What belt should I wear at a seminar??

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[Chocolateuke]

Im going to a seminar tommorow. I haven't been to many seminars and am a little hazy about the formalities. I have a shodan in Yoshinkan, the seminar is an aikikai seminar. Should I wear my Black belt or White belt? I asked my Sensei and I believe he said I should wear my black belt, however I have a hearing impairment and am not 100%. It would be cool to wear the white belt and have a beginners mind and appearence.

Thanks!

[Larry Feldman]

Can't go to far wrong with the White Belt, especially if it is not a seminar in your 'style'. It is a humble approach.

People will see you have experience from your ukemi.

[Nacho_mx]

An Aikikai yudansha may wear a white belt if he/she wants at anytime but only if he/she wears the hakama. If you choose not to wear a hakama, then you should use your black obi. Well, at least that´s how it works around here.

[Chocolateuke]

But I am not an Aikikai Yudansha, and I dont have a Hakama. HEH, Ill go white if that is no objection to the seneis.

[Nacho_mx]

Of course, you should always ask first, I don´t think it will be a problem. You may even ambush some overconfident yudansha thinking you are a lowly beginner :) beware of their revenge when your real rank is out! :D

[PeterR]

Hi Dallas - it varies from dojo to dojo, seminar to seminar but lately I just go with white belt.

Personally I'm not a great seminar goer, I just don't feel I get that much out of them. I do visit dojos when I travel but even there its mostly a social thing.

In either case (especially when you go a different style) the black belt only serves (and then only sometimes) to insulate you from the 5th kyu shihan.

[Largo]

you can never go wrong with sequins. ;)