2 Quick Ways to Tie a BJJ or GI Belt for Jiu-Jitsu

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An easy guide to tying your belt in a traditional BJJ or karate style
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In Jiu-Jitsu, a belt symbolizes your rank, knowledge about your practice, and progress towards future athletic goals. [1] More than a symbol though, it also performs the practical job of holding your “gi” (or Jiu-Jitsu uniform) together while training and performing. There are lots of different ways to tie your Jiu-Jitsu belt, but a traditional Jiu-Jitsu tie and Karate (or Taekwondo) tie are two of the most basic. A Jiu-Jitsu tie is a quick everyday tie, whereas a Karate (or Taekwondo) tie is a little more tidy for competition. [2]

Tying a Jiu-Jitsu Belt

Hold the belt flat against your stomach and cross the sides around your back. Then, pull the belt ends to your front and cross the right side over the left side. Fold the right side under the belt and thread it through the gaps created by the other end of the belt.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Creating a Traditional Jiu-Jitsu Tie

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Check that the label of the belt is facing outward away from you. Space the belt evenly between your hipbones and your belly button. [3]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    [5] With one side of the belt in each hand, create tension as you pull each side of the belt back. Feed each side into the opposite hand so the belt crosses once in the back. [6]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    [7] Extend your arms in front of you creating a snug fit in the back. Adjust the belt as needed so that both ends are of equal length. [8]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Readjust your grip so that each hand is holding the side of the belt now in front of it. [9]
    • The side of the belt that was the right side should now be in your left hand. Similarly, what was the left side will now be in your right hand.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Tuck the top overlapping strap of the belt (in your left hand) underneath all the layers of the belt around your waist. Do this so it comes in from the bottom and out of the top.
    • It will now be the closest strap to your body of all the wraps around your waist.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    As you loop, thread the bottom belt through the gap created by the two belts crossing. Take one end in each hand, and pull the sides away from one another tightly to form a knot. You’re ready for action!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Karate or Taekwondo Tie

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Line one end of your belt up with the right-hand side of your Jiu-Jitsu lapel. This will make it so your right hand is at the end of the belt by the lapel, and your left hand is holding a side with much more slack. Face the label side of your belt away from your body.
    • Your Jiu-Jitsu lapel is the bottom corner of your Jiu-Jitsu shirt. It is different than a suit lapel.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Take the free length of the belt, and wrap it around your body two times. Bring the wrapped end back in front of your body.
    • After wrapping, you should be holding the side that wrapped around your body in your left hand and the side that remained at your lapel in your right hand.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Coming from the bottom through the top, thread the left side of your belt under the belted layers around your waist.
    • Adjust the belt as necessary so the two loose ends of the belt are roughly around the same length after tucking. You may need to loosen and tweak things.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Double check that you are crossing the higher side of the belt over the lower side of the belt. The left should be highest.
    • Doing this will create a small gap between the two belts.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Jiu‐Jitsu Belt
    Taking a side in each hand, pull both ends of the belt tight to create a knot. You’re ready to go!
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I tie a karate belt the Jiu-Jitsu way?
    Community Answer
    It really depends on your waist size. If you have (quite) a small waist, then it should be fine.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meV103vYOI8&feature=youtu.be&t=10
      2. ↑ https://evolve-mma.com/blog/how-to-tie-your-belt-in-bjj/
      3. ↑ https://evolve-mma.com/blog/how-to-tie-your-belt-in-bjj/
      4. ↑ Frank Blaney. Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor. Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.
      5. ↑ Frank Blaney. Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor. Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-shq5oDSCs4&feature=youtu.be&t=25
      7. ↑ Frank Blaney. Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor. Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.
      8. ↑ https://evolve-mma.com/blog/how-to-tie-your-belt-in-bjj/
      9. ↑ https://evolve-mma.com/blog/how-to-tie-your-belt-in-bjj/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To tie a jiu-jitsu belt, start by holding it flat against your stomach and wrapping it around yourself so the ends cross at your back. Then, bring both ends back in front of you, and cross the right end over the left end. Next, pass the end that's on top underneath all of the layers, passing it through the bottom so it comes out of the top. Finally, take the same end and pass it through the gap at the front of your belt before bringing it up and looping it through the belt to form a knot. To learn how to make a karate or taekwondo tie, scroll down!

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      • Gigi Smith

        Aug 8, 2019

        "This helped me tie my belt so well! Super easy tutorial, and I managed to get it done in 2 minutes on the first ..." more
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