At East Bay AIKIDO, the complete training uniform consists of a dogi [jacket and pants], an obi [belt] and a hakama [divided pants]. Additionally, wearing a T-shirt is encouraged.

     Generally, one of two styles of uniform is favored by aikidoists - either a lightweight karate style uniform or a medium weight judo style uniform. I suggest starting with a lightweight karate dogi. As you become more involved in your practice, you might find that having more than one uniform is a good idea, especially if you train more than once between washings.

     For comfort your uniform should be loose fitting. The jacket should be long enough so not to come out of your belt during training. To adjust for temperature changes, some students will wear a lightweight karate uniform in the warmer months and a medium weight judo uniform in the cooler months. Also, during the cooler months, a polypro type T-shirt can be substituted for the standard cotton T-shirt.

     Keeping your training uniform clean is another way of showing respect for yourself and your training partners. Most serious students have more than one uniform since they train more often than they do their laundry.

     Though a hakama can be worn at anytime at East Bay AIKIDO, it is usually added to one's uniform when you decide to add the "inner" parts of the practice to your training - typically after your first ranking. By that time, you will have experienced most of what aikido training will be like and you will be in a position to decide whether or not you are willing - and ready - to add the internal practices to your training. Think of it as deepening your commitment. (Note: Higher ranks cannot be earned here without a commitment to the internal practices that are central to aikido.)

     In some dojos the wearing of a hakama is related to rank. Here at East Bay AIKIDO it is not. In dojos where the hakama is associated with rank, it is common for it to be added when one has attained the rank of Shodan - although it can be added at any rank level depending on the instructor's dojo policy.

     The seven pleats in the hakama represent Seven Virtues of Budo [the Martial Way] and are described by Mitsugi Saotome Sensei in his article The Hakama and It's Meaning from his book The Principles of Aikido.