Huh? Is this for real?

[Webmaster]

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=276919&postcount=107

I have never heard of an extremely dark red dogi and hakama being traditional in any art. As far as I know, red is the hardest color in which to dye any cloth, and I cannot imagine this as being common or traditional in ancient Japan.

[Jay Bell]

Very dark navy blue, not red.

[Webmaster]

I thought that might be the case. Indigo dying of cloth was brought to a real art form in Japan, and so that is understandable. But red? :rolleyes:

[Don Roley]

Actually, in most Japanese sources such as those by Hatsumi, the better term would be "rust colored", which I would think of as being a dull brown rather than a dark red.

Fairly close to the color of the ground, and the bark of trees. And not that uncommon in use by the peasents.

Of course, it seems that the outfits they wore were made of several colors, all of them earth colors that would do well for blending in while sneaking, but not attract attention by themselves if worn in the open.