The following is an episode from the life of uchidechi Saotome Sensei Shihan Aikikai VIII Dan technical director and founder of Aikido School of Ueshiba (ASU) American Association of Aikido, not that of Dojo cho ' Aikido Dojo Shobukan Washington DC. The incident reported, which is based on the book of Saotome Sensei Aikido - The Way of Budo - Aikido principles, explains the meaning of the seven folds of the hakama, a garment worn primarily by yudansha today and the importance that O Sensei had it. When I was uchi deshi to O Sensei, everyone had to wear a hakama for practice from the first moment when there appeared on the carpet. There were no rules about the type of hakama to wear, so the dojo was a pretty colorful place. One saw hakama of all sorts, of all colors and qualities dall'hakama kendo hakama, to the strips used in the Japanese dance, the costly silk hakama called sendai-hira. I bet some beginner has the Busch for having borrowed the precious grandfather's hakama, meant to be worn only on special occasions, then wear down the knees practicing suwariwaza. I remember how it was today the day that I forgot my hakama. I was going to introduce myself on the mat for practice, wearing only my Doges, when O Sensei stopped me "Where is your hakama?" he asked sternly. "Do you think you can take lessons with your instructor wearing only underwear? Have you no sense of decency? Apparently you are missing the 'attitude and etiquette necessary for one who intends to follow the budo. Go and sit and stand by others ". This was only the first of many accusations that I received from O Sensei. However, my ignorance at that time stimulated O Sensei to lecture his uchi-deshi extra at the end of the regular one on meaning of the hakama. He explained to us that the hakama was traditional costume Kobudo students and asked us if we knew the reason for the seven pleats of the hakama. "They symbolize the seven virtues of budo - O Sensei said - that are jin (benevolence), gi (honor or justice), rei (courtesy and etiquette), chi (wisdom, intelligence), shin (sincerity, chu (loyalty) and koh (piety). We find all these qualities in the samurai of the past. The hakama prompts us to reflect on the nature of true bushido. Wearing it symbolizes traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Aikido is born of the bushido spirit Japan, and in practice we must try to repeat the seven traditional virtues. "Today, many dojo diAikido not strictly comply with the rule about the use of O Sensei's hakama. Its meaning has degenerated from a symbol of traditional virtue to that of status symbol of yudansha. I visited the dojo in many nations . In many of those in which only the yudansha wear hakama, the yudansha have lost their humility, they consider the hakama as a prize to be shown, as the outward symbol of their superiority. This attitude makes the bow to O Sensei, with which they begin and end each class, a mockery of his memory and his art. Worse, in some dojo, women of kyu grade (and only women) are required to wear hakama, it is assumed to preserve their modesty. To me this is an insult and discrimination against women Aikido. It is equally offensive to male Aikido, as assumed by their narrow-mindedness that one is not allowed on the mat Aikido. See hakama treated with a policy so mean I am sad. Some may seem a trivial question, but I remember very well the importance that O Sensei attributed to the garment, and no, I think, can dispute the great value of the virtues it symbolizes. In my dojo and schools that are associated encourage all students to wear hakama regardless of their level or degree. (Not required until have attained at least the first instance, because the United States is difficult for beginners to have a grandfather from whom to borrow the Japanese hakama). I believe that wearing the hakama and knowing its meaning helps students to feel the spirit of O Sensei and keep alive the vision. If we allow that the importance of the hakama to fade, probably will be the beginning of the forgetfulness of the fundamental things of the spirit of Aikido. If, however, we remain faithful to the intentions of O Sensei about our workout clothes, even our spirits will be more consistent with the dream to which he devoted his life.
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