Putting on the obi and hakama properly is essential for Japanese swordsmanship.

The uniform must hold the katana in the proper position and last through hours of use without coming undone.

A hakama needs to be folded on a clean flat surface. Proper folding is very important to maintaining the folds in a hakama.

Hanging will cause a hakama to loose the crisp folds.

Remember that all the folds in a hakama run parallel and should be the same width from the top to the bottom.

Start with the hakama face down and find the inner fold. Most hakama have a seam running down the inner fold.

The inner fold must be pushed to the proper side and flattened out.

The back folds alternate from one side to the next and you can use this fact to determine which side to push the inner fold to.

Working from the inner fold to the back of the hakama, make each fold even.

The folds run parallel so the overlap at the top should be maintained to the bottom.

If you have lost the folds, use a ruler to measure the depth and overlap of each fold.

The hakama is flipped over to fold the front. This takes practice to keep the folds on the back from coming apart.

The bottom of the hakama is dragged on the surface to keep everything together.

Clothespins can be used along the bottom to keep the back folds from coming undone.

Working from the inner fold to the front of the hakama, make each fold even.

The folds run parallel so the overlap at the top should be maintained to the bottom.

If you have lost the folds, use a ruler to measure the depth and overlap of each fold.

The edges of the hakama can be folded inward to reduce the size.

This is not recommended for storing a formal hakama but is useful for fitting practice hakama in a gym bag.

The hakama is folded in thirds. If the back folds have separated, start the process again.

The front strap to the left (first strap) is straightened and folded in half.

It is folded in half again and laid across the diagonal of the hakama.

Note that if the strap is too short to go across the diagonal, it may have to be folded in thirds.

The same process is repeated for the front strap on the right (second strap).

The straps should form an X across the hakama.

The back strap on the left (third strap) is laid on top of the first strap, goes over the second strap, and is passed under both straps were they intersect. This strap should be pointed at the top of the hakama.

The third strap should then wrap around the first strap above the intersection point.

The third strap should then follow the first strap.

The back strap on the right (fourth strap) is laid on top of the second strap, goes over all strap, and is passed under all straps were the first two intersect.

This strap should be pointed at the top of the hakama.

The fourth strap should then wrap around the second strap above the intersection point.

The fourth strap should then pass under the third strap that was wrapped around the first strap.

The third and fourth straps can be folded back under if they are too long.

Folding the Montsuki or Gi

The montsuki needs to be folded on a clean flat surface.

It can be hung on a kimono hanger or a straight rod, but a normal hanger will damage the shoulders.

Lay the right side of the montsuki flat with no creases.

The top and sleeve should form a straight line.

Flip the right side over making sure this fold lines up with the collar.

Align the left side with the right side that was folded over.

Keep the rest of the montsuki flat.

Align the left side and sleeve with the right side.

Fold the collar under making sure there are no creases.
Fold the montsuki into sections that are the same height as the sleeves.

Fold the sleeves over the body of the montsuki.

Washing the practice uniform

Please follow the manufacturers recommendations for cleaning all uniforms.

These are some general guidelines but we bear no responsibility for any damage caused by following this guide.

Most cotton and polyester practice uniforms can be washed in cold water with normal detergent either by hand or in a washing machine.

Indigo died keikogi should have the color set before washing.

The uniform should never be dried in a dryer.

We recommend folding hakama and keikogi on a waterproof surface and letting them dry flat.

Go through steps 1 to 5 in the Folding the Hakama guide and lay the straps out flat.

Washing will remove all the folds from most hakama so they will need to be folded carefully to get the pleats back.

Letting the hakama dry in this way will put the pleats back in.

Keikogi can be dried flat or hung on a horizontal pole.

Make sure the pole is water proof.

Washing the dress uniform

Please follow the manufacturers recommendations for cleaning all uniforms.

These are some general guidelines but we bear no responsibility for any damage caused by following this guide.

Silk and silk blend dress uniforms must be cleaned professionally.

We have had mixed results with dry-cleaners since they have no experience with the pleats on hakama.

Most can be “freshened up” using home dry-cleaning products.

Keikogi

The keikogi is put on first.

It is important to have the two sides even and wrap it tightly around the body.

The sides are grasped at the waist and pulled forward making sure the two sides are even.
The right side is wrapped around the waist followed by the left side.
The keikogi is held in place with the right hand while the left is used to wrap the obi around the waist.
Any straps should be tied after putting the obi on.

Obi

Most men wear the obi just under the hipbones while most women wear the obi above the hipbones.

A kaku obi (3.5 inch wide traditional obi) is recommended.

The obi must be tight enough to keep the katana in place but not too tight to make saya biki (drawing saya back off of the katana) difficult.

The first foot of the obi is folded over with the open side oriented downward.
The top of the folded section of the obi is aligned with the top of the obi as it is wrapped around the waist three times
The remaining section of obi is folded over with the open side upward.
The starting end of the obi is pulled out, wrapped around the remaining section, and pulled tight.
The remaining section of the obi is rolled up into a 6-inch long section and centered on the knot.
The starting section of the obi is wrapped over the top of the folded section and threaded under the obi around the waist.
The knot is then rotated clock-wise around the body to the back and the loose tail is tucked in under the obi.

Problems:

	A standard iaido obi may be too thin and can be tied without folding in steps 1 and 3.
	If your obi is too short only wrap it around the waist two times in step 2.

Hakama

The hakama should just touch the top of the feet.

Himo (straps) should be snug and their placement is important.

Having a properly tied obi knot in the back and keeping the rear himo tight will keep the koshi-ita (rigid board section) in the right place.

The front of the hakama is aligned with the top of the obi.
The front straps are wrapped around the body and are aligned along the top of the obi.
The straps cross over the top of the knot in the obi and return to the front at the bottom of the obi.
The strap coming from the right side is wrapped over the strap from the left side over the front of the left hip.
The straps should be long enough to return to the back and tie below the obi.
These can be tied with a square knot or bow.
The koshi-ita (rigid board section) of the hakama is worn above the knot in the obi.
If a tab is present, it is put under the obi to keep the rigid section in place.
The rear straps are wrapped around the body and slipped under the front straps.
They should cross below the front straps with the strap going to the right below the strap going to the left.
The strap going to the right is wrapped over and then around all the straps in the center.
It should now be hanging down in the center of the hakama.
The strap going to the left is folded over and the strap going down is wrapped around all the straps a second time.
The strap going to the left is rolled into a three-inch long section and positioned in the center.
The strap going down is then wrapped around this section and all the straps.
This strap is then wrapped around once more, but the end is left hanging out of the top.
The bottom loop should be about 1.5 inches long.
The top is then tucked in creating a loop matching the length of the bottom loop.