How to Tie a Men's Obi

Learn to tie a man's obi.

An obi is a sash that is worn with traditional Japanese clothing and in Japanese martial arts as part of the kimono outfit. Obis vary in size and detail for men and women. A woman's obi can be nearly 12 inches wide and 13 feet long, while a man's obi is narrow and short. Although tying a man's obi may seem complex, the actual technique is simple but takes a little practice and patience to execute successfully.

Instructions

1. Wrap the belt around your waist, place the center of the obi below your navel and wrap the left side of it around your body until the long section is on your left. Wrap this section all the way around so it overlaps the first section.

2. Grab the belt firmly with your left hand then tuck the right end of the belt under both layers and pull it up through the right side.

3. Use your left hand to flip the left end of the belt one half turn; then place the right end of the belt over the left end.

4. Pull the right end up through the opening. Then pull out both ends of the belt to create a tight, firm knot.

References

• Japanese Kimono: Obi Sash Belts for Kimono
• Uruwashii Kan Karate: How to Tie the Obi