Shenley Jujitsu Club

Another grading is on the way and I'm busy ordering new belts. But when a student gains a new belt, what happens to the old one?

Some students like to keep them as a memento of their grading, for others they are thrown away as soon as they are out of the grading dojo.

Now belts don't cost a lot but it's not about the money, it's the fact that they are often worn for about 3 - 6 months and then discarded. Would you be happy with a second-hand belt or would you prefer a new belt every time? Would you want a reduction on the grading fee if you chose to have a second-hand belt?

Would anyone actively WANT an old belt that used to belong to previous students? I still have all my old senior belts from White to Brown. Would you want to wear one of them? (Probably not as they've been stuck in a draw for the last 7 years - maybe when they've been dusted off and disinfected!)

Now belts get dirty and grimy and it's usually best never to wash them (as the colours run) so perhaps this isn't a good idea. I have used freecycle to pass second hand belts onto other martial arts clubs which is great, but only the senior belts as not many other clubs use striped belts.

As for suits (gi), juniors often grow out of them before they wear them out - I'm sure if anyone has an old washed suit available why not let me know, or post it here for others to see. It's certainly cheaper than buying them new. (A second-hand adult suit is usually sweaty and horrible and only fit for rag recycling).

Any thoughts?