The Silk Thread of Gorindo - Ottawa - Canada
Issue 11
- How to Tie the Belt the Gorindo Way
Photo cover Claudio Iedwab sensei, August 2011, by Roxanne Standefer
How to Tie the Belt the Gorindo Way
(Reprinted and adapted, by permission, from Claudio A. Iedwab and Roxanne L. Standefer © 1997, Gorindo, Standard Manual, 2nd ed., Sensei Uensei Books)
The belt, obi, is tied twice around the body with a knot in front and in such a way that the material is flat across the spine.
The ends should be of equal length at the front when you are finished.
The belt should rest comfortably low on the hips.
Do not tie the obi too tight or high because your breathing will be impeded and your sense of center or hara will be distorted.
1. Begin with one end of the belt hanging down at your front left side. Pass the belt across your body and around to the back as if to pull your uniform or gi closed.
2. Retrieve the belt at the left side and pass once more across the front and around the back again.
3. Bring the end that has been travelling to the front and cross it down over all the belt material at the center.
4. Tuck that same end under all the layers of belt and pull through and up. Now look to see if the two ends are of equal length and adjust by carefully pulling back and forth on both ends. Go back a step if you have to.
5. With the two ends hanging equally, twist the underneath end one half turn inward.
6. & 7. Cross the upper end (the original travelling end) over and then under the lower end.
8. Pull through and tighten by pulling both ends equally to the outside.
by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer
(originallly published in the Gorindo Student Manual)
©1999 Illustrations/Animation by Claudio Iedwab
- How to Tie the Belt the Gorindo Way
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