Abertillery Aikido Club. Bushinkai.

The 7 folds in the Hakama (5 in the front, 2 in the back) is said to have the following symbolic meaning:

Yuki = courage, valour, bravery
Jin = humanity, charity, benevolence
Gi = justice, righteousness, integrity
Rei = etiquette, courtesy, civility (also means bow/obeisance)
Makoto = sincerity, honesty, reality
Chugi = loyalty, fidelity, devotion
Meiyo = honour, credit, glory; also reputation, dignity, prestige

Many different schools allow their students to wear the Hakama, at different times. O'Sensei believed that every student should wear a Hakama, irrespective of grade.

Abertillery Aikido clubs policy is to allow a male student to wear the Hakama from 1st Kyu.
Women students from 5th Kyu.
Juniors, under the age of 16 will not be allowed to wear a Hakama irrespective of grade.


Hakama Folding

After class, it's a privilege for the teacher to have his Hakama folded by one of the Kyu grade students. This privilege will be given only to the instructors. If the students fold Hakama for every Dan Grade, there is no value in this. So, the students must be aware of this, and ask only the teachers if they can fold their Hakama. Regardless of Rank. Sometimes, students over do it, and try to fold for every Dan Grade, which is unnecessary, and some Dan grades do not deserve it, because they don't teach. If a student forgets to fold the teachers Hakama, this is okay. Once the teacher starts folding his own Hakama, it is too late for the student to approach the instructor.

Hakama Folding as Training

Folding a Hakama for your teacher is training for the student. Folding the Hakama on a regular basis, is very important. It helps the student to develop neatness, patience & humility. This is not easy, as we are not use to this type of training. If you can humble yourself, and feel that folding a Hakama is a privilege, you will take a step forward to overcoming pride, and learned what humility is.