Obi Iaido: How do you tie the belt?

Obi Iaido: How do you tie the belt?

Although many know it as obi iaido, in reality the obi is the belt of iaido, a martial art based on the sword technique. In turn, it develops the character of the person who practices it, since it requires great physical and mental discipline, improving the psychological skills of the human being.

Now, like any martial art, iaido requires a uniform for its practice which, in general, combines black, white or dark blue trousers, and which in turn has clamps and wide legs, along with a loose top. Both are joined through the obi, which is the belt that adjusts at the waist, as its name suggests.

Tying the obi is not a difficult task, but it takes practice and experience to do it well so that it is neither too loose nor too tight. It is essential that it is tied correctly so that it sits perfectly and allows movements in a comfortable and light way.

How to tie the obi iaido or iaido belt

Now, we are going to see step by step how to correctly tie the obi of the iaido to enjoy a correct practice with the uniform well adjusted:

   1. With both hands, we keep the obi firm at the level of the navel.
   2. We wrap the ends around the waist and cross to the centre of the back to bring it back to the front of the torso at stomach level.
   3. We cross the left side of the belt over the right side.
   4. We push the end on the left side under the two layers around the waist, which will come out on the top.
   5. The obi is crossed at its end from the top over the end that we see at the bottom. We secure the knot so that it stays tight, but without making breathing difficult.

You already know the use of the iaido obi a little better. Enjoy this fantastic martial art.

Image courtesy of soaringbird