How to Tie an Obi Belt

Co-authored by John Graden

Last Updated: June 30, 2024 References

Obi belts are traditionally worn during martial arts to keep your uniform in place. More recently, they have also been used as a decorative feature over dresses, shirts, and kimonos. The knot for martial arts is quick and easy to learn, and stays in place well. If you are looking for a knot to wear over a streetwear outfit, there are plenty of fun and eye-catching options. Enjoy experimenting with the different looks!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Tying an Obi Belt for Martial Arts

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1
Place the centre of the belt against your belly button. Fold the belt in half to find the centre. Then, place it in front of your belly button so that there are equal amounts of belt on each side of your body.^{[1]
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- If your obi belt is new, it will likely have an ironed crease at the middle point.
- This knot is worn by both men and women.
2
Wrap both ends right around your body and back to your front. Press the belt flat against your uniform and wrap the ends toward the centre of your back. Then, cross the ends over and wrap them back toward your belly button. Avoid twisting the belt at the back, as this can cause injury if you fall on that belt crease.^{[2]
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- Look in a mirror to check how the back of your belt looks. If necessary, straighten it up with your fingers.
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Hold both ends of your belt in front of you. Then, take 1 end and push it up between your belt and your uniform and pull the end toward your head. Keeping pulling the end until the belt is a comfortable tightness.^{[3]
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4
Tie a square knot to secure the belt. Cross the ends of the obi belt in front of you and then take 1 end and push it up through the loop. Pull the ends to secure the knot in place. If the belt isn't sitting firmly against your uniform, pull the ends a little further to tighten the knot.^{[4]
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- This knot will loosen over time, so you may need to pull the ends every hour to tighten the knot.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Wearing an Obi Belt for Fashion

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1
Double-knot the belt for a relaxed look. Simply cross the ends of the belt in front of you and push 1 end up through the loop. Then, pull the ends tight to secure the knot. Repeat this process to create a double-knot.^{[5]
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- This knot is a great option if you want the knot to stay in place all day, as it doesn't come undone easily.
2
Try a loop knot to draw attention to your obi belt. Place the centre of the belt flat against the middle of your back and hold the ends in front of you. Cross over the ends and pull 1 end through the loop you have created. This creates the first knot. Then, cross over the ends and pull the middle point of 1 side of the belt through the gap. Pull it tight to create a pretty loop.^{[6]
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- Don't pull the end of the belt through, as this creates a double-knot.
3
Wrap the belt twice around yourself and then knot it for a thicker look. Position the middle of the belt around your back and wrap it around to your front. Then, wrap the ends right around your body once again until they meet back at your belly button. Finish the look with your favourite knot.^{[7]
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- This is a great option if you have a thin obi belt and want to make it stand out.
- This technique works well on kimonos.^{[8]
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4
Tie it at the back for a tidy look. Place the centre of the obi around your back and then wrap the ends right around your body until they cross over at your back. Then, tie a double-knot or a loop knot to hold it in place.^{[9]
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- This is a great technique to use if you are wearing an obi belt with a kimono.
5
Swivel the knot to the side for an off-centre look. To achieve this style, simply swivel the belt around so that the knot sits over 1 hip. This is a great option if you are looking for a fun, casual look.^{[10]
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- This style looks great over dresses and kimonos.