East Bay Aikido - Oakland, California

The loose, flowing pants that we wear as part of our training uniform are called "hakama." They are a traditional clothing worn by samurai.

They also have a symbolic meaning since there are seven pleats in a hakama which stand for the Seven Virtues of Budo (compassion, honor, courtesy, wisdom, sincerity, loyalty and reverence). In this dojo, anyone who is ranked is encouraged to wear a hakama as a way of reminding them of the virtues that we aspire to in our training.

What do the colored belts mean?

How are ranks earned?

How much does it cost?

Why does everyone bow?

What is the area in front of the room?

Does the shomen have any religious significance?

How does aikido compare to other martial arts?

What if I discover that I don't like aikido training?