How to Tie a BJJ Belt: 7 Powerful Methods Used by pros

Introduction

How to tie a BJJ belt is one of the first lessons every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner must learn, yet it holds deep significance beyond just functionality. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the belt is more than just a way to hold your gi together—it’s a powerful symbol of rank, respect, and discipline. Whether it’s a white belt just beginning the journey or a seasoned black belt, how one wears and ties the belt reflects their connection to the art. The belt is treated with honor—never dragged on the ground or stepped over, and certainly never disrespected.

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You’ll often see fighters retying their belts during intense sparring or competition, as the movement of grappling can loosen even the tightest knot. Beginners often struggle to keep their belts secure, while more experienced practitioners have mastered different ways to tie them—each with its own purpose and style. In this article, we’ll guide you through the most popular and effective ways to tie your BJJ belt.

If you’re new to the belt system in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, check out this helpful guide on BJJ belt ranks and progression to better understand what each belt color represents.

Steps To Tie A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt

Before diving into advanced techniques, it’s crucial to understand the fundamentals of tying a BJJ belt. These steps apply to nearly every method and ensure your belt starts off evenly wrapped:

Find the Center: Fold your belt in half to locate the center.
Place on Waist: Place the center of the belt just below your navel.
Wrap Around: Bring both ends around your waist so they cross at the back and return to the front.
Layer Neatly: Ensure the belt layers lie flat, not twisted.
Tie the Knot: Bring one end under both layers and tie a secure knot. (This varies with method—read on!)

The Core Method To Tie A Jiu-Jitsu Belt

The most basic and widely taught method is often called the standard knot or core method. It’s simple, functional, and used by many white and blue belts.

How it works:

Begin with the belt center at your belly.
Wrap it once fully around your body.
Take the left end (A) and place it over the right end (B).
Pull A under both belt layers and pull tight.
Then take B (on the left now), cross it over A, and pull it through to form a square knot.

Pros:
✔ Easy for beginners
✔ Lies flat
✔ Fast to tie

Cons:
✘ May come loose quickly during sparring
✘ Not as “clean” looking as other methods

The Pro Way To Tie a Belt

The “pro” way is popular among competitors and instructors who want a secure and aesthetic finish. It provides a cleaner look and better grip.

Steps:

Find the center and wrap around the waist as usual.
This time, overlap one end over the other and tuck it under both layers from below.
Adjust so both tails are even.
Tie a square knot by crossing and pulling through, just like tying your shoes.

Key Benefit: The belt sits snugly and has a more polished appearance, especially helpful during competitions.

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The Gracie Barra Way to Tie a Belt

Gracie Barra, one of the most recognized BJJ academies worldwide, emphasizes discipline and uniformity. Their belt-tying method is structured and clean.

How to do it:

Place the center of the belt on the stomach.
Wrap around, with both tails meeting at the front.
Bring one tail under both belt layers and pull tight.
Then, tie a square knot, ensuring the ends are even.

Why it’s popular:

Clean and uniform appearance for all students
Promotes discipline and consistency
Easy to inspect during training or exams

Double Water Knot

The double water knot is designed to be ultra-secure. It is favored by high-level practitioners and kids who don’t want to retie mid-roll.

How to Tie:

Wrap as usual, bringing both ends to the front.
Tie the first square knot.
Before tightening, loop the ends a second time.
Pull tightly to lock.

Advantages:

Super tight grip—won’t come undone easily
Great for tournament rolls or long sparring sessions

Drawback: Can be tricky to untie quickly.

Super Lock Way

As the name suggests, the Super Lock method is all about durability and keeping the belt on through the toughest rounds.

Steps:

Wrap the belt around your waist with overlapping layers.
Take the right side and go under both layers.
Create the first part of the square knot.
Before finishing the second loop, tuck the tail into the belt once more.
Tighten and adjust.

Best For:
✔ No-gi crossover sessions (if wearing belt for rank recognition)
✔ High-intensity rolls
✔ Kids’ classes

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How Rener Gracie Ties A BJJ Belt

Rener Gracie, co-founder of Gracie University, has become widely known for his “Hollywood-style belt knot”, which balances aesthetics and function.

Rener’s Method Highlights:

Step 1: Start with the belt center, wrap fully around the waist.
Step 2: Tuck the top tail under both layers, creating an anchor.
Step 3: Tie a traditional knot, but twist slightly so the knot sits horizontally.
Step 4: Adjust the belt so both ends point downward, giving it a clean, symmetrical look.

This is often referred to as a “presentation belt tie”, great for photos, promotional ceremonies, and teaching videos.

Why Tie Your Belt?

Beyond the physical act of keeping your gi jacket closed, tying your belt properly serves deeper purposes:

Symbol of Respect: It shows commitment to tradition and readiness to train.
Functional Utility: Keeps the gi in place and allows for better control during grappling.
Mental Preparation: The routine of tying the belt can help you mentally prepare before stepping onto the mat.
Rank Representation: Each color and stripe signifies time, skill, and experience invested.

If you want to understand what your belt truly represents, read our full breakdown of BJJ belt ranks and the system behind them.

Which Method Should I Choose To Tie Belt In Jiu-Jitsu?

Choosing the right method depends on your level, comfort, and context.

Method	Best For	Security	Ease of Learning
Core Method	Beginners, kids, everyday training	Moderate	Easy
Pro Way	Competitors, advanced belts	High	Medium
Gracie Barra Way	Gracie schools, formal training sessions	Moderate	Easy
Double Water Knot	Kids, competitions, long rolling sessions	Very High	Medium
Super Lock Way	No-gi crossover, intense rolls	Very High	Medium
Rener Gracie’s Method	Presentations, media, promotions	Moderate	Medium

Our Suggestion:

Use the core method while learning the basics.
Shift to the Pro Way or Super Lock when you start rolling more seriously.
If you’re part of a school like Gracie Barra, stick to their method for consistency.
Want to look sharp for belt promotions? Try Rener’s style for the cleanest finish.

Final Thoughts

Tying your BJJ belt might seem like a minor detail, but it’s a fundamental part of your training experience. It’s a ritual that connects you to generations of martial artists before you and reflects your mindset each time you step on the mat. Whether you’re going with the quick core knot or the secure super lock, what matters most is doing it with respect, consistency, and pride. For deeper insights into martial arts belt traditions across styles, you can explore this overview on martial arts belt systems from Wikipedia.

Want to fully express your identity and team spirit? Pair your belt with custom BJJ gis and rash guards that reflect your journey.