How to Make a Karate Belt Display

Progressing through a martial arts program is a difficult endeavor and the hard-earned belts that come with it should be displayed appropriately. One option to display your belts attractively on the cheap is this simple, homemade belt display, which can be hung on a wall for all to see. With a header plank bearing your name, school and martial art, and a color-coded display of your climb through the program, you can show your pride in your hard work.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2" plywood, 18" by 4"
• 1/4" plywood, 18" by 3" (One plank for each belt rank in your program)
• Drill with 1/4" bit
• Yellow thread, 1cm diameter
• Gold thread, 5mm diameter
• Black thread, 5mm diameter
• Saw
• Paint (in the colors of each belt rank in your program)

Instructions

1. Cut your plywood planks to size, if needed.

2. Drill a hole approximately 1/2" in from each corner of the 1/2" plywood, and all but one plank of the 1/4" plywood. Drill holes 1/2" in from only two corners of the final piece of 1/4" plywood, with the holes sharing the same long side of the plank.

3. Paint the 1/4" planks to colors corresponding to your program's belt ranks, then leave them until dry.

4. Paint the 1/2" plank to your liking, then leave it until dry. It is recommended you include your name, your martial art and the school you are training at on this plank, as it will be your header.

5. Tie the top-level-colored plank to the bottom of the header plank with the gold thread, with the planks oriented lengthwise, leaving approximately 1/2" of hanging space between the bottom of the header and the top of the belt plank.

6. Repeat Step 5 for each successive belt rank until you reach the lowest-level belt on the bottom of the display.

7. Thread the yellow thread through the top two holes of the header plank, leaving enough slack that the thread is approximately 3" above the top of the header when pulled up from the center of the plank, then tie a double knot behind the plank on each end to ensure the thread does not slip out.

8. To secure belts you have earned, tightly bind the folded belt on each end of the corresponding plank, approximately 2" in from the end of the belt, tying the knot behind the colored plank so that it is not seen when hung.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish