Length of Belt

Belt length is usually 3 times the waist circumference. Some pattern competitors like to have a long belt so it touches the floor while in low stances to give the illusion of an even lower stance.

Construction of Belt

Belts are typically 1.5 inches wide and about 100 inches long. White and colored belts are usually made of cotton, whereas black belts often have a layer of satin over them. Belts usually have 8 lines of stitching running lengthwise. Cheap belts only have 6 lines of stitching. Black belts usually have 10 to 12 lines of stitching since they are usually wider than color belts.

Average belts are constructed with a felt liner
covered with thin cotton straps with a cotton outer sheath

Quality belts are constructed with a heavy cotton strap
with a cotton or satin outer sheath; no felt liner

Care of Belt

Do not wash the belt, clean stains individually. To relax a new belt so it will hang freely, continuously crush it into a ball with the hands and store it this shape. A belt may be stretched by hanging it over the top of a door and pulling down on the ends of the belt.

How to Tie Belt

To view graphic and video descriptions of methods to tie the belt, click here.

Hold the belt at the middle of its length, in front of the body, with the ends even and hanging downward. Place the middle of the belt on the front of the body just below the naval and pass the ends of the belt around each side of the body, bringing them together in front of the body, holding one end in each hand. Ensure the ends of the belt are even and hold the section of the belt that is in the left hand along the front of the section of the belt that is wrapped around the body. Pass the end of the belt in the right hand under the two sections of the belt on the body and pull it snuggly upwards. Now pass the same section (now on the left side) over, under, and up through the section that is hanging downward, forming a square knot, the strongest of knots. Pull the two ends snuggly to tighten the knot. The ends of the belt should hang evenly, signifying balance and harmony of spirit and body. When tying the belt, remember, right end over the left and under both layers, left end over right end.