Obi Page
How To Tie Your Obi
Obi is the Japanese term for your belt. Back in the days when dojo had earthen floors, students were issued one belt, at the beginning of their training. This was their white belt. They would wear this belt, without washing it, until it eventually became black. Even today, we do not wash our belts. The purpose of this is to recognize the "blood, sweat, and tears" that go into earning each belt.
Learning to tie one's obi can be something of a challenge. Learning to tie one's child's obi, even more so. On this page, we will go through the steps to tie one's belt. Please note that there may be different methods to make this same knot, and that different dojo may use different methods - or even different knots! The method here is the one taught at Rising Sun Martial Arts.
Step 1 - Take one end of your belt in your right hand and put the rest behind you.
Tip for Parents and Sempai's: When trying to help a child learn to tie their belt, stand behind them and look down over them. This will give you the same perspective as if you were putting the belt on yourself.