When I first began my aikido training I came with blackbelts from other arts. One of these arts was aiki jujitsu under Minoru Mochizuki O Sensei. This art is closely related to aikido. As such I was allowed to wear my black belt and train as a black belt. My first test was three years later. In the aiki jujitsu we did not wear hakama. My sensei encouraged me to purchase one and wear it as a part of my training. So, I obtained a hakama and began wearing it. This drew attention to an odd aikido custom...

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