Seminar Uniform Etiquette:

Why I Choose Neutral or Branded Uniforms Depending on the Event

By Sensei Liam Musiak

In martial arts, uniforms are not just clothing. They communicate intent, respect, and awareness of context. Because of that, I believe what you wear at seminars matters, especially when teaching outside your own dojo.

Over time, I’ve developed a simple, consistent approach to seminar uniform etiquette. It isn’t about ego, branding, or hiding who you are — it’s about understanding the environment you’re stepping into.

Teaching at a Single Seminar in Another Club

When I am invited to teach a single seminar at another club, I treat that space as someone else’s home.

In that situation, I do not wear my Voracious Karate (VK) uniform.

Instead, I will wear:

• A neutral white or black gi

• My rank belt

• No club branding

This choice is deliberate.

Wearing my own club uniform in another dojo can unintentionally feel like advertising, recruiting, or overshadowing the host’s identity. Even if that isn’t the intention, perception matters. A neutral uniform keeps the focus where it should be — on training, learning, and mutual respect.

When I step into another club, I’m there as a guest instructor, not as a representative planting a flag.

Multi-Club, National, and International Events

The context changes when multiple clubs, styles, and instructors are present in a neutral venue.

At multi-club or international events, instructors commonly wear:

• their organisation’s colours

• their club logos

• their identifying uniforms

In these settings, wearing branded uniforms is normal and expected. Everyone is representing something, and no single dojo owns the space.

In those environments, wearing a branded uniform is appropriate — provided it’s done professionally and without excess.

Events I Organise or Teach Under My Platform

If I organise a seminar, co-host an event, or teach under my own platform, then wearing my VK uniform is correct.

In that context:

• I’m responsible for the event

• I’m representing my organisation

• Other instructors are doing the same

This isn’t about promotion — it’s about clarity and accountability.

The Principle That Guides All of This

The rule I follow is simple:

If I’m entering someone else’s space, I minimise my branding.

If the space is neutral or built around my platform, representation is appropriate.

Uniform etiquette isn’t about strict rules — it’s about reading the room.

Martial arts should never feel territorial. Respect is shown not by insisting on identity, but by knowing when to step forward and when to step back.

Final Thought

A uniform should never speak louder than your conduct.

If you teach well, listen properly, and show respect on the mat, what you wear becomes secondary within minutes. But choosing the right uniform at the start sets the tone — and that’s a responsibility I take seriously.

— Sensei Liam Musiak 🥋