How to Tie a Gi Top

The "gi", or judogi, was invented by Jigoro Kano who also invented judo. The pants are held up by a drawstring and the loose fitting top is closed with a modified kimono sash called an "obi." Usually obi are called belts, as in "black belt." Practitioners of karate, Jiu Jitsu and other martial arts all wear gis and how to tie your belt is often the very first thing novices learn. Generally, the rule is that the belt should loop the waist twice and the ends in front should be tied so they lay flat and point at the feet instead of sticking up like bunny ears.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find the middle of the belt by holding both ends in one hand. Close the gi top by folding the left side over the right side. Put the middle of the belt in the center of your abdomen below your belly button.

    • 2

      Cross the belt ends in the small of your back and hold them again in the middle of your abdomen. Cross the right belt end over the left belt end.

    • 3

      Insert the right belt end between both layers of the belt and the gi top. Pull the right belt end all the way up and pull tight to make an overhand knot. After tying the overhand knot one end of the belt will obviously point up and be higher than the other, low end of the belt which will point down.

    • 4

      Pull the high end of the belt over the low end and loop the high end under and through the low end. Pulling both ends creates a square knot and also results in belt ends that both point down and lay flat.