Quote Originally Posted by Andrew Breecher View Post
In Aikido, it's usually traditional to wear hakama when reaching 1 dan. Some say it's a lesson in humility to see someone who's just gotten their black belt fall on their face the first time they trip over their hakama. I'd say that the kilt would be far less cumbersome (and less material) than hakama.

Andrew.
Hmm...It would be extremely weird to wear a kilt instead of gi bottoms and a hakama. You get used to all that fabric around your ankles and it feels a little weird to be without it. In fact it makes you feel very grounded to wear a hakama. I don't think I would want to give that up.

As a very minor note, schools have vastly different rules on when you get to wear a hakama. The school I currently train at, allows a hakama at 1st kyu (1 rank below black below) but my previous school let you wear one at 3rd kyu (3 ranks below black belt).