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How to tie a karate belt | How to tie a karate belt Step by Step with Pictures

How to tie a karate belt

Practicing karate is a great way to learn self-defense, strengthen your body, and focus on your inner balance. However, if you're just starting out, it can be a bit difficult to tie the belt properly. While using both sides to tie the belt is the most common way, there are different ways to tie a karate belt, so if you are confused, you should ask the instructor at your particular school. You can use both sides to  belt for a wrap-around look, or just use the reverse side to tie the for a cleaner, smoother line.

Do you need to know how to tie a karate belt? Let us teach you two ways to tie a karate belt in detail. Here is two method how to tie karate belt with step-by-step and with pictures. This method can be used for tying a karate belt, jiujutsu belt, taekwondo belt, or most any other martial arts belt.

First Method: Using the Front Sides to Knot


How to tie a karate belt

 Step 1

Fold the waist exactly in half to find the center.

 Find the middle of your sash or obi by folding it in half. Hold your belt in front of you and join the ends together so that they are even. Run your hand along the waistband to smooth it out before you begin. Start by holding the waist tag in your midsection in front of you with your right hand. It should hang several inches longer than the desired length of the belt when tied. Wrap the other end of the belt behind you and around your waist with your left hand White belts will usually have a tag on one end of the belt. When you look through the colors, your belt will no longer have the label.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 2

Place the center of the belt at your navel.

Extend the waist so it forms a long line again, keeping your hands centered. Wrap the belt around your belly, placing the middle just above your navel. Make sure both sides of the belt are even. So you know it is in place. If you're not sure if your belt is even, try standing in front of a mirror to check. Make sure ends are equal length.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 3

Wrap the two ends around your waist and back to the front.

As you bring the ends of the belt back, switch hands to hold the opposite ends. Cross them behind you, and then bring the ends towards you.  This section can be a bit complicated, especially if you're just starting out. Make sure the ends are always aligned in front of you when overlapping the end.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 4

Overlap the ends on top of each other on your stomach.

Pick one end and fold it down the middle, placing it on the waistband above your belly. Do the same with the other end so that they go straight through your navel. If the waistband has wrinkles, smooth it out.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 5

Tuck the top end underneath all the layers of the belt.

Take the end of the belt at the top and pull it under all of your waist layers. Grab the end you just pulled underneath and pull it towards you, pressing it against your belly to create a small knot. Tighten the knot by pulling both ends. Make sure this knot fits snugly around your waist, but not so tight that you can't move or breathe. If the ends of the waist knot are uneven, slide the belt around the waist to secure it before continuing.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 6

Fold the bottom end underneath the top end to tie a knot.

Take the end of the belt that sticks out from all the layers and cross it under the top. Pull the bottom end towards the center of the cross you created, and then pull the bottom end up to tie the knot. Make sure the ends hang down evenly. If your belt is too tight, you can adjust it with the last knot you just made. Make sure your last button is right above your navel.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 7

Pull to tighten the knot.

Pull to knot. If the ends of the straps are not the same length, untie the knot and adjust the length. The finished knot will look like a fortune cookie. Your karate belt is ready. Now you can play karate.



Second Method: Using the Left Side to Knot


How to tie a karate belt

Step 1

Place the belt across your stomach, with the left side longer than the right.

Hold the belt in front of the navel, but leave only about an arm's length of slack on the right side. Keep the flip side super long for later work. The right side won't move much during the knotting process, so hold it tight.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 2

Wrap the left end of the belt around yourself twice.

Keeping the right end in place, wrap the left around you once, and then wrap it again. Tuck the right end of the belt under the left end as you roll it up to keep it in place. If your belt is short, you may only be able to wrap it once. Wrapping the belt behind you instead of crossing it creates a flatter, smoother line in the back.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 3

Slide both ends to the center of your belly button.

Grab both ends of your belts and pull them until both are centered on your navy. If the sides are not equal, slide the belt around the waist until both are equal in length. You don't have to take off your belt to do this, so try putting it on instead of taking it off.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 4

Bring the longer end underneath all the layers of the belt.

Grasp the end of the belt that you wrap around your body and push it under all the layers of the belt on your belly. Pull it through the layers, and then pull tight to tie a loose knot.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 5

Fold the bottom end underneath the top end to tie a knot.

Grab the bottom of the belt or the right side and cross it under the top in front of you. Pull the bottom end toward the center of the cross, and then pull the bottom end up to tie the knot. Make sure the ends hang down evenly. You can loosen the knot if needed by grabbing the middle and pulling it out.


How to tie a karate belt

Step 6

Pull to tighten the knot.

Pull to tie karate belt. If the ends of the straps are not the same length, untie the knot and adjust the length. The finished knot will look like a fortune cookie. Your karate belt is ready. Now you can play karate.

 

We have tried to give a complete description of how to tie a karate belt step by step. I hope you will like it. Apart from this, if you have any question, you can ask in the comment.