Hakama Length and Colour

Hi Guys,

I understand that in O-Sensei's time, they wore their hakama relatively short compared to today, the hem above the ankle bone, but today the trend seems to be to have the hem just above the floor. I like it long but the longer length makes it easier to get tangled around by feet during suwari waza and during ukemi. What do you guys prefer?

Also does anyone know how they measure the sizes for hakama e.g 26, 26.5, 27. I was told that the numbers could be the length from the lowest point of the vents on the sides of the hakama to the hem. Does anyone know the answer? I'm sure the truth is out there.

Finally, does anyone know where to get good quality indigo coloured cotton or cotton/poly blend hakama where the colour does not run? I would love to get the traditionally dyed indigo hakama but I note that Jun still has to sometimes scrub the mat and his hands get smurfed when he uses his Iwata indigo hakama, and I would like to avoid this. Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

Ken

Hi Ken!
I need only to say Bujin and Tozando. Their homepages will give you all the info you need buddy!

http://www.tozando.com/eng/aikido/index.html "Nice indigo Hakama"
http://www.bujindesign.com/orderhakama.html " The length of the Hakama"

stay

Which is considered the more traditional color for hakama in aikido/budo? Black or blue/indigo? It seems to me that at least in my dojo and its organization, black is the most common color. I'm curious as to whether this is the same for other dojos and organizations.

As for what is most traditional, I really don't know. Indigo has been a colour of hakama (and other fabric) for a long time in Japan. Before 19th century the pattern and colour of hakama was clan or family individual, even in the dojo. I really don't know when black became the standard (or most frequently used) coluor but I guess It has something to do with the fact that the samurai class dissapeared but people still used hakama during Budo-practice. That meant that the process (price!?) of making hakama became more importent than pattern, hence patternless and uniformly dyed hakama. But then again I really don't know so don't take my word for it.

Ps. My experience is that black is the dominant colour and blue or indigo comes second. I would say 80% black vs 20% blue or Indigo Ds.

Aikilove wrote:
>As for what is most traditional, I
>really don't know. Indigo has been a
>colour of hakama (and other fabric)

Traditional color? Nothing in particular. Hakama were sort of chaps for the samruai on horseback that evolved into day-to-day pants. There are a lot of different styles of hakama, some very formal, some for working in the dirt. Length, color, fabric and style all varied a lot.

The hakama we wear in modern budo dojo is somewhat standardized, but not neccesarily so. Black is common, I understand, because after WW II, black fabric was readily available (from the blackout curtains) in Japan and could be cheaply made into hakama by struggling budo students.

Standardized uniforms are pretty new, especially nice white keikogi or judogi.

I sort of look at the gi/hak combination we find in dojo today as a step above blue jeans and not quite a casual Friday office outfit.

You can, however, but very nice hamaka, keikogi, haroi, etc that will bump up your level of style considerably ...

Chuck Gordon
(aka LOEP)

Actually, shortly after WWII, O'Sensei asked that everyone wear hakama. The problem was that since the war no one had the necessary money for a training hakama, so many of the students showed up in their father's wedding hakama, or other dress hakama, much to the chagrin of their fathers when the knees were worn out.

As to the traditional colors of black or indigo blue, dark colors don't show the dirt as easily as the lighter colors.

The only "tradition" that I am aware of is that the white hakama is usually wore by elder practitioners when they suspect they are getting near their final years. White being the color for death in the Orient.

Richard Harnack wrote: The only "tradition" that I am aware of is that the white hakama is usually wore by elder practitioners when they suspect they are getting near their final years. White being the color for death in the Orient.

Hasn't Hikitsuchi sensei in Shingu, Japan, worn a white hakama for a while now?

I've also heard that some aikido organizations in Europe have people wear white hakama.

-- Jun

In the yoshinkan.

1st dan to 3rd dan where a blue hakama

4th dan onward where a black hakama





Matt Banks

I have a question. I've seen different Aikidoka wearing both white and black (and sometimes gray) hakamas. I was just wondering if their is any significance to this, or is that what was the only thing clean in the morning when they woke up and got out of bed.


Jeff

Hi everybody!
I used to practice Kendo and Iaido. In Kendo the Hakama is usually blue but in Iaido it is usually black, but nobody could explain why it was so. In Kendo the Gi is usually dark blue as well but sometimes white. We once had a english kendo instructor teaching at a summer camp and one day he was wearing a crisp clean all white hakama with matching gi. I asked him if this had any importance and he giggled and told me that white was okay to wear if you were so good at Kendo that you wouldn't get hit by anybody since a Shinai makes really nasty marks on a white Gi. I guess he was actually showing off....
By the way: in both Kendo and Iaido it is custom to have the hakama go allmost all the way down to the floor to hide your foot-work. Sometimes it causes people to fall flat on their faces, but it looks really cool when they sort of 'float' across the floor. Sometimes I see Aikido-ka's who wear the hakama very short and it allways make me think off the cartoon character Dilbert and his skimpy pants. A couple of inches above the floor is okay, but 10-15 inches seems funny to me due to my background.
That's all folks!

In our Dojo we tend to wear a black hakama, unless the wearer is a Dan grade in more than one MA, then they CAN wear a blue one.However, no-one does, I've no idea why. As for length, any length is ok as long as you don't keep falling on your face (or anyone else's).
Have fun,

I guess Aikido Schools of Ueshiba are pretty lax in this department. As I understand, any student whom has tested at least once are encouraged to wear a hakama, and black or indigo is a matter of preference. There is no "only sempai can wear hakama" rule, or designated colors for dan grades with the hakama. I've heard USAF and others only allow sempai to wear hakama. Is this a "status" thing?? Is ASU the only org that encourages the wearing of hakama before a dan grade??

Anyway, there seems to be some variation in regards to hakama length in our dojo. Some slightly above the ankles, others touch the floor. Mine is somewhere in between.

Originally posted by sceptoor I guess Aikido Schools of Ueshiba are pretty lax in this department. As I understand, any student whom has tested at least once are encouraged to wear a hakama, and black or indigo is a matter of preference. There is no "only sempai can wear hakama" rule, or designated colors for dan grades with the hakama. I've heard USAF and others only allow sempai to wear hakama. Is this a "status" thing?? Is ASU the only org that encourages the wearing of hakama before a dan grade?? Anyway, there seems to be some variation in regards to hakama length in our dojo. Some slightly above the ankles, others touch the floor. Mine is somewhere in between.

Saotome Sensei's attittude about wearing the hakama comes from his time training with O-Sensei as an uchi-deshi. O-sensei wouldn't let his students on the mat if they weren't properly attired. Saotome Sensei has chosen to treat all of his students as if they were professionals in training and has continued the tradition he got from his teacher.

As for length. The longer lengths have mostly to do with vanity. Those who have experience doing classical martial arts consider the longer hakamas to be indicative of so-called dojo martial arts that don't have any stress on reality for combat. We wear our hakamas longer because they look good that way. I think that explanation that they were worn long to hide footwork is just a made up story since the martial arts that I am familiar with that are classical combat arts wear them short.

Originally posted by George S. Ledyard Saotome Sensei's attittude about wearing the hakama comes from his time training with O-Sensei as an uchi-deshi. O-sensei wouldn't let his students on the mat if they weren't properly attired. Saotome Sensei has chosen to treat all of his students as if they were professionals in training and has continued the tradition he got from his teacher.

I stand corrected, I should have said he was more strict regarding the hakama. I read his views regarding the wearing of the hakama somewhere. Anyway, I do agree with his philosophy, or "attitude". You're ASU also, correct??

Originally posted by sceptoor You're ASU also, correct??

He is my teacher. I started Aikido in Washington, DC when the dojo was first started 23 years ago. Since that time I have also been able to train extensively with Hiroshi Ikeda, Mary Heiny, Tom Read, and William Gleason Senseis. But Saotome Sensei will always be my Aikido "father" so to speak. I just wish he wasn't on the other side of the country from where I reside.

Saotome Sensei will be in Orlando this weekend at Shindai Aikikai, April 20-22. I wasn't able to reserve a spot, as the seminar was limited to 60 people. However, I understand people can go and observe, so, this Sunday I'll be there watching. Hopefully, I'll be able to meet Sensei, but if not, I'll be greatful just to be there and observe. You must know our chief instructor, John Messores. I'm assuming you were fellow students?? (In fact, I believe I saw a glimpse of you, John Messores, and Mike Lasky-among other sensei-on the Cherry Blossom tape.) Hopefully, one day we'll meet at a similiar seminar.

I think that explanation that they were worn long to hide footwork is just a made up story since the martial arts that I am familiar with that are classical combat arts wear them short.

yes, you are right, is made up story.

It is known that to fix the akama in the hips so that it becomes shorter, it's a typical sign that the samurai was ready for a fight.

Samurai were not ninjas! Hiding the foot work was not something they wanted to do!

I practice at a USAF dojo. After 5th kyu a woman may wear hakama. It's not required but most women in my dojo seem to like to wear the hakama. The guys have to wait till their shodan before they get to wear hakama. Sorry guys.

Why is it like this? I don't know. Does it have to do to "protect" my modesty? I don't know, and I don't care. I'm just glad I have the option to wear hakama.

Oh yeah, most people in my dojo wear the blue hakama. There are a couple of us who wear black. I wear black. I haven't be told I had to have blue. But blue is the tradition at my school.

Take care,
Anne Marie

Originally posted by Matt Banks In the yoshinkan. 1st dan to 3rd dan where a blue hakama 4th dan onward where a black hakama Matt Banks

That may be true where you are, but that is NOT true across the whole of the Yoshinkan.

There is, to my knowledge, no official decree about hakama color selection.


Scott

Hi everybody!

I would like to clear out what might be a misunderstanding. I wrote something previously in this tread about wearing the hakama long in order to hide your footwork. I didn't mean to say that this was in any way 'original' or the 'true way'. What I intended to say was that in KENDO you would usualy have you hakama almost all the way down to the floor in order to hide your footwork - but then again Kendo is not very 'original' anymore but have transformed into a sport rather than a MA (hmmm... I might take a beating for this bold statment ). However I still stand by my conviction, that it looks kind of silly if the hakama is more than 10 inches above the floor - might just be my personal opinion though.

Funny by the way, that in a modern age where we promote equality of genders in every aspect of society, we still find some dojo's where women can wear a hakama from 5. kyu while men have to wait until Shodan. Where I practice black is common - blue is rare and other colors is yet to be seen. The tradition is as well that everybody can wear a hakama from 3. kyu. The reason for this is that it is concidered sort of a 'half way to shodan' sign. Personally I think we should all wear it from day one, just like O-Sensei supposedly intended.
Best wishes to all of you

The fact that women can wear akama since day one is because in japan the gi is considered underwear, so that it's no good if a woman shows her underwear to everybody!! eheh

Originally posted by JJF - but then again Kendo is not very 'original' anymore but have transformed into a sport rather than a MA (hmmm... I might take a beating for this bold statment ).

You might take a beating, but you're right. Kendo is a sporting application of a martial art. There's a difference between a cut and kendo strike.

I hear Kendo is mandatory for Japanese schoolboys as part of the cirriculum, actually.
andrew

Yeah, I think women wearing hakama after 5th kyu is discriminatory. But discriminatory against whom? At least in my dojo, the feeling is that it is discriminatory against the men. And part of this is that women are NOT REQUIRED to wear hakama until shodan like the men. Wearing hakama is an OPTION after 5th kyu.

And the modesty and underware issue is moot these days as I and most other women wear less to the dojo than in the dojo.

Take Care,
Anne Marie

Originally posted by ilgulamc The fact that women can wear akama since day one is because in japan the gi is considered underwear, so that it's no good if a woman shows her underwear to everybody!! eheh

Partially true! The Gi is based on japanese underwear and O-sensei himself felt very strongly that everybody should wear a hakama, but why is it bad for a woman to walk around in her undies, but okay for men ? Wouldn't it be even more humiliating for a woman to be fully dressed while looking at men parading around in their underwear ? As Anne Marie says in her post the whole underwear-issue is outdated by now as the gi has developed into a gym-suit status more than a underwear-status. What is even stranger than the 'women can wear hakama - men can not' is when a woman starts wearing a hakama at say 3. kyu while the men in the dojo must wait until shodan. That makes no sense at all. Once again I must say that the only 'right' way is to have equal rules for everybody regardless of gender or affiliation, but that will probably never happen. Traditions can be great, but they are also a pain to get rid of .

BTW: Andrew - as far as I know in some schools Kendo IS mandatory for school boys, in others I believe they are given a choice between for example kendo, judo or perhaps baseball.

I've let out some steam and I hope some of it makes sense. Have a nice weekend everybody.

Originally posted by JJF but why is it bad for a woman to walk around in her undies, but okay for men ?

I can't remember who I read saying it (some shihan or other I'm sure..), but putting women in hakama solely for reasons of modesty is insulting to the people on the mat, implying as it does a preoccupation with sentiments inappropriate to the practice of Aikido.

andrew