A Step-by-Step Guide to Tying Your Gi Pants, BJJ Belt and Someone Else's Belt

Looking for a one stop shop on how to tie your gi pants, how to tie your BJJ belt AND a bonus video for how to tie a belt on someone else? I have put together a few videos to cover these common Jiu Jitsu questions. You might be wondering why you would need to tie a belt on someone else? Some of you may teach the children's class or be promoting adults to a new belt rank. When all eyes are on you, this video will give you the confidence you need. None of us want the person we just promoted to have one end of their belt shooting straight up in the air...if you know, you know and it is a bad look.  

How To Tie Your BJJ Gi Pants: 

This is the most basic of knots but important nonetheless. 

  1. Start with the two ends of your Gi pant cord even with each other.
  2. If you need to even out pull on one end, the cord is one long cord so pulling one end will shorten the other.
  3. Feed each end of the cord through the loops on the front of the pants. These keep the cord from riding up.
  4. Pick an area between two loops for the cords to meet based on your preference.  
  5. Tie the cords together the same as you would a shoelace. 
  6. Tuck the cords into your pants (or into the loops) to keep them from tangling or getting untied during training. 

This knot should be very snug but not so tight that it is cutting into your skin - if it feels uncomfortable when tied, loosen it up slightly. Watch the video below to see this in action. 

How To Tie Your BJJ Gi Belt: 

Make sure you are dialed in from day one and know how to tie your BJJ belt. This is the most basic knot for your Jiu Jitsu belt: 

  1. Fold your belt in half with the midpoint right below your belly button and start with the black bar on your right. 
  2. Pass both the left and the right ends of your belt behind your back.
  3. Allow the ends to pass each other (at the small of your back) and bring the ends in front of you again. Now the end with the black bar is on your left.
  4. Lay the end with the bar flat against your waist in the middle.
  5. Pass the end without the bar over top so each end crosses right over left in the front. 
  6. Tuck the top end (without the bar) under all of the layers of the belt so it now is sticking up. The belt should stay on your waist now. 
  7. Position the end that is currently pointing down (with the bar) so the end points to the left. 
  8. Pass the end that is point up (without the bar) over top of the other end.
  9. Now pull the end without the bar up through the hole you have just made. 
  10. Tighten the belt by tugging equally on each end with a few hard pulls. 

This knot should be very snug so it does not come undone while training. A few more times practicing and you will be able to do this in your sleep. Watch the video below for all you visual learners. 

How To Tie A Jiu Jitsu Belt on Someone Else: 

This is the advanced class for those promoting students to a new belt rank or folks teaching kiddos that need to help those miniature jujuterros. 

  1. If you are promoting someone the first step is to take off their current belt, fold it in half and hang it around their neck out of the way.
  2. Take their new belt and fold it in half with the midpoint right below their belly button and start with the black bar on your left. 
  3. Pass both the left and the right ends of their belt behind their back.
  4. Allow the ends to pass each other (at the small of their back) and bring the ends in front of them again. Now the end with the black bar is on your right.
  5. Lay the end with the bar flat against their waist in the middle.
  6. Pass the end without the bar over top so each end crosses left over right in the front. 
  7. Tuck the top end (without the bar) under all of the layers of the belt so it now is sticking up. The belt should stay on their waist now. 
  8. Position the end that is currently pointing down (with the bar) so the end points to the right. 
  9. Pass the end that is point up (without the bar) over top of the other end.
  10. Now pull the end without the bar up through the hole you have just made. 
  11. Tighten the belt by tugging equally on each end with a few hard pulls. 

Don't for get to give the student a bow, handshake and big hug they earned it. This is a big moment in all of our journeys to Black Belt so make sure they don't have a wonky looking belt. Watch the video below to ensure you are dialed in for their big day.  


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