How to tie a BJJ belt, step by step
By Scott Flear, founder of JitsAI.
Wrap the belt around your waist with both ends even, cross the ends, tuck the top end up through every layer, cross the ends a second time, then pull tight into a flat knot. Two full crosses before the final pull-through are what keep a BJJ belt from working loose mid-round.
How do you tie a BJJ belt?
- Step 1: Find the middle of the belt. Hold the belt behind you at the small of your back with both ends level, so you have the same length on each side to work with.
- Step 2: Wrap it around your waist. Bring both ends around the front, crossing over your gi jacket, and cross them once so one end sits on top of the other.
- Step 3: Tuck the top end up and through. Take the end that is on top and tuck it up and under every layer of belt wrapped around your waist, then pull it through.
- Step 4: Cross the two ends again. You now have two ends hanging down. Cross them a second time, the same way you crossed them in step 2.
- Step 5: Pull it tight into a flat double knot. Thread the end through the loop you just made and pull both ends firmly so the knot sits flat against your stomach, not twisted to one side.
Why does my BJJ belt keep coming undone?
- Starting with uneven ends. If one side is much longer than the other before you start wrapping, you will run out of belt on one end before the knot is finished. Find the middle first.
- Only crossing once. A single cross gives a knot that slips loose during a warm-up. The belt needs two full crosses before the final pull-through to stay flat and tight through a whole class.
- Tying it off-centre. A belt tied to one side works loose faster and looks untidy. Centre the knot over your stomach before you tighten it.
New to the belt system entirely? Start with BJJ white belt for what it means and how long people usually stay there, or BJJ for beginners for your first 12 weeks.
Just started white belt?
Tying your belt is the easy part. JitsAI gives you one position a week from Henrique Rezende’s fundamentals course, and tracks what’s actually working against your training partners.
- One Focus a week, with pinned lessons from Henrique Rezende’s 74-lesson fundamentals course.
- A nine-level ladder for every technique, from partners less experienced than you to more experienced ones, each split lighter, same weight and heavier.
- Land it once and it’s a hit; 3 wins across 2 sessions and it’s proven.
$1 for 7 days, then $39 a year.
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Pick ONE thing One position for the week: an escape, a guard, a sweep.
Test it on everyone A quick check-in after class: who each round was against, and whether it worked.
Hit, then proven Land it once and it’s a HIT. Three across two sessions and it’s PROVEN.
Know what works See what holds up, against whom, then pick your next Focus.
Belt-tying questions
How do you tie a BJJ belt?
Wrap the belt around your waist with both ends even, cross the ends once, tuck the top end up through all the layers, cross the two ends a second time, then pull tight into a flat knot centred on your stomach.
Is tying a BJJ belt the same as tying a judo or karate belt?
The basic method, a double cross finished with a flat knot, is shared across most grappling and striking arts that use a wrap-around belt. Small habits, like which end starts on top, vary by gym and instructor.
Why does my BJJ belt keep coming undone?
Usually because it was only crossed once before the final pull-through, or the knot ended up off-centre. Cross the ends twice and centre the knot over your stomach before tightening.
How long should a BJJ belt be?
Long enough to wrap around your waist twice and still leave 20 to 30 cm hanging on each side after the knot is tied. Most gis are sold with a belt sized to the gi, so check the size chart if you are buying one separately.