Once you earn the rank of black belt, you should show it off to others in your Taekwondo community. The best way of showing off a Taekwondo belt is through the wrap around your waist. The way you wrap a belt around your waist tells of your patience, devotion, and skill. Many don’t know how, but luckily this list has the steps needed for how to tie a double wrap black belt.
The double wrap black belt is a symbol of power and skill. Not only is the double wrap thick and more secure than a single wrap, but it is also the traditional way of wearing a Taekwondo belt. Wearing the double wrap belt will give you a sense of stability and is an excellent way of showing off your accomplishment of earning that high rank in the Taekwondo community of the black belt.
Table of Contents
Black Belt Sizes
The 1st thing that you must establish before starting to tie your double wrap black belt is that the belt is long enough for you to tie. If you already have a black belt, double-check that it is not the length of a single ramp belt with the chart below.
Using this belt length chart will help you determine and ensure that the belt you have is long enough, as the single wrap belts tend to be shorter in length.
The most common measurements for single and double wrap belts are listed below, with the size and length together:
Single Wrap
| Belt Size | Length in Inches | Length in Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | 48 inches | 122 centimeters |
| 0 | 53-1/2 inches | 136 centimeters |
| 1 | 58-1/2 inches | 149 centimeters |
| 2 | 63-1/2 inches | 161 centimeters |
| 3 | 68-1/2 inches | 174 centimeters |
Double Wrap
| Belt Size | Length Inches | Length Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 77 inches | 195 centimeters |
| 1 | 83 inches | 211 centimeters |
| 2 | 88 inches | 223 centimeters |
| 3 | 96 inches | 244 centimeters |
| 4 | 105 inches | 267 centimeters |
| 5 | 112 inches | 284 centimeters |
| 6 | 120 inches | 305 centimeters |
| 7 | 128 inches | 325 centimeters |
| 8 | 145 inches | 368 centimeters |
| 9 | 160 inches | 406 centimeters |
Using a cloth measuring tape, measure around your body so that you know what belt size you should buy. The measurement will help you in purchasing either a single or double wrap belt determined in one of the charts above.
Steps to Tie a Double Wrap Black Belt
When you first start with Taekwondo, you probably just tied a big knot in the belt and headed for your class. The instructor probably re-tied the knot for you or told you how to do it. Even if you were taught and trained with a single wrap belt, you are now a black belt, and this achievement deserves the traditional wrap of the double wrap belt.
The steps for how to tie a double wrap black belt are not tricky. Follow the easy-to-use instructions below and follow the steps in order.
Here are the proper steps for the double wrap:
Step 1: Wrap or X
Take the belt in your right hand, lean over slightly and wrap the strap around your midsection or action or you can also cross the belt in an X shape from your back. The X will be in the front of your body.
Step 2: Folding in Halves
Take the black belt and fold it in half once, and then a second time, place the 1st fold in your right hand is in your right hand so that you have a quarter of the belt hanging to the left and 3/4 of the belt hanging down over your right hand. Place the front of your body up against the fold.
Step 3: Tucking the Topside
In front, there will be a top side and bottom side to the layers of wrap. Place the topside end under the layers of the belt and pull it out the underside. You are now halfway done tying your black belt.
Step 4: Top Through the Loop
There should now be a loop formed in front of your body. Use the top end and place it through the loop while bringing it back up.
Step 5: Pull the Knot Tight
Now pull both ends so that the knot is tight. It should resemble the half knot dimensions, which have three loops over them with one on the side and two others in between. The knot doesn’t need to face any particular way. Instead, just make sure that the ends are of equal lengths and that your black belt has the name stitched and facing outwards for everyone to see.
Respect in Tying a Taekwondo Belt
Tying a black belt or Taekwondo belt is taken incredibly seriously both by people who practice the sport and spectators. People will often look away or turn their faces from someone tying their black belt. Not facing someone while tying their black belt is a sign of respect to that person, letting them prepare in peace.
Also, the Taekwondo belt’s appearance is essential as a sign of respect for the sport and dedication to your practice. It’s a tight, good-looking black belt knot that shows that you are skilled and care about your appearance. A superb knot on your belt also signifies that you respect the sport enough to take it seriously, dressing and looking good while competing and practicing.
How Tight Should a Black Belt Be?
It may seem silly, but you can injure yourself or others, especially children, with a belt that is too tight. Tight black belts or Taekwondo belts are essential for keeping your Gi secure and also help you get the belt ends out of your way while practicing your sport. However, you never want to cut off breathing or even circulation to the organs of the body.
The black belt should be tight enough to keep your Gi on your body and closed, as well as tight sufficient to hold the knot securely. However, it should not be so tight that it affects your breathing in any way.
For children, breathing is much more labored because of a tight Taekwondo belt. They may not even notice the tightness before they begin working out in their gym. However, a lack of oxygen could cause serious problems or even suffocation if not dealt with correctly.
Tying a Taekwondo or black belt on a child needs much more careful consideration. Make sure that if they bend at the midsection, they can still breathe freely. Also, ask if the belt is cutting into them on their sides. If it is a sharp pain, the belt is too tight. Use all of these tips for a belt that is too tight for adults and yourself, as well.
Steps to Tie a Taekwondo Belt on a Child
Taekwondo requires great discipline, patience, and strength training that is a beautiful outlet for children. Children benefit immensely from their taekwondo practice. However, they may have trouble tying their taekwondo belt.
Even though they might not be at the black belt’s level, you can still double wrap the child’s Taekwondo belt in an ordinary way. However, you might need some guidance and steps for tying a taekwondo belt on a child.
The knot should be tight enough so that it holds together and won’t come undone. Also, there shouldn’t be excess belt hanging that could cause tripping. Finally, the belt shouldn’t be so tight that it suffocates your child. The following steps will help you to safely and securely tie the Taekwondo belt or blackbelt on a child:
Step 1: Find the Center
The center of the belt is essential for an even knot. Hold the belt out and match the two ends. Then, crease along the center of the belt. Find the centerline for the folded strap and the belt as one long piece.
Step 2: Kidney Placement
Use the crease from the middle of the one long piece of belt and match it up with the kidney right side of your child. You should have two long ends of equal length on each side and make it so that the centerline will start directly in front of the child’s kidney so that the crease is.
Step 3: Gi Closed
Ensure that the center of the belt is held tightly against the child’s Gi so that the left side has the flap of the Gi closed securely.
Step 4: X Wrap
Hold the belt up to the mid-section of your child and wrap it around their back from each side. Then, cross the sides in an X shape and return the ends to the front. Bring the ends to the sides, ready for placement at the front of the body.
Step 5: Bring it Around
Once you have the X pattern in the back of your child’s Gi, bring the ends around the body and guide them securely in your hands so that the tension remains firm but not suffocating. Now you are ready to begin the knot.
Step 6: The Belt Knot
The knot in the belt is a simple square knot that is not very difficult. This little joke of the play on words ‘know’ and ‘not’ is something that kids pick up on and like. You can also teach them the mantra of the square knot so that they help remember the steps of finishing tying their very own Taekwondo black belt:
- Left over right.
- Underneath it all.
- Right over left.
- Underneath the first part.
- Pull, yank, tug.
This mantra helps children visualize the knot on their own so that they can begin trying the knot tying on their own. Remember, tying the belt knot around the Gi is a sign of proficiency and respect, so the quicker that children master this simple routine of their practice, the better off they will feel about being accepted into the martial arts community.
How to Soften the Belt
Many times the black belt is very stiff when you first put it on. Only after some time in the gym and the heat and moisture from your body will it loosen up and not cut into your skin as much. Loosening your belt also helps it lay down, so you look more professional and dedicated. However, the stiff belt is not necessary at the beginning of every practice and is actually quite easy to soften before you get started on your gym workout.
To soften the black belt or Taekwondo belt, it is best to roll it up after every class and work it at home with various techniques.
Rolling up your belt after every practice is a great and easy way of making sure that your belt gets broken in. The belt fibers will crease under the pressure of the roll and stay bent down in your bag until the next time that you need it.
You can also work the belt in to soften it while you are watching TV at home. Wrapping the belt around the leg or arm of a chair and then placing your foot on the chair helps you anchor the chair to the ground while you work the belt.
Hold the belt in both hands and run it back and forth against the arm or leg of the chair. Working your belt at home on a chair breaks up the belt fibers constantly and helps you have a softer belt that lays down against your leg and torso more easily.
In Conclusion
The double wrap black belt is one of the most common ways of tying your black belt in martial arts. Not only is it a functional part of your garb while practicing martial arts, but it also carries with it the significance of respect and dedication to the art and sport.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you should be able to tie the double wrap on your own black belt or the belt of a child in your care at the gym. Feel free to come back to these easy-to-follow steps as many times as you need.