Equipment
Beginners are welcome to start practice in loose fitting clothing (sweat pants and a T-shirt). A uniform is required prior to your first test. Our recommended uniform is a single weave Judo gi (bleached or unbleached). A medium/heavy weight Karate gi also works well. Lightweight uniforms tend not to hold up well. Our favorite vendor for high quality martial arts equipment is The Kiyota Company in Baltimore, MD. We’ve been doing business with Kiyota since 1993. Their products are high quality, their prices are fantastic, and they ship quickly.
- JK Brand Heavy Weight Single Weave Judo Gi (Item #: JWP): $43.00-$56.00 (varies by size)
- Japanese White Oak Iwama-Jigen (Curved) Bokken (Item #: W58): $83.00
- Japanese White Oak Aiki-Jo (Item #W145, W146, W147): $65.00-$86.00 (varies by student height)
- Weapons Bag – Kiyota carries a variety of weapons bags. These are handy if you plan on attending seminars.
- Grappling Gloves (Ex: Hayabusa T3 7 oz Hybrid Gloves) – Consult with Sensei prior to purchase
Everything shown above, with the exception of gloves, can be purchased directly from Kiyota via telephone/mail order.
We don’t require purchase of color belts, patches, or any equipment outside of basic practice gear. Our students don’t wear an hakama until 1st Kyu/Shodan, and for routine practice we don’t usually wear an hakama. We’ve seen some nearly religious views about the importance of wearing an hakama when practicing “budo”. We prioritize being able to see the lower body clearly as part of developing a strong foundation in Aikido. Requiring the purchase of extra equipment tends to add up, and one of our goals is to keep practice affordable and simple, allowing people to devote their time and energy to studying Aikido. We keep things simple.
If you’re looking for other options, the following is a carefully curated list of Aikido Equipment suppliers that we have done business with directly. We recommend that you consult with your Sensei or Sempai prior to purchasing specific equipment!
Uniforms
- The Kiyota Company (Baltimore, MD)
- Nine Circles (UK): Keiko-Gi, Hakama
- Tozando: Basic Aikido Keiko-Gi and White Belt
Weapons
- The Kiyota Company (Baltimore, MD)
- Tozando: Iwama-Style White Oak Bokken
- Tozando: Custom Jo
- Kingfisher Woodworks: Jo
- Kingfisher Woodworks: Bokken
- e-Bogu: Weapons Set (Bokken, Jo, Weapons Bag)
If you’re a beginner, and you’re considering purchasing either a keiko-gi or weapons, please consult with your sensei and/or sempai beforehand. We can offer advice on vendors, sizing and types of weapons. We may also be able to negotiate a discount on your behalf, depending on the vendor/item.
