I recommend that you can either ask someone to look and adjust it for you, or you can look in a mirror to adjust it by yourself. As for the Kamon, since they are visible in the five traditional positions (left and right chest, both sleeves and back of the neck), you also need to put attention to if the Kamon on your left and right chest is in the same height, or if the Kamon on your back is properly centered. These are worn by everyone over 5-dan or when you referee in all formal Enbu performances in the Iaido that is managed under the All Kendo Federation in Japan. In formal Enbu performances, you usually wear Gi with kimono sleeves and Kamon in the five traditional positions on the Gi together with a striped Hakama. If on the other hand you tie the Obi too loose, your Gi and Hakama will easily become disheveled and your Iaito, being unable to keep its position in the Obi on your hip, might cause the Kojiri to hit the floor when you move around. If you tie the Obi too tight, the moment you put your Iaito into it, it will become even tighter and in addition to being uncomfortable, it will also make it harder to draw your sword. Depending on your body type, the material the Obi is made of, the length of the Obi, when you last had a meal and so on, the way you need to tie your Obi might vary, however, to be able to properly adjust the tightness of the Obi is also something that comes with training. Do not tie it too tightly, or too loosely, tying the Obi adequately is important.
The Obi is tied around your hips above your Gi and is required when you practice Iaido.
IAIDO CLOTHES HOW TO
If you wear a Juban during regular Keiko, you will eventually get used to how to wear it properly.
It’s important not to show too much and that an equal amount should be shown on both the left and the right side for it to look nice. It’s most ideal if a little of the collar of the Juban can be seen under the left and right parts of collar your Gi when you wear it.
IAIDO CLOTHES CODE
While it’s not necessary to wear a Juban when doing regular Keiko, the formal dressing code in Iaido requires that it’s worn beneath your Gi. The Juban is a piece of underwear that we wear under the Gi when we wear Japanese clothing. In Iaido we wear Gi and Hakama, so I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some of my personal opinions and advice regarding dressing here.
IAIDO CLOTHES FREE
When aiming for the highest level of sword handling without creating any openings, you have to start with aiming to keep your appearance and mind free from openings first. In the end, this results in doing Keiko where you don’t give it your all and are not thoroughly immersed in your training. It’s said that just the thought that it’s alright even if your appearance get a bit disorderly, poisons your mind and affect your technique, and when you think that it’s alright to be a bit sloppy with your appearance, you might unconsciously be sloppy when you swing your sword also. Always remaining well dressed and tidy, this is also something that requires practice. If your appearance is disorderly, it shows that your mind is disturbed.
You will find our Iaido Hakama in the corresponding section.In Budo, appearance and the way you dress is a very important element, and it’s often said that your appearance is a mirror of your mind. If you wish to custom your Jacket to adjust the fit, you can choose from various alterations we offer: adding a chest cord or sewing a Velcro (magic tape) fastening on the lower and/or upper part of the jacket's collar. The Tetron model however, is made from a polyester/rayon composite, close to the fabric used for the Tetron Hakama, but smoother on the surface to guarantee great comfort. You can refer to the " How to Choose your Kendogi/Iaidogi" page to help you make your choice. The Waraku model is made of a fabric that is similar to that of our popular light-weight Aikidogi KS200. We offer four models, the model "Waraku", 100% cotton, and the Tetron model, both available in black and white. These Iaido Jackets (also called Iai Keikogi) are especially designed for the practice of Iaido and are 100% made in Japan (learn more about the workshops on our Artisans Presentation Page).