How to Wear Traditional Hakama Pants
Hakama pants are very wide, pleated pants that are worn over a kimono. They can either have two defined legs or are undivided like a skirt. Hakama pants are the traditional costume of many types of Japanese martial arts. They are used by both men and women.
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Instructions
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Hold the front of your hakama pants and step into them. Place the koshiita (the padded or stiff panel) on top of the knot of your kimono's waist sash, or obi.
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Place the front of your hakama pants just above the top of the obi and bring the front straps around to the back. Pass the straps tautly under the koshiita, and bring the straps back to the front. Cross the straps again and return them to the back. Tie the straps into a bow under the obi in back.
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3
Cross the back straps of the hakama pants in front of you, looping the right strap under the tied front straps. Fold the left piece into thirds and position it horizontally at the front waist of the pants. Wrap the right strap around the middle of the horizontal left piece two or three times, leaving about 4 cm of material looped at the top and the bottom to form a cross. Tuck extra material into the obi.
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Keep your hakama pants longer in the front and shorter in the back. A proper fit is when the hemline crosses the ankle bone. The pleats in your pants should be straight.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask for help from fellow students or the instructor of your martial arts class.
