Hakama Question
 

Hi

I have a question, What exactly is the purpose of the the Koshita on the Hakama worn for Aikido, Kendo etc. ?
It's just a question that's been bugging me for a while and googling doesn't seem to be getting me anywhere near satisfying my curiosity. Any help would be great. Thanks

It makes you stretch your lower back muscles and improves your posture.

Thanks Oroshi.
This answers my question.

Does it?

I remember Dave Lowry describing pseudo-Karateka in the 60s wearing hakama the wrong way around and claiming the koshi ita was protection for the hara! Maybe its actually to protect the hara from a rear attack.

It was just the style of the clothing worn. Any other "purpose" has been made up after the fact.

I've heard this too, cracked me up laughing when I read it. I think there was a Bruce Lee film where the japanese badguys all wore their hakama backwards as well.

Fashion is a crazy thing and I can believe that it was "just the style of the clothing worn" It does seem rather unique to have a stiff panel at the back of your pants though and sometimes changes in clothing have a greater purpose than aesthetics I just wondered if there was a "story" to the Koshita.

Well in Buckaroo Banzai there's a backwards hakama. I guess that shows my film tastes.

I have to admit, at the 1st time I wore my hakama and before some lectures from my senpai, I wore it backwards.. LOL

I think is just a design thing, to make the hakama to conserve its form, imagine a hakama without koshita, that would be mess. besides, ever wondered whats the purpose of the tie, or thats the purpose of the collar in a shirt??

I have several of them. If you're not specifically looking for it, it's hard to notice the difference, between people who are wearing hakama with koshiita and those who are not.

its something to make a nice noise for doing bunkai in things like...oroshi http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

I've heard that this was a deliberate act taken by the HK filmmakers to take the piss of the Japanese as they often liked to do. Successful troll is successful.

topless and backward! LOL!!

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gifhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

Does it count as topless if you are covered in hair?

That pic was not quite what I'd hoped for...

A lot of Japanese period clothes for men featured stiffened material, like the shoulders on jinbaori, kamishimo, and those crazy big hats.

me either.. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

As to the purpose of the Koshii Ita.........who knows?

however;
I tell my Iaido students that if they cannot feel it they are leasning forwards;
If they feel it 'too much' they are leaning/arching backwards.

Perhaps it is there simply to make one consider the lower back [and, consequently, one's ''lower front''...] - - and, thus, one's posture.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/laugh.gif http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/laugh.gif http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/laugh.gif