Bullish Belt Hold
bullish reversal signal · 1 candle · reliability 3/5
A large green candle with no lower wick: price opens at the period low and rises through the session.
The Bullish Belt Hold is a large green candle that opens at the period low and closes high, with virtually no lower wick. At the end of a downtrend, this pattern shows a sharp shift in sentiment: the market turns immediately from the open and continues higher. Its Japanese name, “yorikiri,” comes from sumo and refers to the start of an attack.
What does it signal? A Bullish Belt Hold at the end of a downtrend signals a potential reversal: sellers pushed price lower, but buyers took control from the open.
When is it reliable? At a strong support level, with above-average volume and a confirming green candle in the next period.
When to avoid it? In sideways markets and on very short time frames such as 1-minute or 5-minute charts, where noise is too high and the signal has little statistical value.
Anatomy and identification rules
Candle anatomy
- 1
Large green body
- 2
Opens at the period low, with no lower wick
- 3
Upper wick may be short
- 4
Body length is larger than average
Identification rules
- Forms at the end of a downtrend
- The lower wick is no more than 1–2% of the body length
- The body covers at least 70% of the full range
- The open often gaps lower, then sentiment reverses
- A confirming next candle increases reliability
Pattern in chart context
What it says about the market
Context of appearance: The pattern appears near the end of a downtrend, often as a reaction to an important economic release. Above-average volume is required for the signal to carry weight.
Market psychology in three steps
- 1
Downtrend continues. Several candles print lower highs and lower lows. Sellers control the market, and sentiment remains negative.
- 2
Bullish Belt Hold forms. Seller pressure fades and buyers return. Price is driven sharply higher from the opening low, creating the possibility of a reversal.
- 3
Confirmation arrives. The next candle closes with a green body, ideally on high volume. Sentiment has shifted, and a new uptrend begins.
Same shape, opposite meaning
The Bullish Belt Hold and the Bearish Belt Hold look identical. The difference lies in context — mistake one for the other and you enter in the opposite direction. The candle shape alone is never enough: always read the trend first, then the pattern.
Most common mistakes
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Ignoring context. A Bullish Belt Hold is meaningful only near the end of a downtrend. In a sideways market or an uptrend, the same pattern carries a different message, so check the trend first.
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Entering before confirmation. The pattern itself is not yet an entry trigger. Waiting for the confirming green candle to close filters out more false signals.
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Using too short a time frame. On 5-minute candles, most reversal patterns are noise. Daily and 4-hour charts tend to produce higher-quality signals.
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Ignoring volume. A Bullish Belt Hold on low volume is a weak signal. With above-average volume, the reversal is more credible. Check the volume bar along with the candle.