Belt Hold candle complete explanation + bullish/bearish signals

What is Belt Hold?

Belt Hold is a single-rod reversal pattern that strikes strongly right at the open price. The origin of the name comes from the way the price is pulled strongly in one direction, similar to the technique in judo where one grabs the opponent's belt and prevents him from moving.

It is similar to the maruboju, but the belt hold can be used with the opposite tail (only works if one tail is missing).

Bullish Belt Hold 🟢

characteristic

- Appears in a downward trend 
- Lowest opening price of the day = no tail below 
- Closes with a strong rise (may have a tail at the top) 
- Large beekeeping body 

In other words, it is a bar that has risen strongly since the beginning of the market without ever falling below the market price.

Psychology

Gap down or starts right at the opening → No selling attempts → Buying forces completely dominate.

Bearish Belt Hold 🔴

- Appears in an upward trend 
- Highest opening price of the day = no upper tail 
- Closes with a strong decline (may have a tail at the bottom) 
- Large Yinbong body 

Belt Hold vs. Maruboju

Maruboju is stronger, but Belt Hold is also a strong signal depending on the location of the trend.

Conditions for increasing reliability

• A body that is more than three times larger than the first bar (the previous bar)
• Belt hold that rises immediately after gap down in a downtrend
• Accompanied by RSI oversold/overbought

Futures Trading Strategy

Rising Belt Hold Long: 
Entry: Belt hold closing price or next candle opening price 
Stop loss: below belt hold low 
Target: Immediate resistance line

Declining belthold short: 
Entry: Belthold closing price 
Stop Loss: Above Belt Hold High 
Target: Immediate support line 

Related guides

• Marubozu Candle →
• Comparison with bullish engulfing →
• Swing Strategy →
• Liquidation price calculator →