Questions Answered

Suits and Belts FAQs

Q. Which material Mr Antonio Diaz (Kata Champion) wears?
He wears the Very Heavy weight Hirota gi (made to measure).

Q. How do I know which is the correct length of the belt for me?
A good tip: when the belt is made up, lift both ends and ensure that they do not pass your chin. This is to prevent it from slapping your face when kicking.

To assist you could apply the following formula:
for the Regular belt (4cm width) :
•    (Waist in cm) x 2 + 110 to 120 cm (depending on if you want a standard length belt or long hanging belt. This can in turn be dependent on the amount of embroidery.)
   
for the the Wide belt (4.5cm width):
•    (waist in cm) x 2 + 120 to 130cm  (depending on if you want a standard length belt or long hanging belt. This can in turn be dependent on the amount of embroidery.)

Q.  Is It impossible to make pinac gi in black?
NO it is not possible.

Q.  Which one of your gi is the equivalent of 14oz karate gi?
The heavy weight gi is about 14.5oz and the very heavy weight gi is about 14.8oz.
Original Pinack is about 10oz, and the medium weight gi is about 12oz.
The decision is yours!

Q.  Is it possible to have an elastic waistband with a drawstring in?
I’m sorry it is not possible due to the Hirota manufacturing process. It is not something that they do.
   
Q.  Would it be possible to have on one side of the belt "Shotokan Karate Do" in Kanji and on the other side my initials and surname in English "S. McDermott". I would like it to be in Italic hand writing rather than capitals?
YES.  Please send a note with your order and it will be done.

Q.  Is it possible to have my name embroidered on the chest?
 YES it is. Please ask Ichiban for a quote.

Q.  Is it possible to have embroidery on 4 sides of the belt?
 YES it is. Please ask Ichiban for a quote.

Q. How much would the pinack material shrink by? 
     Is it the same as the cotton?
 A. Pinack shrinkage will be 3% of length and 1% of width.
 B. Cotton shrinkage will be 4% of length and 1-2% of width.

For example for Pinack material Gi:
If the length of the jacket is 90cm (90x3)=2.7cm (so you need to add 2.7cm to your measurement).

For  example for Cotton material Gi:
If the length of the jacket is 90cm (90x4)=3.6cm.

The shrinkage is a slow process. You will notice it after many washes.
Please wash the Cotton and Pinack Gi in COLD WASH ONLY. DO NOT TUMBLE DRY.

Q. I need a pair of punch mitts soon! can you please tell me which model that you stock are the most popular and why?
People choose both mitts (fist protectors) depending on which competition they take part in or which group they belong. 
In term of quality, both types are equally good. Many people buy both and wear them alternatively.

Q: How long will it take to receive a full made to measure suit?
Approximately 4-8 weeks. This depends on how busy Hirota is at the time of ordering.
Ichiban has experienced some delivery to arrive on the 2nd week after ordering and others, in rare occasions,
to arrive on the 8th week of ordering.

Q: Why does the karate suit have a bluish colour when new?
This is to do with the cotton being brushed and bleached. It gives a slight bluish colour. This colour will fade away after few washes.
Providing you do not mixed it with other colour clothes when washing, the suit will become white.

Q: Will these suits shrink when I wash them?
According to the manufacturer the suit will shrink by approx. 4-5 cm (over a period of 3 years).
This is providing that you follow the washing instructions and do not tumble dry. 

Q. Is the New Pinack the one for Kata and the old Pinack the one for Kumite?
Yes. This is how some people call it. Hirota made the so called “Pinack for Kumite” first. This is, at present, very popular in Japan for both Kata and Kumite. I have noticed that it is matter of preference from an individual to wear whichever material they like.
The New Pinack was made by Hirota after the so called “kumite pinack”. This is why Ichiban decided to call the first one “Pinack” and the other one “New Pinack”.

Q. Can you please confirm that the price you quote on your website includes any Import Tax (does the Gi or belt come straight to my address from Hirota or to you first) ?.
We do pay import Tax and duty in UK. The Gi or belt comes to Ichiban’s address first then we send it to the customer. This is to ensure that there are no errors with the orders.
We have had some problems with embroidery in the past.  It is part of Ichiban service to ensure that errors are dealt with and corrected and customers are made aware of it.

Accessories and Sale FAQs

Q: Can I order different colours of karate-do logo hooded tops, fleeces and t-shirts?
Yes you can. Almost any colour top and embroidery thread can be made. There is a minimum order of 5; however we may have the same request from other customers. Please e-mail your request to info@ichibaninternational.com. It will take 2 weeks for orders not in stock to be made.

Q: Will the item be exactly the same colour as shown on the website?
Every care has been taken to use images that most accurately reflect the actual colour of garments.
However, this is not an exact science and slight variations may occur.

Q: Can I get a discount if I buy a large number of fleeces, hooded tops and t-shirts for my club?
Yes you can. This varies depending on the quantity. You can also choose different colours. The delivery time will be within 2 weeks.
Please contact Ichiban before placing the order online. 

Any Other FAQs

Q: How do I use zoom?
Click on one of the product image. Wait for the image to appear on the large window.
Select the part you want to zoom in by clicking on the left mouse button.
There may be a slight delay, so please wait.
When the full immage is on, roll the cursor over while holding down the left mouse button,
move the mouse around to view the image in details wherever you want.
 
Q: Can I make an overseas order?
Yes you can. We charge everything in UK pounds, so you may want to work out the exchange rate.
It's also worth bearing in mind that local import duties, for non EU countries, may be payable on receipt of goods.

Q: Can my order be delivered direct to the recipient?
If you would like to send your order as a gift to another address, please add the delivery address when you check out.

Q: Why do you want my email address/telephone number etc?
We ask for these details so we can contact you in case there's a problem with your order.
We also email customers special Ichiban offers and information. For example, if we have your email address, we can alert you to any promotional offer or clearance of stock sale etc.
We do not make email addresses or telephone numbers available to other companies ever.

Q: What credit cards do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Solo, Delta, JCB, Electron, Purchasing, Maestro and Mastercard Debit.

Q: Is it safe to order online?
Yes. Your card payment is processed via secure, fully encrypted server.
The transaction process complies to the strict security measures required by Secure Trading company.
Please note that Ichiban International does not record or store your credit card information.