During training, the aikidoka wears a keiko-gi, which is (incorrectly) referred to as a kimono in Europe.
Unlike today, when most aikidokas only wear a hakama from 1st dan onwards, it used to be customary for every aikidoka to wear a hakama right from the start.
This change dates back to the Second World War: as the materials were too expensive for many of Morihei Ueshiba’s pupils at that time, they asked Ueshiba for permission to attend lessons without wearing a hakama.
The Keiko-Gi
A keiko-gi is worn during training. It was designed at the end of the 19th century by Jigoro Kano (the founder of judo).
Obi (tying a belt)
How to tie the obi correctly in 6 steps …
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The Hakama
Masters wear the hakama, a kind of kilt, over their keiko-gi.
Within the FNAL, the hakama is only worn from 1st dan onwards.
The kyu grades are indicated by a white belt.
The 7 pleats of the hakama
Although there is no specific historical record to support this, the seven pleats (five at the front, two at the back) of the aikido hakama are associated with the seven virtues of the samurai as recognised in budō:
Jin – Kindness
Gi – Justice / the right decision
Rei – Politeness / Etiquette
Chi – Wisdom / Intelligence
Shin – Sincerity
Chugi – Loyalty
Meiyo – Honour / Respect
In a great many dojos, it is customary for students to practise Aikido without a hakama until they reach the first dan or, at the very least, one of the higher kyu (student grades).
No visual distinction is made in the grading system for Mudansha. There are only a few styles or organisations that have introduced a distinction based on belt colours (modelled on the system used in other martial arts, such as judo, etc.).
The colour of the hakama was also irrelevant, whereas today, in aikido, black or dark blue (indigo) hakama are usually worn.
Wooden weapons
Aikido training is largely carried out with bare hands, but the bokken, the jo and the tanto (training weapons – usually made of wood) play an important role.
They are used because many of the movements and techniques in Aikido are derived from weapon techniques, such as sword or staff techniques, and this helps practitioners to better understand and internalise the unarmed sequences themselves.
There are also techniques that can only be performed using weapons, such as a stick, a sword or a knife.
The Jo
: a staff 1.27 m (50 inches) long and approximately 2.2 cm thick, derived from the considerably longer Bo.
The bokken
– also known as a bokuto – is a replica of a samurai sword, made from heavy wood, which is used in Japanese martial arts.
The Tanto
: A dagger or knife less than 30 cm long with a slightly curved blade.
In Aikido, the jo is used as a training aid.
Various Aikido masters have devised katas – sets of movements – which enable the aikidoka to improve their technical skills in handling the jo and, consequently, in unarmed Aikido techniques.
The term ‘bokuto’ is derived from the words ‘boku’ (wood) and ‘to’ (sword). A synonym used almost exclusively outside Japan is ‘bokken’.
In aikido, the bokken is used as a training aid to practise the movements of the techniques more precisely.
In earlier times, the bokken was certainly used as a lethal weapon.
The tanto was carried by samurai in their belts.
In aikido, a replica made of wood or rubber is usually used to practise defence techniques against knives.
Aikido weapons training:
- Trains the eye to recognise a faster attacking movement,
- Develops a natural sense of distance from one’s partner,
- Practise the hanmi (the natural basic stance in Aikido),
- Strengthens the shoulder and arm muscles,
- Develops stable balance during faster body turns in all (8) directions
(Texts adapted from Wikipedia)