How to Tie a Gi Belt for Jujitsu

Jujitsu uses colored belts to indicate a student's rank.

Your journey as a martial artist begins the first time you put on your uniform, or "gi." Many styles, including Brazilian jujitsu, measure a student's progress through a series of belts. Each belt symbolizes a different rank, or amount of knowledge. Jujitsu's belt ranking system progresses from white through blue, purple, brown and black. Before you can begin earning new belts, however, you have to learn how to tie them.

Instructions

1. Find the center of your belt by holding it out in front of you, the ends dangling toward the floor. The ends should be the same length on both sides. If there are words or stripes that are supposed to be worn on the left, begin with them on the right.

2. Place the middle of your belt just below your navel and wrap both ends behind your back. Let the ends cross in the back and wind back around to your front. Your belt is now two layers thick. Line the layers up so that one is directly over the other. Your belt should not be twisted or crisscrossed in back.

3. Cross the right end of your jujitsu belt over the top of the left end. Tuck it under both layers of the belt just below your navel.

4. Loop the left end over and through the right end of the belt. Pull both ends tightly to form a square knot.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your ends the same length by adjusting the belt after you have wrapped it around your back, but before you tie the knot. Slide the belt so that the right end is slightly longer than the left. The ends will be the same length after you tighten the knot.

References

• "Brazilian Jujitsu Theory and Technique"; Renzo Gracie and Royler Gracie; 2001