Obi Help (again)

[Newbie]

I've been having a problem with my obi. I'd put it on and everything would be fine but when I'd get to reiho, I'd try to put the sword through and have awful trouble as the bottom layer (or two layers) of my obi appeared to have bunched up (at least I think that's what was happening, maybe cos of my hips?). I managed to fix this by tying my obi much higher and all is good except it means my hakama is miles off the ground and looks silly. Am I still just tying it wrong?

[Bailee]

I'm not sure how much help this will be, but here's my two cents.

I find that tying my obi rather snuggly around my waist before streching allows it to relax just enough to the right tension to wear the sword properly.

I do tie mine slightly higher, but I have a hakama that I hemmed to compensate for it.

Hope this helps, even just a tad bit.

[Solinde]

The secret trick is... (unless you're doing this already)

...to put your sword in as soon as you've tied your obi, move it around a little and then take it out. That way the obi is much better positioned when it's time for reiho.

[lucy]

This makes me wonder, where exactly do you all tie your obi?

[Newbie]

The secret trick is... (unless you're doing this already)

...to put your sword in as soon as you've tied your obi, move it around a little and then take it out. That way the obi is much better positioned when it's time for reiho.

Yeah, I was shown that the very firstest time I ever did iaido and always do it. I can get it through then, when I'm looking, can be careful, etc but when it gets to reiho it's all bunched up. Don't ask me what's going wrong!

This makes me wonder, where exactly do you all tie your obi?

Well I was tying it just on or just above my hips now I don't get this problem if I tie it at my waiste, well clear of my hips but it makes my hakama sit ridiculously high, which is why I was wondering if I was tying it properly at all!

[lucy]

Well I was tying it just on or just above my hips now I don't get this problem if I tie it at my waiste, well clear of my hips but it makes my hakama sit ridiculously high, which is why I was wondering if I was tying it properly at all!

I was told by my female senpai to tie the obi above my hips, at my waist. I never did it any other way, and I never had any problems with the obi bunching up. The only thing which doesn't work is getting the hakama knot a fair bit under my belly button... Somehow the knot on the back always losens and then the knot in front gets too high.

On a website I read it was also mentioned that women should buy the hakama one or two sizes bigger because of the different way of tying it.

[Newbie]

Ah. That'd be it. When I got my hakama it was just for kendo and the length was fine.. without an obi underneath. Looks like I'm a bit buggered and gonna be stuck with my feet and ankles sticking out. I wonder if there's enough people I can just stand behind everyone else and not be noticed at the nationals....

[neko kenshi]

Do you have a kaku obi? One of these solved all my obi troubles (although they were different from yours). Find someone with a kaku obi who is similarly sized around the waiste and see if it helps, if you don't already have one.

[namabiru]

Now see, that's my problem too. Himo length. When wearing an obi, the himo on my hakama are too small. Hmmm... I dunno if I can get hakama with longer himo here in the States... gah.

Can anyone advise--do sellers in Western countries sell hakama with longer himo, presumably because western people are fatter than their Japanese counterparts so need longer himo...

[Newbie]

Do you have a kaku obi?

Wassat? And you don't wanna know the trouble I had getting an obi in the first place. A lovely young lass from these forums gave me one when I was visiting interstate. Only four of us doing iaido and only two of us have obi. It's... interesting.

[pgsmith]

Can anyone advise--do sellers in Western countries sell hakama with longer himo, presumably because western people are fatter than their Japanese counterparts so need longer himo...

You have two options to deal with standard sized himo on a non-standard body. One is to buy custom made hakama so you can have them make longer himo. Two is to change the way you tie your hakama (much cheaper option!) Contrary to popular opinion, there are actually a number of different ways to tie a hakama. Here is how I advise those of generous proportions to tie theirs ... Begin with the back ... place koshita (and hera) in place above the obi knot. Bring himo around to front and tie firmly. Tuck himo ends under obi in front. Now, bring up front of hakama. Take right hand himo and pass behind you under the koshita which is already in place. This means that you have to pass it through the back of the hakama. Repeat with the left side himo. Straighten front of hakama and place over top of obi in front while holding one himo in each hand. Tighten up himo and tie in front under obi as you usually would the back himo.

Not sure how good of an explanation that was, but this method works well when someone is trying to stretch their himo to reach properly.

[neko kenshi]

Wassat? And you don't wanna know the trouble I had getting an obi in the first place. A lovely young lass from these forums gave me one when I was visiting interstate. Only four of us doing iaido and only two of us have obi. It's... interesting.

You can't just have one shipped to you?

[Newbie]

Yeah. Cos I have that kind of money to just have one shipped in the next three days. *rolls eyes* I've bust my arse to save just to go at all, am paying of my sword and don't have a men for kendo yet, let alone bogu. A new hakama when mine is really good quality is the last thing on my mind. Or are you talking about the obi? The obi itself isn't a problem. I may be picking some up for the guys whilst I'm down there.

[namabiru]

You have two options to deal with standard sized himo on a non-standard body. One is to buy custom made hakama so you can have them make longer himo. Two is to change the way you tie your hakama (much cheaper option!) Contrary to popular opinion, there are actually a number of different ways to tie a hakama. Here is how I advise those of generous proportions to tie theirs ... Begin with the back ... place koshita (and hera) in place above the obi knot. Bring himo around to front and tie firmly. Tuck himo ends under obi in front. Now, bring up front of hakama. Take right hand himo and pass behind you under the koshita which is already in place. This means that you have to pass it through the back of the hakama. Repeat with the left side himo. Straighten front of hakama and place over top of obi in front while holding one himo in each hand. Tighten up himo and tie in front under obi as you usually would the back himo.

Not sure how good of an explanation that was, but this method works well when someone is trying to stretch their himo to reach properly.

Oh, okay. So basically just tie your hakama in opposite order--start with the back, then do your front. I will try and see how it goes. Thank you!

[satsumaruma]

Arwen,

have you tried discussing this with your sensei - it is possible for them to help you with this even if there is a modesty issue. I have helped a few people tie their hakama in different ways to suit them ( and no - there was nothing sordid in it)