Tie a Karate Belt

Walk into a martial arts dojo with a belt tied right! It will show the instructor you are ready to learn! There are numerous ways to tie your belt, and you should be sure to ask how they do it at your particular school. Here are two ways to get you started.

Steps

Using the Left Side to Knot

  1. Hold the belt across your body in front of your navel. The right end should be shorter, only a couple of inches longer than you want that side to flop down when you finish. This right end will remain static for most of the belt tying procedure.
  2. Wrap the left end of the belt once around your body. The belt should be sitting at your waist. Be sure to keep holding the shorter right end in place at your navel.
  3. Place the long end over the short end and hold the intersection at your navel. When the long end comes around, cross it on top of the original end and hold it in place at your navel.
  4. Wrap the long end around your body a second time, laying it on top of the first wrap. Depending on the size of your waist and the length of your belt, you may not be able to wrap a second time—or you may require a third wrap. A well-fitting belt, however, can be wrapped around twice.
  5. Bring the long end towards the center. Your belt should be securely wrapped around you now. Time to tie the knot.
  6. Place the long end of the belt over the short end. The short end should be pointing to your right.
  7. Push the long end under both layers of the belt. It should go down, under and back up.
  8. Grab both ends and pull them tight. We have about half the knot now. Make sure your ends are about equal in length.
  9. Cross the two ends over each other. This is going to be like tying a regular knot.
  10. Pull the long end over the the other and around through the loop formed by their crossing. This is just like tying a regular knot.
  11. Pull the knot closed. Tug on both ends until they form a knot over the center of your belt.
  12. Tighten and center the knot firmly. Make sure your belt is secure so it doesn't come loose during your training session.

Using Both Sides to Knot

  1. Fold the belt exactly in half to find the center. This method uses the same kind of knot, but has a different way of wrapping it around your body.
  2. Place the center of the belt at your navel. The two sides should be equal.
  3. Wrap the two ends around your waist and back to the front. You will need to switch hands behind your back. Make sure that the belt overlaps itself. Hold the belt where the two ends cross again in front of you.
  4. Fold the left end down, under and around the two layers. Keep the belt at the center and make sure this part of the knot is snug.
  5. Cross the ends and fold the left end under the right end to tie a square knot. Pull the knot tight and make sure everything is even and centered.



Tips

  • If your belt doesn't come out right, don't worry! Instructors are forgiving on white belts. With a little practice you will get the hang of it.

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Sources and Citations

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