When can I start using a hakama?

Question

When? after the 2nd kyu? does it depend on the school?

Answer 1

Katana and Bujinkan are both correct but it also depends on the style/school that you attend.

In our iai school (Japanese sword-drawing art) we all wear hakama from the beginning (graded or not).

Answer 2

A hakama is actually supposed to be reserved for a Black belt holder. Traditionally no one under black is supposed to wear them. It is sort of an award to be able to wear one for the dedication required to reach Black Belt and become a true student. I would guess that it depends on the school, but quite honestly I would avoid any that let under Black Belt wear them. If they throw that tradition out what else important have they thrown out?

Answer 3

This is another of those questions that vary a lot from school to school and association to association. They are generally reserved for black belt and beyond, but I have seen schools where only the head instructor wore them and I have seen others where nearly every one had them. Some schools and some instructors are a little more traditional than others.  

Answer 4

In my Dojo. We wear Hakama only for Kobudo Training and we can only start such after we reach green belt level which takes from two to two and a half years. It depends on the school I guess. About the tradition others have mentioned. Is not that all schools disregard tradition but after for the teachers it is a business and they live of it.

If they started training everybody in a true traditional Japanese way, most people would leave within a couple of months, specially little kids. Sometimes you have allow certain things to make the art a bit more attractive

Answer 5

Katana is right. The hakamas are for black belts.

Answer 6

mushin also brings up a point-

japanese sword schools kendo and iai and traditional kenjutsu tend to wear hakamas from day 1.

ive also seen aikidoka wear hakima too but i'm not sure if this is early on or later.

Answer 7

Usually shodan or above.

Answer 8

depends on what your s*x is and what martial art you do.

If you are female doing Aiki, you can wear one straight away.

If you are male, you need to be sho-dan or greater

If you are either s*x doing Kendo you can wear one straight away.

If you do origami, you need to complete your first flappy-winged bird