Start Wearing Hakama

[Akai Bushi]

As a sensei what are the main things you look at when deciding whether someone is ready to wear hakama?

[fighting mochi]

in our dojo, it's when they can afford to get one. we try to make it easy for them to to continue training and not let lack of fund to dissuade them from working out.

[Optomitrist]

I was told that most people wait until they get bogu. I made my first one months before I got bogu. The only reason some dont like that is becuase your instructors cant see your feet and posture as well.

[mushinman]

Like fighting mochi says, affordability.

[Dave Fowler]

In most clubs I've seen you typically have to have hakama before you put on bogu. Other than that, it's does the person wish to spend the money on the gear and has their footwork gotten to the basic point you don't need to see their legs and feet as they move as much.


The reason why I state the last point is that it's a bit hard to see if someone is bending their knee to much or at the wrong time, or if the foot is slightly twisted while in hakama, while in short or sweats it's very easy.

[Kendoka]

As a sensei what are the main things you look at when deciding whether someone is ready to wear hakama?

I'm not a sensei, but I have instructed a few (hundred!) begginers. We told them when they could start wearing hakama. That was when the instructor was happy that the basic footwork and placement was correct, usually within a few weeks from their commencement.

[zsmbr]

<The only reason some dont like that is becuase your instructors cant see your feet and posture as well...>

That's what my sensei thinks about to give hakama to the beginner kendokas.
This is my third month in the dojo. I got hakama and gi a month ago. After a few weeks I got my do and tare. Just to shake down:)
So the next steps are the kote and the men. In our club beginners have to wait for 3-5 months usually to wear hakama and gi.

[The great I AM]

At UCL we waited until we were fairly sure people would carry on practising after the first 3 months, then advised them to buy hakama. Don't want the general public wasting thier cash now, do we!

[LarsCW]

I am in a beginner class right now which will take 10 weeks, after that I'll go to the advanced class and then I will have to wear hakama.

[Kyuuketsuki]

I started using my hakama since I joined my current dojo and the sensei didnt tell me anything, he could see my feet perfectly and correct me as well.

[Bailemor]

At our Iaido club we ask beginners to wait till the sempai and sensei tell them they are ready to wear hakama.

The main reason is to ensure that they are getting the footwork correct . We train half of the time without swords, as we feel that anyone can swing a sword but if you get the footwork and posture right to start with the sword will follow.

David

[Musha]

I had one before I walked through the door. Never knew it mattered if you had one or not, its like saying 'When it is best for a boxer to wear shorts?' :D.

[Hai_hai]

As a sensei what are the main things you look at when deciding whether someone is ready to wear hakama?
You learn footwork and moves. All the time, your sensei is watching your entire posture and movement. If your foot work is bad, it is visible since you are wearing shorts or pants. Sloppy stance and footwork cannot be corrected if your legs are covered up.
Depending on your dojo, it may be a couple of months.

[Phil]

I had one before I walked through the door. Never knew it mattered if you had one or not, its like saying 'When it is best for a boxer to wear shorts?' :D.

I let my students buy one when they are really sure they want to continue (+- 3 month)
and they can ware it when they can do the nods... :cool:

++

Phil

[baka gaijin]

If you havent started wearing hakama untill then it's demanded to grade 2 kyu

[akie]

i've been learning kendo for around 5/6 months...but no one in my class is wearing a hakama and gi yet. and it seems like we'll have to wait another 6 months before even thinking about getting bogu...are we moving too slow?

[h2o]

i've been learning kendo for around 5/6 months...but no one in my class is wearing a hakama and gi yet. and it seems like we'll have to wait another 6 months before even thinking about getting bogu...are we moving too slow?

Hopefully your instructor has some kind of plan and reason why you are not using bogu and hakama yet. I can see why they don't want you to buy a bogu yet, since they cost a lot and you should be really certain that you actually want to do kendo before you buy it. We started to use Bogu after about three months, but then we used the bogu owned by the club. None of the beginners went out to buy a bogu at this time. I am considering buying one now, one year after I started, but it is not compulsory since the club still has bogu for lending. Everyone got a hakama after three-four months as well.

Anyway, your instructor is the one in charge. Ask them what they are planning.

[Nanikure]

I bought my first hakama about 2 months after I began. It wasn't really the sensei that decided, I just went on eguchi and click it's done.

[chidokan]

I dont need to see my students legs to know if their posture or foot movement is wrong, so I say wait until you decide to do iaido/kendo long term then spend the cash.
I am thinking of buying some flash pinstripe hakama for iai enbu..... wonder how well they'll go down at kendo? :smiley:

[nikolaj]

If you havent started wearing hakama untill then it's demanded to grade 2 kyu

lol, I very much doubt that anyone ever waited that long.

I got mine as soon as I was sure that I really wanted to do kendo and my teacher told me to get one as soon as I was sure as well.
And conscidering I'm a student and don't have a job, I definitly didn't rush into buying a bogu^^

[Andou]

Hmm. As many times as I have read "When do you start wearing ______" It's clear that it's usually up to the sensei. As most people will say and have said, ask your sensei and then you'll get some insight. Hope that helps.

[baka gaijin]

lol, I very much doubt that anyone ever waited that long.

Me neither. I think it's kind of the piont with that rule. (swedish naginata grading rules at least) :)

[projectnavi]

at my dojo, they just wait that you can afford them. they don't mind if you come in and start with the hakama. sensei said he could see the posture/foot work problems quite well, even with the hakama on.

I don't know...i will be waiting a couple of practice for sure before i wear mine. i don't know...out of respect?

project

[MrUnWaki]

i think when someone gets serious about kendo they start wearing the kendo gi, or when they can afford it as well

[projectnavi]

i think when someone gets serious about kendo they start wearing the kendo gi, or when they can afford it as well

but can the sensei/sempei still see the legs and foot work's error correctly with hakama ?

i would guess so, but still...

[bullet08]

i think in our dojo it's when one's willing to buy the darn thing.

if i remember correctly when O-sensie (aikido) was still alive, he told everyone in his dojo to wear hakama, since coming to his dojo without hakama on was like entering the dojo wearing underwear.

do beginners in japan also have to wait for when they are told to wear hakama?

pete

[projectnavi]

i was curious about the exact same thing but didn't get to find an answer to that in the archive.

i wonder traditionnaly as well...

[nikolaj]

i think in our dojo it's when one's willing to buy the darn thing.

if i remember correctly when O-sensie (aikido) was still alive, he told everyone in his dojo to wear hakama, since coming to his dojo without hakama on was like entering the dojo wearing underwear.

do beginners in japan also have to wait for when they are told to wear hakama?

pete

In kendo, I don't think so... (In aikido, that's another thing...)