Every new Taekwondo family discovers the same small morning crisis: the class starts in ten minutes, the belt is in a heap, and nobody remembers which end goes where. The good news is that the standard knot takes about fifteen seconds once you’ve done it a few times, and a well-tied belt stays put through a whole class.
The four steps
- Center and wrap. Find the middle of the belt and hold it against the stomach, just below the navel. Wrap both ends around the back, crossing them behind, and bring them around to the front. The belt now goes around the waist twice.
- Cross and tuck. Lay the right end over the left end at the front. Tuck that top end up underneath both layers of the belt and pull it out at the top. You now have one end pointing up and one pointing down.
- Over and through. Bring the end that points up down over the lower end, then pass it up through the loop you’ve just made, like the second half of tying a shoelace.
- Pull flat and even. Pull both ends out to the sides to tighten the knot. Adjust so the knot sits in the center and both ends hang to the same length.
The result is a square knot, which lies flat and holds well. If the two ends point out at odd angles, the knot is probably a “granny” knot, made by crossing the wrong way in step 3. Untie it and swap which end goes over.
Tips for helping a young child
Small children can’t see their own stomachs well enough to tie a belt at first, so most parents tie it for them. Stand behind the child, reach around and tie it as if it were your own belt, which is far easier than tying it facing them. By the time they reach yellow or green belt, most children can tie it themselves, and many schools quietly expect them to.
If the belt is much too long for a small child, it will flap and loosen. Ask the school whether they can supply a shorter size. Belts are sold by number, usually from size 0 for small children up to size 7 or 8 for tall adults.
Why belts come loose
A belt that keeps slipping during class is usually tied too loosely in the first wrap. Pull each wrap snug before you tie the knot, not just at the end. A brand-new belt can also be stiff and slippery; it softens after a few weeks. If your belt still comes loose, check that you tucked under both layers in step 2, not just one.
Belt etiquette
In many schools students turn to face the back of the room, away from the instructor, to retie a belt during class. It is a small sign of respect that also keeps the class moving. Belts are also traditionally never thrown on the floor or stepped over, and they are folded or hung up after class rather than stuffed into a bag. Your child will pick this up quickly, but it helps if the belt has a home, perhaps a hook by the door, where it lives between classes.
On test day, many schools invite parents onto the mat to tie the new belt on their child. Practice the knot at home the week before, and you’ll be able to do it smoothly in front of everyone. Our guide to Taekwondo belt order explains what each of those colors means.
Questions parents and students ask
Which way should a Taekwondo belt knot face?
The knot sits in the center of the waist, with the two ends hanging down and slightly apart. Neither end should point straight up.
Should Taekwondo belt ends be even?
Yes. Instructors like the two ends to hang the same length, usually reaching about mid-thigh. If they are uneven, retie and adjust the starting point in the middle.
Do you wrap a Taekwondo belt once or twice?
Most Taekwondo belts are long enough to wrap twice around the waist, and the standard method uses the double wrap. Very short belts or belts for small children may wrap once.
Should you wash a Taekwondo belt?
Many schools have a tradition of never washing the belt. Hygiene-minded families compromise by hand-washing it gently in cold water and air-drying, which keeps the color from fading.
