Help on the basics of basic

[Caleb]

I just started iai 2 weeks ago and have a problem with the iato staying snug in my obi. I cant afford another hakama, so Im just using my kendo hakama and keiko gi. How can I get the iato to stay in my belt and not slip down. Ive tightened my obi to the point of cutting off circulation- not litterally- but they're pretty tight- and the iato sheath just slips. This is really annoying in seiza, where my iato sheath touches the floor, or when Im doing #1 or 2 (the only ones I know) and the iato slips down when im making my second cut. any helps appreciated.

[ACRAWFORD]

Your obi should be wraped arount you twice. When You insert the sword make sure that it goes inbetween them not inside both.....

[Halcyon]

How can I get the iato to stay in my belt and not slip down. Ive tightened my obi to the point of cutting off circulation- not litterally- but they're pretty tight- and the iato sheath just slips. This is really annoying in seiza, where my iato sheath touches the floor, or when Im doing #1 or 2 (the only ones I know) and the iato slips down when im making my second cut. any helps appreciated.
your obi, if it's long enough, should be wrapping around your waist three times. when you insert the saya into your obi, leave one layer of obi against your body and two layers on the outside.

now the crucial part: make sure that your saya is also inserted through one of the himo of your hakama, but NOT the himo that wraps around from the koshita (i.e. stiff backboard) of your hakama. this will keep the end of the saya from slipping down and keep it relatively horizontal.

hope this solves your problem.

[Caleb]

thank you for the help

[R A Sosnowski]

your obi, if it's long enough, should be wrapping around your waist three times. when you insert the saya into your obi, leave one layer of obi against your body and two layers on the outside.

now the crucial part: make sure that your saya is also inserted through one of the himo of your hakama, but NOT the himo that wraps around from the koshita (i.e. stiff backboard) of your hakama. this will keep the end of the saya from slipping down and keep it relatively horizontal.

hope this solves your problem.

We assume that you have a proper sword obi (not a katate-style belt). Because I use a longer-than-normal Iaito/Shinken, I use an extra-wide obi (4") from Bujin - it's long enough (12') to get the requisite three wraps. I do end up with control problems if I wear a standard-width sword obi.

YMMV.

[Caleb]

Im just using the regular kendo hakama. No special obi right now. Id like to get a nice hakama for iado, but im still paying my mom back for my bogu :spchless: Only $200 left-lol- its considerably well taking into account the whole deal was 650. Imagine what she does when I tell her I need a new shinai. lol. So theirs special iado belts? Can you still use them with your kendo hakama?

[Halcyon]

Im just using the regular kendo hakama. No special obi right now.
just to be clear, are you or are you not using an obi of any kind right now?

[R A Sosnowski]

I just started iai 2 weeks ago and have a problem with the iato staying snug in my obi. I cant afford another hakama, so Im just using my kendo hakama and keiko gi. How can I get the iato to stay in my belt and not slip down. Ive tightened my obi to the point of cutting off circulation- not litterally- but they're pretty tight- and the iato sheath just slips. This is really annoying in seiza, where my iato sheath touches the floor, or when Im doing #1 or 2 (the only ones I know) and the iato slips down when im making my second cut. any helps appreciated.


Im just using the regular kendo hakama. No special obi right now. Id like to get a nice hakama for iado, but im still paying my mom back for my bogu :spchless: Only $200 left-lol- its considerably well taking into account the whole deal was 650. Imagine what she does when I tell her I need a new shinai. lol. So theirs special iado belts? Can you still use them with your kendo hakama?

Well, that would certainly explain your problem if you are not wearing a sword obi under your Hakama. The himo of the Hakama do not provide enough support to hold an Iaito or a Shinken in place.

Yes, one wears a sword obi under the Hakama. I have used the same Hakama for Kendo, Iaido, Jodo, Naginata, and Kyudo (and even Aikido when I was actively practicing) - there is no real need to get different ones for each art (I do have one formal Hakama in gray for Embu, but that's different than a standard one for everyday Keiko). In fact, the obi provides a foundation for the Hakama. Yes, you can wear the obi under the Hakama for Kendo.

HTH.

[Caleb]

huh

I did not know that... How do you do that? do you just tie the special obi over your keiko gi before you put on the hakama? Everyone else in my dojo use different hakama, and I was under the impression that the hakama came with special obi already sewed on. I have no idea about this kind of stuff. I guess thats why the sensei is there. I have class tomarrow all day. Iado in the morning, and kendo in the afternoo and evening. Ill ask about it. Thanks for the help. Your helping me imensly (dont know if I spelt that right). Domo arigato sempai