What does it all Mean? Pleats on a Hakama

By Marjorie Motooka, Shodan

A Hakama is the skirt-like pants that some Aikidoka wear. In our dojo it is worn by Yudansha (black belts) and Kenshusei (Teacher Training Apprentices). It is a traditional piece of Samurai clothing. The standard Gi worn in Aikido as well as in other martial arts such as Judo or Karate was originally underclothes.

The seven folds in the hakama (five in the front, two in the back) is said to have the following
symbolic meaning:
Jin (benevolence), Gi (honor or justice), Rei (courtesy and etiquette), Chi (wisdom, intelligence), Shin (sincerity), Chu (loyalty), and Koh (piety).


O'Sensei was said to have a strict policy of having his students wear a Hakama regardless of rank as it was reflective of the qualities held by the distinguished samurais of the past. ”Wearing it symbolizes traditions that have been passed down to us from generation to generation. Aikido is born of the bushido spirit of Japan, and in our practice we must strive to polish
the seven traditional virtues."

We should strive to live by the virtues that our Hakama represents, both on and off the mat. Only then can we mimic the true teachings of O'Sensei.