Hakama Length

[Mark.T]

just bought my first Kendo Uniform...The Hakama seems a little too long though. Most people seem to tie the hakama under thier Beerbellies. I was told that the ties should be around the Naval and tied together about 10 cm down.
When I do this I can just see my toes sticking out from the Hakama, and when I bend my knees just a bit then my feet disapear from sight...When I look at all of the Dojo members, their feet are fully visable up to the ancles....so how long should the Hakama be then ?.......

[joekc6nlx]

My sensei's hakama hem is at his ankle where the bone sticks out a little. Sorry, can't think of the anatomical name for that bone, but I think it's the tarsus. Anyway, that makes it about 10cm above the floor if that helps.

[tantadi]

In my dojo the right length is when the hem touches the top of the foot, so the ankle is hidden. It is not far from the floor so you can get caught in it if you aren't careful.

[shred_lord]

It's all a matter of personal preference. I know a number of people who wear it at ankle length and an equal amount like me who wear it so the hem touches the top of their feet. As far as I know either way is fine.

[Banza Joe]

If you feel your hak is a little too long and that you may trip over it (we call this hakama nagi in aikido, lol) then just tie it a little higher. No one is gonna see it under your tare and do anyways.
I go for just a little under the ankle bone.

[Mark.T]

Thanks for all the answers, I'll leave my hakama long and see if I can move around with it without falling over

[foschia]

some sensei may like the length to be longer that they can hide their feet where their opponent cannot see the feet movement in predicting a strike out...

[Yiu Fai]

All the higher level kenshi that i've seen wear their hakama just showing feet, so if there is a correct way wouldnt that be it?

[Andoru]

About tying hakama...have a look at "The Role of Breath Control" article in KW magazine 1.2 (I think). The correct way is to tie above the navel with the second notch beneath it.

[Stimpson J. Cat]

Thanks for all the answers, I'll leave my hakama long and see if I can move around with it without falling over

You don't want to shorten if if it's new anyway unless it's extremely long, most cotton hakamas will shrink somewhat over time. Those ones you see from below the beer gut to the ankles probably started out navel to brushing the top of the foot length, the one I'm wearing has shortened that much over the last 2 or 3 years.

[DarQik]

so how long should the Hakama be then ?.......Given my incredible knowledge and expertise on the subject, I'll point at at someone else's information...

From the AUSKF Promotion Study Guide (http://www.auskf.info/mainpages/study_guide.htm):

The hakama should be the right length with the hem lower in the front and a little higher in the back and crossing at the ankle bone. The koshi-ita should not be hanging loosely, but fit tightly and flatly against the small of the back. The obi should be tied in a square knot and the ends tucked into the obi along the waist at the hips.

[Anime12478]

I kind of wish that my hakama was shorter so that I can tie it low and still keep it around the ankle area. That way, I won't trip over my hakama so much and I can keep it that way easier.

[mark]

All the higher level kenshi that i've seen wear their hakama just showing feet, so if there is a correct way wouldnt that be it?


I was told that senior kenshi tend to favor the longer lenth to hide their footwork. I tend to favor the shorter ankle lenght to help sensei identify my footwork errors. I am decades away from having to worry about my opponents looking at my feet for an indicaton of what I am doing :)
Besides, there is nothing sillier than seeing someone break their toe by catching it in their hakama. :(

BTW, as previously stated my cotton hakama has also shrunk 2-3 inches during the last 4 years.

[kenwakokoro]

My sensei's hakama hem is at his ankle where the bone sticks out a little. Sorry, can't think of the anatomical name for that bone, but I think it's the tarsus. Anyway, that makes it about 10cm above the floor if that helps.

The "ankle bone" is actually two bones. The outer (lateral) bone is the fibula and the inner (medial) is the tibia. The ankle part of each bone is called the malleolus. The talus bone is below the ankle joint and the tibia/fibula are above it. Tarsus refers to seven bones in the foot (talus, calcaneus, cuboid, navicular and three cuneiform bones). The metatarsal bones and phalanges (toes) make up the rest of the foot.

Michael Moscoso

[T.Lee]

this is just from my limited experience, the bottom length of the hakama can be anywhere from as low as touching the floor, to as high as right at the ankle bone. any higher, it starts to look ridiculous.

as for why you see other ppl's hemline at different places, well, its because hakamas shrink and/or ppl grow a bit taller. things change, kamae's change. size of the belly changes...

speaking of which, you mentioned where to tie the hakama. well, it may be proper to tie the knot right at the navel. but not everyone has a flat stomach... so its fine if you have to tie it under your belly. of course, that changes how far down your hakama drapes over your feet.

so just do anything thats comfortable for you. just dont hike it up past your ankles.

[Maro]

You can fold the front down one turn instead of shortening the Hakama. That way you can see the difference. I wear mine this way as I'm "in-between" sizes.

[joekc6nlx]

The "ankle bone" is actually two bones. The outer (lateral) bone is the fibula and the inner (medial) is the tibia. The ankle part of each bone is called the malleolus. The talus bone is below the ankle joint and the tibia/fibula are above it. Tarsus refers to seven bones in the foot (talus, calcaneus, cuboid, navicular and three cuneiform bones). The metatarsal bones and phalanges (toes) make up the rest of the foot.

Michael Moscoso

Michael,

Thank you for the clarification. I'm not a physician, so any reference I make to parts of the body is either layman's terms or a direct quote from something I've read. You'd think with all the trouble I have with my feet, I'd know the names for the bones. I do know the two in the shin as well as the metatarsals and phalanges, just not all of the ones in the ankle.

Thanks again.

[YangJin]

I think it varies from people. My Hakama length is near my ankle, and doesn't and show only my feet/toes. But my some of my seniors have up to their ankle. Nothing higher because I'm told otherwise your opponent can predict your moves and strike you before you can launch an attack.