How to Tie Your Karate Belt: Step-by-Step Guide

Learning how to properly tie your karate belt (obi) is an essential skill for any karateka. A well-tied belt shows respect for the art and helps you maintain a neat appearance during training. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you tie your karate belt correctly.

Step 1: Find the Center of the Belt

1. Fold the Belt in Half: Hold both ends of the belt and bring them together to find the exact middle.
2. Mark the Center: You can do this visually or by lightly folding the belt to create a crease.

Step 2: Position the Belt

1. Place the Center on Your Belly Button: Hold the center of the belt against your belly button (navel).
2. Wrap Around Your Waist: Wrap both ends of the belt around your waist, crossing them at the back and bringing them around to the front again. Ensure the belt sits flat against your back without any twists.

Step 3: Cross the Ends in Front

1. Even Out the Ends: Make sure both ends of the belt are of equal length in front of you.
2. Cross the Left Over Right: Take the left end of the belt and cross it over the right end, creating an “X” shape in front of your body.

Step 4: Loop and Tighten

1. Create the Base Knot: Tuck the left end (now on the right side) under both layers of the belt and pull it through, forming a loop.
2. Tighten the Knot: Pull both ends firmly to tighten the belt around your waist.

Step 5: Form the Final Knot

1. Cross the Right Over Left: Take the right end of the belt and cross it over the left end.
2. Loop and Pull: Tuck the right end under the left end and pull it through to form a square knot.
3. Tighten and Adjust: Pull both ends to tighten the knot. The ends should hang evenly on both sides.

Step 6: Check the Knot and Appearance

1. Symmetry: Ensure the ends of the belt are of equal length. Adjust if necessary.
2. Tightness: The belt should be snug but not too tight, allowing comfortable movement.
3. Flatness: Make sure the belt lies flat against your body without any twists or folds.