Who Should Wear A Hakama?
Just a thought as I have noticed it differs with some clubs, so who 'traditionally' is allowed/meant to wear the hakama in martial arts, and who can wear one at your club? Anyone, black belts, head instructor, men only? What are your thoughts on this?

Martin ```Traditionally ``` The Hakama was only worn by dan grades. We the ESTA are still traditonal. It is always a very special day when students receive their dan grade diploma and the presentation of their hakama. There are many org and dojos that call themselves traditional, yet allow the hakama to be worn by beginners or at a given grade. Some years ago I was teaching at a `large` seminar where there was wall to wall hakama's. I spoke at the beginnging of the class and commented on the fact that I had never seen so many dan grades on one mat at one time. The senior teacher advised me that all the people who were wearing hakama's were not dan grades. I replied " When you invited me to teach on this seminar I was advised that you were traditional Aikido " .. I then advised the students that anyone wearing an hakama after the next five minutes would be used by me as a dan grade. In a flash the ones wearing hakama's was reduced to around ten or so. That is just the way I feel about the subject. Others can do whatever they like in their own dojo, not in mine. Henry Ellis http://www.geocities.com/britishaikido

" When you invited me to teach on this seminar I was advised that you were traditional Aikido " .. I then advised the students that anyone wearing a hakama after the next five minutes would be used by me as a dan grade. In a flash the ones wearing hakama's was reduced to around ten or so. :lol: that’s a great response, and actually could be quite an important point, if an instructor thought a beginner was a dan grade because of the hakama and goes in hard with an advanced technique expecting the beginner to be at the level to cope with such a technique (dan grade) the beginner could end up being seriously injured. From a teaching point of view in a big class also like you said It must make splitting the class up and teaching various skill levels to the different grades quite confusing and respecting the higher grades than yourself would be a bit trickier for most. I personally agree with following the traditional way of only dan grades wearing the hakama and think it is a nice reward for putting in the hard work but every instructor's entitled to their own opinion I guess, I just hope they have a decent reason for allowing it rather than just trying to make a bit of profit on the more hakamas sold, I can't really think of any advantage of everyone wearing the hakama though?

Hakama can be worn by dan grades, uchi deshi and ladies, and as to you worrying about a senior dan grade hurting someone who he mistakes for a senior grade well then i would say he shouldnt be an aikido dan grade, O'sensei is qouted on many occasions saying if your Aikido is hurting people then it is not Aikido. The qoute about all those wearing hakamas will be treated as dan grades or whatever is rubbish i cannot imagine any true Aikido teacher saying such a thing.

Dan grades, Uchi deshi and ladies seems to make sense, although does that mean any lady (no matter what grade) can wear the hakama in the dojo??? How sexist :lol: