Sifu helps his grand daughter Genna R. learn to tie her White belt. Thanks to Dylan R. for his excellent camera work!
Lesson 1:
Starting at the T'an T'ien (Hara - Middle) of the belt, place it on the T'an T'ien of their body (Belly button).
While holding the belt at their middle, take the left side all the way around first and put that end under.
Then take the right side all the way around, on top, (no twists please) and keep that end on top
Adjust the tightness
Then take the 'right' side which should be on top and go under both
Flip the bottom one over
Take the top one over the bottom and up through the middle
Pull side way's carefully,
to 'set' the knot
adjust the 'ears' downward
The opening in the knot should be facing to their right side
at Black Belt we change the knot so that the opening goes to the left
Lesson 2:
Originally, all belts were white
they were what held the Samurais underwear together
it's called a Gi (sounds like key with a softer K)
belts should not be washed
after each workout the Karate-Ka would wipe their brow
the new knowledge would then go into the belt
the sweat, tears, blood and dirt from the workout becomes part of the belt
as time goes on....
eventually the belt would turn yellow...then green....brown and finally would be BLACK!
If you saw a Karate-Ka with a Black Belt you knew that they were a serious practitioner having earned that color belt by actually practicing!
Lesson 3:
After their belt turned black and the Karate-Ka continued on the path to mastery
The black outer casing would wear out
and the inner white part would show through...
The Karate-Ka had made a full cycle
returning back to the beginning!
Lesson 4:
If you see a Karate-Ka with a Black Belt
and the outer casing is wearing off
and the inner, white part, is showing through
If the belt is ragged and worn
You know that they have practiced a lot
continuously, for decades and decades......
You're now looking at a Master!