Tight-packed Dobok Recepy

While preparing some meaningful material for a new post about our brand-new Gym, let me share with you - my Friends and Readers - a nice method of arranging your Taekwondo uniform (Dobok, 도복) "Korean Style", like my friend, Master Na from Seoul taught me. Thanks Master Na, although I would be even more grateful if he would contact me in some shorter time. :)

So, I chose my bedroom and my bed as background, I hope you don't mind, sometimes even hard-working uniform deserves to be
treated with care, so the floor was out of question. For those with smooth taste, please ignore blanket ornaments.

Let us begin with 도복 itself. Pretty messy just like that, space consuming, not beautiful in first. Depending on quality of material, some uniforms will bend better, some harder, but you really don't need to take much care about bands. Banding in ways I will show you allows plenty of space for uniform not to sustain too sharp bends so you will look nice and ironed when you later put it on, just like you kept it hanged in your wardrobe. 1. The Jacket Today's uniforms are usually marked at least by manufacturer, while I am sure all of you have at least some sign of your team or club printed on it. This one I got from my Korean friends has a nice Korean flag in front so I always try to finish with it showing on the front side of the "package". Turn it face down and bend sleeves toward middle so they overlap. The best is to bend them in shoulder sutures (or "stitches" is the word?) so you don't bend sides before time. You will also avoid unnecessary bending on places where it could be visible after you "unpack" your Dobok. 2. Trousers Bend them vertically as most convenient, keep them straight, and then bend downside up. It does not need to be really symmetrical, just use space so it can fit on your jacket like in next step.

3. All together

Now, put your bent trousers somewhere about in the middle of your jacket. Place it so it does not extend over jacket borders. Then, bend the jacket around them vertically as shown on the picture. You should choose a side depending what you want to have in front of your "package". I want Korean flag to be in front, so I bend the uniform keeping the flag under.


Then, bend the whole package from bottom up, so it finishes a little below collar. Turn your package over to see if everything is fine on the front (or upper) side.



4. The Belt (Di 띠)

OK, not that you must arrange it like I did on that photo, but also think about what you would like to "show" when all is packed. First bend your belt on half, place it horizontally facing down the part you would like to be in front at the end. In my case that was the name. So I faced it down, then turned end upwards, so I can see "face-down" side. Make "name" part a little bigger, since it will have to go "around" more. Put your uniform on it.



5. The Big Finish

Well I hope in next photos you see steps how to tie your belt around uniform so that right things are in right place. Experimenting a little you can find your best method. Aesthetics is usually in the eye of observer so pick your own.


Well, whether you like it or not, such way packed Dobok is really convenient; you can swing around with it, put it in a small bag or sit on it, the damage you make to it's beauty (achieved by ironing) is minimal. Some guys practice tying even their training shoes together but due to smelly reasons and sometimes noticeable amounts of dirt I never do that. Just to demonstrate how compact the package is, I put it on (clean) shoes.

At the end, folks, if you don't find this funny, just do it the way that is best for you - but always respect your uniform and make it look proud. ;-)