How to Tie a Tae Kwon Do Belt

Did you know there are many ways to tie a Taekwondo belt? Whether you just started taking Tae kwon do or you want to figure out how to tie your belt evenly, these two methods can get you on the right track!

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Starting with Both Sides at Equal Length

This method is easier. Especially for tying the belt on someone else.

  1. 1
    Fold the belt exactly in half to find the center.
  2. 2
    Place the center of the belt at the front just your navel. The two sides should be equal.[1]
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  3. 3
    Wrap the two ends around your waist, and back to the front. Make sure that the left side (new right) is crossed over the right in the back. You will need to switch hands behind your back.[2]
  4. 4
    Hold both sides of the belt in front of you and make sure that they are the same length.[3]
  5. 5
    Cross the right over the left.
  6. 6
    Tuck the right side under both layers of belt and pull. Make sure this tie is snug, but you are still able to breathe comfortably.
  7. 7
    Cross the left over the right.
  8. 8
    Reach through and pull the left through. Pull both sides to secure the knot.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Starting with a Longer Left Side

This method uses the same kind of knot, but has a different way of wrapping it around your body.

  1. 1
    Hold the belt across the back of your body just under where your navel would be. The right side visible from your back (ignoring the portion behind your back) should be 2/3rds of the total length and the left side should be the remaining 1/3rd.
  2. 2
    Cross the right side over the left.[4]
  3. 3
    Wrap the right end (top side) of the belt once around your body. The belt should be sitting at your waist, right above the hip bones. Be sure to continue holding the shorter left end in place just below the navel.[5]
  4. 4
    Adjust the belt so that the sides are equal length at a 45 degree angle. If the belt has moved to your belly button or above, adjust the placement of the belt below your navel again and tighten the belt so that it comfortably fits.
  5. 5
    Cross the current right side of the belt over the left at the center of your belly. The left side should now be under both the first loop and this current cross over.
  6. 6
    Tuck the right side of the belt underneath both the left belt and the existing loop. Draw the right side out and pull both ends to tighten the belt. Make sure that you are tightening it enough so that it stays on, but not so that you can’t breathe comfortably. This is similar to the first tie before tying a bow in your shoe.
  7. 7
    Check that the lengths of both sides are still even. Adjust if it is not.
  8. 8
    Cross the left over the right
  9. 9
    Pull the left side through to secure the knot.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    Why does a Taekwondo belt need to be even?
    Julee Peck Jones
    Julee Peck Jones
    Taekwondo Expert
    Julee Peck Jones is a Taekwondo Expert and the Owner of Pecks TaeKwonDo America in Raleigh, North Carolina. Julee has over 35 years of experience and teaches self-defense, the benefits of exercise, and leadership development. The objective of her work is to help improve physical health and build confidence for students of all ages through martial arts training. She was Taekwondo America's President & CEO from 2013 to 2017 and is a licensed Master Instructor. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Theater Arts from the University of St. Thomas, Texas.
    Julee Peck Jones
    Julee Peck Jones
    Taekwondo Expert
    Expert Answer
    There's symbolism behind having the ends of the belt be even. It's a representation of the balance of the Yin and Yang that are in Taekwondo and the Korean philosophy. One side represents your mental strength, while the other side represents your physical strength. So, you want to have those belt ends be even because you want to be balanced both mentally and physically.
  • Question
    Does this tell me how to tie a white belt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, it is the same steps regardless of what color the belt is.
  • Question
    I'm interested in resuming Taekwondo after a three year gap. What practice should I do before joining my academy?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Work to become more flexible, do some yoga, and eat a healthy diet.
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Warnings

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about tying a belt in Taekwondo, check out our in-depth interview with Julee Peck Jones.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.worldtaekwondo.com/tiebelt.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.worldtaekwondo.com/tiebelt.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzb7jUa7cDI
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCnu_mVHg9I
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCnu_mVHg9I

About This Article

Julee Peck Jones
Co-authored by:
Julee Peck Jones
Taekwondo Expert
This article was co-authored by Julee Peck Jones. Julee Peck Jones is a Taekwondo Expert and the Owner of Pecks TaeKwonDo America in Raleigh, North Carolina. Julee has over 35 years of experience and teaches self-defense, the benefits of exercise, and leadership development. The objective of her work is to help improve physical health and build confidence for students of all ages through martial arts training. She was Taekwondo America's President & CEO from 2013 to 2017 and is a licensed Master Instructor. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Theater Arts from the University of St. Thomas, Texas. This article has been viewed 207,347 times.
3 votes - 80%
Co-authors: 18
Updated: March 7, 2023
Views: 207,347
Categories: Martial Arts
Article SummaryX

To tie a Tae Kwon Do belt, folding the belt in half and place the center on your belly button. Then, wrap the ends around your back so they criss-cross, and bring them around to the front of your body. Cross the ride side over the left, tuck it under both layers of the belt, and pull. To finish, tie the left side over the right to form a small loop, and reach through to pull the left side through to tighten your knot. For more ways to tie a Tae Kwon Do belt, like how to tie a belt by creating uneven sides, scroll down!

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