帯How to Tie a Karate Belt

To tie a karate belt (obi): find the centre and hold it to your abdomen, wrap both ends around your back and cross them, bring them to the front keeping the belt flat with no twist, cross and tuck one end up under both layers, then knot the two ends into a flat, horizontal knot with both ends even. Below is the standard dojo method, step by step.

The standard method, step by step

Find the centre

Hold the belt out, find its midpoint, and place that midpoint against the centre of your abdomen, just below the navel, over your gi.

Wrap both ends around your back

Bring both ends around your waist, cross them at the small of your back, and return them to the front. You now have two ends hanging in front and two layers around your waist.

Keep it flat — no twist

As you bring the ends forward, make sure the belt lies flat against your body the whole way around. Many people give a small flip at the back to keep both wraps flat.

Cross the ends

In front, cross the left end over the right (either order works, but be consistent).

Tuck up under both layers

Take the end now on top and pass it up and under both wrapped layers from underneath, then pull it out over the top. Snug both ends.

Form the knot

You again have two ends. Cross them, then take the upper end, fold it down over the other and bring it up through the loop you’ve created — like the first half of tying a shoelace, forming a square/reef knot. Pull firmly.

Check your work

A correct knot is horizontal and flat, both ends are roughly equal length, and there’s no twist anywhere. If one end is much longer, untie and re-centre; if the knot sits vertical, you crossed the wrong way on the final step.

Conventions. Any embroidered rank or name should end up right-side-up and readable. The belt should be snug but not so tight it restricts breathing from the hara (lower abdomen). Belt colour shows your rank — see karate belts in order.

Frequently asked questions

How do you tie a karate belt so both ends are even?

Start by placing the belt’s exact midpoint against your abdomen before wrapping. If the ends come out uneven, untie and re-centre — even ends almost always come from centring the belt correctly at the start.

Why does my karate belt knot come out vertical?

A vertical knot means you crossed the ends the wrong way on the final step. On the last cross, fold the upper end down and bring it up through the loop (a square knot); reversing that produces a vertical ‘granny’ knot.

Should the belt wrap around once or twice?

Twice — both ends go around your waist so there are two layers, which is what lets the knot sit flat and secure. A single wrap tends to ride up and come loose.

Which way does a karate belt knot go?

Flat and horizontal across the front, centred over the abdomen, with both ends hanging roughly even. Keep the belt untwisted all the way around for a clean, comfortable knot.