How to Measure Yourself
The diagram above shows the most appropriate locations to begin and end measurement for the different areas of your body. Often people will measure at the wrong location and get false results. For example, when measuring your waist, some people take the measurement below the belly button when your natural waistline is located above the belly button! Check out the easy-to-follow instructions for getting accurate measurements for each body part below:
Chest: Measure the circumference of your chest. Place one end of the tape measure at the fullest part of your bust, wrap it around (under your armpits, around your shoulder blades, and back to the front) to get the measurement.
Waist: Measure the circumference of your waist. Use the tape to circle your waist (sort of like a belt would) at your natural waistline, which is located above your belly button and below your rib cage. (If you bend to the side, the crease that forms is your natural waistline.) Don’t suck in your stomach, or you’ll get a false measurement. If you generally wear your clothes below your waist, take that measurement as well.
Hips: Measure the circumference of your hips. Start at one hip and wrap the tape measure around your rear, around the other hip, and back to where you started. Make sure the tape is over the largest part of your buttocks. Because making sure the tape is level back there can be hard, try to do it in front of a mirror.
| TIP: When taking these measurements, use a cloth tape measure, not a metal one. Make sure that, when you circle your chest, waist, or hips, the tape is level and neither too tight nor too loose. Also measure yourself on your bare skin, not over clothes. And this may sound silly, but don’t trust your memory — be sure to write the measurements down! If you don't have a cloth tape measure you could use a long piece of cloth (like a ribbon or bathrobe tie) measure yourself with this, then measure the cloth on the floor with a metal tape measure. You may need a family member or friend to assist you with the measurements. |
Martial arts uniforms are all based on height so you'll need to know your height. If possible get someone to measure you. If you are buying in-store we can measure your height for you.
Interesting fact: A person’s height changes throughout the day. A person is at their tallest in the morning when they first wake and gradually loses some height throughout the day. Also many people think they are taller than they actually are.
A person who wants to measure their own height unassisted might find it a bit challenging. But here are some steps to make it easier:
- Find a flat, straight object such as a book, ruler, or box.
- Place the object on top of the head and stand with the back straight against a wall and feet flat.
- Ensure the chosen object is straight and parallel with the floor. This is easier to do by looking in a mirror.
- Use a pencil or other erasable writing instrument to mark the wall where the object touches the top of the head.
- Measure from the floor to the marking.
Before measuring your height, remove shoes and any headwear. It is important to stand with feet flat and the back straight, as slouching or raising up at all on the ball of the foot can also create an inaccurate measurement.
If possible, ask someone to help. Having a friend or family member assist should help improve the accuracy of the measurement.
- To ensure the measurement is as accurate as possible, remove shoes any any headwear.
- Keep feet flat on the floor and stand straight with back flat against the wall, keeping the chin parallel to the floor.
- The person helping can either place a flat straight object flat on the head and mark the wall, as before, or simply hold a pencil flat against the top of the person’s head and mark the wall directly.
- Measure the distance from the floor to the spot on the wall to find out the height.