The obi knot. I remember the first time Henry Sensei taught me to tie the knot. He had a "vision" as to what it looked like after tying it properly that is not appropriate to this post. The point, like the use of metaphors, it stuck and always reminded me to tie it right, correct.
Not until just recently when someone asked did it occur to me that it may have a name or term in Japanese. The following is what I found on that knot, it is referred to as the "koma-musubi knot (駒結び). The knot description is the only one that actually refers to the belt width which matches the karate obi as 2 inches or 5 centimeters wide. It is only in direct relation to the martial arts that the obi is knotted in this manner and as to other area's of the martial arts such as where the "hakama" is worn do they indicate other variations or knots are used.
It is considered a type of square knot, foul knot, but don't look to the American way to tie a "square or foul knot" as they don't appear the same as this knot for the karate-obi. In the American square knot you can "see" that one half of that knot would some what superimpose over a obi knot. In a view of a foul knot you can also see some similarities.
Finally, the reef knot appears to have more graphics that display the knot in appearance close, real close, to the karate-obi knot - koma musubi. See the two adjacent snap shots.
Regardless, it appears that the koma-musubi knot is the term to use. At least until someone can provide a more definitive definition with an appropriate snapshot of the knot.
In addition, over the years I have found that there are two distinct ways to tie the obi. The one I use fits for the koma-musubi knot but the other I was unable to see or find a related pictorial with a term.
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