About uniforms, ranks, and belts
The basic uniform for Aikido is referred to as a gi, also called dogi or keikogi. It consists of pull-on pants and an open-front top that is held closed by a belt (or obi). With some variation for specific applications, this basic uniform is found not only in Aikido, but also in Karate, Judo, and most other Japanese martial arts. Chinese and Korean arts have uniforms that differ a bit more but are generally similar. The kekogi for Aikido is almost always white, unlike in some other arts. In addition to tradition, color can be helpful in arts that have competitions so that it's easier to tell the participants apart.
Any plain white martial arts uniform is acceptable for training at Aikido of Madison. New students don't need to get one while they are trying things out. And we do sell inexpensive uniforms at the dojo if you wish to purchase one.
Belts
At Aikido of Madison, there are only 2 colors of belt: white and black. The white belt denotes kyu ranks, which go in ascending order from 6th to 1st kyu. After 1st kyu, the next rank is shodan, or first-degree black belt. Black belt (also called "dan" or "yudansha") ranks go from first-degree through 8th degree. Despite popular mythology about what a black belt means, in Aikido earning a black belt does not indicate a master—it's a person who has shown fluency in the named techniques of Aikido and has started on a journey to refine those techniques, explore variations, and find "their" Aikido. Each black belt rank is a big jump in proficiency and understanding from the last, so the learning never ends.
Kyu ranks and dan ranks of 1st through 3rd degree are earned through testing. 4th degree black belt (also known as 4th dan or yondan) and up are awarded by recommendation of a committee of senior instructors within our federation, and the rank is officially bestowed by the Aikido World Headquarters in Japan. Some traditions have testing through 4th dan.
Some traditions have a colored belt system that denotes the individual kyu ranks. In general the darker the color the higher the rank. Others will have only blue and brown belts, brown generally being higher than blue.
One reason we like the minimal color scheme we inherited from our teachers' teacher is that it encourages us to take people as they are and resist making assumptions about them based on belt color.
Hakama
The black bottoms that some Aikido practitioners wear looks like a skirt, but it's actually pants with wide pleated legs. It is called hakama. It is part of traditional Japanese clothing, and is associated with the Samurai tradition, from which Aikido is derived.
Who wears the hakama?
It varies depending on your tradition or Aikido lineage. In the lineage of Aikido of Madison, any student may choose to wear the hakama. Most beginners do not do so. It can cause you to trip, and it also makes it harder for the teacher to see your footwork, so it's best to wait until you have some some grounding in basic movement. They can also be expensive, so we encourage you to wait until you decide that Aikido is something that you wish to stick with before making the investment. Some students will choose to wear the hakama after an early rank test, and others will wait longer. It's generally seen as a statement that you are ready to commit to a higher level of training.
In some traditions, only black belts wear the hakama, and in others, there are different rules for men and women.
If you are new to our dojo or visiting from elsewhere, you should feel free to wear or not wear the hakama as you wish depending on your tradition and comfort.