessed ladies should take this review with a grain of salt. I first bought a Classic cut gi and as the A1 fitted me as I’d like it to, when it came time to get the red MKM I opted for the same size. I do find it is a bit loose and I much prefer the fit of my white MKM (A0). In particular, I find the trousers to be too baggy; they end up very gathered to the back of the waist and I prefer the mid-calf length of the A0 MKM trousers. Classic A1 versus MKM A1Similarly, while not entirely obvious from the photos included here, the MKM A1 top gathers and gaps quite a bit and is much longer (the bottom coming level with my palms rather than with the tops of my wrists as with the A1 Classic and A0 MKM). I find this very bothersome and a little spar can leave my red gi totally bedraggled, loose and begging to be used against me, while it is easier to keep the other two tops under control; for this reason I don’t compete in the red gi (not to mention formal regs state that only white, blue and black are allowable, though I’ve seen red, beige and camo gi at British comps). While, for me, the smaller MKM has worked well, team mates who are between sizes have had trouble with ripping out the backs of their trousers when going for the smaller size, which is worth considering.
Koral Shrinkage
I wash my gi after every training session and while there has been significant fading to the blue (and I’ve noticed the same with team mates’ black gi), the red colour has held up well. Koral pre-shrink their gi and while I’ve had to wash some of my gi on a very hot (90C) wash to remove mildew smell (particularly the slower drying Classic), I haven’t noticed any shrinkage.
Dying Gi
Coloured gi fade pretty easily, but they can be dyed back to their original glory. I’ve used Dylon’s Ocean Blue dye on one of my Classic gi, and it looks like new. The patches are not cotton, so they don’t take the dye and come through largely unscathed (a few washes seem to get the little bit of residue clean from the patches). It is a great way of giving your worn gi a new lease on life and several members of my club have dyed their gi with good results (the idea for dying gi was actually a team mate’s, not my own).
Conclusions
The choice of gi is ultimately down to personal choice, and Koral’s gi may not be for you, but I can heartily recommend the Koral range of gi and say that Koral is the choice of most of my team mates who, as far as I know, have no reason to complain about the Koral’s ability to stand-up to regular training.
Hi there. Great review. I just have a couple of questions. Have you experienced any warping of the collar. My teammate has the classic and he washes and dries it in hot and the rubber collar almost looked like it is bent when his belt comes off.
Have you noticed any transfer of the dye when you spar with someone who has a white gi?
Thanks.
Meg Smitley
11 May 2010 @
7:27 am
Hi Rob,
Thanks for reading and commenting, much obliged. I have no personal experience of warping of the collar, but I do not have a tumble dryer. I do, however, know a woman who had this happen to her Koral – the collar gets all bent and shrunken out of shape (like cauli ear almost!) – and this was due to tumble drying. I have washed my gi on a very high temperature washes (90C degrees) on the occasion where they get smelly, with no extra shrinkage beyond the minimal initial shrinkage, and regularly wash them on a warm 60C degree wash. Essentially, they are good to go on a hot wash, but avoid tumble drying.
In terms of dye transfer, good question and a concern I had when I bought my first black gi (a Fenom women's gi which, as it happens, did not transfer any dye); no one wants to be the antisocial git smearing dye all over everyone's pristine white kimono! I am slightly paranoid about this, so I always wash my gi before the first wear, but I think that I am the only person in the club that does this. Most folk wear Koral that I train with (or at least have a Koral) and to my knowledge no one has ever noticed any dye transfer. I'd say you are good to go in that department too, but if you are concerned, do a warm wash before breaking it in on the mats.
[…] resilience of the gi’s colouring. While in all other respects my black Fenom Classic and blue Koral Classic are tough, well put together gi, washing on a warm cycle rapidly takes the shine off the dark […]
pattayabrazil
3 Nov 2014 @
9:31 pm
hi
thank for the info
do you wear men gi?
or is the koral gi for woman?
thank you
Meg Smitley
7 Nov 2014 @
1:34 pm
Hi, many thanks for your comment. At the time that this post was published, Koral wasn’t yet making gi in women’s sizes. So far I have only worn men’s Korals.
Rachel Tyler
8 Apr 2015 @
6:41 pm
What size do you recommend for 5’0″ 115 pound girl who is busty in the women’s gi?
Meg Smitley
24 Apr 2015 @
7:54 pm
Hi Rachel, Thanks for your comment! Sorry, friend, I’ve only worn the men’s Korals (women’s versions weren’t yet available at the time), so I have no ‘insider info’ to share. If you do go for a women’s Koral, it would be great if you could add some comments on the fit in this thread. Other readers like yourself could benefit.
10 May 2010 @ 8:21 pm
Hi there. Great review. I just have a couple of questions. Have you experienced any warping of the collar. My teammate has the classic and he washes and dries it in hot and the rubber collar almost looked like it is bent when his belt comes off.
Have you noticed any transfer of the dye when you spar with someone who has a white gi?
Thanks.
11 May 2010 @ 7:27 am
Hi Rob,
Thanks for reading and commenting, much obliged. I have no personal experience of warping of the collar, but I do not have a tumble dryer. I do, however, know a woman who had this happen to her Koral – the collar gets all bent and shrunken out of shape (like cauli ear almost!) – and this was due to tumble drying. I have washed my gi on a very high temperature washes (90C degrees) on the occasion where they get smelly, with no extra shrinkage beyond the minimal initial shrinkage, and regularly wash them on a warm 60C degree wash. Essentially, they are good to go on a hot wash, but avoid tumble drying.
In terms of dye transfer, good question and a concern I had when I bought my first black gi (a Fenom women's gi which, as it happens, did not transfer any dye); no one wants to be the antisocial git smearing dye all over everyone's pristine white kimono! I am slightly paranoid about this, so I always wash my gi before the first wear, but I think that I am the only person in the club that does this. Most folk wear Koral that I train with (or at least have a Koral) and to my knowledge no one has ever noticed any dye transfer. I'd say you are good to go in that department too, but if you are concerned, do a warm wash before breaking it in on the mats.
Happy training! 😀
Predator BJJ ‘Predadora’ Women’s BJJ Gi Review | MegJitsu
31 Oct 2011 @ 9:09 am
[…] resilience of the gi’s colouring. While in all other respects my black Fenom Classic and blue Koral Classic are tough, well put together gi, washing on a warm cycle rapidly takes the shine off the dark […]
3 Nov 2014 @ 9:31 pm
hi
thank for the info
do you wear men gi?
or is the koral gi for woman?
thank you
7 Nov 2014 @ 1:34 pm
Hi, many thanks for your comment. At the time that this post was published, Koral wasn’t yet making gi in women’s sizes. So far I have only worn men’s Korals.
8 Apr 2015 @ 6:41 pm
What size do you recommend for 5’0″ 115 pound girl who is busty in the women’s gi?
24 Apr 2015 @ 7:54 pm
Hi Rachel, Thanks for your comment! Sorry, friend, I’ve only worn the men’s Korals (women’s versions weren’t yet available at the time), so I have no ‘insider info’ to share. If you do go for a women’s Koral, it would be great if you could add some comments on the fit in this thread. Other readers like yourself could benefit.