What Are the Different Types of Aikido Hakama?
Aikido hakama are loose, pleated pants worn over a kimono. They typically come in two styles: undivided and divided. The divided style is used more for those who need flexibility with their legs for such activities as horseback riding. The undivided hakama have a looser waste and tighter legs; this style is mainly worn by field workers and farmers. The most popular type of hakama worn today are the divided hakama. As its name implies, divided hakama have two separate chambers of cloth for the legs, similar to pants, whereas the undivided hakama are designed as one piece and tend to resemble a dress. While hakama today are mainly worn by practitioners of aikido as well as other martial arts, they are also worn in ceremonies and even in everyday life.
