It’s important to discipline yourself when learning and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other forms of martial arts. Discipline, after all, allows you to stay focused on your goals, resulting in reaching new heights as you amass more knowledge and strengthen your body.
What many people don’t know is that discipline doesn’t only apply when you’re training on the mat, alone or with a master or fellow Jiu-Jitsu student. One of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tips is maintaining discipline even off the mat, beginning with how you carry yourself.
Here is where the matter of the Jiu-Jitsu uniform or Gi comes in. Your uniform is an extension of yourself when you’re at the training center, so it would do you good to wear it properly all the time.
Now, the Gi has three parts: a cotton jacket, drawstring pants, and your rank belt. It’s easy to put on the jacket and drawstring, even when it’s your first time. The belt, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter. Many beginners find themselves stumped by the belt, and if you’re the same, don’t fret. Below are several ways you can tie your Jiu-Jitsu belt.
The Simple Way
The first way to tie your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt is one most beginners utilize, given its simplicity.
Take your belt and find the midpoint and the black parts near both ends of the belt. You’ll then press the middle part of the belt to where your belly button is. Following that, wrap your belt around your waist once before bringing the ends to the front.
Take great care to maintain both sides of equal length. Cross the ends of the belt so that you’re holding the right flap with your left hand and the left flap with your right hand. The right flap should be over the left.
Once you cross them, tuck the right flap underneath all the belt layers, beginning from the bottom to the top—the result: a tight top knot.
While this method is the easiest, it also comes undone often, so you may want to try your hand on the other ways to tie your belt.
The BJJ Way
The second method you can follow guarantees a more secure knot. As its name suggests, the BJJ way is specific to practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that those competing in competitions often use since it doesn’t come undone easily.
Once again, find the middle point of your belt. If you wish to be more accurate, you can fold your belt. The first few steps are the same with the simple way. The method only starts diverging when you get to the looping part.
To loop your belt the BJJ or “unbreakable” way, you pull the left end of the belt over the right and fit it through under the belt layers, from the bottom to the top.
Meanwhile, the right end will only pass through the first layer of the belt, angled towards the left side. It shouldn’t be too tight, creating a small space where the left end will pass through.
Pull both ends tightly, and you’ll have an unbreakable knot.
The Karate Way
Other forms of martial arts make use of the Gi, such as Karate. The next way is precisely the one used by Karate martial artists.
Unlike the first two ways, you’ll place a small part of your belt to your hip, preferably the left side. After, take the right end of the belt and loop it around your waist twice, keeping the belt flat and making sure that the motion ends on your left side.
Now, still holding the right end, pull it through all the belt layers, beginning from the bottom to the top. Make sure both ends are even before tightening the knot.
Final Thoughts
Like with most things, tying a Gi belt requires practice, especially when you’re focusing on the more complicated knots. If you can’t quite get them right, there’s no need to panic. You can always use the simple way for training and practice the other methods when you’re at home.
If you’re looking for more information regarding Jiu-Jitsu apparel, browse the Fight Gear Market website. We have various online resources that detail everything you need to know before starting Jiu-Jitsu, including tips on Gis and other gears, techniques, and training.
